MUMBAI: Music Today will mark this year's Women's Day with Yami ?“ an event to celebrate womanhood.

The event will be held in Mumbai on 7 March at Shanmukhananda Hall at 7 pm, in association with Hindustan Times , Red fm, ITC Grand Central Hotel, Time Out, Bright Outdoor Media Pvt Ltd., Jet Airways, Surabhi Foundation, Indiantelevision.com and radioandmusic.com. The event Yami- A salute to Womanhood has been named after Yami, the first woman and the daughter of Surya, the Sun God known for her Knowledge and Valour.The eve of Womens day will witness the felicitation of women who have achieved and contributed to the field of art across all genres, primarily in the fields of arts and music. Seven women achievers will be felicitated by renowned achievers in the field of music, dance and theatre. These seven women will be shortlisted by a jury comprising of Siddarth Kak( Surabhi Foundation), Dr L Subramanium (noted violinist ) and Shobana (dancer and actress).

This felicitation will be followed by a power packed fusion performance by versatile vocalist Shubha Mudgal and a dance performance by Shobhana ?“actress and dance artiste ,an exponent of the Bharathanatyam form of dance coming together.

The event will begin with a performance by Mudgal, who has been trained by some of the finest musicians and musicologists in India. Shubhaji received her training from renowned personas such as Pandit Ram Ashreya Jha in Allahabad, Pandit Vinaya Chandra Maudgalya and Pandit Vasant Thakar in Delhi. She then went on to learn stylistic techniques from well-known maestros Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki and Pandit Kumar Gandharva. She also received training in thumri, from Smt. Naina Devi, and is known today as one amongst the most versatile, dynamic and popular stage performers of our country.

In addition to being a performer, Shubha Mudgal has also won recognition as a composer. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the coveted title Padma Shri from the Government of India in the year 2000.

Shobana, who will grace the stage after Mudgal, hails from the family of legendary classical dancers - Travancore Sisters - Lalitha, Padmini and Ragini. It is only natural that Shobana followed in their footsteps, starting her training in Bharatanatyam at a very early age.

Later, under the guidance of the distinguished exponent of Bharatanatyam Chitra Visweswaran, Shobana's dedication to this art form was further honed kindling a commitment beyond the ordinary. As a Bharatanatyam dancer, Shobana is known for her fine dedication of this classical art form. She is particularly known for her abhinaya, clarity of line and strong rhythmic command of the idiom.

Her recitals abroad include the World Malayalee convention in America in 1995 and 1985. Shobana has also performed in Kualalumpur before the King and Queen of Malaysia. Her dance tours have taken her all over U.S.A, Europe, the whole of Southeast Asia and Australia.

Over the years, she has performed in several of the Music and Dance Festivals in India and abroad and has had the distinction of inaugurating the dance and music season in Madras 1992 at the Music Academy - the bastion of classical art.

She also won the National Award for best actress of the year 1994 and Padmashri from the President of India in 2007.

Says Mudgal, "The music I will attempt to present today borrows from many sources and influences including classical Hindustani music, jazz, and blues. It is, therefore, respectful of tradition and at the same time, eager to learn from relatively newer non-Indian systems of music. It also borrows song texts from classical Indian literature as well as contemporary poetry from the sub-continent. It also gives me immense pleasure to be able to offer this music in tribute to women on the eve of Women's Day through the platform offered by ?‹?“Yami."

Music Today's business director Gurmeet Singh said, Music Today has always been known for its excellence in creating music beyond the film and pop genres and promoting artistes as artistes and not as play back singers or people in the background. Through the event Yami (which means the first woman), we bring to you performances by two great artistes, Shubha Mudgal & Shobana. On this occasion, we also recognize the achievement of a few women in the field of music, dance and theatre .These women achievers have emerged winners in their own right as individuals and are an inspiration to the society. Music Today salutes these women this Womens Day .

HSBC Premier, Electrolux, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. and Women's Horlicks are Co ?“Partners on this event.