Kumar Gandharva - how to tell a story.

[Rsachi]

Dear rasikas,
Thanks to Varsha, I am revisiting some great moments with Kumar Gandharva over the years. I want you to enjoy these two WONDERFUL narratives about a man who discovered God through music:
1. Shabnam Virmani's classic : http://bit.ly/kumargkoisuntahai
2. Films Division Documentary on Kumar Gandharva: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLw5sZ273vM

A few things for those few who may not know Kumar Gandharva:
-b. 1924 near Dharwad, began singing famous Bal Gandharva and other masters' songs at the age of 8, well enough to merit the title Kumar Gandharva.
- was a star already when he enrolled in Deodhar music academy in Bombay for methodical training.
- married his own student Bhanumati in mid 1940s.
- was stricken with TB and doctors said he didn't have a chance to sing any more, and he went away to Devas in Malva region of MP a sad recluse.
- was nursed back to health by his wife in mid-50s, and rediscovered himself and found a new path to music through Kabir Vani.
- created a new chapter in Hindustani music shorn of gharana tabs and sang thematic concerts for many years afterwards.
- lost his first wife, a great woman...remarried another disciple, and left behind a great legacy and many talented students.

Coming to these two films, unlike many films I have seen especially on South Indian artistes, these two films are not a series of eulogies using words like fantastic, incarnation, prodigy, musicians musician and so on; they are carefully-worded sincere (non-self-projecting) attempts to describe what was unique about the man and his music, with examples and musical audio/video clips. At the end of it all, you are left in a world of music and artistic sensibilities that go beyond hagiography.

The visual content of the films is also very artistic and moving.

I will surely recommend this as a BIG Sunday treat!!!

Ciao
Sachi R

[varsha]

http://www.visionbooksindia.com/details ... 8170944759

Understanding Kumar Gandharv will be incomplete without the reading of this book - a master piece .
Also must reads from Raghav menon are
The Pilgrim of the swara - KL Saigal
Magic of the Indian Raga ( not just one of those raaga books - has very interesting insights .

As far Shabnam Virmanis work is concerned , the largesr context is Kabir and her DVDs on the subject .
http://www.kabirproject.org/web%20store
Kumar Gandharv the seeker . Kabir , the sought.

[Rsachi]

There was a mention about Panditji's son Mukul Shivputra at the end of the documentary.
I found this wonderful audio clip of this man's singing- he is truly gifted!:
http://bit.ly/16ltf2A