Oscar nomination for B Jayashree

smala · Post by **smala** » 10 Jan 2013, 23:18

Two pictures not to miss. The Life of Pi by Ang Lee and Lincoln by Spielberg.

The Life of Pi has 11 nominations.
"...
Jayashri is nominated in the Original song category for 'Pi's Lullaby' alongwith the composer Michael Danna.

Congratulating the Carnatic vocalist on her nomination, Oscar-winner A R Rahman tweeted, "Congrats to Bombay Jayashree. First ever Academy Award nomination for a Tamil song."..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vbxdqCi_AQ

The other beautiful film, Lincoln, backed by producer Anil Ambani's Reliance Dreamworks has garnered 12 nominations

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ente ... 972867.cms

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 10 Jan 2013, 23:28

Awesome - Congratulations to Smt. Jayshree!!
I, of course have a special affinity for the movie (Pi) since the early part of the story (or shall we say, the major part of the story that's on terra firma) is set in my old stompning grounds - Pondicherry

smala · Post by **smala** » 10 Jan 2013, 23:32

yes, rshankar, and also considerably in Munnar, the article says. Proud moments for us.

smala · Post by **smala** » 10 Jan 2013, 23:36

One youtuber posted this lovely translation for BJ's lullaby.

Oh my love

Oh the delight of my eyes

would you not sleep my love?

are you the peacock or the plumage of the peacock?

are you the cuckoo or the cry of the cuckoo?

are you the moon or the light of the moon?

are you the eyelashes, or the dream?

are you the flower or the nectar?

are you the fruit or the sweetness?

smala · Post by **smala** » 10 Jan 2013, 23:48

Another lovely version of Jayashree's original by Ambika Jois and Amal Lad

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=p ... 2kTJ6pQ4Uo

nadhasudha · Post by **nadhasudha** » 11 Jan 2013, 00:51

rshankar wrote:Awesome - Congratulations to Smt. Jayshree!!
I, of course have a special affinity for the movie (Pi) since the early part of the story (or shall we say, the major part of the story that's on terra firma) is set in my old stompning grounds - Pondicherry

Congratulations to Jayshree! I have not had a chance to see this film yet, but heard that several Puducherry locations figure in it. A must watch on my list now!

squims · Post by **squims** » 11 Jan 2013, 02:13

Congrats to Bombay Jayashree! I was so excited when I heard the song during the opening credits of the movie. Wasn't aware of the existence of the song prior to that. It came as a very pleasant surprise.

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 11 Jan 2013, 03:34

Congrats to Bombay Jayashree!! The movie is a "MUST-SEE"--so nice to sit in a theater in NY and hear Tamil Dialogues and Tamil song!!!

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 11 Jan 2013, 05:00

Yes, the nomination celebrates Bombay Jayashri at her Vatsalyam/Salokyam best! Congrats.

Did you guys know there is another Dr. B. JAYASHREE in Kannada musical theatre? She is a powerhouse. She received the Karanth award recently and is a sitting MP too.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 11 Jan 2013, 05:14

Congratulations to Bombay Jayashri. Her imdb page for reference: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1425113/

We are planning on catching Life of Pi in 3D this weekend. Hope watching it in 3D is a good experience for this movie.

mohan · Post by **mohan** » 11 Jan 2013, 05:36

Congratulations to Jayashri. This is a great recognition for Indian music!

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 11 Jan 2013, 05:46

Congratulations to Bombay Jayashree.

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 11 Jan 2013, 06:35

This is great news. Wish she goes on to win the Oscar.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 11 Jan 2013, 07:40

Such sowkhyam and vAthsalyam in her singing!

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 11 Jan 2013, 08:25

It was house-full when I watched this movie "Life of Pi" here and Smt Jayshree's voice was melodious and mellifluous. She deserves to win. Let us see

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 11 Jan 2013, 08:29

Please listen to Salokyam and Vatsalyam. Two outstanding CDs.

ramamantra · Post by **ramamantra** » 11 Jan 2013, 08:59

Congrats to Bombay Jayashree! She definitely deserves the nomination.

Her singing is usually very good but the nominated lullaby song has not brought out her best. However, the flautist is really good.

priyaram78 · Post by **priyaram78** » 11 Jan 2013, 09:03

Congratulations to Smt..Bombay Jayashree. She has made India and carnatic music proud. Todays Delhi edition, Times Of India states Carnatic vocalist Bombay Jayashree nominated for Oscars. Hope to see more Carnatic Musicians coming to and performing in Delhi too.

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 11 Jan 2013, 09:04

An interview with Bombay Jayashree
http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/c ... ars/261418

I almost teared up when she said it was all due to her guru's blessings. She sounded so sincere.

I think Jayashree is one of the most graceful people on the Carnatic scene (as Ramanathan's award winning photo captures).

The film is quite wonderful and well worth the extra for the 3D (especially for those with memories of Pondy). I read the book about 10+ years ago and couldn't believe that it was even possible to make a movie out of it. But Ang Lee is just brilliant like that.

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 11 Jan 2013, 09:13

Congrats to Smt. Jayashree. The song didn't strike me as particularly tuneful though. And I couldn't get through the book either. But she is certainly a worthy singer!

badari · Post by **badari** » 11 Jan 2013, 09:32

Congratulations to Smt Bombay Jayashree.. Classical background is an certainly essential element to reach such heights and she is the epitome of it !

ramamantra · Post by **ramamantra** » 11 Jan 2013, 10:23

Bombay Jayashree is nominated for lyrics of the lullaby song along with composer Mychael Danna. If she makes it, it will be a world-wide recognition for the Tamil language! For her, it will probably be an entry into a new profession

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 11 Jan 2013, 11:16

Must lead you to a real winner of a lullaby by BJ:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgJeI5wj ... ata_player
This CD Vatsalyam is a gem. Just like Salokyam.

squims · Post by **squims** » 11 Jan 2013, 14:44

Did you guys know there is another Dr. B. JAYASHREE in Kannada musical theatre? She is a powerhouse. She received the Karanth award recently and is a sitting MP too.

Yup, I'm aware of her, and have watched her perform live as well. She's like a live wire even at her current age. Highly energetic.

maduraimini · Post by **maduraimini** » 12 Jan 2013, 00:44

Congratulations to Bombay Jayashri on her Oscar nomination. I always loved her Bhava laden songs. This makes us all, who speak Tamil, very proud.

MaamiAtHeart · Post by **MaamiAtHeart** » 12 Jan 2013, 03:19

4 days after my baby was born, we were up at 2:00 am; I was exhausted, in pain and at my wit's end. My tiny newborn was colicky and just not able to feed, sleep or calm down. When nothing else worked, I played the Vatsalyam CD (had listened to this during my pregnancy). A few seconds later, my baby just stopped crying. I can never forget her expression for the rest of my life. She had this expression of recognition and clarity on her face. It was almost as if she remembered hearing this song before her birth. We then spent a blissful hour gently rocking, listening to Mannupugazh and Jo jo rama over and over again. From that day, till she turned 2, we listened to Vatsalyam EVERY single day, many many times over. Even before my daughter could speak, she would ask for "do do dama". And every single day, i thanked BJ for her incredible music. I dont know what i would have done without her. There is so much of love and devotion in her singing... God bless her!

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 12 Jan 2013, 05:06

Wonderful.
Hope BJ reads this, I am sure many have told her such stories. I suspect she got to sing in Pi after they heard this CD.
MaamiAtHeart, please get and hear Salokyam, too.

If Carnatic music is like a resplendent garden caught in a storm, somehow BJ's music on occasion stands like a flower-bedecked fragrant plant unshaken and unstirred.
God bless that she has discovered this equipoise- for that's MORE than an Oscar for sure.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 12 Jan 2013, 06:51

MaamiAtHeart, that is so heartwarming. Thanks for sharing the story with us.

squims · Post by **squims** » 12 Jan 2013, 10:00

Ah, MaamiAtHeart. that is a great story. I have a niece who turned 3 recently, and she needs BJ's 'Kanne en kanmaniye' in Kurinji to fall asleep even now. She's been listening to it ever since she was a baby. She kept asking for 'kaNN' all the time!

tkb · Post by **tkb** » 12 Jan 2013, 15:34

Congrats!

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 13 Jan 2013, 08:20

Something related to MaamiAtHeart's story: http://www.rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=20748

venkatakailasam · Post by **venkatakailasam** » 14 Jan 2013, 18:50

Row over Bombay Jayashri’s Oscar-nominated “Pi’s Lullaby”....

Irayimman Thampi Trust alleges it is a word-for-word translation of the musician’s renowned lullaby

A trust named after Carnatic musician Irayimman Thampi has accused Bombay Jayashri’s Oscar-nominated song ‘Pi’s Lullaby’ of not being an original composition, an allegation denied by the vocalist.

The song, written and sung by Ms. Jayashri for the film ‘Life of Pi’, has been nominated in the Original Song category at the Academy awards this year, but the trust has alleged that it is a word-by-word translation of composer Thampi’s renowned lullaby in Malayalam “Omanathinkal Kidavo ...”

Read more at...

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp ... 306112.ece

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 14 Jan 2013, 20:52

Last night at the Golden Globe awards Michael Danna won the best Music composer award for his Music in Life of Pi.
In all probability BJ may win the Oscar in view of the popularity of Michael.
He is a friend of my son and I will bring his attention to this brewing controversy.
Incidentally his wife Aparna is Indian!
Irayaman's Lullaby is known to all in Kerala. It will be unfortunate if this stands in the way of BJ's winning performance
at this Movie....

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 14 Jan 2013, 21:47

Omanathinkal Kidavo with English trasnslation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omanathink ... in_English

Assuming the translation is even approximately correct...

The form is similar.. This or That... But otherwise I do not see how it is a word for word translation.

Also the focus is different even when the same theme is involved ( in some of the themes )

nilavo, nilavin oLiyo ( moon or moon's light ) is obviously different from

The bright crescent's moon, or the charming flower of the lotus ?
or
The honey in a flower, or the lustre of the full moon ?

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 14 Jan 2013, 21:55

As VK rightly points out, there is no clear evidence for plagiarism at all.

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 14 Jan 2013, 22:04

Folks,
I think it is actually quite simple, at least to my mind.
There are hundreds of lullabies in India. Jayashri has sung many of them including Thampi's.
She got to sing a lullaby because she is great in that genre. She penned a few lines and sang them well enough to merit an Oscar nomination.
That her lines seem inspired will not stop her getting an Oscar...it is not plagiarism, it is inspiration. Period.

I copied the two lyric translations below, they look QUITE different, in some ways Jayashri has done better! Eg.moon, or moonlight...Peacock, or its plumage, eyelids, or its dreams...

Pi:
My darling, the apple of my eye,
Go to sleep, my dear precious one.
Are you a peacock? A peacock displaying its beautiful plumage?
Are you a Cuckoo Bird? Are you the chirping Cuckoo Bird?
Are you the moon? Are you the moon's light?
Are you the eyelid? Are you the dreams within the eyelids?
Sleep humming..
Sleep humming..
Are you a flower? Are you the sweet nectar of the flower?
Are you a fruit? Are you the sweet taste of the ripened fruit?
Sleep humming..

Thampi:
Is this sweet babe
The bright crescent's moon, or the charming flower of the lotus ?
The honey in a flower, or the lustre of the full moon ?
A pure coral gem, or the pleasant chatter of parrots ?
A dancing peacock, or a sweet singing bird ?
A bouncing young deer, or a bright shining swan ?
A treasure from God, or the pet parrot in the hands of Isvari ?
The tender leaf of the kalpa tree, or the fruit of my tree of fortune ?
A golden casket to enclose the jewel of my love ?
Nectar in my sight, or a light to dispel darkness ?
The seed of my climbing fame, or a never-fading bright pearl ?
The brilliance of the sun to dispel all the gloom of misery ?
The Vedas in a casket, or the melodious vina ?
The lovely blossom put forth by the stout branch of my tree of enjoyment ?
A cluster of pichaka buds, or sugar-candy sweet on the tongue ?
The fragrance of musk, the beat of all good ?
A breeze laden with the scent of flowers, or the essence of purest gold ?
A bowl of fresh milk, or of sweet smelling rose-water ?
The field of all virtue, or an abode of all duty ?
A cup of thirst-quenching cold water, or a sheltering shade ?
A never-failing mallika flower, or my own stored up wealth ?
The auspicious object of my gaze, or my most precious jewel ?
A steam of virtuous beauty, or an image of the youthful Krishna ?
The bright forehead mark of the goddess Lakshmi ?
Or, by the mercy of Padmanabha, is it the source of my future happiness ?

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 14 Jan 2013, 22:32

In case one wants to listen to Pi's Lullaby:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vbxdqCi_AQ
Even musically it bears little resemblance to "omana thingaL kiDAvO' the way it is sung in Kerala.

The Music is so captivating and no wonder it has been nominated for the Oscar.

Can anybody guess what raga it is?
(Of course Michael has set it as a Wetern tune....)

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 14 Jan 2013, 22:34

Here are the tamil lyrics:

kaNNE, kaNmaNiyE
kaNNurangai ponnE

mayilO, thogai mayilO,
kuyilO, koovum kuyilO
nilavO, Nilavin oLiyO
imaiyO, Imaiyin kanavO

araro…araro…
araro…araro…

malarO, malarin amudhO,
kaniyO, senkaniyin suvaiyO

araro…araro…

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 14 Jan 2013, 22:46

CML,
I was definitely reminded of Tarangini and Jinjhuti.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 14 Jan 2013, 22:51

I had translated OmaNa tingaL kiDAvO (the version Sikkil Sri Gurucharan sings) with Jayaram's help for a dancer a few years ago (she had provided the lyrics) - Here is what we came up with, and I am also not able to see the relationship to Smt. Jayshree's version - of course, both are lullabys, and as lullabys go, they both invoke the moon, moonlight etc..

OmaNattiNgaLkkiDAvO? nalla kOmaLattAmarappUvO?
My dear darling (OmaNa), you are so sweet, are you the young one (kiDAvO) of the mooon (tiNgaL)? You are so soft, are you a delicate (kOmaLa) lotus (tAmara) flower (pUvO)?

pUvil niRa~nna madhuvO? pari-pURNEndu tanRe nilavO?
You are so sweet, are you the nectar (madhuvO) that fills (niRa~nna) the flower (pUvil)? You are so lustrous, are you the moonlight (nilavO) of the (tanRe) full (pari-pUrNa) moon (indu)?

puttan pavizhakkoDiyO? ceRu taTTagaL ko˜njum mozhiyO?
You are so fresh, are you a tender (puttan) creeper (koDiyO) of pavazhamalli? You babble so sweetly, is it the chatter (mozhiyO) of prattling (ko˜njum) baby (ceRu) parrots (taTTagaL)?

cA˜njADiyADum mayilO? mridu pa˜ncamam pADum kuyilO?
You move so gracefully, are you a peacock (mayil) that dances (ADum) with sinous swaying (cA˜njADi)? You sound so melodious, are you a cuckoo (kuyilO) that intones (pADum) the delicate (mridu) pancamam?

tuLLumiLamAn kiDAvO? SObhakoLLunnOrannakkoDiyO?
You are so energetic, are you the fawn (kiDAvO) of a prancing (tuLLum) young (iLa) doe (mAn)? You are so bright, are you a (Or) beautiful and shining (SObhakoLLunna) swan (annakkoDiyO)?

ISvaran tanna nidhiyO? paramESvariyEndum kiLiyO?
You are so precious, are you the personal (tanna) treasure (nidhiyO) of Siva (ISvaran)? Or, are you the parrot (kiLiyO) that is held by (Endum) by pArvati (paramESvari)?

pArijAtattin taLirO? enDe bhAgyadrumattin phalamO?
You are an answer to our prayers, are you a tender shoot (taLirO) of the divine pArajAta creeper that grants wishes? Or, are you the fruit (phalamO) of my (enDe) tree (drumattin) of good fortune (bhAgya)?

i˜ngunnikrishNan janiccO? pArili˜ngaNe vEsham dhariccO?
Or, is it possible that little (unni) krishNa himself has been born (janniccO) here (i˜ngu), and, has assumed (dhariccO) this (i˜ngaNe) role (vEsham) on this earth (pAril)?

padmanAbhan tan kripayO? ini bhAgyam varunna vazhiyO?
Is it the personal (tan) compassion (kripaiyO) of the almighty Lord padmanAbha, our kula deivam? Is this the path (vazhiyO) for more good fortune (bhAgyam) to come (varunna) our way henceforth (ini)?

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 14 Jan 2013, 22:52

By my analysis it is:
Aro/Avaro: SR2G2M1PD1S'/S'D1PM1G2R2S
which is listed as Raga Jhankari janya of the 19th mela Jhankaaradhwani
Perhaps Lakshman can throw some light....

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 14 Jan 2013, 22:56

Rsachi
tinge of chenchrutti is there but quite faint.
The western influence is overpowering too..
The flute is just mesmerizing...

KMH · Post by **KMH** » 15 Jan 2013, 11:24

Controversies notwithstanding, Bombay Jayasree's nomination is definitely something to celebrate - if nothing else, it will be yet another instance of showcasing the beauty of carnatic music to the rest of the world. Let us hope she gets the Oscar for her truly soulful singing.

MaamiAtHeart, your anecdote sent me reminiscing about my own son and daughter's responses to lullabies that my mother used to sing for them when they were little babes. Brought a lump to my throat. Thank you so much for sharing.

Shivadasan · Post by **Shivadasan** » 15 Jan 2013, 14:06

BJ's lullaby has nothing very common with OmaNa tingaL kiDAvO, either the raga or the contents. In Irayimman Thampi's song the two parts every line are not connected in theme .

for example
the bright crescent's moon, or the charming flower of the lotus ?
A dancing peacock, or a sweet singing bird ?
A pure coral gem, or the pleasant chatter of parrots ?
A bouncing young deer, or a bright shining swan ?

whereas Bj's version
The opening verses are
kaNNE, kaNmaNiyE
kaNNurangai ponnE
No such thing in OmaNa tingaL
BJ connects the themes of first and second part of the verses, an aspect which is original and different from Thampi
Bj talks of Peacock and its tail; then Cuckko and its song ; then Moon and its light; then a subject not touched by Thampi viz., imaiyO, Imaiyin kanavO.
The lullaby is not in t he raga sung in tradtional Thampi rederings.
It is unnecessary to create such a row.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 15 Jan 2013, 17:34

Pi's Lullaby: mayilO, thogai mayilO
Thampi's Lullaby: Chanchadiyadum mayilo
Both mean "You are the peacock, the dancing peacock"

Pi's Lullaby: kuyilO, koovum kuyilO
Thampi's Lullaby: Mridupanchamam padum kuyilo
Both mean "You are the koel, the singing koel"

Some parts are definitely from there and she is kind of juxtaposing few phrases with minimal translation is a claim from the thampi trust. She must have been influenced or just taken few phrases, though not sure it can be characterized as plagiarism. In our school days , we always have peacock described by its thOgai.Every lullaby will have these kind of repeated references.

May be this controversy is good for BJ to get the award . I heard BJ's lullaby for the first time , it is just ok , but ofcourse Life of PI is a big hollywood movie . Let the world know about carnatic music thru her award nomination and if lucky let BJ get this award on behalf of CM .

Good luck to BJ.

BJ's musical career of rasikas enumeration started with narumugaiye narumugaiye from the film iruvar , which got a great south indian recognition, then zara zara ( vaseegara vaseegara) which got a national recognition and now with Life of PI lullaby , she has got international recognition. She has enough crowd with great reserve for her future CM concerts, her concerts can get caught with more law of averages .

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 15 Jan 2013, 21:35

Mychael Danna is a versatile Canadian (Manitoban) Film music composer who is quite familiar with International genres of music.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mychael_Danna
In particular he has collaborated with a number of Indian Music Directors.

His soundtrack for Ang Lee's Life of Pi has earned two Academy Award nominations for Best Original Score and Best Original Song Pi's Lullaby. He just won the Golden Globe award for his musical scores in Life of Pi. It is quite unlikely that he is familiar with the version of Irayaman Thampi for setting his score for the lullaby. No doubt BJ must have made inputs. The lyrics are in Tamil appropriately using familiar and common endearing expressions in coddling babies, not particularly borrowed from any particular song. The musical score is distinctly a blend of Western and SI light music. It is hardly CM! Some segments are even akin to HM! We certainly should congratulate BJ for the soul-stealing performance but not for any CM merit! Even the raga is more folk style ("grAmINa"). The chorus and orchestral component are Western, not certainly CM. Let us give credit where it is due but not unduly!

BJ's vaseegara (zara) won All India acclaim but with harsh criticism from CM experts for her film debut. She is a talented artiste who will bring credit to India through International recognition. Her re-entry into Indian cine-music may rejuvinate light music which is now in a sorry state of affairs.
Our best wishes are with her for winning the coveted Oscar award!

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 15 Jan 2013, 21:50

Here is the soul-stirring rendering as a Ragamalika of Omana Thingal by P Leela
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V2NLPStMtY
(adapted from the traditional style of Kerala.
Incidentally the traditional is sung all in Kurinji..)

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 15 Jan 2013, 21:58

Yes, I agree.
As far as I know, any lullaby in thamizh has words like kaNNE, kaNmaNiyE, muthE, maNiyE, maNE, mayilE, kiLiyE, nilavE, oLIyE aplenty.
After all, everywhere in the world, in any language, children inspire us to call them by such endearing terms and I cannot comprehend all the fuss going on about the choice of BJ's words

Just for a moment, imagine our great composers accusing each other of lifting their very words from a song while describing the eyes of their ishTa daivam-s--vanajAksha, nIrajAksha, kamala nayana etc

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 16 Jan 2013, 00:18

Just for a moment, imagine our great composers accusing each other of lifting their very words from a song while describing the eyes of their ishTa daivam-s--vanajAksha, nIrajAksha, kamala nayana etc

very nicely said, Arasi.

prabuddha · Post by **prabuddha** » 17 Jan 2013, 23:40

I feel this whole controversy is completely needless. Lullabies are ancient in our culture, I suppose, not all of them available in book form to be picked up at a Music Store. Many individual phrases of the original lullaby by Sri Irayimman Thampi can be assembled from half a dozen or so Tamil lullabies. [A couple can be found in reader's comments in The HINDU].

I feel Vidushi Bombay Jayashri has used her manodharmam to come up with a lullaby to be used in a Hollywood movie. Not only has she sung many lullabies as a singer but I'm sure she may have sung lullabies, ready made and made up, to her own babies, or other babies in the greater family or of friends. No one really has a copyright over summoning maan, mayil, kuyil, poo etc to embellish a lullaby or over Krishna, rainy season, dark clouds, pitch black night etc to embellish a song on viraham. It is just Tamil language (or Malayalam for that matter).

I for one have decided to completely ignore this storm in a teacup and take justifiable pride over Vidushi Jayashri's career milestone. I'd be overjoyed if she gets the Oscar. I have great regard for Malayalees and their traditions. But here, I feel, the Thampy trust people are indulging in copyright overreach.

Hope this helps,