KN Shashikiran and P Ganesh (Carnatica Brothers)

Carnatic Musicians
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jayaram
Posts: 1317
Joined: 30 Jun 2006, 03:08

KN Shashikiran and P Ganesh (Carnatica Brothers)

Post by jayaram »

KN Shashikiran and P Ganesh, popularly known as Carnatica Brothers, are the grandsons of the legendary gottuvadyam vidwan Narayana Iyengar. They had their early musical training from their father Chitravina Narasimhan, and later from their brother Chitravina Ravikiran. They were also under the tutelage of the great vidushi Smt T Brinda, and also flute maestro T Viswanathan. (Their sister Smt Kiranavali Vidyasankar is also an accomplished artiste.)

Strict adherence to classicism is the hallmark of their music. Their amazing stamina and full throated style of singing is noteworthy. They combine nicely on stage, with Shashikiran's voice full of 'gAmbhIryam' complementing Ganesh's 'mAdhuryam' filled voice.

The brothers are famous for having performed a 24-hour marathon concert for a charitable cause.
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Rasikalaya (London) organised a workshop by Carnatica brothers on Saturday, 30th July 2011. This was held at the residence of one of our team members, Srilatha Vijay. The workshop was well attended.

They taught three lovely kritis as part of the workshop:

1. saraswati manOhari - Saraswathi manohari - Adi - Dikshitar
(This ragam according to Dikshitar paddhati falls under 29th mela, unlike the Saraswathi manohari of Thyagaraja, which is a Harikambodhi janya. This ragam has shades of Kannada in some places.)

2. pArka pArka tihaTTumO undan pAda dariSanam - Harikambodhi - Rupakam - Gopalakrishna Bharati (from nandanar charitram)

3. murutti enu nilisO (mAdhava ninna) - Salagabhairavi - Adi - Purandara Dasa

(This is a rare kriti, seldom heard. They mentioned that Ganesh learnt it from his mother)
Aro-avaro: sa ri ma pa dha Sa - Sa ni dha pa ma ga ri sa (22nd mela)

The attention to detail in their teaching was impressive. They made sure the sangatis were learnt correctly, and were very patient with the group.
The workshop was a grand success. We hope to organise similar workshops with them on their next trip here, also possibly a grand concert!

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On the next day, i.e. Sunday 31st July, their concert was held at Lewisham temple in aid of Noolaham, a Tamil literary organisation.
Accompanists:
Jyotsna Srikanth (violin)
RN Prakash (mridangam)
(sorry, forgot the name of the young ganjira vidwan - he is a disciple of RN Prakash)

1. pranavAkAram siddhi vinAyakam - Arabhi - Adi - Oothukadu Venkata Kavi (S)
2. cinna nADE nA - Kalanidhi - Adi - Thyagaraja
3. ardhanArISwaram - Kumudakriya - Adi - Dikshithar (R,S)
4. SaravaNa bhava - Bilahari - Misra chapu - Chitravina Ravikiran
5. RTP - Jonpuri - Adi talam
Tanam - they asked the audience to suggest ragams: Simhendramadhyamam, Dharmavati, Asaveri
Pallavi line: PArukuLLe nalla nAdu, ungaL (engaL) ilangai (bhArata) nAdu
Ragamalika swaras in Behag and Kapi
- followed by thani avarthanam
6. ninaikkAda nEramillai - Rageshree - Adi - Madurai Somu
7. murutti enu niliso - Salagabhairavi - Adi - Purandara Dasa
8. kuRai onrum illai - Rajaji's classic in ragamalika (sivaranjani, kapi, sindhubhairavi) - Adi

It was a great concert. This is the first time I am hearing the Bilahari composition of Shri Ravikiran.
Does anyone know what mudra he uses in his kritis? Is it 'Narasimha'?

The Jonpuri RTP was very well executed. I liked the interactive part where they invited the audience to suggest ragams for the tanam.
Those of us who had attended their workshop the previous day particularly enjoyed their rendition of the Salagabhairavi keertana.

Regarding the accompanists: both Jyotsna and Prakash are dear friends, so my opinion would be biased!
Jyotsna provided excellent accompaniment on the violin. Her forays in Jonpuri and kumudakriya were particularly pleasing.
Prakash was his usual energetic self on the mridangam. He always enhances the quality of a concert well.

Overall, it was a nice weekend filled with music of the highest order.

Jayaram

Sreeni Rajarao
Posts: 1283
Joined: 04 Feb 2010, 08:19

Re: KN Shashikiran and P Ganesh (Carnatica Brothers)

Post by Sreeni Rajarao »

Jayaram,

Thanks for the notes.

murutti enu niliso - Salagabhairavi - Adi - Purandara Dasa

should be

murutiyanu nilliso

Lakshman
Posts: 14019
Joined: 10 Feb 2010, 18:52

Re: KN Shashikiran and P Ganesh (Carnatica Brothers)

Post by Lakshman »

Ravikiran uses the mudra "ravishashi".

rajeshnat
Posts: 9907
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 08:04

Re: KN Shashikiran and P Ganesh (Carnatica Brothers)

Post by rajeshnat »

How will kuntalavarali sound as a varnam ? . Would love to form my own opinion after hearing it. Brothers review of the concert
http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday ... 077429.ece

CarnatiCalifornia
Posts: 18
Joined: 02 Sep 2016, 01:56

Re: KN Shashikiran and P Ganesh (Carnatica Brothers)

Post by CarnatiCalifornia »

The Carnatica Brothers, Kalaimamani KN Shashikiran and Chitravina P Ganesh, sat with us - CarnatiCalifornia - for an interview during their concert tour to California, in 2016.

Image

PART 1: TRAILER - AN INTRODUCTION TO THE ARTIST AND SOME EXCERPTS: https://youtu.be/D6JNtQY5E3w

- A preview on their childhood, their father & guru Chitravina Narasimhan. A preview on their impromptu composition for the US Presidential Elections (POTUS). Also hear them sing 'Hiranmayeem Lakshmin' in raagam Lalitha.

PART 2: ON THEIR UNUSUAL CHILDHOOD AND HOMESCHOOLING: https://youtu.be/AF4poW2K-A8

- They tell us about their unique childhood and home-schooling, a life very different from the one most of us know.

PART 3: VOICE CULTURE 101: https://youtu.be/kUHTCuz8lmU

- The (cousin) brothers give a 101 on Voice Culture - a tutorial, a scientific approach you shouldn't miss. It's not every day that experts give away free gyaan. Invaluable advice for every learner.

PART 4: CARNATIC ANTHEM FOR THE US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS: https://youtu.be/bBBj8uYojg0

- Their USP- what they do differently from other duo singers, &
- An impromptu Carnatic anthem for the US Presidential Election Campaign 2016 on-demand. We put them on the spot, by tapping into their ability to create Pallavi-s, asking them to compose one on the ongoing POTUS race. As the interview rolled on, 30mins later, they were ready to go, with a PALLAVI suitably IN RAAGAM DESH - meaning PATRIOTISM.
- LYRICS:
America desha raashtrapathi sthaapana |
Loka jana hitha kaarana ||



PART 5: ON THE SECRET TO THEIR SUCCESS & HIRANMAYEEM LAKSHMEEM IN THEIR WONDERFUL VOICE: https://youtu.be/cgvDV0zsnJY

- They share how they've stayed on top of the game in an ever-changing music scene where the limelight is of high standards, and only the toughest of tough stand a chance.
- Also, in their dynamic voice, hear the piece Hiranmayeem Lakshmeem in RAAGAM LALITHA.

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