Cleveland Aradhana schedule - 2010

vvsundaram · Post by **vvsundaram** » 04 Feb 2010, 06:49

This is V V Sundaram. Last year, Vidwan Sri Shashikiran came up with a suggestion for "talent search" competition for north America based young artists, and this was enthusiastically seconded by our committee member Smt. Nandini Mouli of DC area. Smt. Nandini took the leadership in running the program. The selected participants were given 1 hour to perform as a team of Vocal-violin-mridangam. The judges included Dr. N. Ramani, Sri Guruvayoor Dorai, Sri V Subrahmanyam, Sri T V Vasan and other senior vidwans. The winners were Kumari Kamya and Keerthana Shankar for vocal, Sri Kamalakiran Vinjamuri for violin and Sri Athrey Nadhan for mridangam.

The committee arranged four programs for the winners in Chennai during the season. We also arranged to have a performance by them at Thiruvaiyaru on the Pahula Panchami day, which I believe was telecast by Doordarshan. The response was overwhelming. The 3,000 odd people in the audience gave a thunderous ovation, and vociferously requested a solo by the 9 year old violinist Kamalakiran. The Thiruvaiyaru organizers had to scramble to find a slot in a very crowded schedule (as the schedule had been drawn up much earlier), and did oblige. Sri Kamalakiran played one item on his violin, the crowd went wild and wanted his time to be extended, which we all felt was not practical under the circumstances.

One of the organizing secretaries hugged the kids and said that the kind of talent that is being presented by the Cleveland Festival is rarely seen even in the "citadel" of carnatic music.

Dr. N. Ramani, Sri Shashikiran and others insisted that this year we provide 5 slots in the Cleveland Festival for the talent search program versus the 3 we provided last year.

I just want to emphasize that the Festival is doing its best (as it knows how) towards the young artists growing up in north America. While one can and should question our collective judgments, we do want to say that our motives are good.

V V Sundaram

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 04 Feb 2010, 07:15

Well said VVS
We will do our best to encourage the young talents in keeping with our goals of promoting CM globally. As one of the organizers of CM programs in Canada in a city (OTTAWA)(and there are many such in NA) where we lack competent accompanists we appreciate knowing these youngsters in NA who are more easily accessible for arranging Programs rather than importing support from SI which is expensive as well as riddled with bureaucracy. Do please identify the talents using the help of acknowledged veterans in CM and we can provide them visibily and encouragement through this Forum. Your service to CM in NA is highly appreciated.

appu · Post by **appu** » 04 Feb 2010, 07:24

cmlover wrote: VVS
Your service to CM in NA is highly appreciated.

Hear, Hear........

Sreeni Rajarao · Post by **Sreeni Rajarao** » 04 Feb 2010, 08:04

It is good to hear from Sri. VVS himself on this forum.

Aishu has been given a big project and I am sure she and her team will make it a success.

I wish Aishu's project involving 33 kids had been made public on this forum when it
was still in the evolving stage - perhaps we rasikas could have recommended some talented kids that we are familiar with in our communities across the U.S.

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 04 Feb 2010, 09:40

I can try but cannot PROMISE I will be able to write all the names& all they did; So AN INCOMPLE LIST WILL BE THE RESULT. I need advice on whether this is O.K. VKV

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 04 Feb 2010, 09:45

Sreeni Rajarao wrote:It is good to hear from Sri. VVS himself on this forum.

Aishu has been given a big project and I am sure she and her team will make it a success.

I wish Aishu's project involving 33 kids had been made public on this forum when it
was still in the evolving stage - perhaps we rasikas could have recommended some talented kids that we are familiar with in our communities across the U.S.

AISHU HAS THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PRESENTATION. If she needed any help I am sure she would have asked for it. The presentation requires specific skills that she only knows; As a high school senior burdened with many things as well as requirements imposed by the GRANT its understandable if she cannot follow the above suggestion. VKV

vganesh · Post by **vganesh** » 04 Feb 2010, 16:56

People should understand that to run a forum like this/ to conduct any festival of this magnetitude require lots of effort and most importantly Time. I feel Mr.VVS / Mr.VKV are doing great service just by answering the queries. It is not money alone which can bring something, individual hard work and passion. Hats off sirs.

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 04 Feb 2010, 17:52

As much as I hate to cavil at some of the harsh uninformed criticisms about the Cleveland Aradhana festival,I am amazed that despite the painstaking clarifications of VKV and now from VVS as well these criticisms continue to surface.VVS restraint in his response is laudable.
How much more civility can you expect from a man who has been subjected to unjust criticism and yet takes the high road to explain the process of selection of artistes and drawing up of schedules without resorting to retorts of cheap innuendos like"Competitions are the main source of money for the festival and that the Aradhana Committee "exploits" this avenue!!).Balderdash
CMLover Kudos to you for trying to
restore some modicum of civility to a discussion which seems to veer around "venting' of pent-up frustrations and pet peeves

Here is a "teaser" to some of the Operations Research wizards,

Take the schedule-work with the given artistes-provide for legitimate constraints balancing the need to "showcase" local talent and yet prov ide the music lovers with an opportunity to listen to as many seniors as possible,make your own assumptions about what the festival should cost and how you would go ab.
out raising the revenue to meet those costs. This would be one of the best Linear Programming problems.

Let's turn to more enlightening discussions than mere venting!!

muthukumaran · Post by **muthukumaran** » 04 Feb 2010, 19:15

Dear Sundaram
I appreciate your clarifying one aspect of talent search. I do have a couple of questions that baffle me.

(1) You have great things to say about the winners of the talent competetion and how they "mesmerized" India. Why don't you ask them to perfom in a senior slot in Cleveland? As far as I can see they will continue to be underdogs until one day they give up Cleveland.
(2)I was curious about the awardees this year. Who is this Roopa Mahadevan receiving an award? IS she the one who is more interested in pursuing a career in medicine rather than taking music as a profession? And again, if she was such a star, why didn't you ask her to sing in a senior slot and not at 2PM on a weekday?
(3) Haven't you deliberately ignored many NA star artists who deserved a serious consideration?

Like they say "justice should not only be done but should also appear to have been done"
Muthu
Canton, MI

music_is_life · Post by **music_is_life** » 04 Feb 2010, 19:19

It's nice to hear from Mr. VVS himself on this forum.. If the Aradhana website is little more content rich with some of these details, announcement of the winners of talent competition, their program schedule etc in India, this would help in a long way. I am sure there will be a volunteer from any one of the tech. savvy forum members to take the task of administering the web site with content provided by either Mr. VVS or Mr. VKV. Just a small suggestion for this year's program.. for the individual singing slots on the inaugural day of the festival (Saturday), can you please have this team ( winners of the Talent competition in 2009) perform together and present 1 or 2 songs?

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 04 Feb 2010, 20:38

VKV
However incomplete the list, it will be useful for all of us across NA (in small towns) organizing CM programs. Do include names and emails (if possible). These youngsters would love being appreciated and hosted across NA and will form the nucleus for the propagation (and of course inspiration) of CM in NA. Here is a heart warming episode.

A few years ago a young boy visiting from Texas offered to provide a vocal concert at our city (Ottawa). We hastily scrambled to put together a team of accompanists (who were just so-so). He performed for about three hours and boy, what a performance! One of our local girls who loves CM (and quite talented) fell instantly in love with him and the long and short of it is that they got happily married and now appear to have a wonderful family and a very satisfying life sharing CM together.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 04 Feb 2010, 20:50

Folks
Just remember a sage proverb in Tamil
'oru paanai paalukku oru thuLi viSham' (for one pot of milk one drop of poison).
So please phrase even your critical comments constructively and with a positive attitude. VKV/VVS are looking for suggestions to improve the Cleveland Festival and (in all good faith) will implement whatever is feasible. Of course only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches

It is so nice of them to participate in our discussions. Pl don't turn them off with acerbic/accusatory comments!

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 04 Feb 2010, 23:35

cmlover wrote: One of our local girls who loves CM (and quite talented) fell instantly in love with him and the long and short of it is that they got happily married and now appear to have a wonderful family and a very satisfying life sharing CM together.

Upcoming young unmarried artists, please read. CM will bring saukyam to rasikas and to artists too.

Kalpana Mohan · Post by **Kalpana Mohan** » 05 Feb 2010, 01:39

Hello everyone:

I've been watching the posts on Rasikas for the last many days. Now I realize why peace is elusive around the world. If there's so much back and forth in the world of Carnatic music, when will India and Pakistan find peace? Gaza? Forget it! One video all of us here might want to watch for three minutes today will put our lives in perspective. Go to Carl Sagan's "The Pale Blue Dot" at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p86BPM1GV8M
Having established what we are in the universe, let me come to the here and now.

Carnatic music is important to me. Cleveland is very important to me. I have a young son. I have a precious guru for my hard-working son and together they both are making sure that (at least in one small person) the highest quality of Carnatic music will be alive and well in a future generation. And exactly like the two of them there are many others-dedicated students and gurus and organizers-trying to ensure that very high standards are being set for the next generation of Carnatic music practitioners.

I have very high regard for those who opened a stage for Carnatic musicians here in North America. The Cleveland Aradhana began with high ideals and, over time, it has far exceeded its own expectations and those of US-based rasikas/artistes and India-based artistes. Yet, like in any organization, there are inefficiencies, missteps even, misunderstandings perhaps, which have not been aired and thrashed out for lack of energy, lack of resources and lack of time for introspection. This is probably a wonderful opportunity to clear the air. We're lucky that a forum like Rasikas.org exists to discuss improvements to the system in an objective, preferably constructive, way. Here are things I would like to suggest as we go into the next decade of the Aradhana.

1) Equal Opportunity:

When the Aradhana began 30+ years ago, we did not have such a stable of homegrown artistes; most of the skilled artistes were visitors from India. The story has changed now and to accommodate that, the committee may have to revise its strategy and figure out how best to distribute the opportunities among the locals and the visitors. Typically, the schedule shows that one accompanist plays anywhere from 2 to 5 concerts in the Aradhana; perhaps it's time to allow only a maximum of two performances by the same artiste. One idea may be to not have the same visiting artistes (Senior/Mid-rung/Junior) year after year. A nice way to implement this is to have a lottery where the names of the current year's performers are eliminated in the next year's round. This can get complicated but putting a system like this in place will, over time, result in fairer distribution across vocalists and accompanists and across senior to junior slots. This brings me to the next point, transparency.

2) More transparency in selection:

When the system of artiste selection is clear to artistes/rasikas, there is bound to be less resentment. Currently, how does the Aradhana select its 100 or whatever performers? By popularity and crowd-pulling capability? By extraordinary talent (this does not always go hand in hand with popularity)? By established musicianship and seniority? On the basis of a recent award? How exactly? How does it select them for every one of the different areas: vocalists, accompanying violinists, accompanying vainikas, accompanying flautists, accompanying percussionists? Is there a committee that listens to auditions and determines who it will be? You get the point. When the system is fair and just, few rasikas will end up whining about how their favorite senior artiste is not being invited to perform.

3) Thorough updates to the Aradhana schedule:

I don't see anything wrong with one poster's irritation about yet another slot being given to Aishwarya Venkatraman. As it turns out, this person, GMSMom, had no clue that AV was performing with an orchestra based on a challenge from the organizers. GMSMom had no clue because the schedule -until yesterday-had ONLY the performer's name. What are readers to think until then? To them, the slot was a solo. And GMSMom asked a question that everyone else here was afraid to ask. The problem is we need transparency in schedule too. Schedules need to have due diligence done to them and it's smarter to not put out a schedule until it is as complete as possible. The committee should probably vend out this work to people who will sweat out the details. For example, I know for a fact that the Aradhana knows the names of the winner of the Best School competition but currently it reads just 'Winner of Best School competition'. This entry should have the details of the school name, the guru's name and the names of all performers on that day. Likewise for Wesleyan. Likewise for every other entry in the schedule. Use the same process for everyone and everything because every artiste and every guru comes to Cleveland after sweating bullets. Every one of these guys also hopes for due recognition. Nothing like instant gratification for an artiste because that is what brings closure for their effort and toil.

4) Rotating sub-committees, may be?

All the above cannot be done without more resources. Perhaps once every two years, the Aradhana should appoint different sub-committees from experts in the field to determine performer selection and other tasks. As much as possible, these people should be sworn to secrecy. I know this is too much to ask for, especially in an inquisitive, gossip-prone and competitive community such as ours. Yet, we won't know until we try, will we?

I understand that some of the things I'm suggesting will be a lot of work for an organization that's already weighing down with todos. But implementing some of these may be the way to getting rasikas to argue more about Carnatic music than about Carnatic music organizations.

I hope this will start a constructive exchange of ideas and more transparency of process!

Kalpana Mohan

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 05 Feb 2010, 02:22

What is the arrangement for inviting visiting artistes to perform at other centres in NA?
Who is/are the contact person(s)?

appu · Post by **appu** » 05 Feb 2010, 05:04

gmsmom wrote:Just because parents market the kids aggressively they don't become "first-rate professional" musicians !!

Now gmsmom. No need to take cheap shots at the parents. A child must be a performer for parents to aggressively promote. And for your information, this kid is amazing.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 05 Feb 2010, 06:08

Folks
Here is the exciting finish to that happy ending that i stated with confirmation
Unfortunately raji was unable to post it here and has requested me to post it for your benefits.
Nice of you raji, we will try to resolve the posting problem
(.. and thanks Ramji for forwarding the story!)

Hello!!
Sent: 04 Feb 2010 17:05
From: rajipar
To: cmlover

Hello! Ramji sent me your post today and I had to respond. You made our day!

I am trying to post the following but rasikas.org is not letting me (maybe I am too new?) so I am sending it directly to you.

It is very kind of you to remember Ravi's concert after all these years (14). We'd love to come back to my beloved Ottawa for a concert!

How did you know we are still happily married with a family? you're right, of course, but curious!

warmly,
Raji

-------

cmlover wrote:

"One of our local girls who loves CM (and quite talented) fell
instantly in love with him and the long and short of it is that they
got happily married and now appear to have a wonderful family and a
very satisfying life sharing CM together."

*grin* before this becomes the kind of love story movies are made of
(which it is, of course, but your version is better than the real
one!) let me say that the concert was our "engagement party" for my
Ottawa friends. He had me at Desh, but that was many months before
this concert!

I must say we're tickled that you still remember that concert. It was
14 years ago this month.

Thank you for your compliments - unless they were for another
Texas-Ottawa couple!

Warmly,
Raji
(Austin, via Ottawa)rajipar

By the by raji I don't have your email to respond. Mine is [email protected]
Plenty of info to share... regards and best wishes for several more years of wedded bliss steeped in sweet CM

Always_Evolving · Post by **Always_Evolving** » 05 Feb 2010, 09:17

muthukumaran wrote:
(1) You have great things to say about the winners of the talent competetion and how they "mesmerized" India. Why don't you ask them to perfom in a senior slot in Cleveland? As far as I can see they will continue to be underdogs until one day they give up Cleveland.

Quite ridiculous. Discovering and recognizing young talent, giving them exposure to the atmosphere in Thiruvaiyaru and the crowds response does not amount to "Seniority". Wherever did you get the idea.

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 05 Feb 2010, 09:27

vganesh wrote:People should understand that to run a forum like this/ to conduct any festival of this magnetitude require lots of effort and most importantly Time. I feel Mr.VVS / Mr.VKV are doing great service just by answering the queries. It is not money alone which can bring something, individual hard work and passion. Hats off sirs.

THANK YOU very much on behalf of VVS/VKV & other members of the Aradhana committe as well as the innumerable volunteers helping us. Regs, VKV

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 05 Feb 2010, 09:33

music_is_life wrote:It's nice to hear from Mr. VVS himself on this forum.. If the Aradhana website is little more content rich with some of these details, announcement of the winners of talent competition, their program schedule etc in India, this would help in a long way. I am sure there will be a volunteer from any one of the tech. savvy forum members to take the task of administering the web site with content provided by either Mr. VVS or Mr. VKV. Just a small suggestion for this year's program.. for the individual singing slots on the inaugural day of the festival (Saturday), can you please have this team ( winners of the Talent competition in 2009) perform together and present 1 or 2 songs?

I have been UNSUCCESSFULLY TRYING TO get a group of volunteers to STUDY things you have suggested above by examining ALL aspects in DETAIL with NO HOLDS BARRED APPROACH. However I have been SINGULARLY UNSUCCESSFUL so far. VKV

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 05 Feb 2010, 09:48

Kalpana Mohan wrote:Hello everyone:

I've been watching the posts on Rasikas for the last many days. Now I realize why peace is elusive around the world. If there's so much back and forth in the world of Carnatic music, when will India and Pakistan find peace? Gaza? Forget it! One video all of us here might want to watch for three minutes today will put our lives in perspective. Go to Carl Sagan's "The Pale Blue Dot" at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p86BPM1GV8M
Having established what we are in the universe, let me come to the here and now.

Carnatic music is important to me. Cleveland is very important to me. I have a young son. I have a precious guru for my hard-working son and together they both are making sure that (at least in one small person) the highest quality of Carnatic music will be alive and well in a future generation. And exactly like the two of them there are many others-dedicated students and gurus and organizers-trying to ensure that very high standards are being set for the next generation of Carnatic music practitioners.

I have very high regard for those who opened a stage for Carnatic musicians here in North America. The Cleveland Aradhana began with high ideals and, over time, it has far exceeded its own expectations and those of US-based rasikas/artistes and India-based artistes. Yet, like in any organization, there are inefficiencies, missteps even, misunderstandings perhaps, which have not been aired and thrashed out for lack of energy, lack of resources and lack of time for introspection. This is probably a wonderful opportunity to clear the air. We're lucky that a forum like Rasikas.org exists to discuss improvements to the system in an objective, preferably constructive, way. Here are things I would like to suggest as we go into the next decade of the Aradhana.

1) Equal Opportunity:

When the Aradhana began 30+ years ago, we did not have such a stable of homegrown artistes; most of the skilled artistes were visitors from India. The story has changed now and to accommodate that, the committee may have to revise its strategy and figure out how best to distribute the opportunities among the locals and the visitors. Typically, the schedule shows that one accompanist plays anywhere from 2 to 5 concerts in the Aradhana; perhaps it's time to allow only a maximum of two performances by the same artiste. One idea may be to not have the same visiting artistes (Senior/Mid-rung/Junior) year after year. A nice way to implement this is to have a lottery where the names of the current year's performers are eliminated in the next year's round. This can get complicated but putting a system like this in place will, over time, result in fairer distribution across vocalists and accompanists and across senior to junior slots. This brings me to the next point, transparency.

2) More transparency in selection:

When the system of artiste selection is clear to artistes/rasikas, there is bound to be less resentment. Currently, how does the Aradhana select its 100 or whatever performers? By popularity and crowd-pulling capability? By extraordinary talent (this does not always go hand in hand with popularity)? By established musicianship and seniority? On the basis of a recent award? How exactly? How does it select them for every one of the different areas: vocalists, accompanying violinists, accompanying vainikas, accompanying flautists, accompanying percussionists? Is there a committee that listens to auditions and determines who it will be? You get the point. When the system is fair and just, few rasikas will end up whining about how their favorite senior artiste is not being invited to perform.

3) Thorough updates to the Aradhana schedule:

I don't see anything wrong with one poster's irritation about yet another slot being given to Aishwarya Venkatraman. As it turns out, this person, GMSMom, had no clue that AV was performing with an orchestra based on a challenge from the organizers. GMSMom had no clue because the schedule -until yesterday-had ONLY the performer's name. What are readers to think until then? To them, the slot was a solo. And GMSMom asked a question that everyone else here was afraid to ask. The problem is we need transparency in schedule too. Schedules need to have due diligence done to them and it's smarter to not put out a schedule until it is as complete as possible. The committee should probably vend out this work to people who will sweat out the details. For example, I know for a fact that the Aradhana knows the names of the winner of the Best School competition but currently it reads just 'Winner of Best School competition'. This entry should have the details of the school name, the guru's name and the names of all performers on that day. Likewise for Wesleyan. Likewise for every other entry in the schedule. Use the same process for everyone and everything because every artiste and every guru comes to Cleveland after sweating bullets. Every one of these guys also hopes for due recognition. Nothing like instant gratification for an artiste because that is what brings closure for their effort and toil.

4) Rotating sub-committees, may be?

All the above cannot be done without more resources. Perhaps once every two years, the Aradhana should appoint different sub-committees from experts in the field to determine performer selection and other tasks. As much as possible, these people should be sworn to secrecy. I know this is too much to ask for, especially in an inquisitive, gossip-prone and competitive community such as ours. Yet, we won't know until we try, will we?

I understand that some of the things I'm suggesting will be a lot of work for an organization that's already weighing down with todos. But implementing some of these may be the way to getting rasikas to argue more about Carnatic music than about Carnatic music organizations.

I hope this will start a constructive exchange of ideas and more transparency of process!

Kalpana Mohan

WHILE I AGREE your suggestions are great the members of the organising committee- ALL unpaid volunteers- are tied up with various things considered more crucial like getting passports, visas, resrving halls, trying to come up with a fair way of presenting the talent & UMPTEEN other critcal things to make the festival happen.
I have been trying to get ALL the persons attending the festival to SPARE ONE HOUR of their time to meet in one place so as many questions as possible can be answered. Last year close to 50 persons notified me they would attend. Apart FROM vvs & me there were 4 others who showed up & those four already were known to us& knew the details of whatever they wanted to know. VVS had to cancel 4 appointments to come to the meeting.
I am not critiocising ANY ONE but practicality requires considerations of others r equirements......I have given up on setting up ANYMORE meetings; If some one else sets something up I am willing to show up& participate. I will make sure your suggestions- I MUST SAY every one of the suggestions is taken up, studied etc- are examined by the committee. VKV

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 05 Feb 2010, 09:56

cmlover wrote:What is the arrangement for inviting visiting artistes to perform at other centres in NA?
Who is/are the contact person(s)?

STARTING THIS YEAR the OFFICIAL US visa regulations require that the Aradhana committee sponsoring artists can only have them perform in CLEVELAND during the festival period. ANY OTHER PLACE OR TIME, EACH CENTER has to become the sponsor, apply for visa & take care of 30 percent IRS requirement to perform etc. VKV

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 05 Feb 2010, 09:56

vkv43034 wrote:.It is like the proverb that says" Aaasai Irukku .......Adirstham Irukku Kazudhai Meykka" etc

Have some words been left out? Please provide full proverb. Or please email if not suitable for family viewing.

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 05 Feb 2010, 09:58

There are MANY Variations to the....part; one is : Asaai Irukku Rajyam ALA Adhirstham irukku Kazhudai Mekka. VKV

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 05 Feb 2010, 12:06

Another Variation more TAMIL oriented- will be classified as "MOFUSIL" by Chennaiites- SOURCE is none other than V.V.S. : aasai irukku thasil panna"......VKV

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 05 Feb 2010, 16:20

muthukumaran wrote:Dear Sundaram
I appreciate your clarifying one aspect of talent search. I do have a couple of questions that baffle me.

(1) You have great things to say about the winners of the talent competetion and how they "mesmerized" India. Why don't you ask them to perfom in a senior slot in Cleveland? As far as I can see they will continue to be underdogs until one day they give up Cleveland.
(2)I was curious about the awardees this year. Who is this Roopa Mahadevan receiving an award? IS she the one who is more interested in pursuing a career in medicine rather than taking music as a profession? And again, if she was such a star, why didn't you ask her to sing in a senior slot and not at 2PM on a weekday?
(3) Haven't you deliberately ignored many NA star artists who deserved a serious consideration?

Like they say "justice should not only be done but should also appear to have been done"
Muthu
Canton, MI

(1): THESE are YOUNGSTERS who are just starting out in the field.CLEVELAND alone does not decide where they end up.......
(2) She is a brilliant youngster who is excellent in many areas. NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT? We are not trying to DICTATE the profession or other interests of participants. She definitely is not experienced enough to sing at what you are calling senior slot. To the organisers ALL slots are EQUALLY IMPORTANT & the TIME& DAY of the performance also is not a MAJOR factor.
(3) We do not DELIBERATELY IGNORE ANY ARTIST FROM ANYWHERE. THE TIME,SLOTS& FINITE NUMBER OF CONCERTS FROM VARIOUS LEVELS& TYPES OF PARTICIPANTS FORCES CHOICES WHICH YOU CAN DISAGREE WITH.
Incidentally I would be very thankful if you & others who have wrestled with this issue can come up with their own such lists & write it here. YOU need to come up with a LIST for 56 performances with accompaniments etc.Thanks for your comments, suggestions& views. VKV

ShrutiLaya · Post by **ShrutiLaya** » 05 Feb 2010, 18:48

vkv43034 wrote: WHILE I AGREE your suggestions are great the members of the organising committee- ALL unpaid volunteers- are tied up with various things considered more crucial like getting passports, visas

vkv43034 wrote: STARTING THIS YEAR the OFFICIAL US visa regulations require that the Aradhana committee sponsoring artists can only have them perform in CLEVELAND during the festival period. ANY OTHER PLACE OR TIME, EACH CENTER has to become the sponsor, apply for visa & take care of 30 percent IRS requirement to perform etc. VKV

Dear VVS, VKV (and all the sincere and hardworking folks behind this great event),

First of all, what you are doing and have been doing all these years is fantastic. As has been pointed out, it is not easy to balance the various conflicting demands and constituencies, and still this committee has managed to do that year after year, primarily due to the passion of people like you.

To come to my comment/suggestion: The Carnatic Music scene in the US has changed considerably over the past few years. There are several people/institutions whose main activity is bringing artists from India, and organizing tours over the country for them. The fixed costs like visa fee, travel etc., are thus spread over a large number of concerts, and they can also adjust the fees for individual sabhas to be commensurate with their audiences (i.e small sabhas pay less than large sabhas).

Instead of tying up the best minds at the aradhana committee with passports and visas and travel arrangements, why not "outsource" this work to these specialized organizations. They can bring the artists from India, send them to Cleveland first and then on tours over the country. Costs and headaches for the committee will reduce, and sabhas in various corners will also have a chance to get the artists to their towns. The committee can focus on Artist selection, and on identifying and encouraging US talent (which I, and our Sabha Shruti Laya, believe is a CRUCIAL ACTIVITY for Sabhas in the US.)

- Sreenadh Jonnavithula

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 05 Feb 2010, 20:50

The idea of outsourcing CM appears attaractive on the face of it. It avoids the hazzles of management and sponsoring bureaucracy etc., for sabhas spread out over NA. On the otherhand big business interests and profit motives get into play. Artistes unwittingly get locked into contracts and are helpless being driven from pillar to post like automatons. Quality suffers as also not-so-popular but brilliant vidwans always get sidelined. Eventually a fine art form like CM becomes yet another marketable quantity. I need not chronicle the woes here which are well known to many here. The NA market is a big cash cow which has been (is being exploited ) by unscrupulous elements. Rasikas who are the consumers should get organized so that the Free Market Forces do not exploit our delicate art form and destroy its evolution. Only now CM has started becoming global and the young off-shoots in different times and climes have to be carefully nurtured by selective feeding from the homeland which requires dedicated and committed individuals who care more for CM than lining their pockets in haste. We should all identify and support the dedicated persons in their efforts to promote quality CM globally.

ShrutiLaya · Post by **ShrutiLaya** » 05 Feb 2010, 21:06

I'm not suggesting outsourcing CM (whatever that means!) but outsourcing the business/legal end of arranging concerts. In return, I am more than happy to pay a fee for this service, since it costs far less than it would for me to do it myself (economies of scale) and is better for my blood pressure!

Selection of artists etc., should remain the focus of the sabhas who look at artistic issues. "Free market forces" and "not-so-popular but brilliant vidwans always getting sidelined" come mainly from rasikas, IMHO, and not sabhas. We are non profit, but that doesn't mean we can afford to run to empty halls. Most sabhas probably try to balance this, and squeeze in some upcoming artists paid for by extra collections from the concerts with the popular artists.

But for a big and reputable organization like the Cleveland aradhana, it does not have to be strictly either/or. They can outsource the sponsoring of the "popular" artists, and continue in their other role of advancing Carnatic music by sponsoring upcoming and neglected brilliant artists on their own. The seal of approval of Cleveland still counts for something ..

And of course, I'm only talking about artists from India; Cleveland should continue to encourage and present promising artists from the US on its own initiative. Outsourcing will free up resources for this vital task.

- Sreenadh

cmlover wrote:The idea of outsourcing CM appears attaractive on the face of it. It avoids the hazzles of management and sponsoring bureaucracy etc., for sabhas spread out over NA. On the otherhand big business interests and profit motives get into play. Artistes unwittingly get locked into contracts and are helpless being driven from pillar to post like automatons. Quality suffers as also not-so-popular but brilliant vidwans always get sidelined. Eventually a fine art form like CM becomes yet another marketable quantity. I need not chronicle the woes here which are well known to many here. The NA market is a big cash cow which has been (is being exploited ) by unscrupulous elements. Rasikas who are the consumers should get organized so that the Free Market Forces do not exploit our delicate art form and destroy its evolution. Only now CM has started becoming global and the young off-shoots in different times and climes have to be carefully nurtured by selective feeding from the homeland which requires dedicated and committed individuals who care more for CM than lining their pockets in haste. We should all identify and support the dedicated persons in their efforts to promote quality CM globally.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 05 Feb 2010, 21:39

It is too risky to entrust the responsibility of identifying local talents to Cleveland however dedicated they be. NA is a huge continent and our folks live far and wide, as many do not have the resources to showcase their best at Cleveland during the narrow window of time. We need to have more communication among the different sabhas (even committed individuals) who can share their cognizance of talent across the continent. It is not necessary for a budding CM talent to be vindicated by 'chennai'. Nor is it necessary for the good one to have been trained by a 'named' vidwan from chennai. There are already excellent teachers in NA some of whom are much better than the home-grown ones and who are more innovative and scientifically oriented. As a starter let us prepare a list of all the non-profit CM organizations with contact names and emails (phone #s) and we can publish it here at the Forum. The mutual exchange of information among the groups will promote a better understanding and a healthy atmosphere for CM in NA. We need not depend on Cleveland to promote awareness of CM across NA but they can concentrate on organizing the annual festival in which they excel with the best already identified NA talents. The Cleveland competitions will not then be the hallmarks of excellence which will eliminate all the conflicts and complaints that we are encountering over these years. Let us take a straw vote and let us have the local organizers across NA post their views here (in a separate thread (shall I start one?)).

appu · Post by **appu** » 05 Feb 2010, 22:17

cmlover wrote: As a starter let us prepare a list of all the non-profit CM organizations with contact names and emails (phone #s) and we can publish it here at the Forum. The mutual exchange of information among the groups will promote a better understanding and a healthy atmosphere for CM in NA.

cml, A gentleman named Raghu has painstakingly put a spreadsheet of NA carnatic musicians ( both students and professionals) Carnatic sabhas (both for profit and not for profit) and a list of teachers

The website is www.mycarnatic.org

I guess what we need to do is help build up that database to its entirety.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 05 Feb 2010, 22:55

Outsourcing has become a byword. I believe that it is, largely, an empty concept, usually based on getting cheap labour, which is never as good as in-house expertise. It is a very peculiar concept.

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 05 Feb 2010, 22:56

Dear Srinath,cm lover& appu,
ALL of you have made EXCELLENT SUGGESTIONS & I certainly will pursue them in DETAIL. Right now all of our time is consumed with the necessary preparations for this year's festival.Actually there have been previous attempts on the lines of what you are all proposing but they did not yield positive results. That does not mean that we should not re-examine the situation again. VKV

ShrutiLaya · Post by **ShrutiLaya** » 05 Feb 2010, 23:27

nick H wrote:Outsourcing has become a byword. I believe that it is, largely, an empty concept, usually based on getting cheap labour, which is never as good as in-house expertise. It is a very peculiar concept.

It's certainly a charged word, which is why I put it in quotes when I used it in my original post; The sense I used it here is clear, though. Just as I don't grow my own food, because a farmer can get better economies of scale by specializing in that, I think we should leave the business of visas and travel and concert tour arrangements to those who specialize in it.

cmlover wrote: It is too risky to entrust the responsibility of identifying local talents to Cleveland however dedicated they be.

No, I don't think I agree. I don't want to debate this in this forum, but I do think there should be one well recognized national body which gives awards (like the Academy awards). But any improvement in communication between NA sabhas can only be good news, and I welcome it. Sites like mycarnatic.com are all very well for rasikas to find sabhas or teachers, but for serious discussions about finding/exchanging talent etc., we should have a private mailing list of interested people in leadership positions at sabhas. Pl. send me a private message if you want to get this started.

- Sreenadh

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 05 Feb 2010, 23:57

I don't want to labour this point, probably one of the less important, much less sidetrack the thread into a debate of management styles, but just to answer your point...

Unlike the example of farming, where the lifestyles of many of us would take a big dip if we had to produce a substantial amount of our own food, the visa, travel and other administrative aspects involved are very much part of the committee's expertise, and it is probably facilitated, not only by that weight of experience, but also by history and contacts.

I'm sure too, that they are well aware of commercial services that may be available.

But, hey... they have said that they welcome all ideas and comments

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 06 Feb 2010, 00:37

Thanks Appu and Sreenadh
The link is not very helpful since it has not been updated. I wish there is a concerted effort on the part of NA based CM sabhas to link together so that artistes can be exchanged and promoted. Now that the Visa issues are getting tougher all the more reason that we exploit our local talents to promote CM. At the national level Cleveland can promote the talents which they are already doing but still we need communication at the grassroot levels. All that I meant is that we should not be complacent locally and finally point the finger at Cleveland for missing potential candidates.

muthukumaran · Post by **muthukumaran** » 06 Feb 2010, 07:27

The imbroglio with Cleveland is like obesity. With obesity comes a myriad of health problems. Someone suggested forming committees. As far as I know there is no "committee" to start with, let alone "subcommittees". There may be 3-4 people involved in scheduling, but finally every thing comes down to just 'ONE" man (sic). He invariably carries the day and decides who will participate in the concerts and who the accompanists will be etc. In fact I am told the even the awards pretty much are decided by this one man. It worked very well when the festival ran for three days. Now it extends over 10 days and there is a strong case to decentralize. It has become an issue of "ego"

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 06 Feb 2010, 09:46

Dear Muthu,
Reg your long post I will be very specific referring to your numbers: I do not have either the time, energy or ability to write EVEN random reactions to your sometimes bitter statements as thats what will be required to discuss many of your points which can be said to be pointless, wrong or right depending on how you look at things based on facts. At 76 after 60 years of trying to do something myself in this area fifty of those years in North America- I do not claim we are perfect- I feel I am entitled to say a few things. Some of them may be harsh but they are NOT intended to be so......
Starting in reverse: 13) YOU are absolutely right& right on.l doubt if there will be the equivalent to the Cleveland Festival if Cleveland Sundaram decides not to do what he is doing with the participation of countless number of volunteers.12) YOU are unfortunately DEAD WRONG. This can be settled only by a Lincoln-Douglas type Debate.Otherwise it will be another case of He said-She said situation. 1) thru' 11) contain SOME SUGGESTIONS after the flak is discarded & will be considered along with several suggestions that have been received in these posts.
The FIRST PARAGRAPH contains so MANY FALSEHOODS it is NOT worth responding to in detail. The rest of the post can at least pass for consideration as suggestions, YOUR views etc. THANKS for your time, efforts& suggestions. VKV

vidya · Post by **vidya** » 06 Feb 2010, 10:12

[quote="muthukumaran"]
(6) Invitation to Indian artists should be limited to maximum of 20 including accompanists. Please respect age. There is no need forcibly bring artists in the 80-90 age group just to prove a point. It is a miserable experience for them given their health issues, cold weather etc. Two years ago Srikantan was asked to wait for 3 hours in the Consulate in Chennai and he suffered through it without food and water.. There was a time when "American returned"

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 06 Feb 2010, 11:29

Dear Vidya,(Hope it is o.k. to address you directly tho' I do not know who you are)
Thank you for writing in an eloquent fashion sentiments& views that I do not have the ability to articulate. I wholeheartedly agree with what you have written above.
The musical GIANTS you have mentioned indeed gave us the experiences of a lifetime as you have correctly observed & I doubt whether such magical moments of the highest
LEVELS of our music have been experienced in any one place.
I have talked in detail to EVERY ONE OF THEM esp. about the various dificulties esp. reg age& health considerations. As a matter of fact one of my primary duties at the festival is to take care of their needs etc during their stay.Almost everyone said those were very minor. In any case these problems arise irrespective of location, travel schedules, weather etc.What was important to them was that they could express their knowledge& talent in front of such an appreciative audience like the one that exists in CLEVELAND. To illustrate this point many of them got concerts, awards & recognition AFTER they were honoured in Cleveland.Viswalingam had not performed in close to 15 years in India- he was not invited to do so by any organisation- & gave such an incredible concert that he got a standing ovation for close to 5 minutes. Honours followed him when he returned. Mukthamma bluntly asked-paraphrasing a little-Why are you asking me to perform in Cleveland when no one in India has cared enough to ask me to do so here......
Right now R.K.Srikantan just finished the first of 3 classes each lasting 3 hours taeching several in Chennai+ Sustsaining Sampradhaya class in N.A. the immortal composition of Dhikhisthar "Subramanyaya Namasthae". He volunteered to teach this composition! It is very inspiring just to listen to him teach & the students trying to follow him. I FEEL & have personally told VVS that THIS may be his greatest contribution to our music he has done todate & it will be very hard to top this.....VKV

Enraged · Post by **Enraged** » 06 Feb 2010, 13:50

As a habitual lurker on this forum, I'd rather watch and be amused than participate and be enraged. But every year, I must live up to my name and fling out some naked truths.

1. Wow, what a sense of entitlement there is on this board! I'd like to see the reaction you guys get from a non-profit like the Red Cross when you demand to know how they appoint their board or spend their donations. Or suggest to a music festival like Lollapalooza or the Bonnaroo that their choice of Kings of Leon was terrible and that they should feature Rage Against the Machine. While you're at it, go ahead and tell the Sundance film festival that the only reason Robert Redford's productions are featured is that he helped start the festival.

Chances are, you won't even get a reaction. If you do, the reaction will probably be to laugh you out of the building - because the first rule of these organizations is to not engage the peanut gallery. I find it incredible that VVS displays a complete lack of judgment and is willing to waste his time engaging this forum in a civil discussion.

Remember, rasikas really cannot have any expectation that the organization will open up its inner workings to the unwashed masses.

2. Read the forum - have you seen how many diverse agendas there are on the board?

Feature more NA artists vs. feature more Indian artists
Support young artists vs. feature more senior artists
Put so-and-so on a weekend slot vs. weekday slot

The examples are numerous - collectively, there is no single direction that this festival can take from this forum. By choosing to follow any one suggestion, the organizers must necessarily go against another. Of course, I can hear one of the many Einsteins on this forum already saying that it is a matter of balance. Once the organizers balance all the suggestions, the never ending stream of complaints will say that the balance is wrong and that it is skewed in one direction or another.

I hope you all remember one of Aesop's fables - the father, the son and the donkey. In some tellings, the donkey ultimately dies. You guys might be turning the Cleveland Aradhana into your version of Aesop's donkey. And you've got VKV egging you on...

3. There's the consistent misconception that the Cleveland Aradhana makes a couple of truckloads of money. Really? Was I the only one listening when VVS and Sudha Raghunathan begged on stage for money to retire more than a hundred thousand dollars of debt? Did everyone go deaf when TM Krishna asked the audience to do their part? Please. The festival most definitely makes no money. That fact that many of you spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to attend doesn't mean that any of it goes to the Aradhana.

Yes, the charges are steep for the competitions and for Sustaining Sampradaya training. Yes, they are cash cows. Just thank the Good Lord that they exist, because if they didn't, the committee would have to rely on the pittance that arrives in donations for funding. Oh yeah, I forgot about the additional trickles of revenue that ticket sales will generate. Actually, I didn't forget - relying on those miniscule revenue streams is probably what got them a hundred grand in the hole to begin with.

4. People on this forum really have no qualms about casting aspersions.

Karthik Venkataraman - On this topic, I feel that Joseph Welch, head counsel for the United States Army was prescient when addressing Senator Joe McCarthy. He was really addressing this forum when he said "Let us not assassinate this lad further. You've done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?"

Where is the collective decency in this forum? I will not debate the finer points of Karthik's technique, vidhwath or scholarship. What I will say is that he is a competent musician, available during the festival, transports himself, does not occupy center stage, does not get paid and volunteers every minute of the time that he is not on stage. If there's a better deal out there, I haven't seen it.

If you don't like an artist, that's fine. You don't have like Roopa Mahadevan, Aishwarya Venkataraman, Ashwin and Rohin Iyer, Kamya and Keertha Sankar or Kamalakiran Vinjamuri. But it is quite possible that someone on the committee thinks that they might be the next Chemmangudi or MS or Lalgudi. You are also free to dislike N. Ramani, Sudha Raghunathan, Carnatica Brothers or Gayathri Venkataraghavan. And most of all, you are free dislike Karthik Venkataraman. You're entitled to your opinion and the committee is entitled to its decision. It is however, disingenuous to suggest that there is any reason for featuring an artist other than that the committee honestly believes that the artist in question is a valued addition to Carnatic music in general and the Cleveland Aradhana in particular.

Oh by the way in case you were wondering, your opinion doesn't count. The committee runs the Cleveland Aradhana.

5. Conspiracy theories - really? Is there no end to this madness? If your precious little snowflake didn't win the competition, it isn't because someone paid off GJR Krishnan or Neyveli Santhanagopalan or Suguna Varadachari. It's because your precious little snowflake isn't as talented as you think s/he is. The reason that your preferred artists aren't featured is not because someone made a backdoor deal with the committee to get promoted in North America. It's because someone on the committee prefers a different artist.

6. Treating the Aradhana as a whipping boy - There are Carnatic music festivals all over North America - east coast, west coast, midwest and Canada. And yet I don't see this forum spewing the vitriol they direct at the Cleveland Aradhana at any other festival. It must be because all the other festivals are run perfectly and in accordance with the wishes of the forum members.

And finally, no. I am not a member of the committee.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 06 Feb 2010, 15:22

Please respect age. There is no need forcibly bring artists in the 80-90 age group just to prove a point.

There is no humour that I enjoy more than the absurd --- and I have had a an enjoyable few moments imagining VVS, VKV and their hired thugs ambushing elderly artists, bundling them, sacks over heads, inot the backs of cars (or perhaps even piling them into the back of a Piaggio Ape carrier?), to smuggle them, in a drugged stupor, in crates marked "Fragile Machinery", by air, only to revive them in America and trundle them on the stage, having ensured hostages are kept in India, so that they will play and sing. Thanks for stimulating my imagination, but your idea is, truly, absurd!

I do wonder at VKV inviting comment, when he must know that the result will be a huge amount of invective and even, as he remarks in a recent post, bitterness (engaged has the measure of it!)--- but I can only assume that he has the patience and determination of the gold miner, who must break up tons or rock to obtain just a few ounces of precious gold. Perhaps, if just one idea comes up that the committee has not thought of, then it is all worth while.

It has been a big pleasure meeting with VVS and VKV in Chennai this year, and to enjoy several conversations with VKV.

I do wish all those little snowflakes well --- and sincerely hope that having to live with their parents after not winning some great prize will not put them off music for life!

sampoorna · Post by **sampoorna** » 06 Feb 2010, 15:50

I am extremely thankful to the ladies and gentlemen who have been organizing and running the Cleveland aaradhana. It gives a chance for everyone big and small to imbibe and participate in carnatic music. If at any time I feel the need for something to be changed, I would first:

- actively volunteer to help out the organizers
- spend time patiently observing what and how they go about their activities
- get to know all those that are involved at a personal level
- make myself useful and hopefully indispensible

If I do all the above, I am pretty confident that my suggestions will be within the limits of what can be acheivable and also will certainly be followed through. If I am not able to do that, I should be happy giving a good suggesttion and waiting for it to be carried out at the organizers' convenience when they find that many others are also asking for the same thing.

I am very happy with Cleveland Aaradhana. I hope everyone is as happy as I am. I hope it continues for a long time. I hope all the children enjoy music and be very good at it - it is acheivable even if one is not center stage.

Narayana,

Sampoorna.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 06 Feb 2010, 18:55

Nick and Narayana (I mean, Sampoorna!) made my day.
The discontented and flared up members tend to present the Theater of the Absurd on the forum as we get closer to the ArAdhana.
One reason why Cleveland Sundaram is still up to pulling this mega ArAdhanAa is his inclination and ability towards taking up a challenge and working with it.
By all means, let's throw in our suggestions which may help make the festival a better event this year meaning we need to give objective suggestions. Personal frustrations can be E-mailed instead of being stated on the forum. This way, we don't stray away from the idea of making it all better and not end up with a wild thread which gets us nowhere.

tkb · Post by **tkb** » 06 Feb 2010, 21:42

I sincerely appreciate the team of Cleveland Aradhana and my suggestion to them is that while it is good to know the feelings many, it is not practical to satisfy all at all times. The team has been doing great for years with tremendous success and i see no reason why they would not do it any further!

Just because people like VKV & VVS are showing their patience and replying as if they are bounded, let people not think they have become the boss! While we can understand that there could be flaws which are surely not intentional, the team has to be complemented for their great service which has been done and needed to be carried on.... I suggest people who have their suggestion to take it up with CA Team and i am sure they will be looked into. I say this with confidence for the simple reason that if they can come here to participate with their views / communication i see no reason why they won't give values if approached.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 06 Feb 2010, 21:46

I always enjoy a good rhetoric. Most often it is nothing more than a hot air (welcome during this cold season!). Address the issues rather than the persons if you waant to be constructive. Even Presidents get impeached when they go wrong. On the otherhand a good cause will be irreparably lost if you assasinate the leader!

I congratulate VKV for maintainig his cool and objectivity. Of course he is only the Medium and not the Master. So please don't attack him

For that matter no personal invectives or named attacks are permitted.

Nick
You sparkle with your sardonic humour! I couldn't contain my laughter when I visualized the octogenarians being drugged and bundled and delivered at cleve land and being whipped by 'cold' lashes to sing divine. Arasi will recall the immortal story 'Sivakamiyin Sabatham' of Kalki where the danseuse Sivakami is whipped to perform by Pulikesi at vaathaapi to protect the Tamilians from the chaLukkas

suma · Post by **suma** » 07 Feb 2010, 00:48

Having read the comments of all in this post, here are my 2 cents.

Cleveland aradhana (CA) is a private festival. If you dont like it, dont be a part of it. Why are you bothered and why do you want to bad mouth?
CA is one and only kind in the world and it is truly loved by all. Do any of us go to any other aradhana/utsavam etc apart from Cleveland aradhana and the one's in our american home towns? We dont. That speaks of what CA is.
Do any of us prepare and go for other competitions in other NA towns? We dont. Someone posted about Chicago. I know how that works very well and I dont want to open the topic on that system, but cleveland aradhana is the best be it concerts, competition, festival etc.

Instead of applauding the outstanding leadership of VVS and his team of volenteers, people are venting out non-sense here. If you think your ideas are really great, why dont you go register a not for profit and compete with cleveland aradhana. It costs only $120 to register. Go ahead and do it and then you will understand the magnanimity of VVS.

I know Shri VVS very well. He is doing a service to us and mostly our children. Without him, our children would be ABCD (American born confused Desi's). Here is an example:
6 months before the aradhana, he comes up with a theme for the program. This theme coincides with the centenery of what is being done in Indian sabhas as well. Again, he takes guidance from senior musicians and other peer. Then he starts the sustaining sampradaya classes.

People call it cash cows. I pity your ignorance. Not all can be as magnanimous as VVS. Even I told him, "mama, why are you giving it away for free on the web when we pay and learn". Our minds think only about our money, we invested and so only we should benefit. No one else should benefit. That is the low mind, and even I felt the same. How many of us can be as magnanimous as VVS. If he is really doing it for money, why would he give it free as well? Because, he wants to sustain the sampradaya in its true sense. This is not easy. Here are the logistics:

First - find a teacher that would be following a traditional padantara
Find 3-4 students to simulate a live class
again within 10-11 hrs repeat for the second set of sampradaya students and there are 2 programs every year.

In the process, for 4 months, VVS works non-stop every weekend Friday through Sunday, morning, evening coaching kids. During weekdays, he sends the recordings out. He is not doing this for his children. He is doing this to OUR children.

I have been a part of the system for 4 years in a row now. Chennai is not short of musicians. If it was for any of us, we will pull some music teacher of the street and hire them and teach the songs. However, that is not VVS. He goes a long way to research and find out who has the best padantaram. Who is maintaining that traditionally. He travels and talks to such teachers. Brings in these teachers in Flights, and then has them teach.

I was in Chennai in Dec. Even though my kid is a part of the system, I could not go for the live classes because of pre scheduled concerts that my kid had. Just think about it. Getting 3-4 students to come and learn every week is not that easy. Even though our kids benefit, when time came, we only did what was in our self interest. Why should VVS do all this? I read in rasikas.org when some artists died either due to age or accident, people wrote, lets go and chat with the artists that are there and write about our experiences here. VVS is doing what we all talk about. He is capturing the golden sampradaya directly from the yesteryear musicians and giving it to the young children. He is making sure that the tradition does not die with old age of artists but is kept alive with youngsters. People wrote "can these children sing for 3 hrs in prime time, do they have what it takes" blah blah blah. They have the treasure and sampradaya that has been given to them by the efforts of VVS.

It is not that VVS is retired and has no work. He does this purely as a passion. Why should parasala ponnamal or r.k. srikantan be the one's teaching, giving concerts in cleveland, why not some NA artist? Because, we crave for them and only they can pass on the true traditions. That is the reason we go to cleveland. To feel them, to listen to them, to treasure the experience that these senior and aged artists posses. We dont go there to listen to americanized accent from Indians.

Cleveland aradhana, we love what you are doing. Do not change a single thing and do what you feel is the best. May God bless you with eternity.

sadananthan · Post by **sadananthan** » 07 Feb 2010, 01:33

Interesting post Suma. If I am not mistaken, aren't you related to a violinist from Chicago who has found some "slot" in Cleveland? Don't have much hope. He will soon be dumped like many other NA artists and your views will change.

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 07 Feb 2010, 02:38

Guys, it appears that some of us are interested in trolling. This is not the place for that. This thread is an announcement about the Aradhana.

It is clear that there is some personal grudge involved, let us keep those irrelevant matters out of this thread. In the extreme case, we might need to pass on the details to the cops for slander and personal attacks and allow you to seek the justice you think you deserve in the courts.

As someone said, it takes nothing to throw mud at others. This place is not a pig-sty in any case.