In the middle of music season in Bangalore

I have been enjoying the music season in Bangalore.

Attended the following concerts at the Sriramanavami music festival at Sree Ramaseva Mandali, Chamarajpet, Bangalore.

Sudha Raghunathan
5 Apr 2012

Her renditions were characterized by her melodious voice, good throw, and great depth in the voice.

She did not seem to be at her best though.

Here are the compositions she sang:

1. Earayabai - Thodi raagam
2. Gajananam - Gambiranattai raagam
3. Entharo mahanubhavulu - Sreeraagam
4. Janani ninuvina thriloka - Reethigowla raagam
5. Melle mellene bandane gopamma - Mohanam raagam
6. Nagumo - Aabheri raagam
7. Alaipaayuthe - Kannada raagam
8. Eethaavunanilakada - Kalyaani raagam - Raaga visthaaram

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Aruna Sairam
6 Apr 2012


She mesmerized the audience with her fast paced tempo for the renditions and the repeated closure and opening of her voice with ease.

Here are the compositions she sang:


1. Srirajamaadhange chamundeshwari -  Aaberi raagam
2. Raghuveera ranadheera  - Hussaini raagam
3. Baalakanakamaaya - Ataana raagam
4. Bhandanodikrishna - Thodi raagam
5. Ennagagu raamabhajana - Panthuvaraali raagam
6. Nambikkai - Hindolam raagam
7. Koluvayya - Bhairavi raagam - main raagam

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Sanjay Subramaniam
7 Apr 2012

Sanjay is one of the finest singers in the current generation. His voice and renditions have a rawness in them and the style is typically classic style. The finesse he imparts and his attention to details in each composition is admirable.

Here are the compositions he sang:


1. Evareemio - Sahana raagam
2. Paralokasadhaname - Purvikalyani raagam
3. Ramaninuvina - Sankarabharanam raagam
4. Maamavapattabhiraama - Manirang raagam
5. Neeyesharan shanmugha - Khamaas
6. Enthuko neemanasu - Kalyaani raagam
7. Chalamelaraa saketha rama - Margahindolam raagam
8. Varattum Maname - Raagam Thaanam Pallavi - Saaveri raagam - then Ananda Bhairavi, Saaranga, Bilahari, Mohanam, and Hamir Kalyaani raagam

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Sikkil Gurucharan
20 Apr 2012


Upcoming singer showing a lot of promise. Has great potential. This is the second time I am hearing him in a concert.

Here are the compositions he sang:

1. Neevagathi - Nalinakaanthi raagam
2. Neethumahima pohala - Hamsaanandhi raagam
3. Avatharuraghupathi - Khamaas raagam
4. Yethiyojana - Kiranaavali raagam
5. Raamabaanathraana - Saaveri raagam

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Sowmya
27 Apr 2012

She is at ease with brighaas, especially when she changes the pitch upwards and downwards rapidly. Very talented singer.

Here are the compositions she sang:


1. Marukelaraa - Jayanthishree raagam
2. Nalu - Madhyamaavathi raagam
3. Bhaganayya - Chandrajyothi raagam
4. Ramachandram Bhaje - Vasantha raagam
5. Enthukkunie - Sankaraabharanam  raagam - Main keethanam

What a relief...

Nature does it best! It finally rained this summer here in Bangalore. Last night's rain came after a long five months dry spell and what a welcome relief it provided us from the summer heat that has been on from March ! The temperatures over the last few weeks have been topping 37 deg Celsius.

I really enjoyed the rain, the cool breeze it brought with it, smell of earth it kicked up... It was heaven. This morning when it was all over, I could see the birds chirping energetically (or does it just seem to me that way), hopping from tree to tree. The parched soil has already absorbed the water and hopefully has taken it to the natural storage underground. Trees got a chance to quench their thirsts with this sudden downpour.

I hope there will be a few more days with rain.

Music in the air...

The music season in Bangalore has begun with the Sriramanavami celebration. At Sree Ramaseva Mandali (this is its 74 th year running) Chamarajpet, Bangalore, the classical (carnatic) music festival began on 1-Apr-2012. Many Rama navami music festivals run during this season (April to first half of May) across Bangalore with leading and upcoming artists performing on stage.

Yesterday (4-Apr-2012) I was at Sree Ramaseva Mandali (Fort high school grounds, Chamarajpet) for the concert of K.J.Yesudas. It was a power-packed, and energetic performance from him. His singing had great clarity of pronunciation and good diction, indicating that sahitya had as much importance as, if not more, raaga.

It was as if Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar suddenly arrived on the scene. Yesudas' rendering style was strikingly similar to that of his guru Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar. Like guru like sishya (disciple) - Yesudas has been successfully carrying the legacy of Chembai forward for years at Sree Ramaseva Mandali. I hear from veteran rasikas that Chembai used to be a regular here for decades till he passed away.

Here are some of the compositions he sang yesterday:

Sarasangi Raagam - Varnam
Hamsadhwani Raagam - Vaathapi Ganapathim
Hamsaanandhi Raagam - Guruvina
Sriranjini Raagam - Bhoomi
Panthuvaraali Raagam - Ninnanodi Dhanya
Vivardhini Raagam - Dhinamaomanasa
Aabheri Raagam - Neevegathi Puranthana
Kalyani Raagam - Etha

Do I even need a home?

Where are they? From the last few days, they are not to be seen.
I used to see hundreds of them during November to February. In the last week of February, I could see a few. It is the beginning of summer here now and all are gone. They have probably moved to another place on earth.

I am talking about the migratory cranes (white colored long necked birds) that had flown into our neighborhood in November when the colder weather was setting in. But our winter, for them is much warmer when compared to the upper northern latitudes they flew in from. Now, they would probably be at a place where the temperatures are milder than ours - we are already into summer here.

They used to fly around as a flock of birds. They used to provide constant company to grazing cattle here in the open areas - sometimes following them faithfully hopping on the ground at the same time munching on the small insects or sometimes sitting right on top of the cow or buffalo while it grazes on. Now the herd of cattle do not have the company.

As far as these cranes are concerned, there is no home as such. Or, any place on earth can be their home at any time. They do not need a home, they keep moving, keep living in new surroundings all the time and appear to be at peace with all this. What does it mean to call something a home, looking from their angle? Or, in other words, do they really need a home?

Lost in music

Recently, listened to the songs from the sound track of the Tamil movie Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa for the first time. The album though was released in Jan 2010. This is yet another album from A.R.Rehman (ARR). 

What a collection of songs... It was just mesmerizing and I was deeply lost in the music all through. I kept listening to the tracks over and over...

The one I liked the most is "Aaromale..." sung by Alphons Joseph. With its rock style, I felt being transported back to the world of Led Zeppelin ("Stairway to heaven...") while listening to this song. It is a fusion of rock and south Indian music. The tempo gradually builds up with the beats growing stronger as the song progresses - hats off to ARR. This song also reminded me of the song "Ententrum punnagai... maangalyam thanthunaanena mamajeevana hethuna..." from ARR's own movie album "Alaipayuthey" - I think it is because of the rhythmic lines "swasti swasti sumuhurtham".

The other tracks are also great. "Hosanna..." is the next one I liked the most. Then "Omana Penne..." after that.

I felt I was being taken back to the days of "Alaipayuthey" and "Kandukonden Kandukonden".

This one will remain in my hearts for a long time for sure....

The force of Nature

A few weeks ago, we had been to Gaganachukki and Bharachukki waterfalls at the peak of this rainy season (monsoon). They are in an area called Shivanasamudra which is around 120 KM from Bangalore on the Kanakapura road National highway (NH 209). We started from Bangalore at around 8 AM and reached Gaganachukki by 11 AM, stopping once for breakfast - we had packed our breakfast.

After visiting a very old temple at the beginning of the inner road that leads to Gaganachukki falls, we headed straight to the falls. It was nature at its mighty best offering a spectacular show of the Kaveri river. Water was coming down the high rocks with such a great ferocity, we were at awe and were humbled. It was just beautiful. Since it was the peak of the rainy season (south-west monsoon) here, Kaveri was flowing in full capacity - copious amounts of water falling from the top of the high rocks down on to the plains. The sound of nature (of the falling water) was dominating all other sounds and it was pleasant to the ears. I felt so peaceful and calm just being there. We could feel the water droplets in the air.
Here are some photos clicked by my amateurish hands :-)

Then we moved on to Bharachukki falls. It was as spectacular as the Gaganachukki falls if not more. Below are some photos clicked by the amateur photographer (me) :-) at Bharachukki falls 

We had some observers, who were keen on keeping an eye on what we visitors were up to in their backyard :-)

At that time, a movie shooting was also going on at Bharachukki, the set and the film crew was deep down on top of the rocks in the middle of the river. It was quite an adventurous shoot, I felt.

Overall, I felt really good - getting close to Nature has this really soothing effect on me that lasts for quite some time.

Flowers , flowers, and flowers...

On August 14th, the eve of the Independence Day (India), we (my children, my wife, and I) were at Lalbagh, the biggest and oldest garden in Bangalore, for the annual flower show. This flower show happens annually during the days leading to the Independence day (Aug 15) and also the Republic day (26 Jan).

All of us enjoyed the experience. The flower arrangements were really great! We could see plants with flowers of different varieties. Though there was a decent crowd, we did not feel too disturbed. See some of the photos here...

The below one is made of only vegetables... Yes, it's true!

The one below is modeled after The Lotus Temple...