MK Ramasubramanian

Prominent critics and rasikas
Post Reply
cmlover
Posts: 11498
Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 22:36

Re: MKR Milestone and some wonderful old pictures

Post by cmlover »

Thanks Mahesh for letting us participate in a momentous occasion in MKR's life.
The pictures add colour to his musical journey as it brings us fond recollections.
MKR has briefly described his wedding in his memoirs at this Forum.
Now we get a visual treat. Thanks again and wish him many more years of wedded bliss!

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

Re: MKR Milestone and some wonderful old pictures

Post by rajeshnat »

rasaali wrote:Dear MKR Mama, Nirmala Mami,

Hearty congratulations on the wonderful occasion. Wishing you a lot of good health, music, happiness and 50+ more years together! Seeking your blessings too.

Dear Maheshram,

What a lovely tribute with wonderful! I am a nephew and disciple of Sri Kovai Dakshinamurthy. He is my father's first cousin. His father TK Balaganesa Iyer was my Chinna-thata.

I met your parents in 2010 at NY Shrutilayaa and they had mentioned about this wedding concert back then. I recall MKR Mama mentioning that this was perhaps the first time Sri BDM had played for Sri SSI and it happened due to the request of your family to have Sri SSI encourage the (then) young upcoming family friend of theirs. How fortunate I am to see the photo today! I will forward this post to my Guru's family.

Sincerely,
KVS Vinay

PS: You are not the first one to add Pillai to BDM's name. Helps that it matches the name of the kanjira legend! On a lighter once I was announced as disciple of Kovai Dakshinamurthy Pillai, an the main artiste quipped "Avar Dakshinamurthy, ivan thaan avar-oda pillai". :)
Vinay,
Was TK Jayarama Iyer violinist elder brother of TK Balaganesa iyer (I am assuming they are paternal cousin) . I never knew your chinna tatha at all , perhaps he got eclipsed by the flute mali magic which is what i heard in general when mali was playing .

Who was the main artist who wonderfully quipped "Avar Dakshinamurthy, ivan thaan avar-oda pillai". Was that TRS or DKJ . I guess apart from kanjira legend we also have a yazhpanam dakshinamoorthy pillai they say he is the PMI of thavil.

I hope MKR is ok with the detour , he would not mind as he is a master of detour. :-*

Ramasubramanian M.K
Posts: 1226
Joined: 05 May 2009, 08:33

Re: MKR Milestone and some wonderful old pictures

Post by Ramasubramanian M.K »

Rajeshnat: Yr comments about detour--I do not mind at all--afterall given the exposure I have had over 60 years with Music celebrities,it is inevitable that a main story gets side-tracked by sub plots(like the KALKI style)--as I have written before Mudikindan Venkatrama Iyer was a past master--TKM likewise is a great raconteur prone to digression and when he narrates an incident with his characteristic impish humor he could getaway with outrageous remarks but none of the seniors would mind!!

Back to my wedding pics there was a pic--unique in the sense showing Semmangudi Mami listening to her husband's concert--even the SSI family does not have a pic-- the B and W pics--although carefully preserved by my wife have "aged"--will try to resurrect some of them and post it!! In the concert itself,SSI spends lots of time gently admonishing the audience to keep silent--In Coimbatore or for that matter any town in Tamil Nadu--wedding concerts tend to be noisy affairs-- his lament in Tamil "Engallukkellam romba Vayasu aachu--chitta neram amaidiyai irundu kettel anal engalai gaurava padittina madiri irukkum"(we are all old artistes--nt Kobai Dakshinamurthy!!--if you can keep quiet for a few moments and listen to the concert I will regard it as honoring me!!)--needless to say the "appeal" fell on deaf ears!!!
I would like to hear young forumites who may have developed close relationships with the likes of Ravi Kiran,TMK,Sanjay,Sudha,BJ,Sowmya et al to describe their experiences --hosting them,driving them around especially overseas. I am sure the younger musicians have no less fascinating tales to narrate. It might give us all perspective.
I myself have found it difficult(except with Ravi Kiran) to get "close enough" to these stars to understand what motivates them and their observations about life,events,people etc which the Seniors I had been exposed to freely shared experiences----(although in many of these occasions I was more a "fly-in-the-wall" rather than a "cackling geese"
I concede however with the multiplicity of media hungry for sensational content,that the present day musicians may be reticent lest an innocent remark spark needless controversies. In fairness if the "Seniors" whose stories I write about--had they been alive I would have been Persona Non Grata by now!!
Notwithstanding the above I still would like to know what the rasikas think of these artistes(not their music) just to add perspective to our narratives.

uday_shankar
Posts: 1467
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 08:37

Re: MKR Milestone and some wonderful old pictures

Post by uday_shankar »

MKR sir
A belated congratulations (I was away on vacation after Cleveland and a bit sporadic on following rasikas) and best wishes ! It was a pleasure meeting Smt. Nirmala in Cleveland. One day soon I will follow up on my threat to visit you in Flushing. When hanging out with you, unfortunately not enough in Cleveland due to my very brief appearances during breaks from work in nearby Pittsburgh, the passage of time is never noticeable. There's always the excellent singing, interspersed with priceless anecdotes and recollections. Perhaps a new resolution for you could be to give a Katcheri at Clevaland ? What say ?

jayaraman
Posts: 4
Joined: 13 Dec 2016, 10:19

Re: MKR Milestone and some wonderful old pictures

Post by jayaraman »

dear shri.MKR, to day I happened to see the posting by your son Shri.mahesh.

our humble greetings ( late of course) to you.

regards

jayaraman

Ramasubramanian M.K
Posts: 1226
Joined: 05 May 2009, 08:33

Re: MKR Milestone and some wonderful old pictures

Post by Ramasubramanian M.K »

Thanks.
MKR

maheshram
Posts: 51
Joined: 24 Jun 2013, 21:48

My Dad (sri MKR aka Ramesh) in musical action...

Post by maheshram »

Hi All, I wanted to share my father (MKR)'s performance on Smule, one initiated by my cousin who was visiting NYC from India. This is not CM so please excuse the post but I thought many of you would enjoy it anyway (note to moderator: if not appropriate to post here, please do feel free to move):

https://www.smule.com/recording/t-m-sou ... 595435512

Enjoy! (and give him your feedback) - btw he doesn't know I'm posting this 8-)

Purist
Posts: 430
Joined: 13 May 2008, 16:55

Re: My Dad (sri MKR aka Ramesh) in musical action...

Post by Purist »

Too good. Hats off to his zeal. Reminded me of C S Jayaraman .

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

Re: My Dad (sri MKR aka Ramesh) in musical action...

Post by arasi »

Mahesh,
Thank you!
chittiram arugAmaiyilE enRum pOl enbadAlE
ithiRanuLLa thandai eNbadilum isai ace thAnO?
sindai niRaikkudu--enRum pOlavar isaiyin inimai!
vindayEdidil? vAzhga isaiyODiruvarumE pallANDu :)

When the 'painting' is by his side--
Even in his eighties, he is an ace!
His singing fills the heart as ever
May they live long in musical mirth :)

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

Re: My Dad (sri MKR aka Ramesh) in musical action...

Post by arasi »

சித்திரம் அருகாமையிலே என்றும் போல் என்பதாலே--
இத்திறனுள்ள தந்தை எண்பதிலும் இசை ace தானோ?
சிந்தை நிறைக்குது என்றும் போலவர் இசை இனிமை!
விந்தையேதிதில்? வாழ்க இருவருமே பல்லாண்டு!

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

Re: MK Ramanasubramanian

Post by thanjavooran »

Shri Mahesh,
Thanks for sharing.
Perfect rendition. Great.
Arasi,
So your beautiful words too. No other honor wil aptly fit in
With wishes,
Thanjavooran
10 09 2017

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

Re: MK Ramanasubramanian

Post by rajeshnat »

Maheshram
Nice to hear your dad , i think this song is a way too low hanging fruit for your appa's capability. In smule is there any chance of say a violin and mrudangam accompaniments of his perennial favourite GNB . That should be your next smule post . I am assuming your appa may have touched 80 , pranams if he has . I talked with him last year for a long time , he has way too sharp musical intellect and it just shows with his cittiram pesudadhi - sabashmeena oops sabashmkr sir.

Nick H
Posts: 9379
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 02:03

Re: My Dad (sri MKR aka Ramesh) in musical action...

Post by Nick H »

maheshram wrote: 09 Sep 2017, 06:17 Hi All, I wanted to share my father (MKR)'s performance on Smule, one initiated by my cousin who was visiting NYC from India. ... ... ...
Wonderful. I've heard him say that he has never had any formal musical training whatsoever. The fluid ease (not to mention beauty) of the voice here suggests that he might be a good example for the thread in which not loosing the voice is discussed!

Ramasubramanian M.K
Posts: 1226
Joined: 05 May 2009, 08:33

Re: MK Ramanasubramanian

Post by Ramasubramanian M.K »

Dear all: Thanks for your comments.ARASI especially.It is GOD's grace that I am able to retain my voice at this age. Semmangudi Mama in my younger days used to introduce me as Jalatarangam Ramanayya Chetty--who I believe had a hoarse,husky voice .My voice was horrendous--no range,no weight etc.I used to be a joke amongst my elders. I cannot attribute this transformation to anything but GOD's Grace.I have made no special attempts to take care of the voice. In fact by my incessant,undisciplined singing(different sruthis,attempting imitations of different persons with different voices and unhealthy false modulations!!),I may have ruined my vocal chords!!,

The truth is I enjoy singing and have used it to mainly enhance my appreciation of what the professionals do.This has helped me in tolerance of a wide range of styles in singing.

I sincerely acknowledge the comments. During my niece's visit(she is an excellent singer Srividhya) she "coaxed" me into this and recorded two other songs--Tere Mere Sapne and Chaudvin Ka Chand---.In hearing them back,I had the same feeling that the famous erstwhile Violin Maestro Malaikottai(Tricky) Govindaswamy Pillai had when the ONLY recording he ever made(Disc) was played back to him. The anecdote.

It seems this was in the early thirties when all the Carnatic Musicians--Chembai,Semmangudi et al were into HMV recordings .(This story was told to my father by Semmangudi Mama). Sri.Pillai was being coaxed and cajoled by his admirers to record .Mr.Pillai steadfastly refused. But finally he relented and gave a recording. I do not remember the song. After the recording was completed the Gramophone Company(I think HMV) approached him with the Master Disc(before they could duplicate it) and presented to him. Mr. Pillai asked that the record be played back for him which the HMV executive did.Mr Pillai listened to it very keenly. Then he asks for the Disc to get a physical "feel" for the disc material allegedly. Then he breaks into(Vinyl records as we all know can be easily broken) 2 pieces. The HMV executive is shocked and asks WHY? Mr.Pillai's reply briefly paraphrased(as it is difficult to translate as SSI narrated it).
'THIS RECORDING HAS MINOR FLAWS AND YEARS LATER PEOPLE WOULD REMEMBER THE FLAWS AND WHATEVER REPUTATION I MAY HAVE GATHERED FOR POSTERITY FOR MY PLAYING BASED ON CONTEMPORARY OPINIONS AND ACCLAIM WOULD BE SET TO DOUBT .

NOW ONE CAN ARGUE THAT MR.PILLAI DID DISSERVICE TO HORDES OF LISTENERS THAT CAME AFTER HIS DEMISE--WHO NOW MAY NEVER KNOW WHAT A GREAT VIOLINIST HE WAS !! BUT MR.PILLAI WAS ALWAYS A VERY SINCERE HUMBLE TRUE NADOPASAKA AND DID NOT SUCCUMB TO THE PEER PRESSURES AND YEARNING FOR ROYALTIES !!

Now for the formats who have followed the careers of erstwhile artists,Mr.Pillai stands head and shoulders above his contemporaries with regards to THOZHIL DHARMAM"(Professsional Integrity) and true devotion to the Trinity(Soolamangalam Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar's--SVB- book on the Post-Thyagaraja developments on celebrating the Thiruvaiyaru Aradhana) is a must read about how Mr.Pillai rose above the petty skirmishes amongst the various parties involved in the erection of the memorial etc. Incidentally, this book was written by SVB's son who is the Father-in-Law of our Entrepreneurial Forumite Udhay Shankar!!



By this anecdote I am not trying to elevate myself to Mr. Govindaswamy Pillai!!

Take it as "MEA CULPA"!!!

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

Re: MK Ramanasubramanian

Post by rshankar »

Mama - I enjoyed your singing, and the expressions too (ungaL cittiramum pEsiyadE)! Although, I did not get the flavor of CS Jayaraman at all... :)
The song brought back memories of watching the movie Sabaash Meena in Pondicherry years ago in a 'Tent Theater' across the road from our campus and walking back at 2 AM....
Thank you for sharing!!

Can you share the Hindi songs as well?

narayan
Posts: 383
Joined: 05 Oct 2008, 07:43

MK Ramanasubramanian

Post by narayan »

maheshram wrote: 09 Sep 2017, 06:17 Hi All, I wanted to share my father (MKR)'s performance on Smule, one initiated by my cousin who was visiting NYC from India. This is not CM so please excuse the post but I thought many of you would enjoy it anyway (note to moderator: if not appropriate to post here, please do feel free to move):

https://www.smule.com/recording/t-m-sou ... 595435512

Enjoy! (and give him your feedback) - btw he doesn't know I'm posting this 8-)
Besh! Besh!
I have heard him many many years ago (30?) in New York and his spirit and musicality is as strong as it was then. Any one flourish in this rendering is enough to demonstrate this.
The thread says Ramanasubramanian instead of Ramasubramanian, but what's in a name?

maheshram
Posts: 51
Joined: 24 Jun 2013, 21:48

Re: MK Ramasubramanian

Post by maheshram »

The MKR story - my poor attempt to capture some aspects of my father's musical and rasika journey in words:

Backdrop: Writing about my father is emotionally difficult. I miss him dearly and nearly every moment is tinged with memories of him. But I also feel the pull to write about him as my tribute, reminisce through his eyes as best as I can. Selfishly, perhaps it will be therapeutic, but also answer some of your requests to learn more about him. If I have provided too much minutiae and detail please forgive me. You can imagine my mental state.

I’ll use some of @RSR and @rajesnat questions as touchstone points but I thought I’d organize in chronological terms and that will also help me to pace this somewhat.


Notes:
1) I will use initials often to save keyboard fatigue on long names.
2) Also I will refer to the great MS Subbalakshmi as “MS Mami” not MS Amma - this is not disrespect rather just how I knew her and called her all my life, and that’s how I remember her. Please forgive me.
3) Any mistakes are all my own.
 Any omissions are my fault.

Am thinking of the following structure:

-Antecedents and pre-birth history
-Birth and early childhood (up to age 18 or so)
-College years
-The 60's
-US - the 70's and 80's
-US - 90's to present
-Any miscellaneous anecdotes or thoughts i may be able to gather

Pre-Birth - Family History (aka why not Tirunelveli?)

RSR asked where in Thirunelveli my father was born? - in fact he was NOT born there although of course the family originally hails from there. In fact, the town of Kadayam barely features in most of our family members history after 1850 since my great-great grandfather emigrated from there in apparently not very happy circumstances. Kallaidakurichi, Pathamadai, and Palamadai later do feature more prominently but first Kerala is more prominent.

Even my GF KS Mahadevan (KSM dad) was born in Vaikom, Kerala in 1913. Why Vaikom? KSM’s father KP Subramania Iyer (KPS) was holding a post with the Maharaja of Travancore in those days as did his elder brother KP Vishwanatha Iyer (GF of Sangita Kala Acharya Kalyani Sharma of Mumbai, senior disciple of both SSI and Brindamma).

A brief side-note about  KSM’s father K.P.Subramania Iyer. KPS served under the Maharaja of Travancore, responsible for the Hindu religious endowments created by the  Maharaja who was the guardian of the temples in his kingdom. While KPS had ample opportunity to immerse in the music that was on offer in the court, he was a more literary type, ie could quote the entirety of Shakespeare plays by heart (even obscure Corialanus!). You can see his influence in my father’s writing style. Note: This seemingly inane trivia on birthplaces does have some later relevance as you shall see.

One of KPS’s sons was KS Mahadevan (my thatha) who as most of you know later became a music and dance critic, founding Secretary of Shanmukhananda Sabha, and editor of music publications. KSM planted some of the seeds for my father’s musical interests. At age 13 KSM moved to Madras from Kerala to pursue studies there at PS High School. There surrounded by music, my grandfather was spellbound by the creme de la creme of the day, from Naina Pillai (the legendary musician and guru for Smt. DKP Mama) onward. You can read about this period in my grandfather’s own words in this lovely piece that he wrote a couple of years before his death: http://carnatica.net/special/ksm1.html

His wife, my grandmother Mrs. Narayani Mahadevan (aka Chinnani Mami) was immersed in the finest music too. At a young age, she actually learned directly from the legendary Papa KS Venkatramaiah (father of the legendary, Papa Venkatramaiah, and great-great grandfather to today’s kanjira vidwan Anirudh Athreya!) This fact still blows me away since my GM only died in 2014 and actually told me about her stint with the great legend. My grandmother was married young as was common in those days and did not pursue her musical studies much but her kelvin gyaanam was superb. She also knew a stock of padams and javalis that were exquisite. (And of course she was the best friend of MS Mami). And boy could she could ID talent! Two side notes: I visited India probably in the early 80’s Paati took me quietly to DKP Maami’s house, upstairs and commanded Lalitha Mami to have a very young Nithyashree sing for me and my father. Needless to say, it was spellbinding. Many years later, Paati gave me a tape of Abhishek Raghuram singing (which I still have) at age 12 or so which she got from Palghat Raghu and said “he is the next great star, listen carefully to him”. (But enough of that digression).

The association with TNR started long before my father’s birth. TNR played for my grandmother’s eldest sister’s wedding a grand affair in Madras, and apparently it was a performance for the ages (so much so older vidwans apparently talked about it that way). The family had high esteem for his music, but also gave a wide berth to his proclivities. (There’s a story about that wedding and how TNR was kept sober for the jaanvasam night playing too which my dad probably shared in a thread somewhere once).

In parallel, in Tirunelveli, my grandmother’s brothers (MKR’s maternal uncles) were busy cultivating their own musical favorites. My maternal grand-uncle P.S. Subramanian was a well to do businessman and became an stalwart supporter of Semmangudi Mama (who knew a good patron as well as anyone!). Two younger maternal uncles rebelled against the elder brother (!) and became mad fans of MMI and GNB (this is from late 30’s to early 40’s). Later they would all take turns attempting to ‘brainwash’ my father to their favorites which only delighted my father as he could easily egg any of them on. But they all agreed on TNR as an epochal game-changer which explains my father’s early fascination with TNR - Appa related hearing TNR playing on the radio at a very young age even prior to meeting/hearing him in person.

To summarize, even before birth, my father has a father, mother , aunts, uncles who have a passion for the best music of the day and the good fortune to be soaked in it non-stop. So he was born under the ‘right star’ to be an ardent rasika.

maheshram
Posts: 51
Joined: 24 Jun 2013, 21:48

Re: MK Ramasubramanian

Post by maheshram »

MKR’s birth and early life - “Molded in Pathamadai, Curated in Bombay” (roughly 1938-1952)

My father MKR was born in 1938 in Coimbatore by luck. My grandmother was there for her delivery due to some other family circumstance. In fact, all 4 of us (Appa, my mother who hails from there, myself and my sister were all born in Coimbatore in the same nursing home. It was perhaps destiny that he left this mortal plane in the same city where he also met my mother, got married, and spent many happy days as a son-in-law with my late maternal grandparents, the well-known advocate N.S. Venkatasubbiar and his wife Lakshmi. But other than his birth there, Coimbatore was not a factor in Appa’s life until after his marriage.

And, in fact, immediately after my father was born, my grandfather K.S. Mahadevan and my grandmother, left the South to go to Calcutta to pursue an MS in Physics then a job writing for an Economic journal. My father and his elder sister Rajalakshmi (my Athai) were in tow as tiny tots. This takes us to the fateful meeting in 1940 between my grandparents and MS Mami and Sadasivam Mama during the shooting of “Savithri”, when Sadasivam Mama noticed a young man in a 9-yards sari walking with young children near the place where Mama/Mami were staying during the shooting. Mama, feeling Mami’s need for some South Indian female companionship, introduced the families together and my grandmother became a babysitter for the young Radha Mami, and the rest was history. That is also the beginning for the lifelong sibling-like affection between my father and Radha Mami.

With this much musical immersion around him, Appa was a sponge. He could identify ragams at age 3 onward, and at some wedding was made to demonstrate this to some vidwans by Semmangudi Mama much to Appa’s lifetime embarrassment (“I peaked too early!” in his usual humorous self-deprecation).

KSM’s stay in Calcutta was brief and other than meeting MS Mami and Sadasivam Mama and writing about economics during the Great Depression not that eventful. In 1942, KSM Thatha accepted a stable government job in Bombay (Matunga) and that began another fertile musical period for my father. His sister my Athai (Rajalakshmi) who is three years his senior was a gifted singer from an early age, winning numerous singing competitions and eventually an AIR graded artist. Athai learned both from local Bombay based teachers (see note below), but also learned from KVN and DKJ whenever they came to town, and my father while not learning was a sponge in those early days, trailing her to every class. More rich osmosis.

Then came one of the most pivotal periods in my father’s life. Due to some illness my grandmother suffered, my grandparents decided to send my father down to Trivandrum to stay with the paternal grandfather KP Subramania Iyer and his wife - this was c. 1946-47. They doted on my father and in Trivandrum, he was exposed to many more musical influences. Economic circumstances then forced KPS/wife back to Pattamadai in Thirunelveli (the maharaja was impacted by independence). Here is where my father was in frequent contact with the aforementioned uncles who each had their musical favorites - and to musicians who inevitably visited someone in the family during their kutcheri circuits. Surrounded by loving family and glorious music, my father remembered this as the best year of his life. To add to this, at the age of 8, he was promoted into the…6th standard! (The headmaster was a brilliant relative who must have seen something in my father to do this).

By end of 1947, my father and his sister returned to Bombay. Semmangudi Mama features more prominently in these years. Our family’s association with SSI Mama had its roots in a chance meeting in the 30’s with Musiri Mama - the aforementioned uncle, P.S. Subramanian was in a good post in Benares and it so happened that Musiri Mama and Tanjore Vaidyanatha Iyer were in town for some felicitation but starved for TN cooking. They heard that my grand-uncle had a fabulous cook (which was true). So they stayed with him and the bonding began from there. Later in Madras, Musiri Mama introduced SSI to my grandfather and others and they all became friends. This would be around 1936 or so before my father was born.

But back to the late 1940’s. Semmangudi Mama sent a young man in his early twenties to my grandfather KSM in Bombay with an edict to help the young man lay the seeds for a career teaching music there — since SSI deemed his voice not good enough but his vidwat and teaching acumen very high. My grandfather recommended him to many in the community and also had him teach his D (my father’s sister) all the popular varnams - my father could still sing every one of those 5 decades later via listening osmosis. That teacher was HAS Mani, aka Chellamani Mama, who many will know better as the father of singer Hariharan or the husband of Alamelu Mani (student of Brinda) or guru to Bombay Sisters pre-Musiri. Chellamani Mama passed away prematurely just after building up a vibrant school of disciples. To this day, the legacy of Chellamani Mama has influenced every generation of Mumbai-musicians.

As mentioned earlier, my Athai had enormous musical talent. Later, in the 50’s she learned many precious compositions directly from the young KVN Mama and young DKJ Mama both in Bombay and in Madras (whenever they came to Bombay, she would learn — and guess who was always listening??).

Semmangudi visited Bombay more often as well and my father got the very best of that. I’ll use his own words to describe the scene in 1948 or so: “Once in the late forties --I think 1948 or 1949(Forumites should pardon me if I am not specific about dates-- I never kept a diary--the date is irrelevant for this anecdote)--Mama had come to Bombay for the Shanmukhananda concert--Mama stayed with us in our small 600 sq. flat in Matunga --the concert was a struggle--the voice would simply refuse to cooperate-- Mama sang for about three hours and ended the concert without any fan fare--after he returned to our flat he had a light meal and asked the Sishya(I think it was TMT or Kedaram I cannot recall) to bring the Tambura(@ 9 P.M.--he started singing--the voice after the 3-hour sadhakam at the concert platform before had softened the rough contours. Boy did he sing--what kalpana swaram-- Karaharapriya--his favorite raga== Chakkani Raja followed by Shankarabaranam-- Bhava-laden-- the kriti was Bahu Meera-Veena Kuppier kriti--the charanam Neelavanyamu for neraval was out of the world/ The singing continued till midnight--the other tenants in the Building(we were in the top floor)--unfortunately were not musically inclined and came upstairs to complain and had to be pacified--the swara prastharam--the Pa Pa Pa Pa Dha Pa Pa Ma Pa Ma(the glide in the Ma Pa Mumma would be dripping with Bhava) ending with Pa Sa Pa still rings in my ears 60 years later!! Mind you the audience was just our family of four or five--Mama simply could not bottle up all the Kalpanas that his voice failed him at the concert platform earlier and did not need any coaxing on our part nor did he bother about the disturbance at that hour to the neighbors. “

Imagine at 10 years old hearing this in your own home. What I would have given to have been there!

This also raises another point @rajesh - you named several of the musicians in Appa’s Mt. Everest - TNR, Mali, GNB but Semmangudi Mama was undoubtedly on that lofty level for Appa (PMI, Lalgudi there too). How could he not appreciate how Mama blended the nadaswaram influence with his own rich lineage and adapted these techniques to create an unmatched vocal style despite an unsupportive voice!

Of course, Appa would easily admire many others - Musiri Mama for his gauravam, teaching ability and his clarion-like voice, MMI for the creativity, spontaneity and indefatigable energy despite handicap, DKP for her depth, discipline and scholarship, PSP for his dignity and amazing technique, TNK for his outstanding tonal quality, and of course Ariyakudi as an emperor, etc., etc. Appa would say “there’s no need to denigrate one to praise another” - he found unique aspects of joy in all of their music.

So this takes us up to the early 50’s. I’ll cover the next decade in my next post.

But also happy to take comments, criticisms or requests for info as well. Is this worthwhile? Or just too much?

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

Re: MK Ramasubramanian

Post by RSR »

@43
@maheshram
Dear Sir,
Thank you. Where did he do his Engg course? Madras? Which year? Was he a frequent visitor to Kalki Gardens between 1945 and 1952? That is the period which fascinates me. Awaiting more instalments.
Best Regards.

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

Re: MK Ramasubramanian

Post by SrinathK »

Oh please go on. I thought you were just getting started and we're eager for more.

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

Re: MK Ramasubramanian

Post by rajeshnat »

maheshram wrote: 25 Jan 2020, 07:46 My maternal grand-uncle P.S. Subramanian was a well to do businessman and became an stalwart supporter of Semmangudi Mama (who knew a good patron as well as anyone!). Two younger maternal uncles rebelled against the elder brother (!) and became mad fans of MMI and GNB (this is from late 30’s to early 40’s). Later they would all take turns attempting to ‘brainwash’ my father to their favorites which only delighted my father as he could easily egg any of them on. But they all agreed on TNR as an epochal game-changer which explains my father’s early fascination with TNR - Appa related hearing TNR playing on the radio at a very young age even prior to meeting/hearing him in person.
.....
So this takes us up to the early 50’s. I’ll cover the next decade in my next post.

But also happy to take comments, criticisms or requests for info as well. Is this worthwhile? Or just too much?
Maheshram,
Roughly 5 years back i made up my mind that the vocal trinities are MMI SSI and GNB. How apt that your appa's 3 maternal uncles were taking each of these supernovas as their favourite.

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

Re: MK Ramasubramanian

Post by rajeshnat »

Just few questions and trivia for you to build up bit more:
------------------------------------------------
1. Did SSI or any one else from that parampara used your appa for tuning any swathi songs atleast in way of minimal suggestion like say MKR saying tune it in saveri?

2. Did by any chance SSI take your appa to any music courses as a part time student in trivandrum? Your appa was given a nickname by Semmangudi i dont know when was it in trivandrum or madras.

3. Growing up and context switching from pattamadai (you have made a typo as pathamadai) to mumbai to trivandrum was quite a diverse experience . Kudos to your parents and grandparents who still kept a sustained nurture of deep CM.

4. Kudos to Mrs KS Mahadevan , if some one can spot a 12 year old Abhishek and give a tape and say that he is the future , that certainly talks about how she can find and spot out talent of high caliber.

5. Contextual Photos may be of help but no worries if you cannot find it.

6. Since you have chronogically grouped ,MKR sir's english and reading novels etc can also be tabled in that respective era. Or you can bring a seperate section as we move forward which is also a great idea, I am atleast looking at his english reading habits AND his big saga with publishing houses.

7. Personally it is a blessing that your appa went to Trivandrum to stay with his grandparents. Each of us donot get that long stint with grandparents , but your appa must have been immersed in pristine music. I went to my maternal grandfather ancestral home for few years to mayavaram in 1980s , that really shaped my listening to carnatic music more than my parents. THere are many many like that.

The best way to bring more fresh blood rasikas into CM is not taking a starter lecdem,or a diluted fusion but leave the kids for few years or few months in grand parents house. All of us usually have a liking to atleast our grandparents and take up their taste just blindly atleast till the age of 17 , that way your appa was immensely deep with CM.Not to say the least your appa's three maternal uncles who had MMI,SSI and GNB as favourites.

8. Mrs KS Mahadevan learnt violin with father of Papa venkataramiah whose name is srikantiah, I hope you read this post where MKR sir gives his own brief profile
viewtopic.php?f=24&t=15382&p=213002#p213002

Great Job Maheshram:
---------------------
Take your time and pause for atleast 3 to 4 days gap till you post the next biggie post .

You should always type it in notepad , save it and then move it in smaller chunks here so that you donot lose your thought process when you feel like writing .

YOu are doing a great job. IT is just like Marlon Brando(MKR Sir) God Father 1 is just over with you taking up as Al Pacino God Father 2.

maheshram
Posts: 51
Joined: 24 Jun 2013, 21:48

Re: MK Ramasubramanian

Post by maheshram »

While I gather my bearings for the next chapter I'll write, here's a video link to my Appa singing an alapana in Thodi a few months back in NY. The nadaswaram, GNB and SSI influences all clearly seen here:

https://youtu.be/VAMHfd7CQpM

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

Re: MK Ramasubramanian

Post by rajeshnat »

maheshram wrote: 26 Jan 2020, 01:29 Most of you would have seen this but I love th is clip of Appa at Cleveland and the spontaneous appreciation from the great vidwans esp the senior ones Sri VVS and Suguna Mami.

Here's the video from Cleveland aradhana of Appa demonstrating vintage vidwans music surrounded by top vidwans that you both will appreciate:

https://youtu.be/Xf_gINa5QeY?t=263
In the above youtube link just hear 3 mins where you can hear MKR singing Ariyakudi(pantuvarali) + MMI(kamas) + GNB(kalyani).The texture of ariyakudi , mmi and gnb was fully there in MKR singing. I have just forwarded the link to that timeline.

https://youtu.be/Xf_gINa5QeY?t=284

maheshram
Posts: 51
Joined: 24 Jun 2013, 21:48

Re: MK Ramasubramanian

Post by maheshram »

Q for Admin or others: I have some amazing photos of my father with MS Mami, Radha Mami, Semmangudi, Nehru (!), etc. that I'm sure you would like to see.

What's the best way to share these in posts please? I recall being able to post them inline in the past but not sure that works anymore

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

Re: MK Ramasubramanian

Post by rshankar »

Mahesh- check with Cienu - he has posted some amazing pictures. He's probably your best resource.

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

Re: MK Ramasubramanian

Post by rajeshnat »

maheshram wrote: 30 Jan 2020, 22:46 Q for Admin or others: I have some amazing photos of my father with MS Mami, Radha Mami, Semmangudi, Nehru (!), etc. that I'm sure you would like to see.

What's the best way to share these in posts please? I recall being able to post them inline in the past but not sure that works anymore
I went in the last 15 years putting with imagebb and other free image upload sites . Unfortunately after few years links dont work. Also tried many many years back few photosharing sites which got accquired by google/yahoo even those links have expired .

I suggest Mahesh if you have any paid acct with you or your family where they can create a seperate folder with public rights that is the place to upload . May be you can figure that out in parallel, make doubly sure that it says permenant for for ever and then upload . THe site admins may not be able to directly answer any features that this site supports as there is none . You have to take external help there.May be @srkris can do something here but i still feel you approach with your friends/relatives create a shared folder for public usage where links stay even longer than nagaswaram of TNR.

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

Re: MK Ramasubramanian

Post by SrinathK »

Make a page for your father and mother on FB. Add people through invite only and share the pics there and give us the link. You can also write about anything special for any particular one. That's the easiest way.

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

Re: MK Ramasubramanian

Post by RSR »

@52
@maheshram
Dear Sir,
I have some amazing photos of my father with MS Mami, Radha Mami, Semmangudi, Nehru (!), etc. that I'm sure you would like to see
How wonderful!
The Best method is to use googlesite( classic) or blogger.
Google classic site is my preferred website for displaying images.
It is ultra simple.
May I invite you to have a look at my site exclusively for Smt.MS and Sri.Sadasivam? and all those glorious events in Kalki Gardens?
https://sites.google.com/site/mssubbula ... /ms-photos

All that we need is a gmail account. ( we can create an extra account for website).
Facebook is not a good choice.
You can place pictures, and other articles and links in the website.
It is not a blog So we get quick and direct access through side bar.
This is what I use for all my sites ( about 12)
including the one that I cherish most
https://sites.google.com/site/homage2mssubbulakshmi

Best Regards

srkris
Site Admin
Posts: 3497
Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 03:34

Re: MK Ramasubramanian

Post by srkris »

Namaste Mahesh ji - I think it may be unwise (given our recent experience with loss of photos uploaded to tinypic) to upload valuable photos to public sites.

This website has size limits so I cannot enable photo/video uploads as it would make backups and restores very large and time consuming. I will see if I can enable this feature later on if I can get access to a better server or backup option.

My suggestion therefore is to load the photos to a private photo archiving service like Google Photos, and share the link to the Album.

maheshram
Posts: 51
Joined: 24 Jun 2013, 21:48

Re: MK Ramasubramanian

Post by maheshram »

THanks all! I will do my best.

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

Re: MK Ramasubramanian

Post by SrinathK »

@maheshram After hearing this frankly unbelievable have to hear to believe it mimicry of your father (and what a voice at that age, to imitate ARI, MMI and GNB amongst others), I only feel even more sad I could only meet him twice in person that too very briefly. What a karpoora buddhi he must have had to grasp phrases in that detail from those days where your ears were often the only available tape recorder around!

We could have spent days on nothing but music. Alas, I was too late. Still, that which is scarce is valuable and I shall count it my very great fortune I was able to fulfil my wish of getting to know him while he was around.

maheshram
Posts: 51
Joined: 24 Jun 2013, 21:48

Re: MK Ramasubramanian

Post by maheshram »

@srinathk Thank you so much for these wonderful words and yes it feels like he still had much more to give us. Appa had great innate talent yet was not given scope for learning due to studies and other commitments. Nevertheless, it was a genuine inherent passion for him so he developed it as an amateur anyway via osmotic methods and certainly not gurukulavasam. Personally, I am more amazed at his own original takes on ragas than the mimicry as you can see from the impromput Thodi alapana I have posted. As kids in NY, we used to cringe as Appa would launch into humming say Lathangi in the aisles of a KeyFood Supermarket while my sister and I crept away surreptitiously after nudging him to please stop!. But only later did we understand that it flowed through him constantly and his brain was always exploring the contours of ragas and compositions. I will recount some more memories in future posts as promised.

Ramnaths85
Posts: 4
Joined: 13 Dec 2018, 21:57

Re: MK Ramasubramanian

Post by Ramnaths85 »

Dear Rasikas,
I was working with Ramesh Mama to try and collate his Rasika "threads" into "pdfs". I have uploaded them to google drive. You should be able to access them through the following link:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1wCtLM ... YIPItlYKdP

Please excuse any inadvertent omissions or errors.

Enjoy.

Ramnath

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

Re: MK Ramasubramanian

Post by cienu »

@Ramnaths85
What an effort you have put in to meticulously document the enormous material which Sri MKR had written for Rasikas. This is an everlasting tribute to the memory of Ramesh Mama.
I sincerely congratulate you on the herculean task which you have accomplished.

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

Re: MK Ramasubramanian

Post by rajeshnat »

@Ramnaths85 Stunning and great contribution from you. I did not have time to read all the 4 pdfs. But make sure you can also include these three link contents

1.TNR fascination writeup from MKR
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=4216&p=131746#p131746

AND

2.Perhaps add the below link in the last pdf nirmala and mkr
where MKR sir's his own breezy introduction is also there
viewtopic.php?f=24&t=15382&p=213002#p213002

AND

3. Try adding the below link where he sings as great superstars in youtube
In the below youtube link just hear 3 mins where you can hear MKR singing Ariyakudi(pantuvarali) + MMI(kamas) + GNB(kalyani).The texture of ariyakudi , mmi and gnb was fully there in MKR singing. I have just forwarded the link to that timeline.

https://youtu.be/Xf_gINa5QeY?t=284

THe effort of some one aggregating and collating content without any distractions. Thank you ramnath85.

Ramnaths85
Posts: 4
Joined: 13 Dec 2018, 21:57

Re: MK Ramasubramanian

Post by Ramnaths85 »

Thanks Cienu and Rajeshnat for your kind words, You may have noticed the pdf about the musicians is 108 pages long, not a coincidence! It seemed an auspicious number to stop volume 1 and goes back to 2013. I will start the next volume and include Rajesh's suggestions as well as any other recommendations. Meanwhile, I have posted Mama's writings from the 1970s, during his Columbia Univ days. There are two in particular that may be of interest to the rasikas:

1. Rise and fall in carnatic music
2. Higgins interview notes

Enjoy.

Link:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1JPn1H ... tsRfZN4z6p

maheshram
Posts: 51
Joined: 24 Jun 2013, 21:48

Re: MK Ramasubramanian

Post by maheshram »

Thank you @Ramnaths85 this is wonderful!

maheshram
Posts: 51
Joined: 24 Jun 2013, 21:48

Re: MK Ramasubramanian

Post by maheshram »

Hello Everyone, in our old family photo archives, we found a rare photograph from 1950 that includes my grandfather late Sri KS Mahadevan who had arranged a concert for GNB with Kumbakonam Rajamanickam Pillai and for the first time in Bombay the combo of Palghat Mani Iyer on mridangam and Palani Subramania Pillai on kanjira. What makes this photo also very special is the relatively rare photo of Sri TR Balasubramanian the senior sishya of GNB whose genius and brilliance was widely acknowledged but who died tragically young a few years later.

Image

My GF is directly behind PMI and TR Balu is to his left directly behind GNB. Of course you will readily recognize PMI, PSP, and KRP in the photo. My grand uncle Seetharaman (an ardent and close friend of GNB) is to TR Balu's left.

If anyone can recognize others in the photo, please do add here. Especially the gentleman to the left of PSP looks very familiar but can't place him.

My father had recollected about this concert in a prior thread which I reproduce here:

"KSM first arranged the PMI-PSP combo for GNB(Rajamanikkam) for the Shanmukhananda Sabha in 1950(when the Sabha's membership rolls were thin and such a concert would have been a risky financial proposition and yet the Committee authorised my father to go ahead and arrange). I remember the concert was held in Podar College Hall and was a roaring success. PSP on the Kanjira matched PMI sollu for sollu and gave full vent to his forte--the Tisra nadais with Korvais after Korvai coming like waves after waves-- neither of them tried any silly gamesmanship either-- PMI realised the limitations of the kanjira(predominantly one hand) and played only sollukattus that could be reproduced in the Kanjira. At the end of the concert, no "affected" complimenting each other but a genuine wordless smile and gratitude that spoke of a high degree of respect and understanding."

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

Re: MK Ramasubramanian

Post by rajeshnat »

@maheshram
When you posted this photo i was sure this photo was discussed by your appa MKR sir. It was difficult for me to recollect , but i knew it had to be in either his MS amma saga thread , KSM centenary thread or PMI thread or SSI thread or GNB thread . I just found out now , he has written about lot of vintage photos with names .

YOu can check PMI thread when i initially shared the link of Coolkarni who gave a bunch of photos from his blog thread . Your appa has checked many photos and indeed posted the names . Check my link from post #109 to MKR Sir's comments upto #117 in PMI thread as below

www.rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=216923#p216923

This photo is indeed a treasure . It is nice to see artist seated then the organizers just behind the seated rows.

Post Reply