M.S. Subbulakshmi

Carnatic Musicians
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RSR
Posts: 3427
Joined: 11 Oct 2015, 23:31

Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by RSR »

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Yes Sir. We should honour the house where she was born and brought up. But that should not be done by any 'renovation'. The maximum that we should do is to relocate any commercial activity there. We can place a prominent sign board with her photo and details. for the guidance of pilgrims. Its utter simplicity and austerity should be preserved. Here is V.Sriram's article on the theme.
http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday ... 986406.ece

cienu
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Joined: 04 Feb 2010, 11:40

Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by cienu »

Dear Rasikas

Please find below a link to the composition "gAnak kuyil" composed by our Arasi as a tribute to Bharat Ratna M.S.Subbulakshmi. This song was sung by Smt Radha Viswanthan and S,Aishwarya on 13th Dec 2008 on the occasion of the 4th remembrance day of the Nightingale of India.On the occasion of the cenetenary year of the Bharat Ratna, I felt it would be appropriate to upload the video for the benefit of all rasikas and fans of the legendary MSS.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAFlzs5 ... e=youtu.be

I have made a brief introduction to the song in my youtube channel which I reproduce below for the benefit of readers,

Quote :

Dear Rasikas
On the occasion of the Centenary Year of Bharat Ratna M.S. Subbulakshmi, we are pleased to present a delightful composition on the “gAnak kuyil” composed by Smt Rajee Krishnan (popularly known as Arasi).

This song has been sung by the daughter of the Bharat Ratna, Smt Radha Viswanathan herself and Radha’s Grand Daughter Kumari S. Aishwarya at the Music Academy on 13th Dec 2008.

The occasion was the Launch of Dr. Gowri Ramnarayan's Book - "MS & RADHA - SAGA OF STEADFAST DEVOTION". Supporting the main artists were Shri R K Shriram Kumar on the Violin, Sangitha Kalanidhi Dr T K Murthy on the Mridangam, Palghat Shri A M Harinarayanan on Double Mridangam and Shri Anirudh Athreya on Kanjira.

Arasi (Rajee Krishnan) - is a vaggeyakara and a contemporary composer of both prose and poetry. She comes from a family of exceptional musicians and vaggeyakaras. She is the niece of V V Sadagopan, Ananthalakshmi Sadagopan, Ambujam Krishna and Dr Soundaram.

When asked by a Rasika as to what was the trigger for this sublime composition on M.S. Subbulakshmi in valachi Ragam, Arasi had this to say.

Quote:
“Many years ago, I heard kalAvati by Prabha Atre on an LP we had bought. I was charmed by the rAgA, and did not see the valachi connection then.
I had watched and had read a lot on MS after her demise, my mind replete with her images and music. The song came to me when I had nearly fallen asleep. After debating if I should wait until the next morning, I sat up and scribbled it on a piece of paper without even turning on the light. I was afraid I would forget it if I waited until the next day. I was humming it as I fell asleep. “
Unquote:

Bhakti and aesthetics combine in Arasi’s songs and she places no mudra except that most of her songs would have the word “Arul” in them. Arasi’s compositions have been sung and released as CD’s by Smt Neela Ramgopal, Smt Sumitra Nitin, Smt Gayathri Girish and Sri R Suryaprakash.

Arasi is a also a devoted admirer of social reformer and poet Subramania Bharathi. Her painstaking translation of Yadugiri Ammal’s “Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet” in the online website http://www.rasikas.org is a treasure for future generations of lovers of Bharathi – the Man and his poetry.

Please find below the lyrics for the song “gAnak kuyil”

rAgam: valachi

tALam: Adi

gAnak kuyil onRu maNNil tOnRip paRandadE-iniya iSai pADi (gAnak kuyil)

vAnilengum tirindE, vaLa migu mozhi palavum pADik kaLi SErttadE (uyar gAnak kuyil)

vINai oliyil Salangai kulungalil, kuzhaloli SUzhalil vaLarndadE
EdO, amudak kalaSattOr tuLi, ulagOrkkum AnadE (madura dEva gAnak kuyil)

mangala nangai, tirumagaL vaLLalAm, suba lakshmi enum vaDivAm
nAdamadin nADiyAm, nammai Irkka vanda AnmIga uruvAm (aruL)

Meaning:
A cuckoo appeared on earth and flew around (such a noble cuckoo))

It roamed the skies and sang away in many rich languages and brought us joy,

It grew amidst the sounds of the vINA, jingling anklet bells
and the notes of the flute (a sweet cuckoo)

as though a drop of the nectar of the heavens became ours too (a celestial cuckoo)

A propitious woman, Lakshmi, benefactor, named Subha lakshmi--
She, the very pulse of nAdA, the one who like a magnet drew us
to her spiritual self--the one with the grace of God (the song cuckoo)

Note that the gAnak kuyil in each segment has added words which go with the context.

uyar= noble
dEva=celestial (with the nectar)
madura=sweet; also indicative of Madurai where she was born amid music
vaDivu= beauty; her mother Shanmugavadivu
aruL=the grace of God (with her spiritual leanings)

Unquote:
Last edited by cienu on 02 Dec 2016, 07:29, edited 1 time in total.

Pasupathy
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Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by Pasupathy »

One can see Arasi's poem as it appeared in 'sarigamapadhani" magazine here:
http://s-pasupathy.blogspot.com/2016/07/7.html

RSR
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Joined: 11 Oct 2015, 23:31

Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by RSR »

Chellappa -> about preserving MS''s house at Madurai as a national place of pilgrimage. ....MS-EARLY LIFE-NARRATED BY HERSELF!from Gowri Ramnarayan's article as told by MS-reminiscences ....."I spent my childhood in a tiny house wedged between a row of tightly packed houses. This was in Hanumantharayan Street, very close to the Minakshi temple. Oh yes, it is still there! The street is just as narrow, dusty and crowded now as it was in those days. The little lane was often occupied by cows which refused to budge. Certainly no cars could get by. The cows would sit comfortably and chew on, pretending not to hear the shouts and the honks.Our home was very small— two rooms, a kitchen and a courtyard. A staircase went up to the terrace on top. Our house was always packed with elderly aunts and uncles who were often sick. We had to be quieter then. Our life was simple and frugal...." (translation by Nithyan ) "எனது குழந்தைப்பருவம் மீனாட்சி அம்மன் கோவிலுக்கு அருகாமையில், ஹனுமந்தரையன் எனும் தெருவில் இருந்த மிகச்சிறிய, வெறும் மரத்தடுப்பு கொண்ட, நெரிசலாக அமைந்த வரிசை வீடுகள் ஒன்றில் கழிந்தது. இன்றும் மதுரையின் இப்பகுதிக்குச் சென்றால், அவ்வீட்டைக் காணலாம். இன்று போலவே அன்றும் அத்தெரு குறுகியும், தூசு படிந்தும், ஜன நெருக்கடியுடனும் காணப்பட்டது.அச்சிறு சந்து அவ்வப்பொழுது சிறிதும் நகர மறுக்கும் பசுக்களால் ஆக்கிரமிக்கப்படுவதுண்டு. எந்த வாகனமும் அவ்வழி அவற்றை கடந்து செல்ல முடியாது. மனிதர்களின் கூச்சல்களையும், வாகனங்களின் இரைச்சல்களையும் பொருட்படுத்தாது அப்பசுக்கள் நன்கு வசதியாக அமர்ந்து அசை போட்ட வண்ணம் இருக்கும். ....எங்கள் வீடு ஒரு முற்றமும், இரு அறைகளும், ஒரு அடுக்களையும் மட்டுமே கொண்ட மிகச்சிறிய வீடு. வீட்டின் மொட்டை மாடிக்கு இட்டுச் செல்லும் படிக்கட்டுகள் ஒருபுறம். உடல்நலம் குன்றிய குடும்பத்துப் பெரியோர்களையும் உள்ளடக்கிய குடும்பம் ஆகையால், வீட்டில் எப்பொழுதும் அமைதி காத்திட வேண்டும்"
https://sites.google.com/site/homage2ms ... by-herself
https://sites.google.com/site/homage2ms ... ninaivukal

rshankar
Posts: 13754
Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 22:26

Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by rshankar »

The Star Indian Cinema seems to have forgotten

Some precious/priceless quotes:
veejai sai wrote:At the Delhi premiere in 1947, prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, and Lord and Lady Mountbatten stood at the entrance of Regal cinema, welcoming guests. Never before or after in the history of Indian cinema did a prime minister go out of his way to support a film the way Nehru did for Meera.
The beautiful picture in the article is the bonus feature!
veejai sai wrote:When she was unable to go to Mumbai to receive the Master Dinanath Mangeshkar Award in 1994, singer Lata Mangeshkar flew in to Chennai to hand it to her personally.

RSR
Posts: 3427
Joined: 11 Oct 2015, 23:31

Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by RSR »

rshankar wrote:The Star Indian Cinema seems to have forgotten

Some precious/priceless quotes:
veejai sai wrote:At the Delhi premiere in 1947, prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, and Lord and Lady Mountbatten stood at the entrance of Regal cinema, welcoming guests. Never before or after in the history of Indian cinema did a prime minister go out of his way to support a film the way Nehru did for Meera.
The beautiful picture in the article is the bonus feature!
veejai sai wrote:When she was unable to go to Mumbai to receive the Master Dinanath Mangeshkar Award in 1994, singer Lata Mangeshkar flew in to Chennai to hand it to her personally.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Very nice . The artificiality of Mrs.Bali compared to the natural , serene beauty , poise and grace of all the others in the photo is revealing!. MS Amma aged very gradually and gracefully
-----------------------
"When she (Smt.MS)...was unable to ......"

arasi
Posts: 16774
Joined: 22 Jun 2006, 09:30

Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by arasi »

Cienu,
Thank you kindly for bringing little Aishwarya and your mother singing gAnak kuyilonRu to the thread--and for taking the time to give the lyrics, the meaning, and the background to this heartfelt ode written in praise of the grand lady of CM. Just about a month before the event, I told your mother and you about the song. You asked me to sing it (ha!) and asked me to write it down. The next thing I know, it made its debut performance on Gowri Ramnarayan's book release day!

You have also posted Aishwarya singing it in another concert as a grown up young woman, I think, and I have heard her sing it in a concert two years (?) ago. What we have now is the debut performance of the song. I realize how much your daughter has grown--especially in her musical prowess! Still, the earnestness with which she sings it is something charming :)

Pasupathy,
Thank you for bringing the version from Sarigamapadhani. I'm happy you liked the lines as much as you did...:)

Vignesh Viswanathan
Posts: 30
Joined: 02 May 2014, 23:45

Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by Vignesh Viswanathan »

Dear Arasi,

What more could have been a pleasure for a MS Rasika to hear to Your Ganakuyil sung by Aishwarya at Sri Parthasarathy Swami Sabha last year in your very presence.

That was the first time I got an opportunity to meet you and speak with you.

Your words in the song brings Image and Life of MS Amma before our Eyes. Humble pranams for your poetical tribute!!

arasi
Posts: 16774
Joined: 22 Jun 2006, 09:30

Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by arasi »

Vignesh,
Thank you!
The object of our adoration inspired the lines in the song. That's all.
Aishwarya sang it with verve and feeling at Parthasarathy Sabha. I wasn't in Chennai last year. So, it was the 2014 season!

Hope we can meet again, though our stay in Chennai is going to be very short, I'm afraid...

srkris
Site Admin
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Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by srkris »

RSR wrote: Very nice . The artificiality of Mrs.Bali compared to the natural , serene beauty , poise and grace of all the others in the photo is revealing!. MS Amma aged very gradually and gracefully
-----------------------
"When she (Smt.MS)...was unable to ......"
RSR, please take this as a warning and stop making personal attacks on this forum.

RSR
Posts: 3427
Joined: 11 Oct 2015, 23:31

Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by RSR »

[quote="srkris"][quote="RSR"]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
kindly read it as " the natural , serene beauty , poise and grace of all in the photo is revealing!. MS Amma aged very gradually and gracefully"..It is a compliment

kvchellappa
Posts: 3597
Joined: 04 Aug 2011, 13:54

Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by kvchellappa »

It is the comment on Mrs. Bali, that is perhaps not in context, that looks offensive.

RSR
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Joined: 11 Oct 2015, 23:31

Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by RSR »

kvchellappa wrote: It is the comment on Mrs. Bali, that is perhaps not in context, that looks offensive.
Respected Sir,I understood and have edited. Thanks !.May I submit that the 'admin' if he thinks , any post ,not suitable for this forum, he can first ask by mail to remove and if not done within two days,can simply remove it.

RSR
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Joined: 11 Oct 2015, 23:31

Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by RSR »

Eternal thanks to Sri.varsh for the mp3 file and to Sri.V.Govindan ( Thyagaraja vaibavam) for the song and translation in thamizh. MS Amma's Koluvamare Kadaa - Raga Todi
https://sites.google.com/site/homage2ms ... -mara-todi

Pratyaksham Bala
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Joined: 21 May 2010, 16:57

Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by Pratyaksham Bala »

Meera Hindi Movie -- Smt. Sarojini Naidu's introduction of M.S.Subbulakshmi :-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5GzAh5XgGo

RSR
Posts: 3427
Joined: 11 Oct 2015, 23:31

Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by RSR »

Pratyaksham Bala wrote:Meera Hindi Movie -- Smt. Sarojini Naidu's introduction of M.S.Subbulakshmi :-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5GzAh5XgGo
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May i share my own sites? It gives translation in thamizh also.

1) HINDI FILM CLIPS..1947
https://sites.google.com/site/meera1947 ... ips-as-mp4

2) THMIZH FILM CLIPS -1945
https://sites.google.com/site/meera1945tamil/

3) https://sites.google.com/site/homage2ms ... amil--1945
All the thamizh songs and thamizh translation of Sarojini's speech

RSR
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Joined: 11 Oct 2015, 23:31

Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by RSR »

Just in case , our MS devotees have missed this....Kalki on MS premiere at Delhi... MS special concert .. Baby Radha's dance for the distinguished guests... It is however in Thamizh. Sri.Chellappa is requested to give a translation in English.
http://www.msstribute.org/articles/arti ... thirai.php

RSR
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Joined: 11 Oct 2015, 23:31

Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by RSR »

11th December.... MAHAKAVI BARATHY'S BIRTHDAY... and the day on which our MS departed from our midst and reached the Lotus Feet of the Lord. .. Very much privileged to share this gem 'mannum imayamalai engal malaiye' by Barathy, orchestration by S.V.Venkataraman , in Chenchurutti , specially recorded for the Republic Day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5ejc-H09io
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Dr.Pasupathy's ( as usual) rare to get information from archive on S.V.Venkataraman, and ..Kalki .. on this immortal song.
http://s-pasupathy.blogspot.in/2014/01/29.html
Dr.Pasupathy's brief note is in thamizh. My humble effort to give a synopsis.
---------
" We hear many great songs in concerts and other media but unfortunately, nothing is mentioned about the person who set the piece to music unlike film songs which always get known with the name of the 'music director'. i wonder if the vocalist himself/herself knows about the music composer of the song being rendered. Thus, many deserving music composers do not get the recognition that is their due. One such , sadly forgotten music composer is Sri.S.V.Venkataraman. who is the music director for Meera film (1945-thamizh) and Meera ( Hindi version-1947). who gave us the absolutely ravishing compositions in Ragamalika for 'Vadavaraiyai matthaakki' ( iLANGO ADIKAL'S SILAPPATHIKAARAM) 'S and 'mudiyondri moovulakangalum' (PERIYAAZHVAAR PAASURAM) by MS. How many people know that?
But, S.V.VENKATARAMAN'S name was prominently shown in the record itself once , as a rare gesture by HMV. in 1950 advertisement for the record which had 'mannum imayamalai ' . and 'oLi padaittha kaNNinaay' . ( Here Dr.Pasupathy has given the picture of the advt).
Would Kalki miss this opportunity to embellish the advertisement? He published the lyrics of both these gems of Barathi with lovely drawings as illustration for the song by the artist Maniyam. ( as shown). "

============================================================================================
Dr.Pasupathy would have given a better translation. Kindly bear with this bare substitute.

cienu
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Joined: 04 Feb 2010, 11:40

Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by cienu »

Dear Rasikas,
The “Suswaralakshmi Foundation for Classical Music and Performing Arts” is extremely delighted to host a special programme as part of the Centenary Year celebrations of Bharat Ratna M.S.Subbulakshmi pertaining to her Ragam, Tanam and Pallavis on 18TH Dec 2016. (Sunday) at Raga Sudha Hall from 10 am to 12 noon.
This thematic program will be presented by Smt Kiranavali Vidyasankar, erudite musician and scholar who had listened to many RTP recordings of MSS and will thus present to the audience a well analysed and researched documentary on an unknown facet of the “Genius of Song”.
It is my fervent desire that all music lovers attend this program. And as far as MSS fans are concerned, this will be an event they will cherish forever.
Sangita Kalanidhi Dr T K Murthy has kindly consented to be the Guest of Honour.
All rasikas are welcome to attend along with their friends and family.
For the benefit of non Chennai music lovers, there will be a live webcast by Kalakendra at the link below.
http://www.kalakendra.com/thematic-pres ... ing-sw1790
Image
Image

kvchellappa
Posts: 3597
Joined: 04 Aug 2011, 13:54

Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by kvchellappa »

May this dream come true:
"But I have a dream, of creating an endowed Carnatic Music Chair dedicated to M.S. Subbulakshmi in the University of Denver, the U.S. It would cost millions of dollars... I leave it to the grace of the Acharyas and the blessings of M.S. to make this come true.”
http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/m ... 958954.ece

kartheeksharma
Posts: 59
Joined: 02 Nov 2015, 11:49

Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by kartheeksharma »

Please upload any unknown renderings of MSS it's been so long I heard any new one.please anyone......

kartheeksharma
Posts: 59
Joined: 02 Nov 2015, 11:49

Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by kartheeksharma »

Could anybody post clear version of apparama bhakti of MSS, I have heard it in YouTube but it's poor audio quality.

arunsri
Posts: 249
Joined: 04 Feb 2010, 13:07

Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by arunsri »

https://www.sangeethamshare.org/manjuna ... -USA-1977/

This is a 1969 Narada Gana Sabha concert [April 13/14]

raviraghu
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Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by raviraghu »

M S AMMA is MS AMMA no match to her

kvchellappa
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Joined: 04 Aug 2011, 13:54

Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by kvchellappa »

I find this enjoyable:
Bharatanatyam | Meera | Tribute to M.S | Guru Shobanaa Bhalchandra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTc5l6HeTgM

K Nagarajan
Posts: 138
Joined: 09 Jul 2015, 22:19

Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by K Nagarajan »

How to search for a recent posting of a link for a book on Smt.MS Subbulakshmi.

cienu
Posts: 2387
Joined: 04 Feb 2010, 11:40

Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by cienu »

The MS Blog in the website www.msstribute.org has many interesting articles and recordings.
https://blog.msstribute.org/

cienu
Posts: 2387
Joined: 04 Feb 2010, 11:40

Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by cienu »

The link below in www.msstribute.org takes you to the exact MS Blue colour
https://www.msstribute.org/articles/art ... ettiar.php

K Nagarajan
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Joined: 09 Jul 2015, 22:19

Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by K Nagarajan »

Thank You, Sir for the links.

RSR
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Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by RSR »

Chellappa Sir, I am giving an email received today. by an ardent devotee of MS.
-----------------------------
'Dear Sri Ramaswamy,
Thank you very much for a very prompt response.
When I was attending a course in Railway Signalling at Secunderabad way back in 1969,my other indian colleagues were thrilled to hear me playing the Meera bajans in my room.I had the Tamil VCD and recently got the DVD version,but that is not so clear.I am a serious follower of M S Subulakshmi and i loved the hindi meera music too.I have been searching for it the last 40 or 50 years but unsuccessful I am prepared to pay even 1000 rupees but not successful
I come to Chennai every December for the Music Festival.So if you hear of anybody who has it, please let me know.
Regards
P.Satyamoorthy (ponnudurai.satyamoorthy@gmail.com)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
May I request Mrs.Niveditha Ramakrishnan, to take steps to make her hindi meera tape available to all in CD /DVD form? rasikas forum and Sri.V.Srinivasan can initiate steps through saregama. Best Regards.

pattamaa
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Joined: 22 Nov 2009, 10:24

Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by pattamaa »

Mostly youtube has them

If you are looking for meera tamil movie songs

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... Yh05_UK6-R

pattamaa
Posts: 749
Joined: 22 Nov 2009, 10:24

Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by pattamaa »

Hindi songs

Meera (1945/1947) (Tamil/Hindi): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... 9D6FBEBD06

RSR
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Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by RSR »

pattamma-> thank you. The Hindi meera ( 1947) collection with original video clips is fine. but the tamil version collection is not , that good. ..I have attempted to present the songs in sequence with lovely lyrics by Kalki in thamizh.
https://sites.google.com/site/meera1945 ... ideo-links

1) murali mohana ( kapi) 2) kaatrinile (misra jonpuri) 3) enathu ullame ( chenchurutti) 4) duet > 5) giridhara gopala (mohanam) 6) yadhnandhana ( thilang) 7) leelaikal seyvaane (?) 8) veynguzhalin naadham ( patha dheep)
9) maravene ennaalilume ( paraj) ( 10) charaacharam ( ? ) 11) aranga un makimaiyai (behag) 12) maraintha koondil (kamaj) 13) udal uruga ( poorvikalyaani, sahana, naadhanaamakriya) 14) antha naalum ( sindhu bairavi) 15) engum nirainthaye ( ? ) 16) janaardhanaa ( manirangu?) .

May I have your help in identifying the ragams of songs shown in bold"
----------------------------
Sri.Chelladurai needs the DVD of HINDI MEERA

SrinathK
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Joined: 13 Jan 2013, 16:10

Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by SrinathK »

A valuable collection of Ragam Tanam Pallavis -- https://blog.msstribute.org/ms-repertoi ... m-pallavi/

The Thodi alapana in #2 is from the early days -- incredible. One thing I observed is that in those old recordings, there was always some phrases or brighas in every alapana that weren't there in any other. To play them back on the violin would need demonic levels of practice...

RSR
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Joined: 11 Oct 2015, 23:31

Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by RSR »

Srinathji, Thank you for the wonderful link. and the comment..
Is it possible to get MS's very early record of 'Intha Sowkyamu ' in Kapi? (before 1940 !)

RSR
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Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by RSR »

May i share my post made just now in 'general discussion' as it is mostly relevant to Smt.MS Music academy concert (1956)?
http://www.rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic ... 35#p320308

RSR
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Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by RSR »

D.K.PATTAMMAL SINGING DURING THE WEDDING OF MS-SADASIVAM'S DAUGHTERS
A VERY RARE COLOR PHOTO!

https://sites.google.com/site/dkpattamm ... rarephotos

Ramasubramanian M.K
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Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by Ramasubramanian M.K »

Great pic. The wedding was in 1957 @ the Kalki Gardens. The bespectacled lady facing DKP is Sadasivam's niece Chellammal--she composed hilarious tunes for he occasion-she had all her uncle's sense of humor!! One of the song was "KALYANA VAIBHavameE" in Simhendra madyamam.

It was one of the best well-attended marriages in City--nothing was "gaudy" and no flagrant displays of pomp and opulence characteristic of some of the weddings today.
The wedding was capped in the evening with SSI-TNK_Palani-Trichy Sankaran(double mridangam).
I know the concert was recorded perhaps lost in the archives with the sale and hasty evacuation of kaki gardens in 1977.

CIENU,would you be able to look for a copy of the recording?

Lovely memories are rekindled by such rare photographs. There is group photo with MSAmma in 9 yards (Muthu Chettiar's handcrafted one!!) .

RSR
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Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by RSR »

Ramasubramanian Sir, May I know the date of the wedding ? . The group photo with Smt.MS in 9 yards "madisaar'? ' was found in an earlier post. and posted in tribute to m.s.subbulakshmi ( facebook)
https://www.facebook.com/tributetomssub ... 89/?type=3
Very rare photo indeed!

RSR
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Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by RSR »

by SrinathK » 15 Jul 2016, 20:52
I stumbled upon this really old full length concert from 1955, offering a glimpse into what her music was in those years. (Spoiler : Pretty much the same as we've always remembered it, except the energy of her prime means her voice is in racing trim, punching through frightening brighas with the ease of a morning stroll, cruises in the upper octave like an airliner, and the manodharma is a free bird with no energy constraints).
Thiruvalangadu Sundaresa Iyer - Violin T.K.Murthy - Mridangam Umayalapuram Kothandarama Iyer - Ghatam
Radha mAmi is supporting vocal.
26 December 1955
9 pm - Music Academy, Madras (9 pm !! Really? These days the cities don't sleep, but this has vanished now!) Someone do tell me how you went back home at that hour?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCG5EM_3DF8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zpd247Vpmz8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq_s1lLEnl8

There isn't much of MS at all from this period AFAIK, so whatever there is worth it's weight in gold :-
***********************************************************************************************************************************
Dear Sri.SrintahK, Entirely in agreement with the last line of the quote.
I too am in search of such albums. In the first link ( youtube) that you have given, a rasika has commented about the year of the concert. Can you please confirm the year?
I took the liberty of placing your post in my site
https://sites.google.com/site/homage2ms ... n-rasikas
(kindly ignore the mistake in the year. I will attend to it..) .

Ramasubramanian M.K
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Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by Ramasubramanian M.K »

Dear RSR: Unfortunately I do not remember the date.All that I recall--which I admit is TOTALLY IRRELEVANT to your question--I accompanied my mother to " Ahmedabad in September 1957 to help establish her FIRST Kuditthanam after her wedding--Radha's husband the late Viwananathan was working for one of the Textile firms in Ahmedabad. MSAMMA could not accompany her as she really wanted to becauseof pressing engagements--so the HONOR fell to my Mom to whom RADHA was the FIRST DAUGHTER!!

The notable thing about Radha--she was all of 22 yrs old at that time--(from the scorching headlights of Kalki gardens. when. not a day passed without a VIP visiting and Radha being the centre of attentions the Hostess_)-- Radha took to her new establishment like a fish to water--no fearsome nostalgia about the transition from cynosure of attention to an ordinary young housewife in a strange city Ahmedabad--where there were not many South Indians. Radha is one of those rare celebrities that I have known who are impervious to the adulation and sycophancy her status fetched.

I will try to get the precise date of the wedding from my family's archives.

RSR
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Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by RSR »

Respected M.K.Ramasubramanyam Sir, I have read all your posts in this thread. and love them. Any piece of news about the great years in Kalki gardens is most welcome to devotees like me of both Smt.MS and Sri.Sadasivam. and all the fortunate ones in the immediate family circle and family friends. and of course Kalki. You are the best person to write about those years. Everything is relevant. Smt. Anandhi too was a great personality. I will be grateful if you can recollect pleasant memories about her and Sri.Ramachandran ('Ambi') in family circles. Any photo of their wedding will be a glorious gift and information about Sri.Ramachandran.

Ramasubramanian M.K
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Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by Ramasubramanian M.K »

Dear RSR: Thanks for the kind sentiments expressed by you. As I have written several times before,I owe so much to MSAMMA and MAMA for whatever I have got. Mama always used to drill into my ears the qualities of Compassion,loyalty and gratitude. Mama was such a great person. that if you have ben of help to him at some point of his in the most trivial manner(you yourself would not even remember it) Mama would reciprocate at the appropriate occasion.

Regards Anandhi and Ramachandran(I used to call him Ambi Anna as Radha,Vijaya did).
Ambi Anna was a colorful,back-slapping outgoing person with a sense of humor that would outmatch his uncle MAMA himself --if at all that is possible. He came under the tutelage of mama when he was hardly ten along with his younger sister Thangamma. Ambi Anna did Economics Honors from Loyola just. around Independence. Mama had very ambitious plans to associate Ambi Anna(he had a shrewd business sense) with the KALKI Magazine(long before even the thought of getting him married to Anandhi which came subsequently at the behest of Rajaji) as his heir-apparent to the busisiness. Ambi Anna had other ideas--while he respected Mama's wishes and acknowledged the deep sense of gratitude towards Mama for his upliftment,politely and firmly told Mama that he had other ideas. MY own speculation is that BOTH were strong personalities and at some point of time were bound to clash and Ambi Anna did not want that to happen. To his credit Mama acknowledged this streak of independence respected his wishes and did not press him nor did he hold a grudge against him for turning him down. Ambi Anna stayed in Kalki Gardens for some time. before getting married to Anandhi moved out and set up his own establishment first in Bombay(he worked in the Insurance Industry). Whenever I visited Kalki Gardens in the late forties and early fifties Ambi Anna would "needle". my mother and myself--always coming up with a clever remark or repartee!! he was quite a handsome guy--tall and lanky fair like Mama. he was a voracious reader--he would be reading a book while having lunch sitting in the floor. he was always smiling--never a frown in his face. and always a diplomat in parrying away questions that he did not wish to answer!!!

Anandhi--a couple of years older than me-- was the epitome of dignity, grace and pleasant demeanor. besides being a good writer--both in English and Tamil. Given that her father spent most of his early years after his marriage in prison and the freedom struggle he had very little time for his children. Anandhi(even before her marriage to Ambi Anna) was very much a part of the KALKI household--although KALKI Mama and is family lived in Gandhinagar Adyar--quite a distance from Kilpauk in those days!!. Because both Radha and Anandhi danced together under Vazhuvoor Ramiyah Pillai and MS AMMA used to sing for their dance performances. Anandhi was a gregarious person--never hurtful to anybody in deed or word.
In our family archives I once found letter r from her to my mother in 1956(when my mother became a Grandmother for the first time @ 36 years of age) congratulating her on being a grandmother for the first time and went on waxing eloquently about the pleasures of GRANDMOTHER hood(remember Anandhi herself was all of 24 years old with 2 kids of her own at that time)That letter she showed she was a "true chip of the old block"(KALKI Mama)!!

After the children(Gown et al) had grown up and settled she started. helping Rukmini Devi @ the Kalakshetra-- selfless devotion doing research and helping Rukmini in her management of the hoary Institution. Anandhi was such a self-effacing personality. that she never tried to use that stint as a platform to seek publicity for herself. Always. smiling never one to assert her authority(although she had the stature ). An anecdote.

When MS AMMa was sick in the early Nineties,Anandhi was also stricken at that time and was undergoing treatment. Despite this on one hot summer day she came in an Auto to Kotturpuram from Adayar to see MS Amma. MSAMMa chided her for not informing her so that she could send a car. Anndhi smilingly brushed way and despite MSAMMa's pleadings left by Auto(of course Adyar and Kotturpuram were relatively close). Six months later she died.
She was very fond of my mother and myself and my sister.

She had tremendous respect for MAMA and Mama too reciprocated it in large measure. I can assert that she was one of the few personalities who never incurred Mama's wrath--a great achiebvement in and of itself!!
An intersting sidebar story. that haunts my mind even today.

As everybody knows both MAMA and KALKI MAMA were admirers of Rasikamani T.K. Chidambaranatha MudaliarOTKC as he was fondly called--a great Tamil Scholar and writer)--Tamil readers of yesteryears may recall his commentaries as a serial on the Kamba Ramayanam in the KALKI Magazine.

TKC was very much disappointed with the system of education(these were the British. Days). especially the Schools and was a fierce advocate of home-study and education instead of the class room pedagogy. He convinced Sadasivam Mama about the futility of formal schooling--Sadasiva Mama dutifully obeyed his mentor and withdrew both Radha and Vijaya from their formal schooling and gave them. home study. However KALKI Mama as devoted a follower of TKC as he was chose to send Anandhi to a convent school from she matriculated!! Anandhi was equally proficient in both ENGLISH and TAMIL!! As a young boy of 11 or 12 I was curious to ask Anandhi how this decision was made--given. KALKI Mama's distaste. for the British Colonial Culture that they spread thro the Schools how could he deviate from his own convictions. let alone deviating from his mentor's)TKC) stand on this issue

Alas I never got the courage to ask her the question. even though both of us were in our sixties

RSR
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Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by RSR »

Respected Ramasubramanyam Sir, How can I thank you enough for this great post! Though far far removed from the MS-TS family and friends, my only connection being my adoration of Smt.MS songs in the period 1938-1952 when her voice was just divine, and the association of both MS and TS with the Independence movement , during the most idealistic period, I have been ever charmed by the Life Divine of this blessed couple and managed to collect articles,records, , photos ( family photos) and such. Gowri Ramnarayan's article about how much Sri.Sadasivam loved 'Ambi' and many rare photos which confirm his affection , prompt me to gather more information about Sri. Ramachandran.
Yours is the first pen-portrait of him. that I have come across.
and Smt.Anandhi ! i have read her great piece of writing about the dance performance by Radha and herself.... in tribute to MS site. The humility and grace revealed in that article is endearing. . Ever eager to hear more from you. Sir. Thank you again.

kvchellappa
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Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by kvchellappa »

Sri Sankara TV will telecast the birthday celebration of MS at Shanmukhananda Hall at 6 PM on 16th Sep 2017.

RSR
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Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by RSR »

http://www.thehindu.com/fr/2004/09/17/s ... 890600.htm.
"The making of ``Meera" was studded with interesting incidents. `Kalki' Krishnamurti, who wrote the script and a few of the immortal songs, accompanied the crew and recorded the episodes. Excerpts, translated by GOWRI RAMNARAYAN. "
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kalki's Meera Yatthirai is available in Dr.Pasupathy's blog. (thamizh original by Kalki)
http://s-pasupathy.blogspot.in/2016/09/12.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

kvchellappa
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Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by kvchellappa »

Tomorrow is 101st birthday of MS. This is from FB post:
https://blog.msstribute.org/ms-centenar ... born-sing/

varsha
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Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by varsha »


RSR
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Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by RSR »

kvchellappa Sir, Thank you for sharing the blog. in MS Tribute page.
varsha-ji -> Thanks for the Varanaradha song.
-------------------------------------------------------------
sharing my post in facebook just now.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php? ... 4120416379
( i hope , it is allowed).
--------------------------------------------------------------
And adding my toast...
https://sites.google.com/site/meera1947 ... vana-kunja
(pilu ?)
SrinathK will love it!

SrinathK
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Re: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Post by SrinathK »

I have all the songs of Meera in Hindi. The music was genius in the way it found a way to extract new tonal colours and capabilities out of MS Amma's voice and the perfection of the rendering. The songs are like finely crafted jewellery.

@varsha, Now that's some amazing veena playing! What a sound!

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