Twitter 2008/2009

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 13 Dec 2008, 14:12

Surprised nobody's started this yet. What's happened to the season spirit?! What concerts are rasikas attending each day? This way we can also know who and when to hound for reviews and songlists.

gobilalitha · Post by **gobilalitha** » 13 Dec 2008, 16:04

Also about the best canteen of the season .GOBILALITHA

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 13 Dec 2008, 16:23

Great idea Bilahari. Those twiddling their thumbs away from Chennai are being left high and dry. The Hindu's coverage looks to be pathetic this time. Hardly any coverage except for 1-2 concerts in the Friday Review although the Times is making up big time...The Mint too, is putting out a daily article - good to see the season get a wider coverage in the rest of the country (thanks our forum member Samanth)

Reviews on this forum too, have been relatively few although it has picked up in the last 1-2 days. I request forum members to at least put up song lists accompanied by a brief impression of concerts they liked.

Yes, and this twitter too...so who's going where today. Lots of action to look forward to in this first weekend of the "main Season" - TVS, Priya Sisters, NSG, TNS, Unni, Sanjay, Nithyashree and Gayathri Girish are among the major acts performing today...also Pantula Rama

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 13 Dec 2008, 18:52

Moderators, could you please change the thread name to "Preposterous Twitter 2008/2009?" That way, we can be sure of maximal energetic participation by rasikas. I'm seriously missing the usual season buzz here!

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 13 Dec 2008, 23:00

I was about to start a new thread: Is "vocal support" Preposterous? ---but it is only really twitter material, and here is a twitter thread already!

Anyway... the thought came to me in tonight's performance by TVS.

We may sometime get to hear great elders of carnatic music because it is possible for them to have support; some may no longer have the stamina to give us more than a few minutes at a time of their wonder.

TVS, patently, is as strong as an ox!

Vocal support? Preposterous!

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 14 Dec 2008, 00:57

Thanks Nick. Hope others will keep us updated on their concert activities as well! I like vocal support myself, in general - especially in TVS' case...

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 14 Dec 2008, 08:54

nick H wrote: TVS, patently, is as strong as an ox!

Vocal support? Preposterous!

More than vocal support , father support is definitely needed in terms of exposure to his son.

arunk · Post by **arunk** » 14 Dec 2008, 09:13

I plan to attend Sanjay's concert at BGS today.

Arun

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 14 Dec 2008, 11:50

Would be grateful for a report or at least a songlist, Arun.

arunk · Post by **arunk** » 14 Dec 2008, 11:51

will try to do a songlist at the least.

Arun

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 14 Dec 2008, 11:57

Plenty of action today as well - TNS Krishna's concert would be over by now. Also Amrutha Venkatesh, Sriranjani Santhanagopalan and Saketaraman among the youngsters. Suryaprakash whose concert is covered in another thread, the OS brothers at different venues, instrumentalists Kadri & Sangitha Kalanidhi Natarajan, Gayathri V...and finally the biggies - TMK and Sanjay. All in all, plenty of choice

The last one in particular would have been my pick if I were in town because of the venue, which is one of my favourites and the rarely featured SAnjay-Srimushnam combo. I remember being cheated of Sanjay's concert last year (where I also first met Arun) thanks to a prolonged conference call....

Would appreciate feedback on any of the above concerts...and others too

arunk · Post by **arunk** » 14 Dec 2008, 12:00

There is also neyveli santanagopalan in velachery (I hope to catch him elsewhere another day)

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 14 Dec 2008, 13:25

I think I should get my first-this-year exposure to Trichy Sankaran today. Malladi Brothers, at MFAC.

I wonder what languages he will be playing in?

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 14 Dec 2008, 13:27

Well said Nick! It should be a fantastic experience even though the hall is not among my favourites. Please do share your impressions even though your modesty will not allow you to call it a review!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 14 Dec 2008, 16:55

A good one, NicK!
And do we need a 'born englishman' who plays percussion to point this out that even mrudangams speak different languages (Sol-words) and revel in their being different from one another? Just as they accompany compositions in all languages without any hesitation?

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 14 Dec 2008, 17:03

Vijay and others,
Sorry to pass on this bit of news. Some news a bird happened to gather from a culinary source. Looks as though Gnanambika might not be there to cater to your tastebuds at NGS this year...

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 14 Dec 2008, 21:09

This is disaster! I hope your bird has got it all wrong! Unless Jayaraman is moving to the Academy instead! Poor NGS - I am sure their season is going to wear a sorry look without Gnanambika

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 15 Dec 2008, 00:06

Enjoyed Malladi bros very much. Of course, I consider it preposterous that they did not enlarge their musical experience by including any Ukrainian item in the program.

...Groans all around! And I claim the title of having finally done that joke to death!

Seriously: a terrific three-hour-plus concert, with an RTP following (I don't think there was anything inbetween) right on from the main item.

For a mere Rs500 I actually became a VIP for a few hours today! Yes, I know that was a prepos---- err, sorry, a very silly amount of money to spend, but I wanted to sit near Prof. Sankaran's hand. I could have sat in the front row, but preferred to be a couple of rows back.

Bad marks to MFAC canteen (the food looked good) for only serving that kaapi stuff you guys seem to thrive on. I had to go back out to the cheap chai joint a few doors down.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 15 Dec 2008, 00:10

Thanks for that update Nick....love to get more

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 15 Dec 2008, 02:36

I have had it with you Chennai rasikas.

You have not worked out a protocol to recognize fellow rasika members.
Remember the lapel pin idea? That didn't go anywhere.

Now, we need a quick fix. Here is our rasika gang mudra. Flash it if you suspect a fellow rasikaite. If not recognized, gracefully unfold and wave
to the imaginary person at the back.. And be careful when you do this at Bharathanatyam concerts

Sorry, could not afford a hand model!!

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 15 Dec 2008, 03:56

VK, wouldn't it be highly strange to go about flashing this mudra?! I'm still sold on the lapel pin idea, and have no idea why it didn't materialise. Nick, please post songlist and impressions of Malladi Bros' concert if you can. Sounds like a cracker.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 15 Dec 2008, 04:09

bilahari:

yes. Only to be followed when rasika gang member is suspected and that too with the backup mudra conversion to a wave!!

lapel pin is ideal. I do not see it happening soon. Also, this is a backup if you forget the pin

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 15 Dec 2008, 10:01

Bilahari,
If we go with the adjective preposterous with any more threads, we may get to be called 'preposterous rasikAs', and we better watch it--in our penchant for the word and perhaps here and there in our behavior too

prashant · Post by **prashant** » 15 Dec 2008, 10:10

The rasikas 'gang mudra'... awesome VK.

I never thought I would live to see the day of 'The Wire' meets CM

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 15 Dec 2008, 11:55

Bilahari, I am afraid that by the time I get to able to post song titles, I will be so deaf that the lyrics will have faded into even more of a blur than they are now

. I hope to, a couple of decades from now, find ways to continue enjoying the music! There was one obviously knowledgeable westerner in the front row --- able to keep talam through TS's tani, which is quite a feet; I certainly can't keep track of his nadais!

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 15 Dec 2008, 13:17

Nick,

Feet or feat?

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 15 Dec 2008, 13:27

A feat with his feet (foot)?

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 15 Dec 2008, 13:42

Well, as it was not done outside in a yard, it must have been a feat!

How can I take on another language when I find my own so confusing?

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 15 Dec 2008, 15:20

Others can take on all languages they want and master them too, but as far as you are concerned, you put your heart into the things you say. We like your expressions, communicative skill and your caring to share your experiences. And you are a good friend and that gives us the entitlement for kidding around. But I like best your urban and suburban caws of crows with their subtle differences

Ravi, did not realize you had posted, because I had to go away from my desk for a while which made Nick get a double dose of it, Doc!

gobilalitha · Post by **gobilalitha** » 15 Dec 2008, 16:46

For rasikas.org member,why not a pink turban , a long street sweeping sherwani and kuta? For pot bellied persons(owner's pride), it will be useful to hide their ghatams. gobilalitha

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 15 Dec 2008, 18:56

What with "gang" mudras and turbans and sweeping sherwanis, we don't want to stick out so much we're mistaken for nefarious elements elements in this volatile age either!

prashant · Post by **prashant** » 15 Dec 2008, 19:54

I hope someone will report on Sri Vijay Siva's Academy concert which must have just concluded today. A bad miss for me...

shadjam · Post by **shadjam** » 15 Dec 2008, 20:10

Ours being a musical family, how about a rasikas family song (just like the family song sung in films by hero searching for the trapped heroine)? Maybe CML sir can compose one for us

Just to add some spice, what language would you compose it in? Wouldn't it be preposterous to compose in a language other than tamil?

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 15 Dec 2008, 20:35

In English???

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 15 Dec 2008, 23:24

Reviews coming in thick and fast now - it is the high noon of the Season with the grand opening of the Academy's festival! Hope to get some more reviews of concerts held today especially those of RK Srikantan, Sanjay at Nada Inbam, TNS and Ravikiran. Pantula Rama also sang at Kalarasana - please provide reviews if possible

Tomorrow the action includes Sowmya and Vijay Siva at the Academy (What a day! Do hope somebody's covering both), Aruna SAiram, Bombay Sisters, Lalgudi Siblings, Kanyakumari, Gayatri Girish, Lakshmi Rangarajan and our own Suryaprakash. Also several talented youngsters in the fray - Trichur Brothers, K Gayathri, Nisha Rajgopalan, Sriram Parthasarathee and Vilasini. Hope to get lots of feedback!!

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 15 Dec 2008, 23:28

In english? P........... Nearly used that word again!

Went to see Mandolin Srinivas today at YGP. My wife's choice of concert, but we were unanimous in being pleased to have caught the last part of B Kannan's veena program, which was the high point of the musical day for us both!

Srinivas made Mohana Varnam (that's about as close as a song list as you'll get from me!) sound like a pop song. It is short, and relatively simple (about the only varnam I can almost accompany correctly), but I felt that he trivialised it.

Things did look up somewhat from there, but, for me, never really took off. I found his swaras to be lifeless excercises in mathematics, with little attention to pleasing melody. The main piece lacked weight to the extent that I only realised that it was the main piece when the tani started! The lighter ending pieces were melodic and enjoyable.

I've enjoyed his playing before, and I hope to again, but today, no. This was not me wanting heavy stuff either, as my wife felt exactly the same, and the part of Kannan's performance we saw had been pallavi and swaras, so no lack of calculation there.

I usually only post positive experiences --- but there has to be an occasional exception, I guess!

Arasi, thank you for your kind words

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 15 Dec 2008, 23:37

Nick, haven't heard too many artistes who treat the Mohana varnam as anything other than light (besides MDR)... But then I haven't heard many artistes treat varnas in general with much seriousness (again, except MDR, MSG, and now TMK).

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 15 Dec 2008, 23:38

How about creating round badges with this image embossed http://shopping.zeenews.com/v1/product_ ... _large.jpg? If someone can find a badge-maker somewhere in Madras, I will give the first order for 100 badges which can be collected by everyone from someone who serves as a central point of contact.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 16 Dec 2008, 00:13

Ah..now we are talking, srkris. Good idea. It will be good to have rasikas.org on the badge/lapel also. Thanks for taking the initiative on this.

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 16 Dec 2008, 00:43

I am not very good at creating logos, could someone create a logo out of the image above?

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 16 Dec 2008, 20:53

The best sight would be to see skris wearing one, and distributing them as well. I recall a recently revealed trick about capturing an evasive stork: place a pat of butter on its head, the butter would melt, obscure its vision and there, you got hold of the bird! Well, ask the evasive...for badges and when ...comes with them, catch a glimpse of him

sagars · Post by **sagars** » 16 Dec 2008, 21:58

Reaching chennai on21st Morn. Is it possible to get a tkt to AKC's concert at the Acedemy just before the concert?

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 16 Dec 2008, 23:07

Should not be a problem. It is a free concert anyway I thihnk

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 16 Dec 2008, 23:10

Was one of a packed-full house watching Aruna Sairam sing this evening at YGP. My wife ebjoyed very much. I enjoyed it. Came away with the impression that I would like to see her give a Hindustani classical concert. I don;t know enough about HM to say what sort.

She certainly knows her audience and has a wonderful understanding with them.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 16 Dec 2008, 23:42

Well it looks like she almost did - check the Sawai Gandharva thread - the Hindustani afficionados seem to have liked her a lot!

Anyway lots of big guns firing tomorrow! TNS, Sanjay, TMK , Malladis, Unni, Ashok Ramani and OS Arun among others...

Sudha and Gayathri Girish on the distaff side. Instrumentalists Jayanthy Kumaresh and Sikkil-Mala Chandrasekhar. Lots of youngsters too...

Take your pick and write in at the end of the day....

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 16 Dec 2008, 23:43

Oops that should be firing...what a horrible blunder!!

sramaswamy · Post by **sramaswamy** » 17 Dec 2008, 00:16

Aruna Sairam's renderings are very lively and its go right from the very beginning.

sagars · Post by **sagars** » 17 Dec 2008, 07:36

Thanks VIjay. Is the mornig concerts are free at the acedemy?

Coolji is the breakfast meeting on this sunday ?

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 17 Dec 2008, 08:01

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 17 Dec 2008, 22:17

M. Chandrasekaran & Bharathi --- at Sastri Hall, with Sris Easwaran and Vasan.

Waiting for a couple of foreign who got lost caused me to be standing outside for much of the concert, but once we got in there was an atmosphere of pure magic. As much singing as violin from Chandrasekaran, and it felt like one had just dropped in to a party in his own hall. A gem of a program.