Prince Rama Varma

HarishankarK · Post by **HarishankarK** » 14 Jun 2018, 07:56

sweetsong wrote: ↑13 Jun 2018, 07:48 Teaching session at Chennai on June 16th.
Registration at this link.
http://www.gaanapriya.in

Really hope the whole 6 hour programme will be posted on youtube

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 18 Jun 2018, 12:13

Six songs from the Chennai workshop.

Sankara (Neelakanta Sivan)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiaRLUqHfVw

Indu Chakra (Shiv Dayal Batish)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7PbY14dgTs

Kancheesam (Muthuswamy Dikshitar)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArnIwsS38JE&t=2s

Raadaa Naa Meeda Daya Leda (Kuppuswamayya)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRVN89hP250

Mangala Charane (Varadadasa Sri M.D.Ramanathan)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNAfIEf578U

Dangurava (Purandaradasa)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU9nrX3bSKk

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 20 Jun 2018, 00:01

Two day teaching session at Vizag
on Saturday and Sunday by Varma ji.
(June 23rd and 24th) at the Public library, Dwarakanagar
Timing - 2 pm to 6 pm.
Contact person Smt. Sunitha Cherukuri
[email protected]

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 22 Jun 2018, 11:26

Rare song in Ganamurthy, with an impromptu demo of Sruthi Bhedam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEzNlrIw-3I

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 06 Jul 2018, 14:42

Remembering a unique Guru - Sishya bond on the birth anniversary of Dr.m.balamuralikrishna
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... OlKUoqKUzK

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 14 Jul 2018, 01:58

Nadasurabhi Cultural Association, (Regd.)
Phone: 25539368.
Email:[email protected]
Web: http://nadasurabhi.org
FB: www.facebook.com/nadasurabhi
cordially invites you for the monthly programme on
Sunday, 15th July 2018 at 4.15 PM
Venue: The Indian Heritage Academy Hall,
Near Police Station, 6th Block,
Koramangala, Bangalore. 560 095.

Special Lecture – Demonstration

Title: “The Genius of Dr.Balamurali Krishna’s Music”

Vidwan Sri. Rama Varma

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 18 Jul 2018, 01:47

The Genius of Dr.Balamuralikrishna's music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg2GJzm3rP0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFvVNnAO4kg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=On3NczFfZVk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQVk3PJ ... e=youtu.be

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 24 Jul 2018, 12:35

Prince Rama Varma with Sri S.R.Vinu and Sri B.Harikumar,
to perform at Kaiwara at 6:00pm on JUly 25th, Wednesday.

Kaiwara
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaivara

Yogi Nareyana
http://athma-spiritualbliss.blogspot.co ... nappa.html

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 27 Jul 2018, 11:57

Prince Rama Varma with Sri S.R.Vinu and Sri B.Harikumar,
to perform at J.S.S.Sangeetha Sabha, Mysore, at
JSS Women's College auditorium,
(Data jyothi auditorium) Saraswathi Puram @ 6 pm on
Saturday, the 28th of July.

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 29 Jul 2018, 10:31

Prince Rama Varma - Teaching session at Thiruvananthapuram
from 5:30pm onwards, on July 30, 31 and August 1.
For registration, please contact Sri Anil Kumar on +91 9447030345

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 02 Aug 2018, 01:37

Prince Rama Varma with Sri S.R.Vinu, Dr.Babu and Perukavu Sudheer,
to perform at the Udiyannur Devi Kshethram,
Maruthankuzhi,
Sasthamangalam,
Thiruvananthapuram,
at 6:45pm on July 3rd, Friday

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 05 Aug 2018, 12:07

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 09 Aug 2018, 18:15

Class at Hyderabad on August 11th and 12th and concert on 15th.

http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/ ... 51312.html

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 15 Aug 2018, 05:19

220 Hyderabad students celebrate Varma Ji's 50th birthday
https://youtu.be/oqWaLca3UWE

Concert at 6pm this evening, at Saptaparni,
Road number 8,
Next to Kalpa school
Banjara Hills.

Followed by release of book on Varma ji by his students, fans, friends, patrons, gurus and well wishers, at 8pm.

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 22 Aug 2018, 20:22

Writeup from Hyderabad
http://epaper.thehansindia.com/m5/17826 ... e#page/7/1

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 22 Aug 2018, 20:26

Concert at Mumbai.
Prince Rama Varma, Sri S.R.Vinu and Sri B.Harikumar to
perform at 6:30pm on Saturday, the 25th of August, at
Smt.P.N.Doshi Auditorium,
S.N.D.T.College,
Ghatkopar (W),
For donor passes, please contact
Sreekala Mahesh - +91 98670 15035
Dr.K.Gopinath - +91 98211 67417

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 23 Aug 2018, 15:24

Varma ji's interview in Times of India about Onam.

1.What memories does Onam festivity bring to you?
My great grandmother, the indomitable Amma Maharani Sethu Parvathy Bayi was a formidable figure in my family. Despite having many of the traits that one would associate with a typical matriarch of a rich and powerful family, she also had a great amount of warmth, personal charisma and a great sense of fun.
For me, life at the palace can easily be divided into two : Until 1983, when she was alive and after she passed away. Her impact was there in every aspect of life and that includes Onam too.
The gardeners would bring fresh flowers and cow dung and we would enjoy our own clumsy attempts at making flower arrangements.
A huge big swing would be put up, just for the two weeks leading upto Onam and we would keep pleading with the elders not to take it down. We would cut pieces of paper, make our own kites and fly them. Many relatives would visit and it would really and truly be a festival in the best sense of the word, without even leaving the house. We would all be given new clothes, wrapped in yellow cloth. The older generation would regale us with stories from the Puranas, spiced up liberally with their own embellishments. Amma Maharani, several of her siblings, the siblings of my grandfather Col.G.V.Raja, Maharaja Sri Chithira Thirunal Bala Rama Varma.....they were all extraordinary story tellers who would keep their listeners spellbound for hours together!

2.Who would you cherish spending Onam with? Culturally, is Onam the best time for family get-togethers?
Most honourable Malayalis come to Kerala for Onam. But I have been away during Onam time, during the past few years. It is the same this year too, when I have a concert at Bombay on the 25th of August.
I could say that I have been taking Onam to other places, rather than going to Kerala for Onam.There was an old film song, sung by the actor Kamal Hasan which went "Sundari Neeyum, Sundaran Jnaanum Chernnirunnal Thiruvonam" which means "If you (beautiful lady) and I (handsome man) sit close together, it is Onam." I do see the point and would add that when one does anything that one loves to do....for example, when I am all by myself in a cool, peaceful and silent room and I practice my veena undisturbed, it would be a celebration and hence, in that sense, "Onam" even without me being a Sundaran or having a Sundari sitting close to me.

3.The myths and legends of Onam – what kind of messages do they bring to you?
One of the most popular misconceptions among our myths, is the one pertaining to Maha Bali and Vamana.
The popular belief is that Maha Bali was an Asura king whom Lord Vishnu kicked all the way down to hell or Patala. In our Hindu belief system, we don't have just heaven, earth and hell, but Fourteen worlds or Lokas, of which six are above our world (Bhu Loka) and seven, below.
They are, from top to bottom, Satya Loka, Tapa Loka, Jana Loka, Mahar Loka, Svar Loka, Bhuvar Loka,
Bhu Loka, Atala Loka, Vitala Loka, Sutala Loka, Talatala Loka, Mahatala Loka, Rasatala Loka and finally Patala Loka.
Maha Bali who was the grandson of the legendary Prahlada, was a magnificent and extremely benevolent king. He was so amazing that Indra felt insecure about his position and went to Maha Vishnu to request Him to destroy Bali. Maha Vishnu, the wise and all knowing one, came to earth, not to destroy Bali but to save him. Save him from what? one might wonder.
Despite being perfect in every other way, Bali had started to develop a huge ego and Maha Vishnu knew that even the greatest could end up a sorry figure,if the ego is allowed to flourish unchecked.
So Maha Vishnu approached Bali, taking on the tiny form of the midget Vamana and asked him for a place to keep three footsteps. After Bali (who is called Maha Bali or the Great Bali, which got corrupted to Maveli in Malayalam) promised that he would oblige the resquest, Vamana grew and grew and became a gigantic figure.
A single footstep covered the entire earth. A second footstep covered the sky. Then Maha Bali, realizing who Vamana was, bent down and asked Him to use his head......completely bereft of ego now.....for the third step.
Vamana blessed him with his foot and escorted him to Sutala (and not Patala) and made him the ruler of the place, with full honours, which paints a picture that is drastically different from "kicking him down into Patala."
A large section of the general public seems to be unaware of this story and I got to learn this from my aunt Aswathi Thirunal Gouri Lakshmi Bayi who is an expert on Hindu mythology.
Since Maha Bali was so fond of his people and since he was a Chiranjeevi or an immortal, Maha Vishnu gave him permission to come back to Bhu Loka once every year, to check on his people.
Since we the people, don't want him to get depressed after coming to know about the sad state of affairs now, we celebrate Onam grandly, so that he would feel that life in general seems to go pretty much the same, joyful and festive way that it did, when He ruled the country.

Since the 1980s, audio cassettes and later, films and TV shows started to appear, spinning comedy around the figure of Mahabali. The homespun Malayali sense of humour can be extremely unique and pungent. Some traditional people who are aware of the greatness of Mahabali find this kind of comedy offensive.

I feel privileged to enjoy both the high level legend as well as the low level comedy in equal measure; not mixing the one with the other.

4.Onam is a very sensory festival for many – the sights, sounds, splendor of Onam are even pitched by the Tourism Marketing departments. Would you endorse this magnification of what was once a very personal, family experience?

For me, the spirit of Onam was what I described earlier. While there are obviously two sides to everything, I definitely preferred the old family Onam to the current, commercial Onam, where there are competitions for flower arrangements and the Thiruvathira Dance, which was so beautiful in it's original form because all the females......from ages two or three to eighty and ninety......would form a ring around a lamp and sing and dance together in a beautiful spirit of oneness and harmony.

5.From the tales you have heard from family, was Onam at the royal residence, say, a few decades ago very different from what it is today?

Yes it was, as I described earlier. Onam is an unforgettable event in both my life as well as my career too, for a different reason.
When I started to learn music from my wonderful Guru, Prof.Vechoor Hariharasubramania Iyer Sir, I was already in my teens. The music lessons would happen on Saturday and Sunday, which would be the two days when my friends would be free to go for movies and the like. Also, the basic lessons which just go Sa Ri, Sa Ri, Sa Ri Ga Ma ad infinitum, sounded totally different from the music that I would hear during concerts. So I had started to find the whole thing a bit boring.
When my Guru had to have a cataract operation in his eye, he said he wouldn't be able to teach me for a month. Once this time elapsed, I was very happy that music lessons had stopped and I never called him again! The others in the family also stopped asking about what had happened with the music lessons since by that time, Amma Maharani had passed away and the others weren't interested.
However.......every year, on Onam day, Maharaja Sri Chithira Thirunal Bala Rama Varma would give all the people who were on the palace payroll, a new Dhoti (Mundu). My music Guru's name was still there in the payroll though he had stopped coming for several months at the time. He received an invitation for this honour and promptly turned up, which was a rude shock for me at the time!
Music lessons started again, but this time something clicked and I became addicted to music, which I continue to be even now, after all these decades.

6.As you are a musician, would melodies would you love to play on Onam?
As I mentioned earlier about the Kamal Hasan song....anything that celebrates joy, oneness and harmony is Onam for me and I aspire to create that during each and every one of my concerts and teaching sessions, not just for Onam.

7.Since you are known to be a foodie, tell us what a dream Onam spread would include.
The Onam Sadya or feast, is famous all over Kerala. But it does vary from place to place and people who are from Kozhikode or Palakkad might find the Sadya down South, not upto the mark, for example.
I personally like the combination of soaking my Boli (a soft, yellow pancakelike dessert) in Paal Paayasam (a milk and rice dessert) which seems to be a Thiruvananthapuram speciality.
I also like the fact that we finish the meal with buttermilk, rather than with something sweet.
The belief is that when we visit somebody's house for a meal, if we finish the meal with something savoury, they would have to come again for the sweet. And generally we invite only guests whom we would love to host again and again!

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 23 Aug 2018, 22:51

Independence Day Special class at Hyderabad.

Jayati Jayati

https://youtu.be/WUdy_I3o0As

https://youtu.be/8LKLiiqrx2c

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 30 Aug 2018, 21:41

Prince Rama Varma concert with Sri S.R.Vinu and Bangalore Sri Praveen
at Doddamallur Sri Aprameya Temple,
Channapatna Taluk,
Ramanagara dist 562160 at 5:00pm on September 1st,
for Sri Krishna Janmashtami.

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 02 Sep 2018, 01:23

Teaching session and concert at Melbourne, Australia.

Music Workshop:

Date Time: Thursday, 6 Sep 2018 6.30pm
Venue: Mount Waverley Community Centre, 47 Miller Crescent, Mount Waverley 3149

Tickets for this event is available at the Venue.

Access the details and updates on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/446191782512242/
Music Concert:

Date Time: Sunday, 9 Sep 2018 6.00pm, request the audience to be seated before start.
Venue: Rowville Performing Arts Centre, Humphreys Way, Rowville VIC 3178

Access the details and updates on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1808124419276636/

Tickets for this event is available at: https://www.trybooking.com/wpjo

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 03 Sep 2018, 14:16

Breaking Barriers, Building Bonds.
50th Birthday tribute book
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aE-vsGew90

The book is available at Saptaparni,
Rd Number 8, Zahara Nagar,
Banjara Hills, Hyderabad,
Telangana 500034
Phone: 040 6666 7707
and
at THE KARNATIC MUSIC BOOK CENTER
23-A, Sripuram First Street,
Royapettah, Chennai - 600 014, INDIA.
Phone :+91-44-28111716, +91-44-28113253
Mobile :+91-9444134323, +91-9444988894
Email : [email protected]
Website : www.carnaticbooks.com

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 11 Sep 2018, 14:14

Two clips from Varma ji's classes at Melbourne

Thamburi Meetidava
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pu1Ijqe83Bk

Siddhar Paadal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d88I84K9RpU

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 19 Sep 2018, 18:13

September 29, Saturday
Concert at Tokyo ,Japan
at Tower Hall,
Funabori (Mini Hall)
with Avaneeswaram Sri S.R.Vinu and Dr G.Babu and K.Takehara.
For booking, please write to [email protected]
or call
090-3697-1344

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 19 Sep 2018, 20:53

Was there a carnatic concert ever in tokyo or japan. Or is,it the first time ever

parivadini · Post by **parivadini** » 20 Sep 2018, 18:00

rajeshnat wrote: ↑19 Sep 2018, 20:53 Was there a carnatic concert ever in tokyo or japan. Or is,it the first time ever

The best ever Teliyaleru Rama I have heard was by the Japanese Singer Takako Inoue in Tiruvaiyaaru. She was the fresh air that filled land that was otherwise suffocated by apaswarams that are typically on display during the afternoon sessions at Tiruvaiyaaru. Definitely there is more carnatic music in Tokyo than what we know of.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 20 Sep 2018, 18:39

parivadini wrote: ↑20 Sep 2018, 18:00
The best ever Teliyaleru Rama I have heard was by the Japanese Singer Takako Inoue in Tiruvaiyaaru.

Is takako the disciple who learnt from vidushi dkp. May be takako had a concert in japan as that is her home town.

My question is Like festival of india in ussr very recently i saw a post chitravina ravikiran performed in brazil has any musician prior to prince rama varma ever performed in sayanora japan

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 20 Sep 2018, 18:53

[/quote]
My question is Like festival of india in ussr very recently i saw a post chitravina ravikiran performed in brazil has any musician prior to prince rama varma ever performed in sayanora japan
[/quote]
Smt MSS has performed in Japan in 1974 (2 concerts) accompanied by Smt Radha Viswanathan, Kandadevi Sri Alagiriawamy on violin and Guru Sri Karaikudi Mani on Mridangam.

vsuresh · Post by **vsuresh** » 22 Sep 2018, 17:39

Veena Dr Balachandar in the 1980s and Shri Chitravina Ravikiran in early 2000s have performed in several cities in Japan.

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 27 Sep 2018, 22:51

Promo video
https://youtu.be/sKTHVixbLCU

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 06 Oct 2018, 10:56

Teaching session by Varma ji at Thiruvananthapuram on October 7th, 8th and 9th evening. Please contact Sri Adichanalloor Anil Kumar at +919447030345 for registration.

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 09 Oct 2018, 13:45

An informal session of Sruthi Bhedam at Mumbai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onWCg2jUbWQ&t=414s

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 18 Oct 2018, 00:05

From Japan

Introduction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzdOLyS ... e=youtu.be

Deva Deva
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52T8Ojv ... e=youtu.be

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 09 Nov 2018, 00:13

Interview at Dubai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QhmpB0Kb_Y

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 11 Nov 2018, 00:44

Songs from four teaching sessions at Dubai.

Kamala Nayana
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVB8G_p8U2Q

Ae Teeruga
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvjC7JXYZvs

Narayana
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3b5Zi14F_M

Varuga Varuga
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CacMVbPuJ2c

Tamburi Meetidava
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbDGxnPAmNI

Narayana - Teaching session
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYd7UBbykNI

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 18 Nov 2018, 22:54

Telephonic interview on Australian radio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJt5dDEgbTA

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 24 Nov 2018, 15:01

Japan Concert
Behag - Intro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_twYUrDwxQ

Reenamadanutha
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWb9-GmlJm4

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 24 Nov 2018, 15:03

Varma ji to sing at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan,
Adjacent to Kapaleeshwarar Temple,
Mylapore, Chennai
at 7:00pm on Tuesday, November 27th,
with Sri S.R.Vinu and Sri B.Harikumar.

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 27 Nov 2018, 11:57

The concert today is at 6:30pm and not 7:00pm.

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 04 Dec 2018, 11:02

From Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai
https://youtu.be/3_6_cGhkD2k

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 18 Dec 2018, 18:00

Tamil Interview in News7
https://youtu.be/I5pU0ExeC3Q

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 23 Dec 2018, 14:17

Prince Rama Varma gets the Vishwa Naada Saagara Award
from Sampoornam Foundation for Music and Arts, in the name
of Dr.T.V.Gopalakrishnan's father Vishwanatha Bhagavathar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbxAI1LZQu8
makes a speech in Thamizh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haeROxy8bho
sings a nostalgic composition for Dr.T.V.Gopalakrishnan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcBUfUfol9E
and a rare gem for Sampurnam Foundation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63Nt6ArKdeQ

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 27 Dec 2018, 02:17

Excerpts from Veena concert on AIR.

Mamava Karunaya
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVv_oFJ1t8s

Narayana The Namo Namo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugU5Wi4s9rg

Thamburi Meetidava
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMGUhhqIqs4

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 01 Jan 2019, 13:35

Varma ji introduces a Jugalbandi by Dr.Balamuralikrishna and Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty at the Swathi Sangeethotsavam in Trivandrum, in 2003.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1xLXCB ... GAMvRRf93f

Swathi Sangeethotsavam 2019 schedule
http://ramavarma.yolasite.com/swathi-sa ... --2018.php

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 06 Jan 2019, 01:36

New Year's Day interview on Doordarshan Malayalam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cdMHroL2zE

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 19 Jan 2019, 14:39

Varma ji teaches Omkarakarini to the students of Swathi Thirunal College of Music, Trivandrum
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AG6s7OmAgfY

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 20 Jan 2019, 14:25

January 21st, Monday - 6:00pm

Levy Hall,
(Next to Bhajana Pura Kalyana Mandapam,
Swathi Sangeethotsavam Entrance.
Opposite KSRTC Bus Parking Lot.

Annual Informal Concert

Prince Rama Varma
Sri S.R.Vinu
Sri B.Harikumar
Adichanallur Sri Anilkumar
Payyannur Sri Govindaprasad

January 22nd, Tuesday, 5:30 pm

Tyagaraja Aradhana

Sri Sadguru Thyagaraja Bhakta Sabha,
Kalpakanayaki Mandapam
2nd Puthen Theruvu
Fort
Thiruvananthapuram,
Phone +919446377387, +919447066625

Prince Rama Varma
Sri S.R.Vinu
Dr.G.Babu
Adichanallur Sri Anilkumar
Payyannur Sri Govindaprasad

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 31 Jan 2019, 15:04

Thillana in Behag by Dr.M.Balamuralikrishna on Sri Tyagaraja
at Secunderabad.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpFzb-IRUMs

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 03 Feb 2019, 15:33

Chinese New Year wishes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TinDGwaN4BE

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 18 Feb 2019, 00:51

Teaching session by Varma ji at Ranjani Fine Arts,
Sobha Lake View Club,
Bellandur, Bangalore,

from 3:00pm to 6:00pm on February 23rd and 24th.

Please contact +91 93425 82686 or email to
[email protected] for registration.

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 23 Feb 2019, 02:11

Article in The Hindu.
https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/ ... 4.ece/amp/