M.S. Subbulakshmi

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 27 Sep 2011, 16:33

Beautiful memories and tributes. Thanks to Sri Venkatakailasam for posting, and Ramesh for pointing them out!

balakk · Post by **balakk** » 01 Oct 2011, 22:39

A sublime rendering of Akilandeshwari for the Navratri:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muM-4Yuf ... grec_index

Accompanied by a young RK Shriramkumar and KV prasad. Whole lot of goose-bump moments!

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 02 Oct 2011, 00:21

Yes!! One of those moments in Mami's life when Radha could not accompany her and Mami carried the load all by herself--even at that age note how clear the lower Panchamam sounds
(Raksha Mam)--to most artistes at that age it would be just a "hiss " leaving the rest to our(listener's imagination!!) ,
The lady behind Vijaya -- putting the sruthi box-- is VISALAM--the tireless,most loyal,most discreet,selfless "help" that Mama and Mami had for over 60 years.
TEN THOUSAND FLORENCE NIGHTINGALES COULD NOT HAVE SERVED the family AS WELL AS VISALAM.

That is a compelling story -that has never been told- and needs to be told.

more later---

balakk · Post by **balakk** » 02 Oct 2011, 10:01

This thread is a gem. MKR sir, your reminiscences are wonderful to read, please keep them coming! To all other contributors, thanks a lot for your thought-provoking perspectives.

Here's a magical rendering of Pakkala Nilabadi - with a gripping neraval.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43_CjV7B ... ults_video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkPPhWAq ... ults_video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58Sjs1Lz ... ults_video

Enjoy!

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 02 Oct 2011, 11:57

Cienu
In pakkala nilapadi , are you seated behind your mother?

MKR Sir
In both akhilAndeshwari and Pakkala nilabadi , what I like the most is irrespective of Smt MS amma's age , the mike distance is atleast a foot away . A definitely divine pitch and if I could add the real optimal distance of singer to the mike?

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 02 Oct 2011, 20:35

rajeshnat wrote:Cienu
In pakkala nilapadi , are you seated behind your mother?

Yes, it is indeed me, with a French beard

This was as Thiruvaiyaru , maybe in Jan 84.
My mother Smt Radha Viswanathan had just begun to (re)accompany my Grandmother after a very major illness in 1982.
My job was to help my mother on the stage - make her sit on stage before the concert and lift her to a standing position after the concert was over. She could then walk.(though with some assistance due to her constant giddiness as her balancing nerve had been damaged due to the side effects of Streptomycin).

This was a very memorable trip as far as I can recollect. We stayed in the house of Sri Narayanan , Chairman of City Union Bank in Kumbakonam. Semmangudi Mama and Kovai Subiri were also there with us. MKR's mother Chinani Mami too accompanied us on this trip.

The crowd at the concert was massive. It took a lot of time to reach the car after the concert as thousands of fans gathered around MS to seek her blessings and autograph.

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 02 Oct 2011, 20:55

Cienu, it is always nice to see you in these videos making a cameo appearance. Bless your soul for being such a wonderful son!

In addition to the amazing kharaharapriya, the appearance of Smt MSS in this video is just radiant. If anyone wanted to draw the Mother Goddess, this is the image that they should use as the source.

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 06 Oct 2011, 23:43

(mod note: moved from another thread)

Cienu: Thanks for "jogging" my memory--I am not surprised that Mama refused the airfare offer.I distinctly remember Mama(TS) asking me after one of the NY concerts(I do not remember which one) to send a Western Union Cable to Mr.Krishnamurthy saying the concerts are going well(TS also asked me to send a cablegram to Bhagavan Sathya Sai Baba after EACH of the four or five concerts in and around NY City.
What magnanimity in the face of adversity(the 1977 tour of the USA/UK itself was immediately after the sale of Kalki Gardens with tremendous uncertainty as to where they would be returning to). A poignant moment during their visit and their stay in my house.

MS Amma broke down a little lamenting the loss of Kalki Gardens and their only abode wondering where they would be living after their return. Mama consoled her saying philosophically and genuinely,"Did we come to this earth with these possessions--afterall after all the honors and recognitions you have received in your life,what is the loss of a mere house".. This brought tears to our eyes.
Mind you after their return the Late MGR offered to "house" them with dignity and honor which also Mama politely and unflinchingly refused.

Prosperity did not change Mama and Mami and adversity did not either.

My wife in our early days after our marriage always used to ask me(looking at vast areas of land available around Kalki Gardens in those days whenever we visited Kalki Gardens) Why did not Mama buy those lands for Radha and Vijaya? A very normal question even for celebrities!! I do not think Mama ever thought about those things--once a Gandhian but always a Gandhian(I must mention even Gandhi used his influence with Birlas to have Devadas Gandhi head the Hindusthan Times)!!!
Forumites might think Why I am I belaboring this point of TS's principles when they have been adequately chronicled in my blogs as well as by several more wellknown personalities.

The Reason: In my times , within my earshot I have heard several prominent Chennai VIP's (who may have had some bones to pick with Mama ) slyly suggest that TS was opportunistic and that whenever it suits him he would climb down from his lofty perch to seek unreasonable privileges--a point that TS George alludes to in his book even tangentially quoting some MA "blowhards" of those times!!

Historians thrive on revisionism but in TS/MSS's case it would be futile!!

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 08 Oct 2011, 00:54

Moderator: Thanks for saving me from the wrath of an irate forumite!!--I almost got "singed" for posting this under the Late Mathur Krishnamurthy thread!!!

balakk · Post by **balakk** » 08 Oct 2011, 07:18

MKR sir, here's a more soothing kalyani raagam for you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4gTMME9LGY

thanjavooran · Post by **thanjavooran** » 08 Oct 2011, 12:41

Shri balakk avl,
Excellent ! Many thanx for the link. BTW a timely diversion.
Thanjavooran 08 10 2011

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 08 Oct 2011, 21:12

balakk: Thanks for a nice video. Yes-- Vidyarthis should note how clear the Panchamams(Middle and lower octaves) sound without any "hiss" or broken note--Mami always used to "flaunt" this aspect and lament how even seasoned vocalists sometimes are indifferent to it. It is not the voice's range(natural) alone that helps but rigorous sadkam that lends the clarity to those notes in the lower octave. Lots of female vocalists over the years gifted with good voices and "reach" into the higher octaves but lack the clarity when it comes down to the lower octaves.

The alapana itself was brief and to a young upcoming rasika or vidyarthi might seem a trifle pedestrian and too orchestrated(I used to feel the same when I was young--used I was to the unconventional pyrotechnics of a Mali or TNR!!).later on as our listening faculties improve(I would not still claim it to be mature even now at my age!!),I have realised that the musical ideas would be more or less the same but the "execution" and the 'Effect" it produces not only in your ears but also in your hearts--make the difference between an MS Amma and the rest.

Cienu: Is the violinist Mangathayaru(Dwaram's daughter)? BTW Did thatha force you to remove the moustache--Not that you look any LESS HANDSOME!!!

viswanathmysore · Post by **viswanathmysore** » 08 Oct 2011, 21:30

This kalyani alapana looked indeed pedestrian and orchestrated at my first attempt.
Inappropriate parts of my earlier post removed . Sorry.and Thanks.

Aditto · Post by **Aditto** » 08 Oct 2011, 22:14

Hello Cienu Sir,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjDJU2sTRog

Can we know more about this concert?

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 08 Oct 2011, 23:25

viswanathmysore, It is perfectly fine to express a counter opinion which is in fact healthy but calling it Goebbelsian ( or almost ) is very inappropriate. Why invoke such sensitive term in this context?

Anyway, as a sidebar, regarding your statement, "It is one thing to believe in something . It is yet another to want the world to understand it the same way.", I realize you said it to make the counter point. But is that not what people do many times, in matters small and large, when one is passionate about something? A form of proselytizing. In that process, one does not always succeed, the other person succeeds and that is what is supposed to happen. That is how social interactions are, especially the passionate ones.

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 08 Oct 2011, 23:39

Aditto wrote:Hello Cienu Sir,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjDJU2sTRog

Can we know more about this concert?

This was a concert by Semmangudi at Nanganallur Anjaneyar Temple.
Some one must have recorded the entire concert. But what you see is a tiny portion in which MS is seen appreciating with her lovely smile the music of her Guru

(same clip has been repeated twice). Seated besides MS is Sri K R Athmanathan.

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 08 Oct 2011, 23:48

Ramasubramanian M.K wrote: Cienu: Is the violinist Mangathayaru(Dwaram's daughter)?

Yes the Violin Vidushi is Dwaram Mangathayaru. This was at the Thyagaraja Aradhana at Tiruvaiyaru in 1986. K.V Prasad is on Mridangam. Gowri Ramnarayan plays the Tambura.
On the stage one can see Anandhi Ramachandran, Guruvayur Dorai and Madurai Somu.
Semmangudi is also on stage (though a bit uncomfortable as even the stage is quite full with a large audience along with the artists !).
Every inch of space in front had been occupied by the enormous gathering

One can see Semmangudi as soon as Dwaram starts playing. (6.56)
Writer Sivasankari can be seen in the audience. (2.25) and Valayapatti (also on stage) for a flash between 2.27 and 2.28

Aditto · Post by **Aditto** » 08 Oct 2011, 23:53

Yes I have noticed that.

Nanganallur Anjaneyar Temple..

There is one video of Ms singing Thanjam Unnai...That is also @ the same temple rt...Do you have the entire concert with you sir?

advaitam · Post by **advaitam** » 14 Oct 2011, 21:58

The next blue jagger diamond to come out of the Paramparaa1916 channel - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtElqTEGscA Some people seem to need constant reminders about M.S.' accomplishments as a pure classicist. This will serve that purpose very well indeed!

advaitam · Post by **advaitam** » 16 Oct 2011, 10:01

Yet another rarest of rare clips uploaded at Paramparaa1916 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLDQzxO_eQE - MSS singing world music!

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 17 Oct 2011, 06:12

Advaitam, that was beyond words. Even my 4 year old son was mesmerized by this piece!
Thanks for sharing this Parampara1916.

advaitam · Post by **advaitam** » 20 Oct 2011, 19:14

MKR sir, would love to hear your reactions to the latest 2 uploads to Paramparaa1916 (if listening to these songs kindles some more reminiscences all the better!)

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 22 Oct 2011, 08:38

Advaitam I agree both the renderings give me goosebumps--what sincerity,devotion and dedication--whether it is a 5-minute invocation or a concert--whether it is in a private function or a large audience--the approach,preparation and execution had the same degree of meticulousness.

Although these 2 pieces background or context I am not familiar with,I can vouchsafe in the Mid Seventies or late sixties when the Vishnu Sahasranamam was recorded,there was a Sanskrit Pandit from West Mambalam who used to visit Kalki Gardens to teach both Radha and MS Amma the correct diction and intonation--I am sure you would notice that the entire 20 or 25 mts segment of Vishnu Sahasranamam is on an even keel in perfect pitch. While Mama(TS) was meticulous and left no stone unturned once he undertakes and embarks on a project(be it the Annamacharya krithis or the Sathya Sai Bhajans),the training and preparation would be arduous. Cienu can well testify to the long hours his mother Radha would spend at the expense of her own family trekking the distance from kilpauk to Valluvar Kottam or Kotturpuram houses. To a casual visitor sitting thro the endless experimentation,repetitions and reiterations that were more the norm rather than exception, it would be befuddling that an artist of such stature would show so much deference to the Art and to the Guru who might be several years her junior--all striving for the perfection that was her hallmark throughout her life. I consider myself blessed to have been present during these arduous rehearsals and I commend Radha for the extraordinary patience and rectitude she displayed despite her obligations to her own growing young family.

GNB always used to say Trifles lead to perfection but perfection can never be a trifle!! It is so true in MS Amma's case.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 26 Oct 2011, 00:34

"Attention to detail" is something everyone knows is important but its implementation in practice takes various forms and it is one of the toughest tasks. I know very well because I am personally very bad at it and I have enormous admiration for those who work on something to cross the 't's and dot the 'i's at a level of precision that a casual observer will not notice. I was reminded of an anecdote I recently read. When Steve Jobs was a kid, he and his father were painting a fence and his father insisted that they paint the side of the fence that no one will see with the same level of perfection as the sides that are visible to the public.

MKR, I was reminded of that when I read your post above. That is one of the toughest things to do. Especially for those who are trained as Engineers, what is ingrained in the brain is to solve a problem in an optimal manner, aesthetics and perfection are fine as long as it fits in that equation, otherwise they are pushed down in priority. Why waste an expensive paint on the side no one will see, put something cheaper just so it protects the wood. That is a perfectly rational position but it fails miserably when it comes to aesthetics related to art. Optimization in that sense is such a bad word.

Smt. MSS and Smt. Radha could have stopped at the level of perfection that are discernible to most listeners ( the viewable side of the fence if I may ) but their sense of aesthetics goes much higher than that (the side of the fence no one can see).
There is an inexplicable quality that results from such extra efforts.

It takes a lot of hard work and sweat to paint that side. The amazing thing for me is to try to understand what motivates them to put in the effort.

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 26 Oct 2011, 17:10

vasanthakokilam: I could not have said it better--I am an Engineer too(but left the profession the day I graduated from Engineering School and the World is better off for that) and always rationalised the shortcuts in the design functions if they were purely aesthetic in nature and not adding much value to the design--the real reason is that lackadaisical approach which handicapped me throughout my Professional Management career.
The gap between TS Mama's expectations when he assigns a task to a person and the way the person finishes that task with suboptimal results,would be attributed by him to the person's lack of attention to details.If MS Amma has to learn and sing a Bengali tune,the search process of finding the best preceptor would be exact--no matter how long it takes and the results would justify the process.

In his (TS) long life the one person in his household that delivered near-perfect results everytime a task was assigned was none-other-than their lifetime aide and help --a lady who joined at the age of 12/13 and was there till MS Amma breathed her last. TS whenever he was upset with somebody who did not deliver what they were assigned would deliver an admonition in the end" neengal Ellam Visalam kitte training eduthukkanam"!

The only task he ever assigned to me I botched and still that did not earn a banishment from the household!! However I redeemed myself during his tour of the US in 1977 by doing certain mundane tasks without botching them!! In retrospect I recall it was more the precise instructions he gave----knowing my tendency to take shortcuts-that got the tasks accomplished!!!

advaitam · Post by **advaitam** » 26 Oct 2011, 17:42

Yes Visalam amma has always been a great aide to MS Amma and TS Mama. The support and meticulous attention to detail that she had are nigh impossible to come by in this age of instant gratification, often at the cost of the niceties of life. I guess we are all in for a wonderful Deepavali bonanza with the latest 2 uploads at Paramparaa1916:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adOnkPMl ... er&list=UL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2va-uQu ... ideo_title
Wishing one and all a safe, healthy and joyous Deepavali!

advaitam · Post by **advaitam** » 29 Oct 2011, 17:47

Here is a scintillating Ragam-Tanam-Pallavi in Thodi sung by our beloved MS Amma in Jaffna, Ceylon, in 1958! Words fail to describe the beauty and majestic grace of this Thodi! I quote here from a very "distinguished, discerning and dispassionate" critic of the yesteryears who had this to say of MS Amma's finely spun technique - "the Akara-s, the birka-s and the ravaijati sangati-s, flawless in their purity, are done with astonishing exactitude, definition and distinctness. The minutest of the starry scintillations of her notes possesses a vividness in the artistic patterns of luxurious ornamentation. Her gamakas are marvels of grace, finely linked. The ascending and descending glides, the curves and odukkals are executed with perfect mastery of ghana-naya variations". These words manage to capture, atleast to an appreciable level, the unique and scientifically perfect manodharma technique of the colossus that is Smt MSS. Thank you Ceinu sir for this "pokkisham" of the highest order! Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72TYxGfC0OY

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 30 Oct 2011, 18:37

Advaitham--scintillating--Parampara1916 should be thanked for posting this. Note how the TNR style is in full force in the Alapana--the sancharas especially in the Mel Sthayi Madhyamam and in the lower octaves--the fibrillations typical of TNR(he was a great admirer of MS AMMa's Vidwath. This looks like a concert where MS Amma simply let her imagination soar confounding critics who secretly carped at the "sameness" in her raga Alapana accentuating her sweet melodious voice as if it was an escape from doing the rigors of CM music!! Mama(TS) generally felt that music rendered with devotion and sincerity was more important than trying to please the carping critics and that was the reason why he was not in favor of such dazzling displays.This Raga elaboration is a testament to MSAmma's claim that she is capable of demonstrating her vidwath without having to trade on her natural voice. She once told me that "some people think I am not capable of intricate pallavis or I avoid them for fear of failure.This is far from the truth--even Mazaharayanendal Subbarama Bhagavathar --who is known for his complex pallavis--has complimented me on my Laya prowess and even taught me a few "--Mama again took the same position- the stage is not a circus ring where you demonstrate things that ordinary mortals cannot do--if there is balance in your concert an objective audience will take note and critics who are determined to undermine the music to whet their own prejudices need not be coddled.

In the Wesleyan concert in the US in 1977 deferring to Viswa Sir, she attempted an elegant and yet intricate pallavi in Dharmavathi(kanda jathi triputa-Chathusra nadai) and the trikalam,anulomam,prathilomam( I am no layam expert but I am quoting the experts who heard that concert including Viswa Sir!!) were done flawlessly-Guruvayoor Dorai accompanied her and I am sure he could testify to MS Amma's layam prowess!!.
It was always a delight in the private sessions that Mami would chafe under a baseless and thoughtless remark made by some critic about an aspect of Mami's music( there were enough tattle-talers amongst the visitors to Kalki Gardens) and Mami would rebut the criticism(second-hand ofcourse -heaven knows what was said and what was interpreted and what was conveyed by the tattle-talers) with a demo--be it a pallavi or a raga exposition(different from the standard ones that she would render to the concert audiences).

I must acknowledge these impromptu demonstrations helped me disabuse my earlier impressions of a stale,repetitive rendering style when it came to Raga alapanas/choice of Krithis--that she was capable of the most intricate nuances of our Music but trusted Mama's(TS) sense of aesthetics and form designed to exploit her greatest strengths--melody,devotion--the result is that today all over the World her music is understood and appreciated.

In my next post I will try to identify some of the characters appearing in the Video of Parampara--some of them have a little history of their own in the Saga!!

advaitam · Post by **advaitam** » 30 Oct 2011, 23:06

Your words must be etched in gold for all eternity MKR sir!! This is exactly what I have been telling many modern naysayers of Amma's music, who comment on her music without even understanding the expanse of her knowledge and prowess! To know that MS Amma herself demonstrated from time-to-time her grasp of the intricacies of Sangeetha Shastra is very heartening, despite the fact that there was no need for her to do it! (TS mama was right in that she was above these "circus ring demonstrations"!) To understand the beauty of "less is more" needs a very high level of maturity and aesthetic evolution! MS Amma, and a host of old-time greats, exemplified and epitomised this philosophy. I remember being told by sources who were close to ARI, that ARI often used to practice a lot of intricate pallavi-s and laya exercises during the practice sessions at Allepey Venkatesan's father's place, along with TNK and PMI, often confounding the two. When asked why he didn't perform these on stage he used to say that there was a singular "medai dharmam" (dharma for the concert platform) which didn't warrant such displays of one's prowess....this was only for his own personal practice! Acrobatic exercises when performed uninhibited on stage can quickly deteriorate into cheap and bawdy fare. As SSI once said, "Mitam, mitam, mitam - the 3 secrets to good music!"

Coming back to your post, I am eagerly awaiting your anecdotes on the characters in the photos....always something to look forward to

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 30 Oct 2011, 23:16

Another way to think about this is, when in 'production mode' do not operate at the edges. Be in the middle, otherwise you risk falling off the edges. This is applicable to all walks of life. But you need to operate at the edges in non-production environments which lets you hone the skills. But more importantly, it lets you know where the center is. Because how will you know where the center is when you do not know where the edges are!

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 31 Oct 2011, 03:36

Advaitham/Vasanthakokilam: Youboth make good points-VK I like your analogy about the edges and the center. The idea of restraint/mitham and avoid overindulgence reminds me of an anecdote my uncle told me about Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavathar:
About Sruthi Bedam or any exercise from the "norm" . It goes like this:
You build a nice modern house and to give it some architectural uniqueness you make the windows very broad with wide spaces between the bars (without the conventional theft-deterrent tight windows!!) enough for human beings to crawl thro. To demonstrate this you keep entering the house thro the window instead of entering thro the front door which is also very elegant architecturally. You do it once it is a novelty-do it repeatedly robs it of the purpose"

TKM used to put down the excessive Kanakku in swarams,saying,if you tickle a person once when he least expects it it may be fun and OK--but if you keep tickling all the time,the charm is lost and it becomes a nuisance--mind you he was no slouch when it came to anticipation or alertness while playing.

All the stalwarts of that era (ARI/Chembai/SSI/GNB/MMI/Alathur) did not feel compelled to demonstrate the other person's forte--be it a rare raga exposition or a tricky swara Korvai (as if to prove I can also do it!!) and if audiences typecast them as incapable of other styles ,so be it!!!

Once my father asked Palghat Mani Iyer whether he has been ever nonplussed by some legitimate vishamam(!) by the vocalist, he used to say frankly YES--but once I find out upon quick reflection my reflexes take over and I will weave several patterns that even the vocalist would not have dreamt (comment: This should not be interpreted as a boast by PMI but as an insight to his sharpness and concentration!!).

I think this approach would help us all --genuine rasikas when we attend our favorite artist's performance --when that artist eschews a certain style or trait, that we found in another artiste and say so-and-so is better at this than this artiste,we need to resist the temptation to assume the artiste lacks that skill. GNB used to sum it up by saying :Nan Sarasasamadhana Padum Pozhudu Madurai Mani Iyer madiri Illaye enru ninikkadey" and then to snub the rasikas he would say Nan Koduthal Mattum Poradu,Onakku Eduthaka Theriyanum". Enjoy what I am offering instead of letting your mind wandering all over. This applies to Music as well as religious discourses(Whether the Sundara kandam was better expounded by Anantharama Dikshithar or Sundar Kumar!!).

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 31 Oct 2011, 08:00

That 'mODi kiRukkudaDi talaiyai' tODi!
Thank you advaitam!

MKR,
As always, thanks for your posts which bring home to us the beauty of the life of such a soul which pulsated with music!
When I heard that tODi, I realized how true my words for her were in my song gAnak kuyil onRu...

nAdamadin nADiyAm, nammai Irkka vanda AnmIga uruvAm...

Aditto · Post by **Aditto** » 11 Nov 2011, 22:35

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVhw36hVqkU

Cienu Sir,

any idea about this concert and the occassion?

Regards,
Aditya.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 11 Nov 2011, 23:51

I noticed somthing in this rendering of bArE pANDurangA - in O rangaSAyI, the word is pronounced as ranga, while in bArE pANDurangA, it is pronounced differently, probably as rengA - people versed in marAThi can comment - it may go towards the care Smts. MSS and RV exercised to attain authentic pronunciation in various languages.

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 12 Nov 2011, 12:09

Aditto wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVhw36hVqkU

Cienu Sir,

any idea about this concert and the occassion?

Regards,
Aditya.

This was a concert in the city of Pune under the auspices of "Poona Sangeetha Sabha" in the year 1974. A picture of this concert is the cover page of the book "MS & Radha - Saga of Steadfast Devotion".

doyoucare · Post by **doyoucare** » 14 Nov 2011, 03:00

advaitam wrote: (TS mama was right in that she was above these "circus ring demonstrations"!) To understand the beauty of "less is more" needs a very high level of maturity and aesthetic evolution!

Statements like these totally trivialize accomplishments of vidwans like Alathur brothers, TNS, TRS - to name a few!

advaitam wrote: I remember being told by sources who were close to ARI, that ARI often used to practice a lot of intricate pallavi-s and laya exercises during the practice sessions at Allepey Venkatesan's father's place, along with TNK and PMI, often confounding the two. When asked why he didn't perform these on stage he used to say that there was a singular "medai dharmam" (dharma for the concert platform) which didn't warrant such displays of one's prowess....

Sounds like stories told by my grand-uncle about MDR's prowess of singing "pori parakkum" thillanas and Chitti Babu's incredible prowess at rendering vilamba kala Dikshitar and Tyagaraja krithis

doyoucare · Post by **doyoucare** » 14 Nov 2011, 03:08

advaitam wrote: Acrobatic exercises when performed uninhibited on stage can quickly deteriorate into cheap and bawdy fare. As SSI once said, "Mitam, mitam, mitam - the 3 secrets to good music!"

Yup...he exemplified this in his renditions of marubalka and kshinamai :@

doyoucare · Post by **doyoucare** » 14 Nov 2011, 03:13

Ramasubramanian M.K wrote:Once my father asked Palghat Mani Iyer whether he has been ever nonplussed by some legitimate vishamam(!) by the vocalist, he used to say frankly YES--but once I find out upon quick reflection my reflexes take over and I will weave several patterns that even the vocalist would not have dreamt (comment: This should not be interpreted as a boast by PMI but as an insight to his sharpness and concentration!!).

How is that not a boast?

And let me quickly add that there is nothing wrong if it is a boast. PMI let his artistry speak for itself - he had nothing to prove to anyone! There is no need for us to (interpret and) apologize for him, if he really did say that. He probably strongly believed in his ability - all great artistes have that air of confidence about them.

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 14 Nov 2011, 06:55

Doyou care: I must state that PMI never volunteered that remark--PMI was an extremely reticent and cautious man when it came to offering comments or remarks--my father used to provoke him several times about his tryst with Dakshinamurthy Pillai et al and he had nothing but genuine respect for those artistes.
I still maintain that in the context within which the question was couched his remark was not a boast!!
By the way there was no attempt to apologise for or interpret the remark!!!

advaitam · Post by **advaitam** » 15 Nov 2011, 23:07

doyoucare wrote: Statements like these totally trivialize accomplishments of vidwans like Alathur brothers, TNS, TRS - to name a few!

Doyoucare: No it doesn't. Your flawed understanding lies where you think that any of these great artistes engage(d) in "circus ring demonstrations".
Alathur Brothers always showed admirable aesthetic restraint in their manodharma, never over-stepping or over-doing anything (in case of doubt, please listen to their recordings more closely). Infact Alathur Subbaiyar was a great source of inspiration to MSS and in turn was also a great admirer of her manodharma skills. Often when he used to come to Madras from Trichy, after freshening up, he would head straight to Kalki Gardens for an extended music session. He was very fond of "kunukku" (a fried savoury) which used to be prepared everytime he visited Kalki Gardens.
TNS has evolved a unique style of manodharma based on his expansive ideas. Ditto TRS. To say that my statement trivialises their music means that you are claiming that they lack(ed) aesthetics and engage(d) in cheap tricks and demonstrations of their manodharma in order to gain cheap applause - they definitely do/did no such thing!

doyoucare wrote:Sounds like stories told by my grand-uncle about MDR's prowess of singing "pori parakkum" thillanas and Chitti Babu's incredible prowess at rendering vilamba kala Dikshitar and Tyagaraja krithis

Again you seem to be insinuating that MDR was incapable of singing at a higher speed and Chitti Babu was incapable of serious "chowka" kala compositions. In both cases you are very sadly mistaken, showing only your utter lack of understanding of the expanse of these musical giants. TNS had very candidly spoken about Chitti Babu in a private setting many years ago, speaking very highly of his vidwat and grasp of Shastra-ic music. When somebody interjected him and took up Balachander's name, he said, "Balachander is a great genius no doubt (I believe the word he used was 'asakaaya sooran'), his technique is flawless, but the sweetness that Chitti Babu induces into the Veena is a treasure bequeathed unto him alone!" These are not mere "stories" to glorify these titans. There is quite a bit of truth in them, even if you do wish to discount hear-say exaggerations.

advaitam · Post by **advaitam** » 15 Nov 2011, 23:12

Ramasubramanian M.K wrote: In my next post I will try to identify some of the characters appearing in the Video of Parampara--some of them have a little history of their own in the Saga!!

MKR sir....still awaiting this post!

advaitam · Post by **advaitam** » 15 Nov 2011, 23:14

doyoucare wrote: Yup...he exemplified this in his renditions of marubalka and kshinamai :@

You have commented here without understanding the meaning of the word "mitham". Your utter disregard for SSI's renditions is regrettable indeed. I think you need to apply a lot of "mitham" in your comments.

venkatakailasam · Post by **venkatakailasam** » 24 Nov 2011, 09:05

Removed as it is found to be a copyrighted material.
sorry..

advaitam · Post by **advaitam** » 17 Dec 2011, 11:53

Latest upload at Paramparaa1916 is a vintage video of the mother-daughter duo performing Indira Devi's "Ghungharu Baandh" in raga Sindhubhairavi. The point where despite forgetting the words, they retain their calm and recall the correct words to finish with a flourish is a treat to watch. A true lesson to all vidyarthi-s of music. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaW9UKYW ... ideo_title This concert was performed soon after Smt Radha recovered from her illness in 1983.

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 17 Dec 2011, 20:55

On the eve of being honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from Brahma Gana Sabha, Deccan Chronicle had carried an interview with Smt Radha Viswanathan which appeared in the print edition on Dec 11th 2011.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 17 Dec 2011, 21:19

Very nice interview, Cienu! Is there a video recording of the 1977 performance your mother talks about?

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 17 Dec 2011, 21:40

Thanks Ravi. Unfortunately no video was taken. A photo of her dancing at the "Surdas Samaroh" appears in the book "MS & Radha - Saga of Steadfast Devotion"

advaitam · Post by **advaitam** » 27 Dec 2011, 20:28

Wishing all a very happy 2012! May all achieve musical bliss in this coming year! Here is the latest aural treat from Paramparaa1916: MSS live at Thiruvaiyaru Thyagarajotsavam, 7th January, 1980: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9E548A69C103C535

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 27 Dec 2011, 20:51

Dear Cienu,
please email me at: vkv@juno.com I need to get in touch with you reg. an important matter. vkv

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 08 Feb 2012, 08:20

Mrs M.S. Subbulakshmi SadAsivam and Chinnani ( Mrs Narayani Mahadevan)