Unnikrishnan for JAYATV 2011

[sridrect]

Recently watched the program telecast on JAYATV Margazhi Maha Utsavam.

Wow ! How does he sing like that .... I mean without opening his mouth. The golden words of some of the immortal krithis of many GREATS struggle and jostle with each other to make way to come out...!! Around 2 to 3% of the words comes out IN COMPLETE and the rest all struggle and are INCOMPLETE!!!

I sincerely pray to God to save CM from Film Music Experts!!!

[squims]

I actually thought his pronunciation was marginally better this year. Last year was a travesty. I could not even make out the names of the kritis then. At least I could identify them this time.

[cmlover]

He appears to be wearing a 'hearing aid' on his left ear. If so he may also be having speech problems.
Can somebody confirm?

[mahavishnu]

No CML, that is his monitor. He has been using this for a long time.
In addition to that, he travels with his own sound system & technician to places where he is not satisfied with the acoustics.

[cmlover]

Thanks for the clarification.
How come no other artiste has similar device?
it must be quite efficient compared to the heavy duty monitors in front!

[mahavishnu]

How come no other artiste has similar device?

For one, he can afford this. Performing CM is not his livelihood, he makes his income elsewhere.
The earphone gives him more real-time monitoring and the feedback from this sound has a lower chance of interfering with the public speakers. So the risk of annoying shriek-y sounds are lower during performance.

People who perform in large concert arenas/stadia use this; but I have to say that it looks unusual/weird in a Carnatic setting.

[Jigyaasa]

He appears to be wearing a 'hearing aid' on his left ear.

It's a pity he can't hear himself despite this ] Or else, he'd know that his pronunciation was so far below par that no amount of technology or money can save his renditions.