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A listener's choice!
Flautist Tiruvarur Swaminathan had this funny experience to
share. Once he was playing in a marriage concert. The host of
the marriage, who was listening to the concert even as he was
running here and there to receive the guests, approached him
halfway through the concert with a wish to hear Ragam Tanam
Pallavi in Sankarabharanam. Swaminathan felt a little tense,
as he had to prepare a pallavi in Sankarabharanam with an appropriate
tala instantly. He informed his fellow musicians to be prepared
for the Sankarabharanam (RTP). He sang the pallavi in Sankharabhranam
and came to the conclusion of the concert. As he was about to
sing mangalam, the host again approached Swaminathan and asked
him to play Sankharbharanam. Taken by surprise, Swaminathan
told him that he had played it only just a while ago. But the
host insisted that he did not hear him play that. Well, what
the host had in his mind was the song `ragam, tanam, pallavi…’
from the film Sankarabharanam!
Ahiri & flute Mali
Mahalingam, popularly known as the Flute Mali, was an artiste
par excellence. He led a simple and easy life. The genius lived
in a world of his own and never cared for others' comments.
Yet, rasikas always made a beeline for his concerts and were
soaked in music rain while they listened to his flute recital.
There is an interesting anecdote about maverick Mali. Once he
was playing at a marriage concert. He was apparently at his
jovial best. All of a sudden, Mali decided to play ragam “Ahiri”.
There is a belief that Ahiri ragam - if sung - will deny food
for the mouths. Notwithstanding appeals from accompanying artistes,
Mali went ahead and played Ahiri raag elaborately. That particular
day, the cooked food was being brought to the marriage hall
from another place in a bullock cart. After the concert had
ended, everyone was readying for the meal. But they could not
have the meal as the bullock cart that was carrying the cooked
food turned turtle and the entire stock spilled on the road!
The people assembled at the marriage hall were forced to wait
for nearly 2 to 3 hours until fresh food was prepared and brought
to the hall. This incident, recalled by a disciple of Mali,
brings out not just the Ahiri ragam's power to deny food but
also the audacity of the genius flautist to defy convention. |
The Largest Tambura
Eleven feet long, this one weighs 150 kg. The world’s
largest tambura was inaugurated in Bangalore by artiste Shyamala
G. Bhave. This tambura is made out of a single log of a rain-tree.
Art works on famous Mysore Dasara are depicted on the giant
tambura. It has also pictures of Goddesses Lakshmi and Saraswathi.
It is full of national symbols such as peacock, lotus, banyan
tree and the like. Significantly, the initial line from Saint
Thyagaraja’s pancharatna ‘Endaro Mahanubhavulu…’
is etched around the tambura.
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The Business
of Music
How to begin the day? Each one has a different way of commencing
the day. Music World, a music and home video retail chain from
the RPG Group, has a unique style of starting the day. According
to K. Dasaratharaman, President (Specialty Retail), Spencer’s
Retail Ltd. (which owns Music World), Music World stores in
Tamil Nadu plays Suprabatham before kick-starting the day’s
business. `` In North, probably they (stores) begin with a bhajan,’’
he says. Depending on their locations, these stores start with
region-specific auspicious music. Well, music is not just about
bringing peace to the mind. It is also about bringing order
to the business, it seems!
Ghatam Karthic’s first love
He does not mince words. And, he is blunt to the extent of misunderstood.
While going home after providing percussion support to Bombay
Jayashri for her concert at Mylapore Fine Arts during December
2007, a veteran journalist stopped Ghatam Karthic and praised
him for his good performance. When asked by this journalist
if he could also sing, the Ghatam artiste replied in the affirmative.
"Why can’t you then give a vocal performance?’’
the journalist queried. To this, Karthic replied, "I am like
MGR (late M.G. Ramachandaran, film star-turned politician).’’
He never acted in a sad role. I will also do what I know best
(playing Ghatam).’’ Well, that is Karthic for you.
The man who is in extra-ordinary love with Ghatam!
Yesudas, a darling of fans
Play-back singing in films got him name and fame. He, however,
loves to make a mark in traditional music. K.J. Yesudas is,
in fact, instrumental in drawing lay persons to Carnatic music
concerts. Many of his fans (of cinema songs) make it a point
to attend his Carnatic music concerts. His show for Parthasarathy
Sabha during 2007-08 Marghazi season attracted capacity audience.
This time around, Yesudas was all pumped up. The rasikas enjoyed
every bit of his music and the `in-between’ witty remarks.
The concert went up to close to 200 minutes. Fans often got
up to ask the veteran singer to sing their favourite numbers.
Ever a darling of fans, Yesudas obliged most of them. And, the
fans returned home immensely pleased.
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