N.C. Vasanthakokilam

Carnatic Musicians
Post Reply
meena
Posts: 3326
Joined: 21 May 2005, 13:57

Post by meena »

sorry shankar,
Porumai kadalaagiya she has rendered it in her last film krishna vijayam

check ur email.

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

Post by Sreeni Rajarao »

I had heard that the name change from Ranga Dorai to Randor Guy was to deal with a situation where Ranga Dorai had a lot of his submissions (cartoons?) rejected by magazine editors. I do not know how true this story is, or if I am even talking about the same Randor Guy.

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

Post by arasi »

VK,
I understand what you are asking. As you know, there are no answers. A cinema song goes like this: vidiyin viLaiyADal (Chittoor nAgaiyyA's). It is all a matter of fate. I would quickly amend, a matter of 'how things turned out to be'. Why? I don't want to turn NCV's thread into a religious/spiritual enquiry: are you a fatalist? :)
A biography is not history. So many points of view, missing pieces, emotional aspects AND, 'vidiyin viLaiyADal' too!

I was a child then, and until I read it here, I did not know Sachi was not married to her. He was visible in the concert in a way that after all these years, I still remember his face. he would flit around the place, orchestrating things. 'veLLIk kUjA' used to be the moniker for performers' husbands. Artistes, specially the Iyengar sort used kUjAs for whatever they drank while they performed (today's water bottle)--a lidded jug with a screw top to keep the beverage hot. A must- when you traveled. Well, he could have employed someone to carry the kUjA, I suppose, since he was a wealthy promoter. While I remember NCV's sweet voice, Sachi's face too, I have not forgotten. When I think about it now, it was exactly in the way one of the present day's gifted young star's father prances about the place, controlling things...
Last edited by arasi on 03 Jun 2007, 07:46, edited 1 time in total.

meena
Posts: 3326
Joined: 21 May 2005, 13:57

Post by meena »

Deleted
Last edited by meena on 06 May 2008, 04:40, edited 1 time in total.

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

Post by arasi »

Thanks, Meena!
She IS pretty, isn't she?

meena
Posts: 3326
Joined: 21 May 2005, 13:57

Post by meena »

yeah VERY pretty.

rajeshnat
Posts: 9906
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 08:04

Post by rajeshnat »


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

Post by arasi »

Rajesh,
Sriram Venkatakrishnan brings his usual flair for nostalgia in penning this piece about Spring Cuckoo NCV. He calls her a spring nightingale.
Our own spring cuckoo would be delighted to read this.
This picture of NCV does very little justice to her. I remember her to be a very attractive looking woman.

pgaiyar
Posts: 113
Joined: 27 Jan 2007, 07:59

Post by pgaiyar »

30-Nov-08

Dear All:

Can anyone please upload the NCV version of Unnai allal vere gathi of Kotiswara Iyer in Simmendramadhyamam?. God bless you all.

Regards

Guru

vasanthakokilam
Posts: 10956
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 00:01

Post by vasanthakokilam »

Thanks r-t. That is quite an elaborate song. In the movie scene, the anthropomorphic portrayal of Vishnu with Lakshmi massaging Vishnu's legs is a bit amusing. Where is the purANic backing for that? :) Later on there was a camel along with elephants in the procession, I wondered why but the answer was forthcoming .. it was kamsan...north india... camel.. OK, alright!!

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

Post by arasi »

r_t,
Thank you for the vintage footage. Do you know the movie's name? NAradar is shown blown up on the screen because 'she' is the star!

VK,
It was common to see Lakshmi relieving VishNu of all the pain he sustained after all his travails which are listed in En paLLi koNDIR aiyyA which you know by heart! The turbulence in the sea was what amused me. Wonder if it was a float filled with air.They were bobbing up and down in that pool (?) as if it were the rapids!
Come! The camels very much belong there. Anomalies and anochronisms are part of our films. A tamizh warrior in chainmail and roman sandals...

ragam-talam
Posts: 1896
Joined: 28 Sep 2006, 02:15

Post by ragam-talam »

Arasi, the description at the info section says the film is 'Krishna Vijayam'.

Btw, what are the ragas in this song - kambodhi, bhairavi, s'bharanam?

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

Post by Lakshman »

I thought I heard bilahari and nIlAmbari after kAmbhOji, then bhairavi and shankarAbharaNa.

bilahari
Posts: 2631
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 09:02

Post by bilahari »

I'm not hearing kAmbOji at all? Just bilahari, nIlAmbari, bhairavi, sh'bharaNam. Very nice clip--thanks R-T!

vasanthakokilam
Posts: 10956
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 00:01

Post by vasanthakokilam »

I think there is a 'm g p d s' in that bilahari segment which may have given the kambhoji impression.

Arasi: Yes, En paLLi koNDIR aiyyA was a clever device to tell the stories and bring them all together. Lakshmi has to be multi-tasking when Vishnu is zero-tasking ;)

That float appearing from under the water scared the heck out of me. Even more so, when it went under, I thought it was going to topple over!

ragam-talam
Posts: 1896
Joined: 28 Sep 2006, 02:15

Post by ragam-talam »

Lakshmi has to be multi-tasking when Vishnu is zero-tasking
VK, that's so funny! I have to remember to use this quote :)

I went back and listened to the clip, and yes I could hear the bilahari and nilambari this time! Thanks.

vasanthakokilam
Posts: 10956
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 00:01

Post by vasanthakokilam »

this is a small detour from this thread... but why is that 'asarIri' providing such a specific piece of critical information to Kamsan? Whose side is that asarIri in anyway?

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

Post by rshankar »

VK - AFAIK, aSarIrIs are not supposed to be on anyone's side - they just predict what is to be...

venkatakailasam
Posts: 4170
Joined: 07 Feb 2010, 19:16

Re: N.C.Vasantha Kokilam

Post by venkatakailasam »

There is no postings for almost two years! This is how we forget people!!
Now you can hear her forgotten voice !

E'-SWARA-03-Smt. NC Vasantha kokilam-Kuzalosai ketkuthamma

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3n6lvbai5A

venkatakailasam
Last edited by venkatakailasam on 01 Mar 2011, 06:28, edited 2 times in total.

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

Re: N.C.Vasantha Kokilam

Post by rshankar »

Very original, Sri Venkatakailasam!
By the way, we will never forget Smt. NCV as long as our very own 'spring-cuckoo' is around - IIRC, his ID on the forum was inspired by her!
A request - can you please correct her name? Her name is Vasantakokilam - no 'g'...Thanks!

venkatakailasam
Posts: 4170
Joined: 07 Feb 2010, 19:16

Re: N.C.Vasantha Kokilam

Post by venkatakailasam »

stand corrected! thank you.

venkatakailasam

satyabalu
Posts: 915
Joined: 28 Mar 2010, 11:07

Re: N.C.Vasantha Kokilam

Post by satyabalu »


varsha
Posts: 1978
Joined: 24 Aug 2011, 15:06

N.C. Vasanthakokilam

Post by varsha »

Once, he was taken to a wedding by his neighbours. That served as the inspiration for a successful venture he’d start much later. Carnatic singer N.C. Vasanthakokilam was performing at the high-profile wedding — she was specially invited to Sri Lanka for it. She noticed how Muthukrishnan was enjoying her music, and kept talking to the young boy during breaks. That a renowned singer had noticed him pleased Muthukrishnan no end. He decided that whenever he started a restaurant, he’d call it ‘Vasantha’. “Actually, there was no Vasantha in my family,” he smiles.
.

http://www.thehindu.com/features/metrop ... epage=true

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

Re: N.C. Vasanthakokilam

Post by rshankar »

How interesting! From Smt. MS Blue to Smt. NCV's Vasantha Bhavan - amazing how inspiration flows....

SrinathK
Posts: 2477
Joined: 13 Jan 2013, 16:10

Re: N.C. Vasanthakokilam

Post by SrinathK »

NCV had one of the best voices I've ever heard -- incredibly powerful with a gigantic vocal range, with seemingly endless power in the upper octave. She could hit stratospherically high notes almost easily with no need for a falsetto (just listen to her rendition of mAyE in tarangiNi) - by my reckoning, it was a greater range than even MS Amma -- while I didn't want to get into comparisons, I had no other yardstick. Sadly though, she wasn't blessed with the same longevity.

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

Re: N.C. Vasanthakokilam

Post by RSR »

rshankar-> NCV had a great voice. She did not die in 'penury'. She had TB and passed away when she was just 31. Saregama is uploading quite a few records by NC Vasanthakokilam. recently. ( more than 20). APK Saptha Gireesan also is uploading great , forgotten songs by NCV in films like Haridas, Krushna Vijayam and such. I am having quite a few links about her ( not from Randor Guy). but from a relative of her. Also Vembar Manivannan. Recently, tube is bursting with grand uploads of classics of the past. One such is Kutchey set by Madurai Mani Iyer. No license issues involved. We can use on-line tools to extract the music from tube. Kindly write directly to me ( rs.ramaswamy@gmail.com). I will be very glad to share about 50 very nice songs ( some , though from films, are based on pure classical). and also some gems like 'Sarasadhala Nayana' by Dhikshithar. in Kamaaj. and 'Maaye'. I presume that you are from Tamilnad so that I can send many of her tamil songs ( by Suddhananda Barathi).

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

Re: N.C. Vasanthakokilam

Post by RSR »

SrinathK wrote:NCV had one of the best voices I've ever heard -- incredibly powerful with a gigantic vocal range, with seemingly endless power in the upper octave. She could hit stratospherically high notes almost easily with no need for a falsetto (just listen to her rendition of mAyE in tarangiNi) - by my reckoning, it was a greater range than even MS Amma -- while I didn't want to get into comparisons, I had no other yardstick. Sadly though, she wasn't blessed with the same longevity.
100% in agreement. Her 'saarasa dhala nayanaa' -Dheekshithar (Kamaj) is a grand classic. ..I wish that MS had given more records of Barathy songs during 1945-50. There are only two records 1) a ) mannum imayamalai 1) b) oLi padaittha kaNNinaay ... 2)a) yAmarintha mozhikalLilae 2) b) centhamizh nAdenum pothinilae .. ..During the same period NCV gave a priceless gem of a ragamalika in piLLaip pirAyatthilae ( thilang, beemplas and kamaj) and pozhuthu pularnthau ( boopAlam). Luckily the first song is available . Saregama has placed all these songs in youtube. public domain. There was another excellent ragamalika 'sanganaadham ketkuthu..saantha Gandhi satthiayatthin' . Lovely piece. Out of circulation now. The importance of preserving legacy!
Last edited by RSR on 17 Nov 2016, 21:44, edited 1 time in total.

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

Re: N.C. Vasanthakokilam

Post by RSR »

In the process of creating a website for all the NCV songs and related materials like biography . https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanthakokilam As a forum member has requested, can anyone help by giving the link to NCV rendering of 'unnaiyallaal vaerae gathi' in Simmendhramadhyamam ( koteeswara iyer) ? also any other song not covered in the above site under creation? There must be quite a few.

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

Re: N.C. Vasanthakokilam

Post by RSR »

thanjavooran-> Sir, Happened to come across the following link of a song with great slides on N.C.Vasanthakokilam
https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... m-patalkal....GYANA GURUBARANE
The slide mentions your name for the brief biography and her music. It is written in chaste thamizh. Thank you Sir.
Is the great song of Barathy 'Pozhuthu pularnthathu' rendered in Boopala ragam by NCV , a film song ,as mentioned in the presentation? If so, may I know which film? I am desperately in need of that song . Can you help?

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

Re:

Post by RSR »

Lakshman wrote:I thought I heard bilahari and nIlAmbari after kAmbhOji, then bhairavi and shankarAbharaNa.
--------------------------------
Lakshman ji, just today, read the article on N.C.Vasanthakokilam films and songs in 'Mambalam times'.by Randor Guy Reproducing the para here.
"The musical talents and singing skills of Vasanthakokilam were used
to maximum advantage in this ‘Krishna Vijayam’. Her proficiency in
classical Carnatic music surfaced and soared skywards as never
before in any of her other films. She sang songs in many ragas including
a ragamalika about the birth of Lord Krishna ‘Porumai Kadalaagiya
Bhoomadev
i’ in

------------------------------
1)Bilahari,
2)Neelambari,
3) Bhairavi,
4)Shankarabharanam,
5)Thodi,
6) Pantuvaraali,
7)Mohanam,
8)Sree Ragam,
9) Anandhabhairavi
and
10)Hamsnaadham

-------------------------------------
Recently, there was an article by Thirunindravoor Santhanakrishnan ( if I remember the name right) in dhinatthanthi on carnatic singers in tamil films. He too has mentioned that NCV song under discussion had 10 ragams.
Experts may give opinion. I will give the audio link in next post

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

Re: N.C. Vasanthakokilam

Post by RSR »


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

Re: N.C. Vasanthakokilam

Post by RSR »

Dr.Pasupathi-> N.C.Vasanthakokilam acted in her first film with V.V.Sadagopan in Venuganam. in 1940, the same year as MS Sakunthalai. and her last film was Krushnavijayam in 1950. During that decade, she was very famous in classical carnatic concerts and gramaphone records. Kalki has written about DKP and MS. I am curious to know if he had reviewed any of the film songs, records, concerts of NCV . May I have your help?

Pasupathy
Posts: 7868
Joined: 26 Jan 2013, 19:01

Re: N.C. Vasanthakokilam

Post by Pasupathy »

RSR ... I don't have any so far. Will be on the lookout.

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

Re: N.C. Vasanthakokilam

Post by RSR »

Pasupathy wrote:RSR ... I don't have any so far. Will be on the lookout.
Dr.Pasupathy -> Thank you. It will be invaluable .

thanjavooran
Posts: 2972
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 04:44

Re: N.C. Vasanthakokilam

Post by thanjavooran »

RSR wrote:thanjavooran-> Sir, Happened to come across the following link of a song with great slides on N.C.Vasanthakokilam
https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... m-patalkal....GYANA GURUBARANE
The slide mentions your name for the brief biography and her music. It is written in chaste thamizh. Thank you Sir.
Is the great song of Barathy 'Pozhuthu pularnthathu' rendered in Boopala ragam by NCV , a film song ,as mentioned in the presentation? If so, may I know which film? I am desperately in need of that song . Can you help?
Shri RSR,
It is not me. I was just 11 yrs old when she died. But I have heard her records in my childhood days.
Thanjavooran
25 11 2016

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

Re: N.C. Vasanthakokilam

Post by RSR »

thanjavooran-> Sir, It is OK. When you come across the song , kindly inform.

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

Re: N.C. Vasanthakokilam

Post by RSR »

I was just 11 yrs old when she died. But I have heard her records in my childhood days.
Thanjavooran
25 11 2016
Respected Sir, I was only 9 year old when NCV passed away in 1951. "But I have heard her records in my childhood days" ditto....especially 'paamaalaikkinaiyundo', 'thanthai thAy irunthAl ', 'pozhuthu pularnthathu', 'anthanAL ini varumo' etc. Luckily, we are able to retrieve most of the songs thanks to youtube and mp3 sites.

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

Re:

Post by RSR »

rshankar wrote:CML,
I have been itching to ask: who named her vasanthakOkilam, and why? As far as I can tell, her name was Kamakshi. Did she start performing concerts after DKP?
Thanks.
Ravi
-----------------------------------------------
pardon me .. I am a new entrant. N.C.Vasanthakokilam , (Kamakshi) might have got that name from famous director K.SUBRANYAM. .
A good article by Sriram Venkatakrishnan in The Hindu. "In 1936, the family moved to Madras, when based on the encouragement given by film director K. Subrahmanyam, it was believed that young Kamakshi stood a good chance in films. Her name was changed to N.C. Vasanthakokilam (the nightingale in spring). ‘N’ was for Nagapattinam and ‘C’ of course was her father’s initial. "
---------------------------------------------------
"Almost the first big singing opportunity was at the Music Academy’s annual conference of 1938, presided over by Ariyakkudi Ramanuja Iyengar and declared open by the Yuvaraja of Mysore. The first prize in vocal music went to Vasanthakokilam. From then on, she became a musician in demand. While the Academy was her launch-pad, it was the Indian Fine Arts Society, with its long tradition of supporting women artistes, that gave her many concert opportunities. Yet another Sabha that featured her often was the Nellai Sangeetha Sabha in Tirunelveli. "
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp ... 436477.ece

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

Re: N.C. Vasanthakokilam

Post by RSR »

ABOUT ALATHOOR BROTHERS:
"In fact, it was due to the efforts of Palani that they gave a concert in the Music Academy in the senior slot. Their concert followed the one by N.C. Vasanthakokilam at her peak and many wondered whether the brothers’ concert would click after the mellifluous concert of NCV It not only clicked but the brothers became a sensation in Madras (Chennai) and Palani’s mridangam support was a major factor in the success of this and several later concerts of the brothers.
(SOURCE) http://www.palanisubramaniapillai.org/m ... -page2.htm
-----------------------
' it was at this juncture that palani subramanya pillai used his good offices by obtaining an opportunity for them at the music academy in 1939. ' ( from 'carnatic summer' by Sri.V.Sriram. )

vasanthakokilam
Posts: 10956
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 00:01

Re: N.C. Vasanthakokilam

Post by vasanthakokilam »

RSR, thanks for your diligent work in assembling a lot of NCV's songs in one place. I had a great time listening again to a few of my favorites of NCV

One surreal portion for me is in 'nI dayarAdA' the second kalapanaswara segment by the violinist (https://youtu.be/hgnn8jCAAdI?t=173 2:57). The violinist goes on their own and brings in quite a dreamlike flavor of vasanthabhairavi. Curious if anyone knows who the violinist is in that piece...

vasanthakokilam
Posts: 10956
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 00:01

Re: N.C. Vasanthakokilam

Post by vasanthakokilam »

Let us fill out the raga names for the songs that do not have them yet. All, please confirm if what I have written below are correct and fill in the rest.

19. yArO vandennai - attana ( https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... o-vantenai )
21. kuzhalOsai - Kamas/Harikambhoji ? ( https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... -kulalocai )
22. vAsudEvan avaDariththAn - Mohanam, ??? ( https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... na-vijayam )
23. porumai kaDal - bilahari,nIlAmbari, Bhairavi, Shankarabharanam,.... (https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... hnavijayam )
25. iniYakilum manadE - mOhanam ( https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... lum-manate )
26. pAngAna sOlai - kApi ( https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... kana-colai )
28. AnDavanE - Shanmukhapriya ( https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... 8-antavane )
29. varuvAnO vanakkuyilE - kApi ( https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... anakkuyile )
30. Senthamizh Osai - dEsh ( https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... tamil-ocai )
31. Thillai Sthalam - sAmA ( https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... llaistanam )
32. udaya sundari - viruththam - Begada, Shanmukhapriya, mohanam ( https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... ya-cuntari )
33. bharathi pAttennum - behag ( https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... p-pattenum )
34. Arva thIyAl - viruththam - kAnaDa, Bilahari, hamasanandi, kApi ( https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... rvat-tiyal )
35. thithikkum senthamizh - Sankarabharanam, Mohanam ( https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... m-centamil )
38. Kalai vANi - Dhanyasi (https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... ul-purivay )
39. kadiravan udayam- Bilahari ( https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... ritas-film )
40. enadu uyir - Paras ( https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... ritas-film )

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

Re: N.C. Vasanthakokilam

Post by RSR »

vasanthakokilam wrote:Let us fill out the raga names for the songs that do not have them yet. All, please confirm if what I have written below are correct and fill in the rest.

19. yArO vandennai - attana ( https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... o-vantenai )
21. kuzhalOsai - Kamas/Harikambhoji ? ( https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... -kulalocai )
22. vAsudEvan avaDariththAn - Mohanam, ??? ( https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... na-vijayam )
23. porumai kaDal - bilahari,nIlAmbari, Bhairavi, Shankarabharanam,.... (https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... hnavijayam )
25. iniYakilum manadE - mOhanam ( https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... lum-manate )
26. pAngAna sOlai - kApi ( https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... kana-colai )
28. AnDavanE - Shanmukhapriya ( https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... 8-antavane )
29. varuvAnO vanakkuyilE - kApi ( https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... anakkuyile )
30. Senthamizh Osai - dEsh ( https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... tamil-ocai )
31. Thillai Sthalam - sAmA ( https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... llaistanam )
32. udaya sundari - viruththam - Begada, Shanmukhapriya, mohanam ( https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... ya-cuntari )
33. bharathi pAttennum - behag ( https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... p-pattenum )
34. Arva thIyAl - viruththam - kAnaDa, Bilahari, hamasanandi, kApi ( https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... rvat-tiyal )
35. thithikkum senthamizh - Sankarabharanam, Mohanam ( https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... m-centamil )
38. Kalai vANi - Dhanyasi (https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... ul-purivay )
39. kadiravan udayam- Bilahari ( https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... ritas-film )
40. enadu uyir - Paras ( https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... ritas-film )
*************************************************************************************************************
Respected Sir, I was waiting eagerly for your participation. Thank you. My plan is to give the lyrics for all the songs along with ragam information and also as much additional information as possible( scrupupously avoiding 'gossip' items) . Sri. APKoil N Sapthagireesan has provided many links , Prof.Rajagopalan has offered to provide the lyrics and also ragam information ,one by one. Kindly take over and rope in all our ragam experts as well as thamizh poetry experts . and let us ensure that it becomes a fit tribute to that hapless singer. .
....A bit ambitious objective perhaps...but if Music academy can give posthumous award, does she not deserve it? Either from Thamizh Isai movement angle or service to literature by popularizing Yogi Suddhananda Barathi songs, Barathy songs, natioalistic , patriotic songs, devotional songs, classical songs of Dikshithar and Thyagaraja swami? in angelic voice? . many rasikas will agree that she deserves the highest honour when her hiden contributions are brought to light by diligent research.... concerts from 1939 to 1950 at Chennai and Nellai and also AIR concerts. Parama rasikas like shankar, SrintahK, Lakshmanji, Dr.Pasupathy, and many more will contribute readily under your leadership. Thank you and Best Regards

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

Re: N.C. Vasanthakokilam

Post by RSR »

very happy to share
http://nostalgiaofcarnaticmusic.blogspo ... de-to.html .
"Following are the two articles appeared in a famous magazine Titled SRUTI , in its issue dated Auguse 15 2007: ".1)A GOLDEN VOICE Story by S. RAJAM on N.C. Vasanthakokilam, as told to S. JANAKI: N.C. Vasanthakokilam’s music career was short, but while it lasted, she was one of the topmost women vocalists in Carnatic music. Vasanthakokilam, or NC as she was popularly known, could sing with great felicity. She was gifted with a golden voice which was the envy of many a Carnatic musician. It was a voice with a rich and pleasant timbre, very pliant and malleable (“kambi pol saareeram”) which could accommodate briga-s and fast paced renderings, without any distortions (pisiru) or losing its melodious quality. She was not very healthy, but her voice belied her weak physique. Although she was thin and frail, her voice combined melody with tensile strength. I have heard her sing without a mike.NC was perfect in whatever she sang — intonation, sruti suddham, emotion and clarity of words. The purity of notes in her rendering and her adherence to sruti were remarkable. Her voice could traverse the middle and higher octaves with effortless ease. Her voice rang with vibrancy, a reenkaara, as she crossed the tara shadja and dwelt on the rishabha It is my impression that M.S. Subbulakshmi took NC’s music as a model. In the Simhendramadhyama kriti 'Unnai allaal verey gati', NC sang a number of sanchara-s above the panchama and in the tara sthayi. Listeners were astounded by her rendition of this Kotiswara Iyer composition. She would often take up niraval on the phrase “Kai mel palan arul deivamey”. The song was a great hit. Thanks to NC, this song gained in popularity and other musicians also started including it in their recitals. NC carried the music lovers along with her on the strength of her simple music and fine voice. Like MS, she too was guided by a Sadasivan. In this case Sachi, as he was better known, supported and assisted her but he was not a patch on the famous Sadasivam. I knew C.K. Sachi because he directed ‘Radha Kalyanam’ the second film in which I acted, for which the music was by Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavatar. Sachi took NC under his wing but she did not live long and succumbed to tuberculosis. We must be thankful that she has left behind many recordings through which her music lives on." (second article follows)https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... uthi-cover

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

Re: N.C. Vasanthakokilam

Post by RSR »

Following is a copy of the Story by Sulochana Pattabiraman written for the issued dated 15th August 2007 of a house-magazine named SRUTI : Remarkable musical and emotional consciousness Sangeeta vidushi N.C. Vasanthakokilam truly had the voice of a “kokilam” combined with the magical quality of spring. She was a worthy member of a female musical triad — M.S. Subbulakshmi, D.K. Pattammal and N.C. Vasanthakokilam. Although nothing much has come to light about her novitiate and the guru-s who had moulded her inherent talent to performing levels, it cannot be gainsaid that she established a very special equation with the rasikas-s.

Her repository was overflowing with compositions of Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar, Papanasam Sivan, Gopalakrishna Bharati, Subramania Bharati and other greats. Her raga alapana-s were marked with substance and style and studded with euphonious prayoga-s that immediately targeted one’s heart. Her kriti renderings had remarkable musical and emotional consciousness that lifted the ambience to an elevated plane. D.K. Pattammal had the reputation of being a laya virtuoso and a past master in the rendering of intricate nadai pallavi-s.

Once this writer heard Vasanthakokilam at a chamber concert rendering the inimitable Bhairavi varnam of Adiyappaiyer, set to Ata tala. The ease and fluency with which she negotiated the composition in various nadai-s left an everlasting imprint in the minds of the handful of rasika-s assembled. Among the rasika-s was the inimitable Alathur Venkatesa Iyer. Even he, the uncompromising great, gave a nod of approval after the rendering of the Viriboni varnam.
On another occasion, when she presented a concert at the Srinivasa Gandhi Nilayam, her delineation of Kambhoji in the three octaves held the audience captive.

Sarasadala nayana in Khamas, Mayetvamyahi in Tarangini, Sundari nannindarilo in Begada and the piece de resistance Tanthai taai irundal in Shanmukhapriya, were some of the sparkling gems in her vast repertoire. It is a pity that she crossed the great divide before her song could be adequately sung."(src: http://nostalgiaofcarnaticmusic.blogspo ... de-to.html

Pasupathy
Posts: 7868
Joined: 26 Jan 2013, 19:01

Re: N.C. Vasanthakokilam

Post by Pasupathy »


என். சி. வசந்தகோகிலம் - 1

வாடாத இசை தந்த வசந்தகோகிலம்!
வாமனன்
http://s-pasupathy.blogspot.com/2017/02/1_34.html

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

Re: N.C. Vasanthakokilam

Post by RSR »

This wonderful song of Barathy rendered in BoopaaLam ( Pozhuthu Pularnthathu yaam seytha thavatthaal) by N.C.VASANTHAKOKILAM is very difficult to locate. Just now found that it is available in
http://www.worldcat.org/title/polatu-pu ... c/48858806
Can any of our esteemed members , access the library , download the song and share with me please? or post it in youtube and inform.

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

Re: N.C. Vasanthakokilam

Post by RSR »

On the eve of Saraswathi Pooja today, may I share this gem of a poem by SUBRAMANYA BARATHY on SARASWATHI rendered by N.C.VASANTHAKOKILAM in mesmerizing and divine voice( 1947?) ? A ragamalika (Tilang, Beemplas, Kamaj). SAREGAMAE has donated this record to youtube. ( though the composer's name is shown wrongly as Suddhanandha Barathy..). The poem is in thamizh. For the benefit of those who cannot follow Thamizh, I am giving a gist ( not a translation..that is beyond my capabilities).
https://youtu.be/IxkyKHMzPJM
Thamizh original poem at
https://sites.google.com/site/ncvasanth ... 01-pillaip
-----------
" In my childhood days, I was enslaved by her charm . My mind did not like the school education. The vision of Sraswathi Devi seated in White-lotus, with Veena and shining face, enslaved me.
Coming back from school, in dancing steps,I would see her appearing in the street corner having a palm-leaf in hand and reading from it sweetly. If we approach her with devotion, She would teach many arts and wisdom, and make our lives sweet. But if we desire to learn everything, she would let go a mocking look in the eyes and leave.
Alone in a 'mandapam' in the river side, I was enjoying the breeze. She came then and gave me a poem. Receiving it with grateful joy, but when I asked her to be my constant companion in life.. she vanished with a gentle smile.
--------------------

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

Re: N.C. Vasanthakokilam

Post by rshankar »

piLLai pirAyattilE was discussed exhaustively a while ago - not just the verses on sarasvati Smt. NCV sings, but the ones on lakshmi and pArvati too.

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

Re: N.C. Vasanthakokilam

Post by RSR »

rshankar-ji-> Thank you for the link to the earlier discussion. Barathy wrote three poems respectively on Saraswathi, Lakshmi and Durga. .. (Pillaippiraayatthile only is about Saraswathi) He takes poetic license. These goddesses are personification of Scholarship, Material prosperity and Valour. ..Traditionally and rightly so, our approach is one of veneration of these Goddesses. The three Goddesses are our Mothers. . Barathy also is of the same mindset in his poems on them. (ex) Nenjukku Neethiyum song by MS. ( it is a pity that it is barred by saregama/tube, globally!). Barathy is the last person in the world to bring in the idea of 'love' and 'matrimony' in the commonly understood sense with respect to Sacred Mothers like these Three. ... Personally, I fell in love with those three stanzas just due to the rendering by NCV and the ragams in the ragamalika., all my favourites. If I had not heard that , I would have turned away in revulsion, . It is just to turn our thoughts away from such association , interpretation and understanding of a nice poem otherwise , I avoided word by word translation. Frankly, whenever Barathy brings in the theme of 'love', he oversteps the limits of decency. . I venerate Barathy for his patriotic songs, and his 'Panchali Sabadham'
( https://sites.google.com/site/homage2ms ... -thum-haro
and a few other poems.

VVS Iyer a great Thamizh schoalr ( besides being a scholar in Sanskrit, Latin and Greek) admired Barathy for his Patriotic songs. 'In his words 'Akshara Laksham perum' songs. In the same introduction, he points out the above weakness of Barathy. Something like Jayadeva Ashtapathi. It is always safe to interpret the poem not too literally.
To reiterate , the song by NCV and not the full poem is my favourite.

vasanthakokilam
Posts: 10956
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 00:01

Re: N.C. Vasanthakokilam

Post by vasanthakokilam »

RSR wrote: 29 Sep 2017, 14:50 On the eve of Saraswathi Pooja today, may I share this gem of a poem by SUBRAMANYA BARATHY on SARASWATHI rendered by N.C.VASANTHAKOKILAM in mesmerizing and divine voice( 1947?) ? A ragamalika (Tilang, Beemplas, Kamaj).
There is nIlAmbari between Tilang and BImplAs, right?
Also, what is the raga at the end starting at around 5:32 ? Anything? That sounded distinct.
Traditionally and rightly so, our approach is one of veneration of these Goddesses. The three Goddesses are our Mothers. . Barathy also is of the same mindset in his poems on them. (ex) Nenjukku Neethiyum song by MS. ( it is a pity that it is barred by saregama/tube, globally!). Barathy is the last person in the world to bring in the idea of 'love' and 'matrimony' in the commonly understood sense with respect to Sacred Mothers like these Three. ... Personally, I fell in love with those three stanzas just due to the rendering by NCV and the ragams in the ragamalika., all my favourites. If I had not heard that , I would have turned away in revulsion, . It is just to turn our thoughts away from such association , interpretation and understanding of a nice poem otherwise , I avoided word by word translation. Frankly, whenever Barathy brings in the theme of 'love', he oversteps the limits of decency
Of course it is your personal thing and I know it is all part of years of conditioning in conservative families and getting influenced by the opinions of great people (who have their own conditioning based on their environment and their elders ) so I am not trying to demean that position. I just want to convey the point of view that such casting of ideas on education and knowledge by anthropomorphizing Sarasvathi is deeply part of our culture and soaked in bhakthi of the utmost kind. He is by no means overstepping anything let alone any cultural standards of decency. He is operating very much inside the bounds of our culture. Of course that does not mean you need to like it or feel comfortable about it but there is nothing demeaning about Bharati's use of such memes.

Post Reply