Blasphemy in Music Academy

dhanurasi · Post by **dhanurasi** » 26 Dec 2011, 12:01

Blasphemy in the Music Academy

Ranjani Gayatri caused blasphemy in their concert yesterday (once again!). They sang an Abhang.

Let me give you the chronology.

The concert started at 4.15 PM.
- Nattai varnam of SwatiThirunal with kalpana swarams
- Thirupavai in Darbar
- Tyagaraja kriti ' Balamu Kulamu' in Saveri - alapana by Ranjani and kalpana swarams
- Mamava Karunaya of SwatiThirunal in Shanmukapriya . Gayatri elaborated the raga.
I was looking for faults and I found it when she did a Srutibhedam to Kanada. I don't approve of Sruti bhedams. I am a puritan. You show your control over swaras and an ability to traverse across the moods of ragas... so what! (by this time I am beginning to get irritated by the gnanasoonyam audience that release 'aha' and 'pch pch' sounds more and more frequently. More by the continuing inflow of members in the already full house for whom Academy organized some chairs)

- JanaRanjani RTP. Why would anyone choose a JanaRanjani when the Todi, Shankarabharanam, Kamboji, Kalyani, Bhairavi are the ones with ample scope for elaboration!

Then a Tamil viruttam (Ragamalika of Karaharapriya, Hamsanadam and Jonpuri), that segued into the song 'Andavan Darisaname' ... I hear more Ahas and more 'pch pch' until 6.43.

The moment someone from the audience shouted for an Abhang, my blood started boiling at 98.4 degrees F. It continued for at least 4 minutes till they finished it at 6.48.

Four minutes of blasphemy and the low taste of people asking for it. I am sure that a few of our sociological researchers would have been there with similar boiling liquids.
The thunderous applause of the ever stupid MA audience added to my woes.

I could see people mobbing them after the event. I thought the mob should be taught a few lessons, ( my thoughts: they should be made to sit through a soooothing concert of Sanjay or an innovative one of TMK, or a maths class of TNS. Please add more ideas)

I wouldn't care much if they missed out on sruti, sowkyam, bhavam or layam. I would have accepted such blemishes as normal, as seen among the musicians with gnanam.
They should realize they are ladies and they can't sing gnanamana sangeetham. Period.

PS: As a gnanasthan I can't accept that ladies can make brilliant music. I am scared to call any popular female musician as my favourite. Only when they are above 60 or are already dead, I can accept their music in public. Even in the Academy, I was hiding my face with a shawl to avoid anyone seeing me in this concert.
I know many in this forum have similar views. We believe any music pleasing to the ears and the soul should be considered inferior.

rathipriyac · Post by **rathipriyac** » 26 Dec 2011, 12:23

What a wonderfully sarcastic review!! Loved the part about liking only female artists over 60 or dead

Hilarious!!

sankark · Post by **sankark** » 26 Dec 2011, 12:49

Pray tell me - when is the whitepaper on "sociological discourse on female carnatic musicians (under 60 or alive) and their popular concerts" - of course along with your partner - due? After you have listened to another century or so of their concerts? You can choose the handle masochist instead of dhanurasi.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 26 Dec 2011, 12:51

sankark, I think dhanurasi is being sarcastic.

Jigyaasa · Post by **Jigyaasa** » 26 Dec 2011, 12:59

sankark wrote:masochist

I believe the word you intended to use is chauvinist... Masochist means something VERY different

Sindhuja · Post by **Sindhuja** » 26 Dec 2011, 13:00

oh god, I was shaken on reading the review until I saw VK's comment- and now I'm guffawing! If the entire review was sarcastic, wow

sankark · Post by **sankark** » 26 Dec 2011, 13:07

Jigyasa
Not chauvinist certainly. I think those that hate RG/AS/NM/SR and still flock there and then write a scathing critique or bemoan that they don't sing exactly what these - believe they are masochists.

Sarcasm - mea culpa

In my defense though - no visual clues/body language to help

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 26 Dec 2011, 13:19

You would have preferred another raga to one that they chose. One four minute item made your blood boil...

I was looking for faults

Obviously!

Bonus irritation: Addition of chairs by the academy for the continuing inflow of members in the already full house)

Nobody ever died of bad music ... Many, many people have died from disregarding fire and safety. The Academy, with its international management, headed by a newspaper man who should be very, very familiar with the stories of such tragedies should know better. Shame on them!

This is the truly worrying part of the report. Let the artists sing what they will, but, please let us all live to see the end of the concert.

......

<A few days later... Nick H marked down 10 points for lack of sarcasm appreciation

>

squims · Post by **squims** » 26 Dec 2011, 13:28

This 'review' is hilarious!
In all honesty, sounds like a good concert though!

Sindhuja · Post by **Sindhuja** » 26 Dec 2011, 13:36

BTW, curious: which abhang was it? Fat ghost or something else?

Jigyaasa · Post by **Jigyaasa** » 26 Dec 2011, 14:27

dhanurasi wrote:she did a Srutibhedam to Kanada

Would have loved to hear that... Such shrutibhEda's are quite rare. I have heard them do one in simhEndramadhyamam to rEvagupti... Bewitching!

dhanurasi · Post by **dhanurasi** » 26 Dec 2011, 16:48

Many, many people have died from disregarding fire and safety. The Academy, with its international management, headed by a newspaper man who should be very, very familiar with the stories of such tragedies should know better. Shame on them!

My mistake. I wanted to mention that the irritation was caused by their popularity that additional seats were required.

Music Academy did not overdo it.
(I added a smiley here to give visual clues)

which abhang was it? Fat ghost or something else?

A new ghost. 'Sadha Mazhe Dola'. Gayatri mentioned it is in a raga called Misra malkauns.

carnatricks · Post by **carnatricks** » 26 Dec 2011, 18:55

@dhanurasi - hilarious read. loved your tone especially. hope all your reviews are like this.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 26 Dec 2011, 19:07

My mistake. I wanted to mention that the irritation was caused by their popularity that additional seats were required.

Aisles not blocked? Exits clear? I'll let them off with a warning, this time, then!

Let the Abhang, bhajans and beatles songs continue!

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 26 Dec 2011, 20:30

Reminds me of my experience at the stANumAlaya temple at Suchindrum in the wake of the Temple Entry proclamation of His Highness. It was milling with people of all categories who I would greet only from a distance (minimum was 6ft!). The first was a jolt from a 'topless' young man darkish who sullied my pearly white shoulders and even 'shubra jyotsnA' upavItam! I was muttering the gAyatri all along and was even afraid that too might get contaminated! Then there was the mad rush from the untouchable women who wanted to peek for the first time at the Lord and for a moment I thought he would open his third eye and clear the way for the purists like me to approach his sanctorum unhindered. Sadly He did not oblige! Even the High Priest who was shouting for help was not obliged by the Lord or his bhUtagaNA! Then I heard the unspeakable; someone singing in Tamil 'ponnAr mEniyanE' and that too at the sanctum sanctorum! I knew that the Kali era had come to an end and awaited a tsunami from cape comarin (12 miles away) any time to sweep the crowd away! Having lost my 'brAhmaNatvam' I was getting ready for a fire ordeal the next morning. When I first opened my copy of the Hindu there was the congratulatory message from Gandhiji for the bold edict and its success!.

The 'sociological experiment' had commenced and bhArat is marching towards a bright future. I opened my book of verses by acharya and there it was 'manIShA pancakam' staring at me!

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 26 Dec 2011, 20:48

"They should realize they are ladies and they can't sing gnanamana sangeetham" and then you say "I could see people mobbing them after the event" - wonder why Dhanusri? Get over - majority of the MA audience do not subscribe to your views.

dhanurasi · Post by **dhanurasi** » 26 Dec 2011, 21:29

My apologies to those who do not see the sarcasm. It is entirely due to my inability to carry it. I am sorry.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 26 Dec 2011, 21:50

dhanurasi - no need for apologies...I love this style way more than some of the others - certainly better than the ones that brim with H2SO4, and the ones that spill over with honeyed phrases...Please do not turn into a one-review kind of member, or worse, one-artist-reviewer kind of member.

harimau · Post by **harimau** » 26 Dec 2011, 22:08

I was at the Music Academy this afternoon and ran into a friend who asked me what my plans for the evening were. I replied that I planned to spend about an hour listening to Smt Manda Sudharani and then go to Raga Sudha Hall to listen to Smt Parassala Ponnammal.

His answer was, "Athu aachaaramaana cutchery. Inga pinnala nadakkappora anaachaaram ellam ungalukku vendam." (The Academy was sold out though the auditorium was practically empty for Smt Sudharani's concert so you know all the tickets were bought by people with the evening concert in mind.)

Raga Sudha Hall was packed with old as well as young persons to listen to good music without frills.

Mylapore mamas and mamis who want to differentiate themselves from the "common" crowd by listening to abhangs did not show up.

I believe there is going to be an all abhang-and-bhajan concert by a musician who has embarked on a musical journey. I recommend that heartily to Dhanurasi. Rather than sit through reasonable music for 2 hours just to listen to one abhang, he could drink deep from the firehose directly.

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 26 Dec 2011, 22:15

its a pit to know that the hall was empty for Smt. Sudharani's concert.

dhanurasi · Post by **dhanurasi** » 26 Dec 2011, 22:16

The evening concert at the academy was scheduled to be the icon Abhishek Raghuram. Would have loved to drink from the fire hose but for my other compelling engagements this evening.

harimau · Post by **harimau** » 26 Dec 2011, 22:17

dhanurasi wrote:
A new ghost. 'Sadha Mazhe Dola'. Gayatri mentioned it is in a raga called Misra malkauns.

Good that it stopped at being Misra Malkauns. It could have been Mian ki Misra Malkauns according to Kirana/Agra/Gwalior gharana if you let the Hindusthani clowns have their way with ragas.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 26 Dec 2011, 23:08

dhanurasi
Never say Die!
Your style is an inspiration!

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 26 Dec 2011, 23:13

dhanurasi wrote:My apologies to those who do not see the sarcasm. It is entirely due to my inability to carry it. I am sorry.

Oh dear, another :$ from me then! Sorry not to have appreciated!

Firehose, Abhishek ... which would I choose? ]

]

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 27 Dec 2011, 04:33

I watched AS sing Ganapati papa moria at Jaya TV margazhi utsavam.
The whole audience was rocking with her (many Mylapore mama mamis included) in full animation.
Can any CM song ( of the Trinity) ever move the audience to such a frenzy?
Not even our National Anthem, I bet... (except perhas the 'kolaveri Di'

sridrect · Post by **sridrect** » 27 Dec 2011, 06:13

dhanurasi wrote:Blasphemy in the Music Academy

Ranjani Gayatri caused blasphemy in their concert yesterday (once again!). They sang an Abhang.

REVIEW OF THE SEASON !!! Will be talked about for many many more seasons to come. BTW it may have resulted in blood boiling beyond the mandatory 98.4 for some rasikas missing out on the sarcasm or also for genuine rasikas of FAT GHOSTS !!!!!!

anonymityatlast · Post by **anonymityatlast** » 27 Dec 2011, 09:14

dhanurasi wrote:I can't accept that ladies can make brilliant music ... Only when they are above 60 or are already dead, I can accept their music in public.

harimau wrote:I planned ... listening to Smt Manda Sudharani

dhanurasi, :^)

tiruvarur · Post by **tiruvarur** » 27 Dec 2011, 10:30

They have certainly kept up their standards this last decade. Their sense of aesthetics is among the best in CM today and they have achieved a good balance between singing popular and classical stuff. The only crib perhaps could be that their format is very predictable, but hey, if it works for them and their audiences, who are we to say anything?

MV · Post by MV » 27 Dec 2011, 11:25

This whole thread has been a great read....

harimau · Post by **harimau** » 27 Dec 2011, 12:54

dhanurasi wrote:
.... someone from the audience shouted for an Abhang.....

I hark back to Dec 15, 2008 at the Academy. Vidwan R K Srikantan was performing the evening of the inauguration.

About an hour after the concert had started, some yahoo from the audience got up and said, "Sri Chakra Raja". Sri Srikantan either couldn't hear the words or wanted to be sure he heard right and so asked what it was the man requested. When the words were repeated, Sri Srikantan said, "Athellam inge kidaikkathu (you won't get that here)." The yahoo left a few minutes later.

Sri Srikantan could say that because he does not believe in lowering himself to the Lowest Common Denominator in the audience.

Those who have lowered the taste of the audience cannot of course refuse and would have sung an abhang even without any request.

Just look at the quality of the audience: was there a request for a majestic Todi or a Bhairavi? No! But a request for an abhang -- an abhang in any raga or pseudo-raga -- was all that the yahoos who attended this concert could think of. In fact, one could say that is the only reason they attended the concert.

I can see why Dhanusri and people of his ilk are annoyed by what I say. Because they take my statements as a criticism of their tastes, or rather, their lack of taste. Yes, you are correct!

You can improve your musical tastes by listening to good concerts. However, the singers in question cannot get off the tiger because there will be the next generation of yahoos who will still be demanding abhangs.

Does a single Hindusthani musician sing a Tiruppugazh in a concert? Why should we accept abhangs in a Carnatic concert? Why do you all feel so inferior to the yahoos of Noth India?

dhanurasi wrote:
I know many in this forum have similar views. We believe any music pleasing to the ears and the soul should be considered inferior.

High-decibel noise-fest is pleasing to the ears and the soul? Are you sure you are not confusing Carnatic music with rock music?

harimau · Post by **harimau** » 27 Dec 2011, 12:58

Re #27 by anonimityatlast

Never let facts interfere with the conclusions one has drawn with a closed mind!

Ranganayaki · Post by **Ranganayaki** » 27 Dec 2011, 13:04

dhanurasi wrote:Blasphemy in the Music Academy

Ranjani Gayatri caused blasphemy in their concert yesterday (once again!). They sang an Abhang.
.

A very entertaining review, thank you, Danurasi - your first line sets the tone very well

.

(Edited the entire post.. this is how I want to leave it - inexplicably, no delete option)

lovecarnatic · Post by **lovecarnatic** » 27 Dec 2011, 20:21

"Why would anyone choose a Yamun Kalyani when the Todi, Shankarabharanam, Kamboji, Kalyani, Bhairavi are the ones with ample scope for elaboration!"

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 27 Dec 2011, 20:46

Brilliant harimau!
You are on a roll; do continue...
"HM is HM and CM is CM, and never the twain shall meet
Till Earth and Sky stand presently at God's great Judgment Seat"

dhanurasi · Post by **dhanurasi** » 27 Dec 2011, 22:40

I am not going to change my long cultivated intelligent views ever. Please don't try to convince me that some deliver Abhangs with bhakti, bhava, outstanding voice dexterity and creative improvisations. It is rhythmic, and catchy. I won't hear it. Theetu theettu, theettu.

Haven't I made it clear what the age threshold is for my acceptance of music by female singers?

You know PP has crossed the threshold. Manda Sudarani hasn't. I do pay a visit into the house for a few minutes for purely research purposes (not musicological, but sociological).

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 27 Dec 2011, 22:59

dhanurasi wrote:Haven't I made it clear what the age threshold is for my acceptance of music by female singers?

My wife has a category of artists, to whose concerts she usually does not accompany me. Regardless of whether they are male or female, 20 or 80, she calles them, "My old ladies." She does not disrespect them, or their achievements: she just does not want to spend three hours listening to them --- whereas I most passionately do!

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 28 Dec 2011, 01:05

Nick, that is quite funny.. There is a tamil way of saying which your wife is probably using, literal translation of which would not convey much meaning. It will go something like this 'neengalAchu ungaLoDa vayasAna pAdagigaLum Achu'

btw, just so people do not get confused again, dhanurasi is still in 'character'.

harimau · Post by **harimau** » 28 Dec 2011, 07:03

dhanurasi wrote:
Please don't try to convince me that some deliver Abhangs with bhakti, bhava, outstanding voice dexterity and creative improvisations. It is rhythmic, and catchy. I won't hear it. Theetu theettu, theettu.

Catchy tune? Here is one:

"Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells
Jingle all the way,
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh

Dashing through the snow
In a one horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
Bells on bob tails ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to laugh and sing
A sleighing song tonight"

Bhakthi and bhava? You get that too here:

"Silent Night Holy Night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth "

harimau · Post by **harimau** » 28 Dec 2011, 09:17

dhanurasi wrote:
Please don't try to convince me that some deliver Abhangs with bhakti, bhava,......

Don't we know that bhakthi can be found only north of the Vindhyas and the North Indians have a lock on bhakthi?

Who was Bhadrachala Ramadas? A man who betrayed the trust put in him by the nawab and stole his money!

Who was Annamacharya? The man who wrote songs with sringara rasa!

Who was Purandaradasa? Just a greedy money-lender who charged outrageous usury!

Who was Thyagaraja? Just a boasterwho showcased his musical prowess flaunting that he got his musical knowledge from Narada himself!

Muthuswami Deekshithar? Come on, do you believe he got his veena from the River Ganga?

Only Surdas, Kabir, Meerabai and the whole lot of Tukaram-Dhyaneshwar-etc., have bhakthi!

uday_shankar · Post by **uday_shankar** » 28 Dec 2011, 10:08

sahi kaha harimau ne ! bahut achcha, bahut achcha !

Ye madarasi log, jaise purandardaas ya tyaagraaj, bhakti kabhi nahin samjhenge.

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 28 Dec 2011, 10:12

madarasio log kya samajengE; gOvindA hari gOvindA hari gOvindA hari gOvindA

sridhar_ranga · Post by **sridhar_ranga** » 28 Dec 2011, 10:45

Tukaram-Dhyaneshwar-etc., have bhakthi!

Dnyaneshwar...Dn not Dh.

yeh southie log proper spelling bhi nahi jaantE

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 28 Dec 2011, 18:58

khAli ispelling? ispellbound bhakthi kE bArE mE in lOgon kO kuch Bhi mAlUm hai?

burA tO mAntE hain
kabIr ne burA na manO bolnE sE bhI

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 28 Dec 2011, 20:51

Looks to me like people are calling each other "logs".

Very strange!

I have slept like a log and, doubtless, been accused of being as thick as two short planks far more often than I know

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 28 Dec 2011, 21:36

Yatra yatra abhanga kirtanam
Tatra tatra krita mastakampanam (shaking the head vigorouly)
BhaShpavaari kupita shONa locanam (ruddy tear-laced angry eyes)
'harimau' garjita abhanga bhanjanam (harimau roars - the abhang breaker)
(Note - hari = hanuman)

sridhar_ranga · Post by **sridhar_ranga** » 29 Dec 2011, 03:03

abhangilE onRu ceRRAn bhajan-ilE onRaic ceevi
akAdami onRu kaLamAga drAviDarkkAga Egi
abhangilE onRu sheida aNangugaL kaNDu avar pEril
apANDamAi onRu shonnAn; avan aarai azhaamal kETpAn?

He slayed an abhang. He shredded a bhajan.
Academy as his battle field, he marched for the Dravidians**
Seeing the ladies who performed an abhang, he slandered their name.
Just who does he listen to, without cribbing?

** Dravidian = defender of the purity of the Carnatic idiom

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 29 Dec 2011, 04:19

Bravo!
Beautiful...
Academy should honour him as abhang azhittha chemmal
...

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 29 Dec 2011, 09:02

Sridhar,
Super!

arimAvin* aRaikUvalukku
anaivarum paNindOm--
kETkum, pADum vaDa
kalai iSai tuRandOm!

mudal muRai bUdattin
kural kETkaiyil viyandOm
pin--adan valimai kETpavaril
pugundadu kaNDu bayandOm

mEDaip pADagaril Silar inRu
tenniSait tEnellam viDuttu
kATRaDaitta pAnamAga
iSai vazhanginAl, adil tiLaikkum
makkaL kUTTam kaNDOm

mA mEdaiyarAm iSai mUvarum
periyOrum avai Sila iyaTRiDinum,
mADu mEikkum kaNNanaiyum
maTRa deivangaLaiyum avar
mEruvAip pADiyadaiyum maRappOmO?

Sakkai paTRi, SATRai viDuvOmO?*

* Harimau
* of sugar cane

We bow to Harimau's challenge
We are ready to renounce
northern invasion of CM!

While we first heard the bhUth's voice,
We were tickled by its presence--then
We were scared by its might, its grip
Possesses listeners en masse, alas!

Some among performers, when
They forget the honey of our music
And offer aerated fizzle on stage,
A mesmerized mass assembles, we see

The mighty trinity and other giants
Did create some such tunes out of whim,
Yet, how they sang of that cowherd krishnA
And other loved gods in the best of carnatic tradition!
How mighty like mount mEru their creations stand !

Are we to choose the sugarcane fiber or fluff--
Letting go of the sweet trickling juice?

Folks, don't take this too seriously. Obviously, I'm moved by Harimau and company's heated words and Sridhar's verse

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 29 Dec 2011, 09:06

harimau wrote:
Does a single Hindusthani musician sing a Tiruppugazh in a concert? Why should we accept abhangs in a Carnatic concert? Why do you all feel so inferior to the yahoos of Noth India?

Why do you think this is a sign of "inferiority"? It is really a sign of both supreme confidence and desire for all that is good.

MV · Post by MV » 29 Dec 2011, 09:12

Nick H wrote:Looks to me like people are calling each other "logs".

Very strange!

I have slept like a log and, doubtless, been accused of being as thick as two short planks far more often than I know

Lol Lol Lol. The plot thickens!!

Nice verses happening as well....