Fri Jun 27 05:47:13 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text, followed by a rewritten version as a news article:

**Summary:**

This article profiles mridangam (a South Indian percussion instrument) maestro AV Anand, who is being felicitated at the Layananda musical event on June 28th for his remarkable 80-year career. The piece highlights his accomplishments, including accompanying five generations of star musicians, leading solo percussion sessions, and sharing his knowledge through online lessons. It also shares insights from fellow musicians and Anand himself, emphasizing his dedication, disciplined lifestyle, and unique approach to rhythm and musical accompaniment. The article also mentions the launch of his website, which is dedicated to providing 1,000 lessons in audio and video formats.

**News Article:**

**Mridangam Maestro AV Anand Celebrated for 80 Years of Musical Excellence**

**Bangalore, June 27, 2025** – Celebrated mridangam (a South Indian percussion instrument) maestro AV Anand is being honored at the “Layananda” musical event on June 28th in Bangalore, marking an astounding 80 years of dedication to the art form. The event will celebrate his remarkable career, which includes collaborations with five generations of iconic Indian musicians and groundbreaking solo performances on international stages.

At 90 years young, Anand is a recipient of the Karnataka Rajya Sangeeta Vidwan and credits his gurus KS Manjunath and inspirations Palghat Mani Iyer and Palani Subramanya Pillai for his musical foundation. Senior musician Ramakanth Srikantan lauded Anand’s distinctive, subtle style that complements rather than overwhelms the main performer.

“One has to follow a disciplined lifestyle to become a complete musician, and AV Anand did so,” says vainika D Balakrishna. “Anand embellishes compositions to add to their melodic value, but what youngsters need to observe are his solo pieces where he packs in curious combos and technicalities”.

Anand’s dedication to preserving and sharing his art extends to the digital realm. His daughter, Kalashree, and senior students Abhijit S and Puranika V Bhatta have created a comprehensive website, layananda.org, featuring nearly 1,000 audio and video lessons of his innovative percussion compositions, making his expertise accessible to a global audience.

“Creating the site was a two-year intellectual exercise,” says Kalashree, Anand’s daughter.

Hailing from Holenarsipura, Anand not only excelled in music but also earned a BSc from Mysore University and retired as a senior chemist from Amco Batteries, showcasing his multifaceted talent and dedication to both art and science.

The Layananda event, taking place at Pathi Sabhangana, NR Colony Rama Mandira, will feature musical tributes and the official launch of Anand’s website. The event is free and open to the public, offering a chance to celebrate a true icon of Indian classical music. The event will begin at 9:30 am.

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