Sanjay Subrahmanyan @ Boston

[Ramasubramanian M.K]

K.V.Chellappa: Thanks for the link to Tara Anand's reviews of Sanjay/Lalgudi Duo. Coming as it does from a highly competent violinist(Tara),this is truly high praise indeed and richly deserved.
Also KEDHARAM--EXCELLENT REVIEW.FELT AS THOUGH I WAS IN THE CONCERT!!! As Tara says in her review, by adhering to tradition Sanjay has not forgone innovation or imagination.Obviously he sings with so much "swanubhavam" that--despite a not-very-cooperative voice--he brings out the best in any raga or krithi.

Dear Keento learn: Welcome to the forum. AS the doyen amongst Rasikas--ARASI--says this is one of the most enlightening forums in Carnatic Music that I have been exposed to.There is so much vast trove of information,knowledge that one can get from this forum. An occasional vituperative outbursts from some passionate forum members may throw more heat than light!! But such discussions at times polemical as they might be help us to be discerning rasikas. Now a word of advice to you from a Carnatic Music Methusaleh like me: BE A CONTRIBUTOR TO THE FORUM AND NOT MERELY A CONSUMER!!!

[arasi]

MKR,
You are the doyen, among several others. My knowledge about music is questionable--simply because it's not grounded in systematic learning. If music appreciation alone counts, and cheer leader qualities, I'm 'qualified'. As years go by, we see more of young ones on Rasikas.org who amaze us with their tremendous knowledge about CM and much more. Rasikas.org attracts a lot music-minded people to share with others their musical experiences. Even the few that you refer to --to them, our bonhomie is back-scratching and being jAlrA-s! The fact is--like-minded people we are in loving music, and that's about all.
As for Sanjay, he deserves all the accolades. Those who have no ear for him can complain all they want. Let them be...

[melam72]

Sanjay's voice - it used to be un-co-operative. When he was younger, it would be heart-wrenching to listen to his voice thin out so much in the higher octaves, a technical glitch which belied his immense talents.

His voice is still un-co-operative now, though to a lesser extent. Being with Sri S R D Vaidyanathan has enabled him to adopt some of the nagaswaram players' tactics to navigate higher octaves, which sound very gimicky and out of place - the Tu-Tu-Tu I refer to.

Or he might have just worn us down with his persistence and we rasikas would've catipulated to The Sanjay

[arasi]

'Drivers' are road-worthy now(sort of)! Is that what I hear now? No artiste can be, or has been perfect in the first place in the history of music, as far as we know. Those who rose above all malignant critics were single-minded about overcoming their shortcomings and in making their music worthwhile for themselves and for others. At least, Singapore is spared of a series of concerts of this kind. Take heart...

[melam72]

'Drivers' are road-worthy now(sort of)! Is that what I hear now?

The Driver was always Road Worthy. Whether the Driver needs to Drive on stage is another question altogether?

Those who rose above all malignant critics were single-minded about overcoming their shortcomings and in making their music worthwhile for themselves and for others.

In the case of the Cowherdess, she shed her strengths and took shortcuts to achieve 'success'- where was the Aruna who learnt from Brinda? All you can see is Cowherdess. If you want to see what Aruna Sayeeram is like, see Geetha Raja.

At least, Singapore is spared of a series of concerts of this kind. Take heart...

Arasi, Singapore is spared of all concerts

[hnbhagavan]

Sanjay in spite of non- melodious voice and whatever Tut tut is attributed still gives wholesome music always introducing new items in his concerts.
Semmangudi had a nasal voice,but is considered the Pitamaha and taught M S Subbulakshmi.Melam72 has some points which will eliminate most musicians branding each one in his own style.
I would like to hear melam72 perform some day and let his concert be reviewed by knowledgeable rasikas.

[melam72]

@Bhagavan - you see me perform every day - Rasikas.org is my sabha!

Do note I didn't say a single thing about Semmangudi or MS, for I haven't listened to them live.

There is an element of gimmickery in the music of Sanjay, which is undeniable. You may accuse me of bias, but you may refer to the reviews of Sinduja in the same forum where she talks about it. These are anavasayams and can be done away with.

At the end of the day - Satyameva Jayathe!

[hnbhagavan]

True.But i have to see in a overall sense.If you want Music totally free of any gimmicks then look to Vijay siva , OS Thyagarajan,Madurai GS Mani,Madam Vedavalli,Sumitra Vasudev,Amritha Murali in the present day.I might not have mentioned all,but these come to my mind.Madurai GS Mani and Vedavalli are very seniors and perform less these days.

[melam72]

I could, and I do.

But to me, educating others on the demerits of musicians <redacted since it unnecessarily drags in names unrelated to this topic> is far more important to me, so the public goes in with their eyes open.

And who said gimmicks are any bad? If Sanjay just reduces the amount of gimmicks and anaavasayams in the music, he will truly be this generation's answer to Semmangudi mama. I enjoy Sanjay's music, and stomach his odious gimmicks to listen to his music.

[arasi]

Bhagwan,
Don't you see the pattern? Good, bad and indifferent rasikAs (in our chaste music champion's view), mean nothing to him. Their appreciation doesn't count.His agenda alone matters--of spewing ill will in diverse ways.

I was thinking of SS too, whose music I did not care for at all as a child. Then of MMI who was a joy to listen to. There were those who spoke like our geTTi mELam--may be not this harshly-- about his taralallAs and Ay-s and Uy-s...

[melam72]

His agenda alone matters--of spewing ill will in diverse ways.

Please go back and read the posts made earlier, if you haven't read them already.

I have made my intentions clear innumerable number of times.

I was thinking of SS too, whose music I did not care for at all as a child. Then of MMI who was a joy to listen to. There were those who spoke like our geTTi mELam--may be not this harshly-- about his taralallAs and Ay-s and Uy-s...

At the end of the day, Taralalla was somewhat aesthetic, unlike 'tup-tup-tup'

[arasi]

Now is the time for chup chup (in Hindi)for me. ini enna pEchirukkudu, pOm

[hnbhagavan]

madam Arasi,

Melam72 wants the rasikas to appreciate what he considers as chaste music.His words to convince rasikas are the choicest ones!.
it is a question of getting used to as he is among us but albeit in a different plane!.
I for one would consider any performing artist who gets on stage to perform has definitely minimum SADHANA irrespective of he or she.
Whom you want to listen is your choice!

[arasi]

Mr. Bhagwan,
arE bhagwAn, is all I can say...

[keentolearn]

@Ramasubramanian M.K - thank you for the welcome! Sorry for the late response; still getting used to being here. I will gladly try and be a contributor;
this forum is friendly, so that's not difficult.

[An occasional vituperative outburst from some passionate forum members may throw more heat than light!! But such discussions at times polemical as they might be help us to be discerning rasikas]. I've seen that! It's enlightening, for sure, and also, fun...

Thanks to everybody who welcomed me, I may be missing some names, sorry.

PS: How does one select text that one wants to respond to, and put it in that shaded format?

[melam72]

Press the 'quote' button at the top-right corner of the post.