Insufficient preparation

tiruppugazh · Post by **tiruppugazh** » 17 Sep 2010, 07:58

Today's HIndu carries a review of the TNS concert at Krishna Gana Sabha.

http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/09/17/stor ... 190400.htm

The interesting portion that caught my attention was this

"As regards the song, the constant reference to the sheet of paper was enough to suggest insufficient preparation. The interpretation drained the raga of all the tantalising charm that Dikshitar has built into its structure."

This was with reference to the rendition of Chetashri. It is unfortunate that legends like Shri TNS have to resort to a sheet of paper for rendering a song like Chetashri at that!. This is not the best example they can set to the younger members of their tribe.

mankuthimma · Post by **mankuthimma** » 17 Sep 2010, 08:12

I cant think of anything more laughable than TNS being unprepared for Chetasree in such a manner as to drain the Raga ( Was the Sheet used for the raga ?? ) of all the charm built into it by Dikshitar ( ?.)
SVK's reviews are moving from the ridiculous to the laughable . Not because I am a fan of anybody . Simply because the job of writing a review has become an unnecessary / obsolete appendage .

mahakavi · Post by **mahakavi** » 17 Sep 2010, 08:15

Well, this is one more example of biting more than one can chew. I fail to understand the need to try new kritis without digesting them properly. The rAga alapanai is standard. But why don't the musicians sing the run- of- the- mill songs in the rAgams they are familiar with? If you want to sing an uncommon kriti, better memorize it properly, practice it extensively and then present it. Referring to the notebook or sheets of paper, especially by a senior musician, is very much undesirable. If I were in the audience I'd be embarassed. To quote Alexander Pope, "Drink deep or taste not the Pierian Spring..."

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 17 Sep 2010, 08:50

Why single out CM artists when they refer to notes; why same standard is not applied to movie singers when they sing in a concert. Singing a CM song without looking at notes makes the artist less desirable? What is the background behind expecting CM artists learning the lyrics by heart

mankuthimma · Post by **mankuthimma** » 17 Sep 2010, 08:50

Mk
The point is that this krithi is not new to him which needs digestion - before he climbs the steps to the stage .
His Raga alapanas are NOT Standard .
His Repertoire ( which I track for various artists ) from a set of 140 concerts which I retain as a definitive picture of the man (spanning the whole range of accompanists one can imagine -- and also over a period of four decades ) stands at a whopping 611 . Not counting the Mangalams and thillanas .
And each one of those 611 have drawn the best attention out of this genius . So to say that he was struggling with sheets of paper to .......
We can tilt at Wind Mills as much as we want . But Sorry . That is not the picture of the Man .
He is fallible like any human being . And he has his bad days, too . But given the small scope that a 100-200 word review can offer , to use it on such trivial details speaks more about SVK than anything else .

mankuthimma · Post by **mankuthimma** » 17 Sep 2010, 08:58

And for the records .
His Dwijavanthi RTP - a classic in its own right - lasts One hour and twenty Minutes . Sheer Bliss.
Chetasree Ramam Chinthaye ..... Ravikula Somam Sathatam

Neengale Padungo - I cant play all that - Beyond me .
Chandru is on record ( with recordings available with me ) saying these words.
Only to two warriors , on concert stages.
Both sporting "Madurai" in their names

radha bhaskar · Post by **radha bhaskar** » 17 Sep 2010, 16:59

I have attended so many concerts of TNS sir and not once have I seen him with even a bit of paper before him. So, this remark about him is quite unnecessary as it is a remote instance. What about a so called star lady artist who always keeps sheaves of paper before her like a Jalatharangam and sings concerts? She keeps paper for even the most ever popular song like Chinnanjiru kiliye and sings? Is it an indication of the artist's high penchant for Sahithya sudha and in that context, do critics exempt her ? why talk about a genius like TNS sir who is known for his mind bogglig repertoire of songs and his raga gnana is so deep that his referring to a paper is not in any way going to diminish the essence of the song. I could just shout aloud and say that if Karnatic music is able to strive amidst all kind of bizarre trends today, it is because of a few people like TNS who do not stoop to please the gallery but try to elevate the level of the audience by giving real classical stuff. It is a pity that as audience we are not able to raise to the level of artists like him and go about encouraging cheap trends in the name of Jugalbandi, fusioin etc.

Gamakam · Post by **Gamakam** » 17 Sep 2010, 17:29

Vid. S.Rajam was well known for his vast repertoire. His memory is legendary. However, he almost always used to sing concerts with notes before him. He once told me that, he mixed up the lyrics of 'seethamma mayamma' with 'ramachandram bhavayami'. From that day, he decided not to sing without reference. From the recordings I have of that master, this didn't seem to have affected his music.

hariniraghavan · Post by **hariniraghavan** » 17 Sep 2010, 17:54

Once a lady 'star' artist during a concert was flipping thro' the pages and the next day iteself a popular critic reported about it in a tamil magazine. To that, the artist treplied that, since she was very busy always, this is the only time she got , to go thro' a letter she had received.

Harini.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 17 Sep 2010, 18:20

I have a dreadful memory, and the necessary memory and brain power involved in carnatic music is just one small factor among the several that continue to amaze me about the music. As a matter of personal curiosity, I find it odd that a musician can memorise the complexity of raga and the melodic composition of a song, but not it's few words. Just idle curiosity on my part, no more.

It can't be denied that it is an oral tradition, but I wonder if it is justified to be dogmatic about it? I wonder even more, if the present argument, based on a particular instance, is valid, seeing as how none of us were there.

If anyone was there, let them say if SVK was justified or not. Otherwise....

tiruppugazh · Post by **tiruppugazh** » 17 Sep 2010, 18:21

I have heard some of the concerts of TNS in the Tamil Isai Sangam. They were all thematic concerts based on compositions of Kannadasan, Kambaramayanam, Tiruppugazh etc. He would always refer to notes on stage during these performances.

mahakavi · Post by **mahakavi** » 17 Sep 2010, 18:31

VK RAMAN wrote:Why single out CM artists when they refer to notes; why same standard is not applied to movie singers when they sing in a concert. Singing a CM song without looking at notes makes the artist less desirable? What is the background behind expecting CM artists learning the lyrics by heart

First of all, you don't see the playback singers in the movies. They are out of sight. If they sing in a CM concert they are expected to follow the same standard that applies to regular CM singers. I don't condone a movie singer looking at the notes while singing in a CM concert. Movie singing and CM concert are two different animals altogether.

Singing CM kritis without looking at notes is THE STANDARD. If one wants to refer to notes, he/she can go and sing in the movies or they can practice western music, join the orchestra and play according to the notes in front of them.

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 17 Sep 2010, 18:35

Who created The Standard, is it Thyaagaraaja,Purandaradasa or other saints who wrote the lyrics? If you have attended any of the playback singers concerts, you will see that they look at the notes always.

mahakavi · Post by **mahakavi** » 17 Sep 2010, 18:35

hariniraghavan wrote:Once a lady 'star' artist during a concert was flipping thro' the pages and the next day iteself a popular critic reported about it in a tamil magazine. To that, the artist treplied that, since she was very busy always, this is the only time she got , to go thro' a letter she had received.
Harini.

Wow, good time to read the contents of a personal letter she received at home. Having no time there to read it she brought it to the stage and read it while doing a neraval.

mahakavi · Post by **mahakavi** » 17 Sep 2010, 18:43

VK RAMAN wrote:Who created The Standard, is it Thyaagaraaja,Purandaradasa or other saints who wrote the lyrics? If you have attended any of the playback singers concerts, you will see that they look at the notes always.

Tradition (which sets the standard) is innate for CM. Experimentation veers from it occasionally. But it keeps resetting in short order if the experimentation deviates widely from the tradition. It is again Darwinism. In a vocal CM concert the vocalist is the prime mover. If he starts looking at notes it is all downhill from there.
The playback singer does not give a concert. They are only one part of a group which acts together---like in an orchestra where everyone has their notes in front of them. As I said CM concert and film music concert are two different entities.

By the way if the vocalist refers to his/her notes, should the violinist and mridangist too bring their notebooks to the stage?

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 17 Sep 2010, 18:59

mahakavi wrote:Wow, good time to read the contents of a personal letter she received at home. Having no time there to read it she brought it to the stage and read it while doing a neraval.

Yes, it was a foolish, if not even stupid response, leading to the obvious reply, "So you don't even think about what you are singing on stage, then?"

Reminds me of something I remember a teacher saying: "when you are trying to be witty, be careful not to only make it half way".

mahakavi · Post by **mahakavi** » 17 Sep 2010, 19:00

mankuthimma wrote:Mk
The point is that this krithi is not new to him which needs digestion - before he climbs the steps to the stage .
His Raga alapanas are NOT Standard .
His Repertoire ( which I track for various artists ) from a set of 140 concerts which I retain as a definitive picture of the man (spanning the whole range of accompanists one can imagine -- and also over a period of four decades ) stands at a whopping 611 . Not counting the Mangalams and thillanas .
And each one of those 611 have drawn the best attention out of this genius . So to say that he was struggling with sheets of paper to .......
We can tilt at Wind Mills as much as we want . But Sorry . That is not the picture of the Man .
He is fallible like any human being . And he has his bad days, too . But given the small scope that a 100-200 word review can offer , to use it on such trivial details speaks more about SVK than anything else .

MT:
I am not taking a dig at TNS here. I was making a general remark. I have high regard for TNS and his vidwat. We are talking about a single instance here. I understand nobody is infallible. As one grows older your storage cells get filled up with what you know and your DRAM cells are limited to retain new learning for a significant length of time. So it is difficult for a senior musician to learn the lyrics of new kritis by heart at will. What I am saying is why bother to do so while you can embellish the existing ones. Use your manodharmam to explore new strata with the existing kritis. If you have to show that you have learnt new kritis, do so by memorizing and not by referring to notes. To me it sounds like a speaker lost for words while he is at the stage. I feel awkward when the speaker struggles for words and observes a minute of silence (like the governor of Arizona did recently---she was lost for words for a minute or so when the cameras were rolling and it was embarassing for everyone)

ragam-talam · Post by **ragam-talam** » 17 Sep 2010, 19:24

I would also lay some of the blame on the audience who are today obsessed with words...

Just read some of the threads here, and you will notice how much people are stuck up about the correct words, pronunciation etc. etc. (I mean on the concert stage, not words written on this forum.)
A recent example comes to mind of the discussion on Malladi brothers' Tamil pronunciation.

No wonder even great jambavans like TNS sir occasionally have to resort to cheat sheets!

I hope one day the audience will pay more attention to the music than the words...

thenpaanan · Post by **thenpaanan** » 17 Sep 2010, 19:39

mankuthimma wrote:I cant think of anything more laughable than TNS being unprepared for Chetasree in such a manner as to drain the Raga ( Was the Sheet used for the raga ?? ) of all the charm built into it by Dikshitar ( ?.)
SVK's reviews are moving from the ridiculous to the laughable . Not because I am a fan of anybody . Simply because the job of writing a review has become an unnecessary / obsolete appendage .

It does beg credulity that TNS would _need_ a piece of paper to sing chEtasrIbAlakrishNam of all things. Somehow using the phrase "insufficient preparation" for TNS leaves me dumbfounded.

There may be a completely prosaic explanation -- TNS may be preparing for a (more esoteric) number to come later on in the concert (this is not at all unusual -- musicians like other craftsmen do quite a bit of multiplexing on stage). Or thinking of some new experiment (which would also account for his being distracted). The possibilities are endless but not, I think, the one that the critic surmised.

I believe a good review has its own value. A critic can be a high-end connoisseur who elucidates aspects of the concert that us lay listeners would be clueless about and the artists themselves would not speak up about (for modesty, decorum, etiquette, etc).

-Then Paanan

mankuthimma · Post by **mankuthimma** » 17 Sep 2010, 19:47

It gets crazier , here , by the Day .
If we want to get to the point where we can tell an artist of the calibre of TNS , what to sing and how to sing it - Go ahead and enjoy yourselves .Great , If that makes you feel important . It was my mistake to reply here . Go ahead and enjoy yourselves.

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 17 Sep 2010, 19:52

CM fanatics of words and ettiquete - have your say

Rasika911 · Post by **Rasika911** » 17 Sep 2010, 20:20

I have personally had a conversation with TNS sir where he has expressed strognly that a musician should not look at paper when singing and expalined very well his reasons for the statement. In the 40~ live concerts of his I have attended I have never seen him refer to notes.

While it has every chance of being true I personally find it hard to believe.

Sathej · Post by **Sathej** » 17 Sep 2010, 20:29

Rasika911 wrote:
While it has every chance of being true I personally find it hard to believe.

I find it rather hard to believe as well, more so for Chethashri. I happened to attend a concert of his last year at KGS where he sang Chethashri in fair detail with Alapanai et al and there was no paper/notes that I could notice.

Sathej

radha bhaskar · Post by **radha bhaskar** » 17 Sep 2010, 20:45

I don't understand this big issue by the critic about TNS referring to notes - as if no other top artist resorts to the paper in front. My earlier reply would prove this point. Also some artists bring loads of music books and keep them all in front and frantically search for a specific song. I think let us put an end to this issue - need we take the remark of the critic so seriously? After all TNS is an artist par exellence and these isues are really trivial!

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 17 Sep 2010, 22:34

ragam-talam wrote:
I hope one day the audience will pay more attention to the music than the words...

especially those attending instrumental concerts... their peculiar attention to the lyrics can drive you nuts

kssr · Post by **kssr** » 17 Sep 2010, 22:47

All of us who have been to TNS concerts know that he seldom uses reference papers. Probably the reviewer did not carry enough papers to write down musical details of the concert and hence he has filled up his colum with what he could remember. Unimportant and irrelevant stuff. I even wonder why TNS's concerts are to be reviewed in newspapers. Almost everyone (except one from the string discontinued earlier) is his fan and would have heard numerous concerts of his.

venkatakailasam · Post by **venkatakailasam** » 18 Sep 2010, 00:09

[quote="mankuthimma"]And for the records .
His Dwijavanthi RTP - a classic in its own right - lasts One hour and twenty Minutes . Sheer Bliss.
Chetasree Ramam Chinthaye ..... Ravikula Somam Sathatam

You can his rendition here at:

TN SEsha Gopalan-RTP Raga Dwijavanti-Part1-31.39 M:
Download link: http://www.mediafire.com/file/j3aj6bsarla8ziz

TN SEsha Gopalan-RTP Raga Dwijavanti-Part2-48.47.m:
Download link: http://www.mediafire.com/file/nfk234n6sw6bvfz

There is no need for an artist of his unmatching standard to refer to papers.
Does Shri. SVK know about the contents of the paper?
I am reminded of a similar comment by a critic some time back about particular Sisters. He was wondering how they can be bracketed with the top singers.
He was not assigning any reason.

Such kind of criticism lacks credibility. Unfortunately this comment of SVK has come in a standard news paper. Possibly it has escaped attention of his seniors.
venkatakailasam

MaheshS · Post by **MaheshS** » 18 Sep 2010, 00:58

Can someone / anyone else who went to the concert let us know their opinion please? Because I just don't believe the review.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 18 Sep 2010, 02:01

Has it ever happened to you, young and old rasikAs? As you are humming away, you catch yourself singing the CaraNam of appa rAma bhakti for ennagAnu rAma bhajana?
If the paper in front of him did contain the text of cEtaSri, then: that very morning, when TNS was singing it, did he sing a line from akilANDESvari and just to make sure, he wanted to have the song in front of him? Just a wild guess.
If he did keep a notebook in front of him when he sang new verses from the tamizh classics and ancient songs, he wanted to make sure that he did not sing even a word incorrectly. Anyone can understand that.
Though TNS isn't old (in my books anyway), with thousands of songs swimming in his head, he might have wanted to consult the lyrics of a [particular song just to be sure. I am saying this because I know of a veteran vocalist who frowned of this practice but moans that she needs the lyrics of new songs in front of her now. She exclaimed: how do the young ones do it? I have the words I'm looking for in front of me and yet am not trained in glancing at them! The end result is, I can't put my mind to my music while trying to look at that silly piece of paper!

prashanth12 · Post by **prashanth12** » 18 Sep 2010, 07:08

VK RAMAN wrote:Why single out CM artists when they refer to notes; why same standard is not applied to movie singers when they sing in a concert. Singing a CM song without looking at notes makes the artist less desirable? What is the background behind expecting CM artists learning the lyrics by heart

Carnatic is considered "serious" music, film is considered "light music". People who have a idealistic vision of "music" believe that the artist should be fully dedicated to rendering the music, and that looking at notes and remembering lyrics means that the singer is compromising on his "dedication.

I'm not saying that I agree with different expectations, but I think it should be obvious why they exist...

squims · Post by **squims** » 18 Sep 2010, 09:38

Using a sheet of paper occasionally doesn't bother me. It is surprising to find that TNS sir required a paper to sing 'Chetashri' of all songs though. I mean, he's been singing it for ages, hasn't he?

Anyway, why does the paper become such a big issue? Hyderabad brothers and Yesudas use Laptops! Is that OK?

mankuthimma · Post by **mankuthimma** » 18 Sep 2010, 09:46

I have seen his notes . The ones he takes days to prepare for his student disciples accompanying him on stage for the Harikatha programs . Sheer Calligraphy . Those Tamizh letters pop out of the pages , conjuring a Hundred images.

A Thousand years down the line, they will be auctioned at Harrods for astronomical sums .
And we will argue about getting our "heritage" back .
Some heritage this .Which we now frown upon from our armchairs .

kssr · Post by **kssr** » 18 Sep 2010, 11:28

Now that MT mentions it, I am reminded of one thing. TNS has a note book with phone numbers/ addresses. After calling a number, while talking he draws designs in the book. He has shown this to me. Quite a number of interesting pieces of art. He is every inch a creative artist. Yes! His handwriting is extremely beautiful too.

karthikbala · Post by **karthikbala** » 18 Sep 2010, 11:53

arasi wrote:Has it ever happened to you, young and old rasikAs? As you are humming away, you catch yourself singing the CaraNam of appa rAma bhakti for ennagAnu rAma bhajana?...

I have heard that during one wedding concert, a singer sang pallavi, anupallavi, charanam each from different Thyagaraja kritis in Kharaharapriya, to prove a point that nobody was paying attention! se non Ã¨ vero, Ã¨ ben trovato ...

kssr · Post by **kssr** » 18 Sep 2010, 13:45

karthikbala wrote: se non Ã¨ vero, Ã¨ ben trovato ...

CRama · Post by **CRama** » 18 Sep 2010, 15:39

The concert of TNS at KGS was an excellent one as I had already posted a review of the concert.And Chethasree was the best piece in that concert. His alapana was for nearly 15 minutes. His alapana, kriti and swaras were soaked in raga bhavam and sowkhyam. I need not specifically mention about his calibre of doing the alapana for Dwijavanthi. We should admit the fact that it was he who showed to the music world the enormous potential for the alapanas of ragas like Dwijavanthi, Brindavansaranga as the previous generation masters did not resort to the alapanas. I still remember a concert in Soorya TVM in 1982 when he sang Akhilandeswari as the main piece with an alapana for more than 30 minutes. We were are all astounded at hearing that. Next day in TVM radio he sang a reasonably elaborate alapana for the same song in a radio programme. And Chethasree, I have heard him singing in three concerts. I have the recording in at least in three other concerts. I heard the same concert, and there was no obstruction in the flow of music if at all he referred to any note.
SVK has never been appreciative of TNS music. When TNS voice was in its top form SVK had been writing very harsh reviews about his concerts. I think it is his personal bias against the particular musician/style/bani with reference to self determined standards.
I went to Hyderabad Bros concert, I had seen them referring to laptop right from the varnam. and the songs were usual songs. nothing new. Jesudas, he openly admitted in many places that he can not memorise all the songs and hence he also uses laptop. SVK is silent on these artists. and all the lady artists of today bring the same note books which they used while studying and refer them -sometimes franctically searching for a song to sing. SVK has no complaints.

Pratyaksham Bala · Post by **Pratyaksham Bala** » 18 Sep 2010, 16:05

kssr wrote:se non Ã¨ vero, Ã¨ ben trovato ... à®…à®ªà¯à®ªà®Ÿà¯€à®©à¯à®©à®¾ à®Žà®©à¯à®©à®™à¯à®•?!!

ragam-talam · Post by **ragam-talam** » 18 Sep 2010, 18:18

It's impolite to keep writing here in scripts that not everyone can read!
Thank you for being considerate.
à´µà´³à´°àµ† à´¨à´¨àµà´¦à´¿

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 18 Sep 2010, 18:48

se non Ã¨ vero, Ã¨ ben trovato : "even if it is not true, it is well conceived "

It was annoying to me as well that I had to be reminded of my ignorance

.. I had to look it up.

Yes, please provide English transliteration/translation of indic scripts and use it only where it is needed.

kssr · Post by **kssr** » 18 Sep 2010, 19:21

ragam-talam wrote:It's impolite to keep writing here in scripts that not everyone can read!
Thank you for being considerate.
à´µà´³à´°àµ† à´¨à´¨àµà´¦à´¿

My "appadeenna ennanga" was my "polite" way of conveying the same message

karthikbala · Post by **karthikbala** » 18 Sep 2010, 19:23

CRama wrote:...all the lady artists of today bring the same note books which they used while studying and refer them -sometimes franctically searching for a song to sing...

This is an unwarranted sweeping generalisation. I personally know of female artistes who have not used notebooks either on/off stage nor at any stage in their career. The ability of assimilating music on a single hearing and also of retaining it in memory is certainly not exclusive to male singers.
There are many recordings of past concerts (from the "good old days" if you will) where prompting from the artiste's student is quite discernible. I guess the memory aids have just changed with times.
Opera singers rely on prompters, given the sheer number of lines. They also have to keep an eye on the conductor, stage business, and of course hit their notes right! For the lay listener in the audience the prompting is usually not even obvious. It does not affect the flow, emotional intensity etc. in any way when top-notch performers are involved.

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 19 Sep 2010, 00:38

"appadeenna ennanga" - "romba nanringa"

venkatakailasam · Post by **venkatakailasam** » 19 Sep 2010, 09:05

I hope Padmabushan Madurai shri TN Sesha gopanan is reading the out pour
from members about the article written in bad taste by SVK.
Can he come out early?
venkatakailasam

shyamala3091 · Post by **shyamala3091** » 19 Sep 2010, 21:42

radha bhaskar wrote: - need we take the remark of the critic so seriously? After all TNS is an artist par exellence and these isues are really trivial!

I second Radha Bhaska'rs opinion. , I am suprised to read the comment of SVK. I was present in the concert of TNS at KGS and was sitting in the third row , i can decisively say that TNS did not refer any notes for any song, in this concert. I have heard TNS sing the same song many times in his concerts. SVK's reviews are really ridiculous and unauthentic too, I suggest the critic to consult a proper optometrist soon.

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 19 Sep 2010, 22:06

Opinions are opinions as such, let us not drag TNS. Opinions do not change one who is dedicated to music.

Tharangam · Post by **Tharangam** » 19 Sep 2010, 22:16

I have been listening to Madurai T.N.Seshagopalan for so many years now.
In my listening experience, I have heard him sing Chetasri atleast 10 to 15 times. I did not attend this particular concert at KGS. When I happened to read the review by SVK, I was taken by surprise. Was wondering as why TNS shouldd refer to paper for this song?
I have heard Sri TNS sing Thevaram, Thiruvachagam and so on in thematic concerts without referring papers. Probably the one artist who has sung all the 30 Tiruppavais in a row without referring to any paper is him only.Moreover, TNS is a harikatha artist too. People may know that he stands for all the three and half hours and renders harikatha, quoting extensively, singing various compositions without any reference to scripts.To be more precise, he does not even have a proper sishya to prompt him with any sloka or even the songs. It is 100% a one man show for the entire programme. Why should such an artist refer constantly to the paper for a small song like chetasri, that which has been handled by him many times? , was nagging in my mind. I took courage and called the artist and he was gracious enough to explain the whole scene to me. I would like to share it with the forumites. He said,and I quote" I never carried any paper with me; The electronic tambura had some connection problems and I had to correct the same many a time. It was for that purpose i had to bend down a few times" unquote.

According to me SVK sir would have been in a deep slumber or may also be very well in a dream and had visions of TNS referrring to sheets of paper!!

The song list for the entire concert was also the songs rendered many many times by TNS is his various concerts. SVK's comment that it was insufficient preparation on the part of the artist is absolutely a careless remark!

mankuthimma · Post by **mankuthimma** » 19 Sep 2010, 22:22

http://arunn.info/2007/10/02/when-promu ... erosities/

Ah ! Internet ...
The great Leveller ....

venkatakailasam · Post by **venkatakailasam** » 20 Sep 2010, 02:50

quote:VK Raman-Opinions are opinions as such, let us not drag TNS. Opinions do not change one who is dedicated to music

Shri VK Raman- The issue is not the question of holding an opinion.
After all the article is about Shri TNS. We not only discuss about the article but we discuss about Shri TNS also.
The news paper where the article appeared is a Slandered paper read internationally with a wide circulation. Shri TNS is a widely and worldly known person.
People reading the article are not likely to view it as we are viewing it as the paper has the reputation of providing matters accurately.
Unless the person involved issues a rejoinder, the gentleman who wrote the article will be the gainer.
It will be an useless exercise that we go on pouring our outbursts.
So it is not a question of dragging Shri.TNS as he is the center fig. As shyamala who had attended the concert has confirmed that no such incident of referring to papers had taken place ,the person who wrote the article has to be nailed down for his imaginative reporting-and has to be done only by Shri TNS.

venkatakailasam

venkatakailasam · Post by **venkatakailasam** » 20 Sep 2010, 05:01

Are there any Video of the concert available?
venkatakailasam

Shivadasan · Post by **Shivadasan** » 20 Sep 2010, 08:31

It is unfortunate that the reviewer has written his comments without verifying the contents of the paper. The paper might not have contained the sahitya. For TNS, singing Chetashree would have been a child's play, and he must have sung it hundreds of times. To accuse him of lack of preparedness without verification is unpardonable.

As for the question 'who set the standard ?' I wish the question was 'Who started it all ?' There was a tradition that no musician would ever refer to notes while singing in a concert. They would rather rely on their disciples' memory.