Samakkulam K Balasubramanian (gobilalitha) has departed

[maduraimini]

Gobilalitha posted old Hindi movie songs. He was interested in Carnatic and Hindustani Music. He knew about many artists and had interesting stories.

[varsha]

+3
can help with hall - no problems-pls email me through forum
I suggest to mark this as an annual rasikas.org event as a tribute to all departed friends.
As a organiser pl expect lots of members to drop out at the last minute /who may keep you guessing,December is like that.
WE owe it to GBL.Must be regaling someone up there with a Talath Melody - singing jalthe hai jiske liye into a mobile
GREAT GUY . TOUCHED EVERYONE WITH HIS GENIALITY. :namaste:

[kamalamba]

Dear all

thanks for the feedback.

The date is set: 29 December 2014. Venue (Many thanks to Varsha): eAmbalam Arts, Yamuna Street, Kalakshetra colony

We have acceptances from Gayathri Girish, R. Suryaprakash (concert entirely on hindustani ragams, something GBL loved) and Violin-solo by Aishu Venkataraman.
I will confirm details soon.

We will have 3-4 concerts.

Can we make this rasikas.org departed souls day in years to come as Varsha suggests?

Regards
Mohan

[arasi]

Mohan,
So glad to hear this. What a line up! GBL's choice wouldn't have been any better. Hope many of us can join in and enjoy the music which he would appreciate no doubt, that too its being an all Rasikas.org members/performers concert

What time do you have in mind for the concerts? I would imagine their being short presentations.

[Nick H]

Very glad to hear it.

As a organiser pl expect lots of members to drop out at the last minute /who may keep you guessing,December is like that.

With the proviso that there are just one or two artists that I prioritise over everything I will certainly be there. You have a great line up there anyway! I will put it in my diary. First entry for 2014 season!

Ambalam is a very pleasant venue. Good idea.

[rshankar]

Mohan, once again, best wishes!
What I remember of your dad (from a short face-to-face meeting and several email exchanges) is his childlike enthusiasm and his glass-half-full approach to life. He loved music so much, that I feel that just like tillAnA mOhanAmbAL said she could dance to the rhythm inherent when fireworks go off, your dad could hear the music inherent everywhere. A true connoisseur of music, regardless of the genre. The line up of Smt. GG, Sri SP, and Aishu (one of the 'children' of the forum) is just what's needed to celebrate his life!

[appu]

Mohan,

I plan to attend. Do you know details of accompanying artistes for the performances. Will it be one set of accompanying artist or can we expect a variety.

[kamalamba]

Thanks to all of you (Appu, Arasi, Rshankar,Nick H). Sorry for the delayed reply.
Accompanying artistes are being contacted / considered by the main artistes and details should be known in a few days.
Aishu Venkatraman will be accompanied by Sri. Vinod Venkatraman (mridangam) and Tripunithura Radhakrishnan on Ghatam.

In addition to the 3 concerts mentioned earlier, my sister (Swati - Bhuvana - Venkataraman) will also give a short concert.

Hope to see a large turnout from rasikas.org fraternity.

[kamalamba]

Forgot to add, there will be a mix of different accompanying artistes.

[arasi]

Mohan,
It was at the tip of my tongue to ask if your sister was going to sing, but I did not ask because I was thinking you wanted to keep it all strictly CM. Glad to hear that your father is honored according to his wide taste in music. I remember how proud he was when Swathi was selected to perform in one of the popular programs on TV.

[appu]

Mohan,

Are details for the event on Dec 29th finalized. If so, some details would be appreciated. Are we planning a Rasikas.org meet.

Thanks

[kamalamba]

Dear Rasikas

Sorry, hadn't logged in for a while.

Tentatively the program for the rasikas.org S.K. Balasubramanian concert series is

9:45-12:15 Smt. Gayathri Girish
1:30-3:15 Pandit Ballesn, Pandit Krishna Ballesh, and Smt. Swati Venkataraman
3:30-5:15 Kum. Aishu Venkataraman
5:30-8:00 Sri. Suryaprakash

I will confirm this with the names of all accompanying artistes in a few days.

Venue:"Saraswathi", New No. 18, Old No. H-48A, Yamuna Sreet, Kalakshetra Colony, Besant Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600090, India (special thanks to Sri. T.V. Ramprasadh and Sri. Shashi Kulkarni for this).

I hope this can be made a "Rasikas.org" special event.

Regards
Mohan

[mahavishnu]

Best wishes for the event, Mohan.
I am sorry that I will not be there. I am hoping that my parents and/or other family members will be able to attend.

[Nick H]

Thank you for the program, which looks good.

I'll be at RS Hall 10.00am morning concert, and will join after that.

[kamalamba]

Dear all

As promised the programme with accompanying artist details.

The program for the rasikas.org S.K. Balasubramanian memorial concert series on December 29 2014 is

9:45-12:15 Smt. Gayathri Girish (vocal), Sri. Mysore Srikanth (violin), Sri. Neyveli Skandasubramaniam (Mridangam), Sri. Guruprasad (Ghatam)


1:30-3:15 Pandit Ballesh, Pandit Krishna Ballesh, and Smt. Swati Venkataraman (Hindustani vocal)

3:30-5:15 Kum. Aishu Venkataraman (violin), Sri. Vinod Venkataraman (Mridangam), Sri. Tripunithura Radhakrishnan (Ghatam)

5:30-8:00 Sri. R. Suryaprakash (Vocal), Sri. H.N. Baskar (violin), Sri. Rajesh Srinivasan (Mridangam)

Venue:"Saraswathi", New No. 18, Old No. H-48A, Yamuna Sreet, Kalakshetra Colony, Besant Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600090, India (special thanks to Sri. T.V. Ramprasadh and Sri. Shashi Kulkarni for this).

Mahavishnu, we will miss you, but hope to see your parents and friends.
Nick H, I will look forward to seeing you there.
All other rasikas (Arasi madam, Nageswaran sir, rshankar, appu, varsha, bilahari, and several others), I look forward to seeing you all.

Regards
Mohan

[kamalamba]

Dear Rasikas
Please let me know if you are attending the concerts on December 29 so that I can make appropriate arrangements.
Look forward to seeing a large number of you.
Of course, I will also personally invite friends I see in Sri. Nageswaran's house on 21 December.
Regards
Kamalamba

[rajeshnat]

kamalamba(Mohan)
YOu are arranging it on Monday, have plans but not 100% sure if I can make it that long in distance being a working day . Will give a sincere try to take half a day depending on my situation at work then . As such I dont need any snacks or anything - no planning needed for me .

[kamalamba]

Rajeshnat, please do come even if it is only for part of the day. It will be very nice to see you.
Regards
Kamalamba

[arasi]

Mohan,
I 'm not able to contact you through the forum (srkris is still working on it with the updated version perhaps...). Would like to know if the attendees can bring some refreshments for the event...

[kamalamba]

Hi Arasi Madam

I have arranged meals / snacks / coffee / tea for all attendees. Although we cannot eat in the auditorium, the caterers have found a dining place less than 3 minute walk from the concert venue.

However, if for any reason you would like bring refreshments please do so.

I really look forward to seeing you and a large number of rasikas on monday.

Mohan

[kamalamba]

Dear Rasikas

Please note that if you are looking at Google Maps, Yamuna Street is indicated as "maruthu pandiyar street". I am not sure why, but on the street itself you see "Yamuna Street".

From Kumaran street (which is an extension of Tiger Varadachariar Road) turn right on to Cauvery street, then turn left once and turn right again on to Yamuna Street.

Regards
Mohan,

[PUNARVASU]

How I was looking forward to attend this! Unfortunately my trip to chennai had to be cancelled in the last minute. Wishing the function well. Remembering GBL mama a lot!

[rajeshnat]

This place is closest to arupadai veedu murugan temple if you take an auto. nice lovely hall, please donot miss it.

[kamalamba]

Dear Punarvsu
Thanks for the message. We will miss you, but hopefully we can have your company in a future event.
Mohan

[venkatakailasam]

கோபியருகுந்த பாலகா!
லலிதாவை அடைந்த நாயகா!
வேங்கடவனின் இனிய நண்பா!
வெள்ளை உள்ளம் கொண்டு
நண்பர்கள் மனம் மகிழ்வித்து
தனக்கு புகழ் கூட்டியவா!
தேடினாலும் கிடைக்காத நண்பனை
பாசமென்னும் சொற்களில்
'பா'தொடுத்து நேசமுடன் அளித்தேன்
மோகன கமலனுக்கு!

Best wishes for the event...

[appu]

Venkatakailasam,

I read in another post that you were attending concerts of young talent. I hope you can attend Aishu Venkataraman solo and report. It would be awesome.

[venkatakailasam]

Appu..thank you..

Actually, due to old age, my movement is restricted to the house and I do not attend concerts.But I have friends who record some of the concerts and send by mail to me..This year I am able to watch more concerts courtesy Shri RK and Dinamalar/Dinamani..
I have seen Aishu's one or two concerts. As you say young talented girl..

[kamalamba]

VK Sir, thanks for the touching post and poem.
Appu, are you in Chennai?
Kamalamba

[appu]

Kamalamba,

No, I am not. I am in Nova Scotia. I am living vicariously through Rasikas. I even had my tickets to come to India. But plans changed and had a job related emergency. Catch up with you next time.

[kamalamba]

Sorry to know you couldn't come, but hope to catch up in the next season.
Kamalamba

[sridhar_ranga]

Thank you Kamalamba and family for the wonderful musical and culinary treats, a fitting tribute to GBL who was a connoisseur of both HM and CM, and, as we were told, a foodie as well. His warmth towards fellow forumites which we all have experienced here on Rasikas was seen once again from all the gracious hosts.

I entered listening to the wonderful strains of marubehag from the shehnais of the pandits duo and their team, who also presented a couple of HM vocal numbers. After a short round of bhajans by Swathi and the other performer (apologies for not noting the name), we were treated to a very nice violin concert, music much inspired by Aishu's gurus: sri TNK and Sri SRJ, as explained by her. With great support from her dad sri Vinod and sri Tripunithura Radhakrishnan, young Aishu maintained a great tempo with some fast numbers interspersed with heavier uruppaDis. Here is a brief list:

1. kaanada ata varnam
2. niravadhi sukhada
3. kalyani + amma raavamma (S)
4. Nenarunchinanu annitiki
5. kiravani + tanamalika (kiravani sahana subapantuvarali kapi mohanam and reverse - in typical TNK style as explained by Aishu)
kaligiyunte kada (S@ pallavi, tani)
6. chinnanjiru kiliye
7. bhagyada lakshmi baramma

There was rain pounding on the sheet metal roof for most of this concert as well as the next one by Suryaprakash, but the musical presentations were so engrossing that hardly anyone was distracted.

Before the next concert, it was time for providing some warmth for the audience shivering from all the wet weather and chilly winds: we were treated to jangiris, hot samosas and steaming cups of coffee/ tea. A well thought out break!

The grand concert by Sri Suryapraksah and team followed, and what a wonderful concert it was! We had H S Smitha from Bangalore on the violin and Sri Rajesh Srinivasan on the Mridangam accompanying Suryaprakash. It was a great presentation showcasing the best of CM and HM in a true tribute to GBL, with whose family Suryaprakash has been friends for over thirty years. Here is the list:

1. vallabha nayakasya - begada - rupakam - D (S)
2. evarani - devamritavarshini - Adi - T
3. vishnupriya + baalasubramanyan paadame tunai - Adi – Thanjavur Sankara Iyer
4. ardhanareeshwaram - kumudakriya - rupakam - D (S)
5. sarasa saama daana (S @ hitavu maaTalento with some MMI touches)
6. tODi + chEsinadella - Adi - T (R, NS@ raama sri raja....prema, tani)
7. RTP Ragesri (a GBL mama special as he was a connoisseur of HM and raga based Hindi film songs as well, said Suryaprakash)
We had some taanam raining from Surya & Smitha and real rain pouring overhead which was very intense now
p: mandagamani sadaa veenaa vaadini | saaradE maam paahi  in khanda jaati tripuTa 2 kaLai
(S in ragesri, kaanada?, ghor kalyan, multani - thanks to Suryaprakash for announcing the last two as well as Ragesri! my HM ken is near zero)
8. veLLai taamarai poovil iruppaaL - bhimplas- Adi - Subramania Bharati
9. maayee saavare rang raachee - meera bhajan - Sindhu Bhairavi
10. mangalam

Overall it was a very pleasant afternoon/ evening with some fantastic music. The GBL family intends to make this an annual event. Jan 6th will mark the anniversary of our dear GBL's passing. There was a vote of thanks by GBL's daughter. Smt Lalita (Mrs GBL) presented tokens of appreciation to all the artistes who performed on stage.

It was great to meet old friend Arasi and new friend Mohan aka Kamalamba. I also got to shake hands with coolji for the first time.

[kamalamba]

Many thanks Sridhar-Ranga for taking the time to come and write the review. It was a pleasure to meet you along with other friends from Rasikas.org (arasi, varsha, Mahavishnu's parents and others who I may not have had a chance to talk to amongst all the action).

I have moved your concert review to the "Concert Reviews" section, so that rasikas may read it.

Regards
Kamalamba (Mohan)

[Nick H]

I'm glad I was able to express my thanks when seeing you again this morning, as my wife and I had to hurry away from Suryaprakash's concerts due to flooding. I'm really sorry if our coming and going from the back off the hall and hopefully-subdued phone calls disturbed anyone.

The event included a number of treats. The food has to be mentioned! Both lunch and snack were great and the tea was most welcome. All of the music was a treat, although I did have stern words with the sound guys about their effect on the HM vocal!

I have not seen Shennai for decades! Seeing them appear on the stage, unexpected, was probably my best nice surprise of the season. What a unique and wonderful sound! Once we had the water worries under control, my wife went straight to YouTube to seek out more.