Carnatic music season in Bangalore now on...

The carnatic music season in Bangalore for 2015 is now on with the Ramanavami celebrations starting a few days ago. I was at the Shree Ramasevamandali (Chamarajpet, Bangalore) yesterday attending Sanjay Subrahmanyan's vocal concert. It was almost fully packed.

As usual, a power-packed performance from him. So full of energy - in his voice as well as in his body language (actions). He complements the raaga, bhaava, and taala with his own unique gestures with face, hands, and head - all this, while remaining seated in the traditional pose and doing full justice to the composition. He rolls, massages, and shapes the notes into various forms to give his own unique expression to them. This is much more than the typical modulation that vocal artists do. He puts so much energy into each rendition that the music really hits us deep and gives us thorough enjoyment.  He sang Ragam-Taanam-Pallavi in Kaamboji Raaga. The other renditions were in Devagaandhari, Kalyani, Abheri, Sankarabharanam raagas...

It was bliss listening to him. I hope to make it to more concerts this season.

Welcome rain!

After a long spell of about 4 months, yesterday's rain here in Bangalore was more than welcome... The trees had just begun to sprout new leaves having entered Spring and this rain came at the right time to provide fuel to them. Looking forward to a few more such rains this season...

Against all odds... the force of life...

I have been observing a Honge (Pongamia) sapling in our neighborhood, over the last many months. Due to construction work happening at different times around the area, it ends up getting totally crushed every time. Nothing is left of it after that, no trace at all. Anyone would think, that is the end of its life. But, it rises from the ashes every time like a phoenix. The force of resurrection from nature, makes it sprouts back with force, each time. The sapling is still alive and growing and is on its way to becoming a tree. I think, with each assault, its roots have kept on getting stronger and have gone on deeper into the soil. The force of life is so powerful than anything else!

Smooth flow...

Bombay Jayashree's concert (on 1-May-2012) is the last concert I attended in this year's Sree Ramavami music festival at Sree Ramaseva Mandali, Chamarajpet, Bangalore. She was at her mellifluous best. She was so absorbed in it, it made us feel the music was effortless.

Here are some compositions she sang:

1. Devadeva kalayamithe - Mayamalavagowla Raagam

2. Ravichandrabudha neene - Athaana Raagam

3. Nanupupiavimuroopa - Mohanam Raagam

4. Govindana naamamonde saaradhe - Malayamaarutham Raagam

5. Yenni jesitheneenesreerama - Thodi Raagam

6. Nathaloludai - Kalyanavasantham Raagam

7. Varade saarade  - Desh Raagam - Raagam Thaanam Pallavi - Ranjani, Kanada raagams as raaga maalika.

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