S.Kasim & S.Babu

Grand sons of Dr.Sheik Chinna Moulana, the brothers hail from Karavadi Village, Parakasam District, Andhra Pradesh. They belong to a great family of musicians, a family which preserved and fostered the art of Nadhaswaram playing for the past 300 years, in Andhra Pradesh. Being blood brothers, they had the rare opportunity of getting trained in this art at a very young age under one roof, their preceptor being their own maternal grandfather, Dr.Sheik Chinna Moulana.

The brothers have accompanied Dr.Sheik Chinna Moulana in many of his concerts throughout the length and breadth of India and also in foreign countries. Kasim-Babu have been presenting duet Nadhaswaram concerts, since the past 12 years. They are ‘A’ Grade Artistes of All India Radio and Doordharshan. Kasim-Babu visited countries like Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Russia, Germany, France, U.A.E, Finland, Malaysia and earned accolade in their concerts. The brothers have performed in many important concerts like South Zone Hook up Concert organized by All India Radio, .Akashvani Sangeeth Sammelan Concert organized by All India Radio at Hubli, Sangeethostav at Bhopal organized jointly by central sangeet Natak academy, New Delhi and Ustat Allauddin Khan Sangeet Akademy, Bhopal.

Kasim-Babu have participated in the “All India Musical Conference on Wind Instruments in Carnatic Music” held at Chembur Fine Arts Society, Mumbai and also presented a Lecture-Demonstration titled “presentation of Different Technique in Nadhaswaram Playing”.

The brothers have accompanied their grandfather Dr.Sheik Chinna Moulana in several Audio cassettes and CDs. They have also released their own duet audio Cassettes.

The brothers are presently Special Nadhaswaram Artistes of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. They were honoured by His Holiness Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, on the occasion of the Swarna Jayanthi Mahothsav of the Peetarohana of Pujyasri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal. Kasim-Babu have also been honoured and appointed as the Asthana Vidhwans of sri Sharada Peetham of Sringeri Math, by His Holiness Sri Sri Bharati Teertha Mahaswamiji, at Sringeri.

The brothers are running the School “Saradha Nadhaswara Sangeetha Ashram” founded by Dr.Sheik Chinna Moulana, with the main objective of imparting Nadhaswaram training to younger generation. Kasim-Babu have established a Trust in memory of their Guru and grandfather Dr.Sheik Chinna Moulana - “Dr.Chinnamoulana Memorial Trust”. The prime objective of the Trust is to globalize the importance of Nadhaswaram Music. The Trust is rendering noble service – by presenting Nadhswaram instruments to deserving students and also purses to senior indigent artistes of the Nadhaswaram fraternity.

Additional particulars About Kasim:

Kasim, besides his tutelage in Nadhaswaram, also took care to qualify himself academically; He is the proud product of St.Joseph’s college Tiruchirappalli, obtaining his B.Sc.,(Physics) degree in the year 1982.Kasim won the music scholarship awarded by the Govt., of India as early as in 1984. “Kala Saraswathy” Award has been conferred on him by Mother Theresa at Hyderabad in 1987. Pongu Tamil Development Trust at Chennai honoured Kasim with Gold medal and citation in the year 2002. The much coveted “Kalaimamani” Award was conferred on him by the Govt.of Tamilnadu in Nov.2003 in a function held at Chennai by the Honourable Chief Minister of Tamilnadu Selvi. J.Jayalaitha. Kasim has been appointed as the member of the Executive Board and Governing body member of South Zone Cultural Center, Thanjavur, by the Govt., of Tamil Nadu.