NEKK Celebrated Ugadi Habba on Saturday, the 16th April, 2011 at KeefeTech Auditorium, Framingham, MA.
Raju Malapati, Secretary NEKK
The annual Ugadi celebration by New England Kannada Koota was a delightful potpourri of dance, music and drama. Over 275 adults and 130 kids from Kannada community living in NE area assembled at Keefe Tech School on Saturday, APR 16th to greet Hindu new year, “Kara Nama”, in grand style and rhythm. More than 75 enthusiastic local artists performed on the stage.
The program started with Invocation by Rekha Nagaraj and followed by Bharatanatyam dance by Sahana from Bangalore, who is vacationing in Boston currently.
Next, rhythmic dance to Kannada movie songs took the centre stage through three dances, ‘Dances of the Angels’, ‘Folk Fusion’, and ‘Unity in Diversity’, by Vividha school of dance – Choreographed by Amulya Deepak and one superb performance by Padmini Balaji & Group – Choreography by Padmini Balaji.
The piece de resistance of the evening was, Kannada Cinema “Andininda Indu” – Choreographed by Poornima Risbud, rocking the auditorium with a scintillating dance by 15+ performers of all age to Kannada filmy songs from old through recent.
The hallmark of the event was traditional Kolatta by out-going committee members to represent karnataka rural peasant song. Renuka Rao & Group presented ‘Kannada Bhavageethegalu’ to include few songs with Ugadi theme.
As every alternate Ugadi is the time for change of Guards at NEKK, this time around new executive team was elected unanimously. Congratulation to new team headed by Praveena Naduthota.
In the updates section from Out-Going Executive Committee, NEKK President Vani Chiganmy thanked all members and artists for the support extended, while Raju Malapati, Secretary NEKK, presented last two years major accomplishments.
The NEKK’s new website was formally released to public by Raju Malapati and website architect “Vivek Rao” & Website banner designer “Suman Bhaskara” were honored for their excellent voluntary work. Renuka Rao & Rajendra rao were honored too for their long term support to NEKK.
The event was concluded by a kannada comedy drama “ಛೆ! ಹೀಗಾಗಬಾರದಿತ್ತು ..”, directed by Prakash Purohit and acted by Madhu Akkihebbal, Prakash Purohit, Aruna Purohit, Rekah Nagaraj, Jayaram and Srinivas Ambati.
The MCs of the day, Guru Samaga and Amulya Deepak, did a wonderful job in keeping audience engaged and entertained with good jokes and trivia, to preserve the tempo between programs.
In the end, all event attendees did get a chance to savor the festive food catered by famous Meena’s Kitchen, Nashua. Pizza was distributed to all Kids.
All in all, Ugadi 2011 celebration was a grand success with culmination of all efforts by 30+ committee volunteers. Kudos to 2009 -2011 Committee for raising the bar for all future NEKK events.
Event Videos
Video Re-Cap of all Ugadi Programs (Courtesy: Raju Alagawadi)
Links to more Video
(1) RangaTaranga presents Kannada drama – “ಛೆ! ಹೀಗಾಗಬಾರದಿತ್ತು ..”
(2) “Dances of the Angels” By Vividha School of Dance – choreography by Amulya Deepak
(2) “Unity in Diversity” By Vividha School of Dance – choreography by Amulya Deepak
(3) Group Dance Choreographed by Padmini Balaji
(4) “Kannada Bhavageethegalu” by Renuka Rao & Team
(5) “Traditional Kolatta” by Out-Going Committee Members
(7) Kannada Cinema “Andininda Indu” – Choreography by Poornima Risbud (Part 1)
(8) Kannada Cinema “Andininda Indu” – Choreography by Poornima Risbud (Part 2)
(9) Kannada Cinema “Andininda Indu” – Choreography by Poornima Risbud (Part 3)
