Radha Viswanathan 77th Birthday - Brahma Gana Sabha 11/12/11

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 03 Dec 2011, 22:15

I take great pleasure in inviting all Rasikas to the felicitation function of Smt Radha Viswanathan at Brahma Gana Sabha, Smt. Sivagami Pethachi Hall on Sunday, Dec 11th 2011 at 9.30 am and the concert thereafter at 10.15 am.

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 03 Dec 2011, 22:32

Namaskarams to Radha Viswanathan. We wish the function grand success.

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 03 Dec 2011, 23:01

My respects and namaskarams to Smt. Radha Viswanathnan.
Pl. post photographs and review of the function.Thanks.

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 04 Dec 2011, 00:46

My best wishes for the function and also to Kum Aishwarya, who is singing with very senior accompanists this season (both here and solo at KGS).

Cienu, I hope you will be to post pictures/video clips.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 04 Dec 2011, 01:35

Congratulations and very best wishes --- and to Aishwarya too for this and her other concert[s?]

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 04 Dec 2011, 02:24

Cienu- namaskArams to your mother for a well-desereved honor, and nothing but best wishes to Aishwarya. I am sure the function will go off very well. Please do not forget to post pictures for those of us who live vicariously!

Lakshman · Post by **Lakshman** » 04 Dec 2011, 03:42

Congratulations and best wishes to Vidushi Radha Viswanathan and and also to Aishwarya.

thanjavooran · Post by **thanjavooran** » 04 Dec 2011, 05:25

Shri Cienu,
My namakarams to your mother and Blessings to Aishwarya

Thanjavooran 04 12 2011

gobilalitha · Post by **gobilalitha** » 04 Dec 2011, 07:46

HEARTIEST CONGRATS , CIENU. WISHING THE FUNCTION GRAND SUCCESS. ONCE AGAIN WISHING AISHWARYA A VERY BRIGHT FUTURE . OUR REGARDS TO YOUR MOTHER

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 04 Dec 2011, 08:23

Cienu,
A special day indeed, in more than one way. A day which is all about the music of three generations.
Best wishes to your mother for good health and to Aishwarya for a bright future in music

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 04 Dec 2011, 08:47

Best wishes Cienu ,just one suggestion , BGS has a notorious tradition to switch on the AC at full blast . Keep a check on that . Few years back Shri Gopalakrishna Gandhi gave a brilliant speech for a LGJ felicitation,hope he speaks for few minutes ofcourse you have to manage so that Smt radhA and Kumari Aishwarya have enough time to sing too.

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 04 Dec 2011, 09:25

What a double delight for Shri Cienu! Mother being honoured ;mother and daughter singing together.
Avery proud moment for the proud son/proud father!
Our best wishes to Aishwarya.

smala · Post by **smala** » 04 Dec 2011, 12:41

Cienu, Felicitations to your mother and wishing your mother and daughter the very best on this occasion.

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 04 Dec 2011, 15:12

Hi Cienu: Best wishes for the function-hope to be there for the function.Hope to see other forumites as well.

Not to strike a sour note I cannot but feel WHY the MA is so indifferent --they should have taken the lead--MSS's contributions to MA over the years has been immeasurable!!

Kudos to Nalli Chetty---he truly rises to the occasion!!

fduddy · Post by **fduddy** » 04 Dec 2011, 17:34

Ramasubramanian M.K wrote:Hi Cienu: Best wishes for the function-hope to be there for the function.Hope to see other forumites as well.

Not to strike a sour note I cannot but feel WHY the MA is so indifferent --they should have taken the lead--MSS's contributions to MA over the years has been immeasurable!!

Kudos to Nalli Chetty---he truly rises to the occasion!!

Again a pet peeve on MA for all

Read this - He also said that it was rather special that he was being honoured at Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, which was among the first sabhas in Chennai to recognise the artist from Andhra Pradesh - http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/che ... epage=true
All Sabhas seem to be taking a leap in recognising talent and honouring them. MA seems to be lagging behind. Yet/Still we attach so much importance to this institution !!!

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 04 Dec 2011, 19:21

Thanks to all the rasikas for your kind wishes for the event

Look forward to meeting most of the forumites on Dec 11th.

nirvanaa. · Post by **nirvanaa.** » 04 Dec 2011, 19:50

Truly elated on hearing the news that Radha Mami is being honoured by Brahma Gana Sabha for her services to music and dance. Her story is one of great courage and determination. The way she has comeback to music inspite of all her health issues is miraculous to say the least. I wish her all the best with a long and healthy life and may she pass on the MS baton to Aishwarya. I did read that Aishwarya is singing at Krishna Gana Sabha on the same day at 2.00 pm accompanied by stalwarts , Sri R.K.Shriramkumar, T.K.Murthy Sir, Sri B.Sivaraman (mridangam support) and Sri Anirudh Athreya. Best wishes to Aishwarya for both the programs.

suma · Post by **suma** » 04 Dec 2011, 19:59

Congratulations and Namaskarams to Radha mami. All the best for Aishwarya.

MS amma has become Eternal atleast for some people like me who listen to MS amma's vishnu sahasranamam every day.

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 05 Dec 2011, 03:41

Best wishes for the function, cienu! I'm sure the concert will be a grand success too.

S.NAGESWARAN · Post by **S.NAGESWARAN** » 06 Dec 2011, 12:45

Best wishes for the function. Hope to meet cienu and many forumites at the function.

S.NAGESWARAN.
06.12.2011.

semmu86 · Post by **semmu86** » 06 Dec 2011, 18:14

rajeshnat wrote:Few years back Shri Gopalakrishna Gandhi gave a brilliant speech for a LGJ felicitation,

Ah i still remember that evening. Was in March 2008 i guess. One of the best speeches ever made in Chennai music circles. I think a copy of that speech (audio) is still there in the MA website. Pls check it out.. Not to be missed. Sorry for the deviation though

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 06 Dec 2011, 18:38

Yes I also heard about the speech, read about it, but have not heard it.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 06 Dec 2011, 19:09

Add one more person to the regrets list.
Well, now is the chance to hear him in person!

semmu86 · Post by **semmu86** » 06 Dec 2011, 20:28

http://www.musicacademymadras.in/lalgudi_80.php

Here is that speech.... A Must listen. One of my favorite speakers after shrI. Narasimhan from Thiruvanmiyur Astika Samajam

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 06 Dec 2011, 22:28

Though belated its better late than never...EXCSTATIC RADHA'S GENIUS is finally being recognised, appreciated & applauded as it shd. be....Congragulations & best wishes, VKV

maduraimini · Post by **maduraimini** » 07 Dec 2011, 08:55

Birthday wishes to Radha Viswanathan. Congratulations and all good wishes to Aishwarya. Won't be surprised if she becomes a shining star in the CM world like her great grandmother and grandmother.

raghavt · Post by **raghavt** » 08 Dec 2011, 21:26

My Best Wishes for the event.

thanks.

advaitam · Post by **advaitam** » 09 Dec 2011, 13:56

It is gratifying to note the recognition that Smt Radha is receiving from BGS. I pray to the Almighty that all other major Sabhas in Chennai follow suit soon. The precedent was ofcourse set by the Cleveland Tyagarajotsavam Committee by honouring her a couple of years back. Smt Radha is not just a genius in music, her gifts as a guru are immeasurable! She has trained quite a lot of promising young musicians, though not all took to full-time music. In the mid-'70s she lived in Bangalore for sometime where she taught Smt Neela Ramgopal, Smt Jambu Kannan & Smt Seetalakshmi Venkatesan the Kamalamba Navavarna Kritis and other rare songs. In turn she also learnt some Purandaradasa keerthanas from Seetalakshmi, including "Narayana" (Suddha Dhanyasi), "Aathana Paaduve" (Hamsanandi) & "Pillangoviya Krishna" (Kaapi). She also trained Balaji Shankar, P.T.Seshadri, Mahesh Vinayakaram (youngest son of THV) and Anuradha Suresh Krishnamurthy, apart from her grand-daughter S.Aishwarya. She is a colossus of musical repertoire and old-time anecdotes. Her memory continues to remain her greatest asset till date. She is a most rigorous teacher, coaxing perfection from her students gently, yet firmly. The Hindu today carried an ode to this unrecognised genius. Here is the link: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/che ... 700703.ece

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 11 Dec 2011, 13:27

I'm on my way to concerts, after stopping for lunch.
What a moving event it was! Great speeches, Gopalakrishna Gandhi's speech an ode to MS and her daughter Radha.
Cienu, please upload it for all to hear, along with the music.
The concert which followed was amazing. Radha singing with her heart and her guts--Aishwarya soaring more to reach the heights some day of her illustrious great grandmother.

Others will write more, I'm sure. I'm off now to listen to more concerts

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 11 Dec 2011, 17:17

arasi, enjoy the cutcheris! Think of me when listening to nice cutcheris and nod your head , and clap your hands once more on my behalf.

tkb · Post by **tkb** » 11 Dec 2011, 17:44

It was indeed a great function and when heard about the humbleness of MS Amma & family i was literally on tears! If only people can try posses 1% of her humbleness it will make a great effect on our man kind.

nirvanaa. · Post by **nirvanaa.** » 11 Dec 2011, 22:07

I got a gist of the happenings of the event and yes, I'm overwhelmed with joy !

They are moments of endless gratification to see stalwarts get nostalgic and share heart full of emotions considering the hard way they've come in life. There is nothing like their music which even gleams with perfection today as a result of those endless hours of toilsome practice. I truly believe that whoever got to witness this are truly blessed in life.

Murthy mama and Radha mami are such celestial beings who appear on earth once and for all. So has been the great MS, who's music will be immortal even for infinite years in future. Her music will never fade with time or will we get to hear anything similar to her music ever. She was the one & only musician complete in all aspects and not to forget that she earn't them the hard way. We're fortunate to have them around us and perhaps even a bit we imbibe from them will do great to our lives.

Besides, I'm also glad that Aishwarya did well today. I'm sure she has gained quite a lot of inspiration today which will take her to a higher level. Considering her age, her music needs appreciation only and not reviews as it takes in a lot of courage to sing with veteran accompanists. She still has a long time to open up into a full fledged musician and carve a niche for herself. I wish that she takes in as much motivation as she needs and put them into practice to serve the purpose of being blessed with such a great bani.

I'm sure Ceinu sir is really happy.

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 12 Dec 2011, 03:11

arasi wrote:It's well past one. Just switching on the computer after being at the Brahma Gana Sabha event of MS's Seventh Memorial year and Radha's birthday and her being honored. Very moving speeches about MS, Gopalakrishna Gandhi’s a gem. I asked Cienu to please post it wholly. Hope he obliges. I stayed for the concert which followed of grandmother Radha and grand daughter Aishwarya. An amazing feat, Radha still with so much stamina, and Aishwarya reaching heights I never imagined she would, this year.
Thank you all for being there--even those who weren't physically present, but were with me.

Will continue when I have the time to write.

Thank you Arasi. I copied your above post to this thread for the purpose of continuity.
At the outset, sincere thanks to the rasikas who made it to the function. I had the pleasure of meeting Lakshman and his wife, Arasi, MKR, TKB, Hari and family , Sri Nageswaran & Smt Neela Ramgopal . As Arasi has mentioned above, everyone spoke from their hearts. Will try and post the speech of Sri Gopal Gandhi once I get the videos.

Please find below the link of the report in "The Hindu" of 12th Dec 2011.
http://www.thehindu.com/arts/music/article2707132.ece

The concert list is as below:
Smt Radha Viswanathan - Vocal
S.Aishwarya - Vocal Support
Sri R K Shriram kumar - Violin
Sri K P Parameswaran - Mridangam
Sri Anirudh Athreya - Kanjira
Sri N.Guruprasad - Ghatam

1. Vachamagocharame - Kaikavasi - Adi - Thyagaraja
2. Karacharana Kritam - Bowli - (Virutam )
3. Shambo Mahadeva - Bowli - Rupakam - Neelakantan Sivan
4. Meenakshi Me Mudam - Gamakakriya - Adi - Dikshitar (RNS)
5. Saraguna Paalimpa - Kedaragowla - Adi - Poochi
6. Gajavadana - Todi - Adi - Kumara Ettindra (RST)
7. Kahan ke Pathik - Tulsidas
8. Sundarathe Dhyana - Yaman Kalyani - Tukaram
9. Gopalam - Peelu - (Virutam)
10. Bhajare Yadunatham - Peelu - Adi - Sadasiva Brahmendra.
11. Maithreem Bhajatha - Kanchi Mahaperiavar
12. Mangalam.

A picture of Smt Radha singing in the concert flanked by her two disciples on the Miraj Tamburas listening with great attention (Navaneet with the red shirt and Seshadri with the dark grey shirt)

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 12 Dec 2011, 03:33

Cienu,

Great to know that it went off well! Lovely picture. Thank you. Looking forward to Sri Gopalakrishna Gandhi's speech.

raghavt · Post by **raghavt** » 12 Dec 2011, 18:56

Thanks Cineu Sir for the picture...

~ raghav

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 26 Jan 2012, 20:47

arasi wrote: What a moving event it was! Great speeches, Gopalakrishna Gandhi's speech an ode to MS and her daughter Radha. Cienu, please upload it for all to hear, along with the music.

rshankar wrote: Cienu,Great to know that it went off well! Lovely picture. Thank you. Looking forward to Sri Gopalakrishna Gandhi's speech.

Arasi and Ravi,
While the videographer was prompt in sending the concert DVD, the portion with the speeches was received only yesterday! I have uploaded the speech of Sri Gopal Gandhi and also one song (Bhajare Yadunatham) in the links below. A few pictures taken on this occasion have also been uploaded.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksTRMEZtRow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8gVea-4QbA

Sri Cleveland VV Sundaram , Smt Radha Viswanathan , Sri Gopalkrishna Gandhi and Sri T.K.Murthy in the lobby of Brahma Gana Sabha before the commencement of the function.

I introduce Sri TKB to Amma before the function begins.

Smt Radha Viswanathan and Sri Gopalkrishna Gandhi

A view of the audience. Smt Neela Ramgopal is the second row and Arasi can be seen in row 7. (close to the extreme right corner)

Sri Gopal Gandhi’s speech had the audience in a spell. Others in the picture, yours truly, Sri A.Natarajan, Sri Nalli Chettiar, Sri T K Murthy, Smt Radha Viswanathan & Sri Cleveland VV Sundaram.

The award presentation

After the award ceremony a group picture near the portrait of MS Amma

A picture of the concert. (Names of the artists can be seen in post # 33 )

Another view of the audience

Sri Nageswaran and Smt & Sri Lakshman

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 26 Jan 2012, 21:24

WOW! What a treat!
Almost like being there!
Thank you so much...

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 26 Jan 2012, 21:27

I vaguely knew that Both gandhiji and Shri C RajagopalAchari were related also thru marriage . Now after Shri Gopalkrishna gAndhi speaking few words in thamizh, I just googled to get the connection . Shri Gopalkrishna gAndhi maternal grandfather is Rajaji(which many would not know, I just knew now) and paternal grandfather is mahatmA, a truly blessed grandson.

Cienu,
Shri Gopalkrishna's gAndhi's one phrase was just too good ,when he described Smt Radha " --> there was not a stroke of prosperity which has not come her way , There was not a stroke of adversity which has not come her way <-- " . Thanks for the upload.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 26 Jan 2012, 22:09

Thanks Rajesh for that info..
(I was racking my brain ..)

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 27 Jan 2012, 00:15

Cienu, thanks for posting these lovely pictures.

tkb · Post by **tkb** » 27 Jan 2012, 08:52

thanks @cienu for teh photos and i am honoured! It was so nice of you to have the great thought of introducing me to amma and it was a great blessings for me.

thanjavooran · Post by **thanjavooran** » 27 Jan 2012, 17:11

Shri Cienu Avl, Many thanks for posting these excellent pictures.

Thanjavooran 27 01 2012

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 27 Jan 2012, 20:41

Cienu - lovely pictures! Thank you for posting. Have not had a chance to sit down and listen to Sri GKG! Rajesh, IIRC, Sri GKG's mother is Smt. Lakshmi (Rajaji's youngest daughter?), and Sri Devdas Gandhi...and his sister is Smt. Tara Banerjee, right?

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 27 Jan 2012, 20:43

Every picture tells a story! Such beautiful pictures! Thanks Cienu Sir for posting.

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 27 Jan 2012, 20:45

Shri Rajmohan Gandhi is another grandson of Shri CR and Mahatma Gandhi.