Sri Thyagaraja Gana Sabha

Think Ravindra Bharathi on a smaller scale, but just as active. The Thyagaraja Gana Sabha is just the right size for a certain kind of event, and dominates the culture scene in this part of town.

It's perfect for smaller organisations, and a huge favorite with the city's dance and music schools. The Kuchipudi performances in particular are quite prolific, and held here every month; there are also regular Telugu literary programmes, with the less-than-occasional play. The participation from the districts and from out-of-town is not very heartening, however, as the place is frequented mostly by city-based organisations.

Their most popular and best-attended event is the annual festival held in January, Aradhana, a celebration of local talent through a series of performances in music, dance and theater. Many young people sign up to bravely broadcast their skills to the world, amid hysterical cheering-on by family members. This festival, coupled with a similar one in May, Thyagaraja Jayanti, assures the Sabha of a lengthy list of faithful patrons, who seemingly prefer functionality to glamor, and don't mind travelling the distance for it.