CHEMBAI MUSIC FESTIVAL AT KGS

[CRama]

Dr. K.J.Jesudas has organised a music festival in honour of his revered Guru Sangeetha Kalanidhi Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar for three days – 30 August to 1 Sep 2013 at Krishna Gana Sabha. I attended the programme on the second day and that prompted me to write this report.

Kudos to KJJ to organise this festival in such a meticulous and grand manner. There were music concerts on all the three days right from morning till 10 PM. Time schedule was strictly adhered to. The management of the programme was given to a professional Event Manager who performed with elan. There were two anchor persons who may be RJs of FM Radio (Hello FM 106.4 was a co sponsor). In between concerts they used to tell some jokes, stories etc to keep the audience engaged. Entry was free . Along with the Taranganisari School of Music run by KJJ, there were other 15 co-sponsors for the event which included RMKV, Vijay TV, Dinamalar etc. The stage was decorated in the model of Vijay TV. Golden colour with temple pillar designs. There was a huge LCD screen just behind the seat of the artists which facilitated close up view of the artists even from the last row. The PP showed very old pictures of Chembai giving concerts, Chembai with Jesudas and other disciples etc. Further, it also displayed pictures of Gods on whom the singer on the stage was singing the song. The Auditorium was fully lit on the three days. It had a festive look. I had never seen so much lights inside the KGS auditorium. The hall was full always.

Dr.Jesudas has used this opportunity for honouring some of the veteran vidwans. Special awards were given to TVG and Jayan (Prime disciple of Chembai- of the Jaya-Vijaya duo). Chembai Smaraka Puraskar Award was given to the following Vidwans/Vidushi.
• Dr.Balamuralikrishna
• Dr.T.K.Murthy
• Nedunuri Krishnamurthy
• Prof T.R.Subramaniam
• Dr.R.K.Srikantan
• Smt. Parassala Ponnammal
• Tanjore Sankara Iyer
• Manakkal Rangarajan
• T.N.Krishnan
• M.S.Anantharaman
• B.Krishnamurthy
• A.K.C.Natarajan
• Tiruchi. J.Venkataraman
• Tirupunthuruthi Venkatesan
• Madras A.Kannan (Mridangam)
• Karakudi A.Chandramouli (Mridangam)
• Rajanna (Nadaswaram)
• Achalpuram Chinnathambi (Nadaswaram)
• Malayampakkam D.Mani (Nadaswaram)
• Porayur Venugopala Pillai (Tavil)
• Venkataraman- Tampura
• Anayampatti Ganesan- Jalatharangam
• Palladam Venkataraman Rao-Harmonium
It was understood that vidwans who have crossed eighty years were chosen for the above award. The manner in which the award was given need special elaboration. The awards were given in three batches- between 7-8 PM on all the three days. The awardee vidwan was seated on a Simhasanam (a grand chair). He was done pada pooja. His feet was placed on a big plate and washed with water poured from a kindi. It was wiped with a towel and flowers were offered on his feet. He was shown arathi to the accompaniment of the bell. All these were done by six young girls dressed in Kerala dress. Then Jayan garlanded with a sandalwood garland and Jesudas provided ponnadai (a grand shawl) to the vidwan and handed over the puraskaram- a memento with the photo of Chembai and also a cheque. (I don’t know the amount of the cheque). Tanjore Sankara Iyer could not come and the memento and cheque was received by his disciple- Sankar. Simlarly, Venkataraman (Tambura) was in US and the award was received by his son. It was announed that RKS could not come and the award will be given at his residence. The entire function was well conceived and well executed. We can not thank enough Dr.KJJ for this unique gesture of honouring the maha vidwans.

Definitely we should not forget the role of the co sponsors who supported Dr KJJ in this grand function. They need publicity. But the display of the name of the sponsors in the stage should have been done in a more elegant manner. Similarly the display in the LCD screen in bold letters of the names of the sponsors was a distraction.

I attended two concerts and the review will come separately.

[rajeshnat]

There was a huge LCD screen just behind the seat of the artists which facilitated close up view of the artists even from the last row. The PP showed very old pictures of Chembai giving concerts, Chembai with Jesudas and other disciples etc. Further, it also displayed pictures of Gods on whom the singer on the stage was singing the song. The Auditorium was fully lit on the three days. It had a festive look. I had never seen so much lights inside the KGS auditorium. The hall was full always.

If there is a recorded video tape to be played there it makes sense to bring in LCD. For beaming live concerts if the LCD / Projector is switched on even in the live performance hall, it is a real needless exercise(anavsiyam). Putting it in an adjacent hall if the crowd is heavy in the main hall is acceptable .

Once the LCD is put in the main hall ,it is bordering on distraction and the visuals hamper me to enjoy the aural sensitivity that I have with in me. At times it kind of resembles me sitting in the computer at work or watching the idiot box at home and the visuals indeed tire me. After all music needs only ears and we have to only hear , we dont need this LCD [-x [-x .

[thanjavooran]

Shri CRama,
Thanks for the write up. A different and unique method of honoring the octogenarian Awardees. Expecting review on other events too.
with wishes,
Thanjavooran
02 09 2013

[mahavishnu]

Thanks, CRama. An excellent initiative by Sri KJY, who seems to have used his other professional contacts to raise funds and attract sponsors for this event.

Chembai left behind one of the biggest shishya paramparas in modern CM, notwithstanding the indirect influence he had on many others including TK Govinda Rao, VR Krishnan etc. Two leading Chembai descendants: TVG and VVS seem to be missing from the list of honourees!

[CRama]

Two leading Chembai descendants: TVG and VVS seem to be missing from the list of honourees!

Ramesh. You may pl see the para above the list of awardees. I had mentioned that TVG and Jayan were given Special awards. But sadly, the name of VVS is missing.
The RJ announced that vidwans above the age of eighty were chosen for the puraskar. Whether VVS is below eighty or there are other reasons behind that, we don't know.

[rajeshnat]

The RJ announced that vidwans above the age of eighty were chosen for the puraskar. Whether VVS is below eighty or there are other reasons behind that, we don't know.

Googling I find shri VVS is born on 1944, another 11 more years of wait time.

[mahavishnu]

Ramesh. You may pl see the para above the list of awardees. I had mentioned that TVG and Jayan were given Special awards.

My mistake. Thanks for the clarification, CRama.
I also see from Rajesh's posting that VVS is much younger than I had imagined.

[CRama]

One more appreciable thing in the function. When the awards were given, there were no lengthy speeches either by the giver or by the receiver of the award. Only the RJ told two sentences by way of introduction of the vidwan who received the award. Further, it was spread over three days- so time was allocated judiciously.

[satyabalu]

*Venkataraman- Tambura-----Really good gesture to have selected this artist-For more than one reason.
* Most of you will know that he is conducting pancharatnam on his own every year.I have participated one in Thiagaraja Vidwat samajam.
* Bringing his Tambura to participate in Thiagaraja Pancharatnam wherever conducted .

[Meenalochani]

Can somebody please post a video recording of the Music Festival program if available?