A Daughter's Tribute to Her Matchless Mother M.S. Subbulaksh

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 06 Dec 2008, 17:13

A special Event:

At this time of the year when rasikAs everywhere are fondly remembering M.S and are singing her praise and her songs, her daughter Radha Viswanathan's memories about her dear mother are captured in a book written by Gowri Ramnarayan: MS & Radha-Saga of Steadfast Devotion.
A new web site dedicated to her mother is also being launched that day.
The event is open to the public and Rasikas.org members have a special invitation from fellow-member Cienu...

Date: Saturday, December 13, 2008
Time: 5-30 PM (seating 5-15 PM)
Venue: The Music Academy, TTK Road, Chennai

The governor of Tamilnadu, Surjit Singh Barnala inaugurates the event and releases the book.
The president of The Music Academy, N. Murali receives the first copy of the book.
Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, MP in the Rajya Sabha launches the web site on M.S.
Cho S. Ramaswamy, Dr. Vaijayantimala Bali and Sangeeta kalanidhi T.K. Murthy are guests of honour.

A musical tribute follows:

Radha Viswanathan: vocal
S. Aishwarya: vocal support
R.K. Shriram Kumar: violin
T.K. Murthy: mrudangam
Anirudh Athreya: kanjira

The event is sponsored by Suswaralakshmi Foundation for Classical Music and Performing Arts and by Krishna Sweets.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 06 Dec 2008, 21:32

Really wish I could have been there - unfortunately arriving only on 14th. Hope to hear "about" this concert though

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 07 Dec 2008, 07:28

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 07 Dec 2008, 07:34

Good!
Do represent all of us commoners who could not be there collectively!
Also our Queen is there too!
Of course cienu will give us graphic descriptions with pictures!

Thanks in advance.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 07 Dec 2008, 21:06

Looking forward to hearing the details...

sankirnam · Post by **sankirnam** » 07 Dec 2008, 21:44

I keep missing all these rare opportunities to hear Murthy sir live... hope to read about this soon

arunk · Post by **arunk** » 10 Dec 2008, 10:24

I should be able to make it for this.

Arun

shadjam · Post by **shadjam** » 11 Dec 2008, 17:11

shankarabharanam · Post by **shankarabharanam** » 11 Dec 2008, 19:35

http://pib.nic.in/release/phsmall.asp?phid=21107
http://pib.nic.in/release/phsmall.asp?phid=21108

Few more pics of the same

Dhanavendra · Post by **Dhanavendra** » 12 Dec 2008, 23:40

Arasi, Nice to have highlighted the programme in this forum
Dear cmlover I have admiration for you owing to your patience and perseverance in many threads. I am sorry I don't know Manipravalam dialect and am glad that you prefer the same. I am writing this here because I don't want to accidently restart a dying thread about a language controversy and ironically revive the same but I wanted to acknowledge all your contributions in this forum. So I chose this thread for saying thanks. This thread in memory of a great musician for whom music was like Krishna to Meera whose influence transcended religion and language is a wonderful one. The tapas of MS and her subsequent oneness with God will ever remain etched in the Indian DNA.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 13 Dec 2008, 00:10

Thank you Dhanavendra (innirA?)
To say it in tamizh (of course, you are a polyglot, so no problem)
The nightingale--
vAnilengum tirindE vaLa migu mozhi palavum pADik kaLi SErtadE!

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 13 Dec 2008, 01:05

Let me not just repeat what Arasi has said. CM is beyond languages as indeed was demonstrated by the Queen of CM. Whenever she is honoured it is CM that is getting honoured and hence we Rasikas are getting honoured as the prime devotees!
AkAshAt patitaM tOyaM yathA gaccati sAgaraM
subbalakShmIM AdriyatE sarvam 'CM' prati gaccati
(Just as all waters falling from heaven flow into the ocean, when MS is getting honoured, all the honour goes to CM)

Arasi
Wishing the forthcoming function a magnificent success and requesting you to buy a book on my behalf to be cherished by me as a heir-loom!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 15 Dec 2008, 11:40

CML,
At the end of the concert when we came out of the auditorium, the books were not there anymore. When we return to Chennai, we will get you a copy as well...

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 15 Dec 2008, 13:22

It was an emotional evening, in more than one sense. We felt the presence of the greatness of MS in the hall all the time.The speeches (ah, the speeches, and too many of them) dwelt on her and the book Gowri Ramnarayan has written about her and her daughter Radha and of their love for each other (since I haven't got hold of the book yet, I am just guessing).
While Radha sat there in her wheelchair listening to all those speeches, natural as it was for the speakers to sing their praises of her great mother, I am certain she was as thrilled as we all were. What struck me was that in all those thousands of words spoken, it was odd that we heard Radha's name (which is part of the title, anyway) mentioned three times perhaps (please correct me if I am wrong). Not once did I hear anyone speak of the mother daughter relationship which was the inspiration for this book. Is this observation perhaps far fetched because I am unfamiliar to the Chennai style of speech codes?
The photographs on the stage featured pictures of the mother and daughter, but the content of all the speeches put together had very little substance about the love of the matchless MS for her daughter(s) and the love of the daughters for their great mother.
With her grand daughter Aishwarya's strong support, Radha sang a concert which brought to her mind and to us her mother and her repertoire. Radha's zeal was such that though she loves to see Aishwarya blossoming as a musician, her relationship with her mother is so strong that she said the following before the beginning the concert: this is the first time I sing in the Academy alone (she meant without her mother, though Aishwarya was accompanying her). Please excuse me if I make mistakes, she humbly added. In spite of initial problems with her voice, she sailed through the concert with professionalism (again, something she inherited from her mother) while her grand daughter gave her the support of a mature student.
Need I say anything about the accompanists? TK Murthy and Sriram Kumar (I am going by seniority in the mrudngam, violin order!) and Aniruddh enhanced the concert no end. As for the first two, they belong to the family pack too, musically.

On a personal note: though the song 'gAnak kuyil onRu maNNil tOnRip paRandadE' came to me a few days after the demise of MS, it was soul satisfying to hear the song being performed for the first time by her daughter and her great grand daughter (though this was a slightly different musical version from the original). For a first time presentation, it couldn't have been any better. I realized that even if a star performer of today had sung it much earlier, it would not have equaled the feeling I experienced by listening to it yesterday from those who were closest to the gAnak kuyil...

s_hari · Post by **s_hari** » 15 Dec 2008, 13:59

Arasi - thanks for details on program. What else did Radha sing?

-hari

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 15 Dec 2008, 14:50

Arasi, thanks for the feedback; happy to not that 'your gAnakkuyil' was made to ascend the stage in front of your eyes(and ears) . Must have been a poignant moment for you.

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 15 Dec 2008, 15:19

Arasi,

So nicely written in your unique style. How keenly you have observed her statement that this is her maiden "solo" concert (without her mother) at the Music Academy !

s_hari,

The concert list is as follows:

1) Dakshinamurthy Slokam
2) Viriboni - Bhairavi - Ata - pAccimiRiyam Adiyappa
3) Teradiyagarada - Gowlipantu - Adi - T
4) Ekkalathilum - Purvikalyani - Adi - Tiruvarur Ramaswamy Pillai (R)
5) Sobbilu - Jaganmohini - Rupakam - T
6) Sri Kamakoti Peetasthithe - Saveri - Adi - Mysore Sadasiva Rao - (brief Raga sketch - Neraval)
7) Sada Saranga Nayane - Ranjani - Adi - Yoganarasimhar
8) Sadasiva Upasmahe - Sankarabharanam - Adi - MD - (R,N,S,Tani)
9) Devi Brova - Chintamani - Adi - SS
10) gANA kuyil - Valaji - Adi - Arasi
11) Petra Thai Thanai - Virutam - Nadanamkriya - Ramalinga Swamigal (sung by Aishwarya)
12) Siva Siva Siva Bho - Nadhanamkriya - Jhampa - Mysore Maharaja
13) Bhavayami Gopalabalam - Yaman Kalyani - Khanda Chapu - Annamacharya
14) Jagadhodharana - Kapi - Adi - Purandaradasa
15) He Govinda He Gopala - Meera Bhajan by Indira Devi
16) Dhanashree Thillana - Swati Tirunal
17) Katrinilay Varum Geetham - Kalki
18) Kurai Onrum Illai - Rajaji
19) Maithreem Bhajata - Paramacharya of Kanchi
20) Mangalam

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 15 Dec 2008, 18:52

WOW! An exhaustive list! I am amazed. Unfortunately, many of us could not attend the full concert! Arasi, your observation that the dignitaries speeches had nothing to do with the theme of the book is indeed very valid!!

Leaving early did afford me the opportunity to not only find copies of the book being sold outside, but I was also fortunate enough to get Smt. Gowri Ramnarayan to sign one for me!

It was a very nice evening!

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 15 Dec 2008, 20:00

Cienu/Arasi,
If I am not asking too much rendition can we hear the recording of gAnakuyil in valaci.

Cienu
Nice of you to also honour few other family members friends and relatives who have been helping MS ammA. To me when the young Aishwarya was singing for the few numbers that I have listened her pitch was just reminding how Smt rAdha used to sing for MS amma those days.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 15 Dec 2008, 21:07

Many thanks Arasi/cienu
for recounting to us picturesque. I hope one of our Rasikas will u/l appropriate pictures too!
In spite of the boring speeches it must have been an electrifying evening. When the Moon shines bright nobody takes note of the Rohini beside. But when the Moon is gone and the Rohini is still there folks tend to take her for granted. But the invisible filial bond is ever bright in the hearts of discerning people!

Nice to note Arasi's appropriate composition was sung. In fact all the song selections are superb taking us back to those good old days. MS's benevolence is universal. Hence her daughter/grandaughter/(in fact) the whole family is entitled to our reciprocation of that divine love.

gAnak kuyil inRu than kunjukaLuDan em nenjil tOnRip piRandadE'

Now let us hear more from our Rasika group members.....

sramaswamy · Post by **sramaswamy** » 16 Dec 2008, 00:58

The self-effacing nature of Radha is truly commendable. For all the years she has sung, she has always been rendering vocal support. It is tremendous the fact that they provide that accompaniment without asking for name and fame.

The other such person who comes to my mind is Lalitha Sivakumar - Nithyashree's mother - , who also stays out of the limelight mostly.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 16 Dec 2008, 13:14

Here are the lyrics for gAnakkuyil onRu:

rAgam: valachi tALam: Adi

gAnak kuyil onRu maNNil tOnRip paRandadE-iniya iSai pADi (gAnak kuyil)

vAnilengum tirindE, vaLa migu mozhi palavum pADik kaLi SErttadE (uyar gAnak kuyil)

EdO, amudak kalaSattOr tuLi, ulagOrkkum AnadE (dEva gAnak kuyil)

vINai oliyil Salangai kulungalil, kuzhaloli SUzhalil vaLarndadE (madura gAnak kuyil)

mangala nangai, tirumagaL vaLLalAm, suba lakshmi enum vaDivAm
nAdamadin nADiyAm, nammai Irkka vanda AnmIga uruvAm (aruL)

Meaning:
A cuckoo appeared on earth and flew around (such a noble cuckoo))

It roamed the skies and sang away in many rich languages and brought us joy,
as though a drop of the nectar of the heavens became ours too (a celestial cuckoo)

It grew amidst the sounds of the vINA, jingling anklet bells
and the notes of the flute (a sweet cuckoo)

A propitious woman, Lakshmi, benefactor, named Subha lakshmi--
She, the very pulse of nAdA, the one who like a magnet drew us
to her spiritual self--the one with the grace of God (the song cuckoo)

Note that the gAnak kuyil in each segment has added words which go with the context.

uyar= noble
dEva=celestial (with the nectar)
madura=sweet; also indicative of Madurai where she was born amid music
vaDivu= beauty; her mother Shanmugavadivu
aruL=the grace of God (with her spiritual leanings)

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 16 Dec 2008, 14:11

Arasi, very beautifully desribes the queen of CM.
paDaittavar oru arasi
pAdapeRRavarO
innoru innisai arasi
pAdiyavar oru iLavarasi
uDan pADiyavaro
innoru iniya iLaiya (cinna) arasi
ellAmE arasavaiyai cuTRi irrukkumbODu
rasigaRkku kiDaippadu
aRusuvai anRi vERedu?

BTW, ellArumE madurai tanda arasigaLO?

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 16 Dec 2008, 15:05

Arasi - great composition! You have indeed captured the essence of the great Lady - I also noticed the similarity between your lyrics and one of the first awards (according to the book) conferred on her - 'kOkilagAna iSai vANi'

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 16 Dec 2008, 21:01

Punrvasu,
Thanks for your sentiments, ASu kaviarasi

Are you going to be in Chennai at least part of the season?
No, tirunelvelich chImai is where I hail from--bArati piRanda nilam...

Ravi,
Thank you. You know how much I appreciate it. Now I have to fish for compliments from the 'spring' cuckoo which may alight in Chennai pretty soon...

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 16 Dec 2008, 21:12

arasi, thanks for the 'title'-
How I wish I could come-but as of now there seems no possibility of my visiting chennai even for part of the season.Till when are you there?
Spring cuckoo is expected sometime mid-jan,I thought.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 16 Dec 2008, 21:22

Well done arasi!
Wish the song had been sung by the isai arasi when she was alive

She was not only madhura gaanak kuyil but also madurai gaanak kuyil as you have nicely captured in your lyric! and the punning on vaDivu and ShanmugavaDivu iis just brilliant! I can hear the lyric coming straight out of your heart! kudos!!!
Hope we could get to hear the audio!

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 16 Dec 2008, 21:26

Arasi
Brilliant , any reason of choosing valaci as the rAgam , is it one that is unexplainable or did you take that as this rAgam is in the cross roads of HM-CM, something that fits beautifully to SMT MS ammA.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 16 Dec 2008, 21:28

CML,
Merci mille fois. From the look of it, MAS in full force! Better than throwing coco cola bottles around...

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 16 Dec 2008, 21:56

Rajesh,
I thank you. This is exactly that intuitive streak in you which makes you a sleuth and a critic in music...
Many years ago, I heard kalAvati by Prabha Atre on an LP we had bought. I was charmed by the rAgA, and did not see the valachi connection then.
I had watched and had read a lot on MS after her demise, my mind replete with her images and music. The song came to me when I had nearly fallen asleep. After debating if I should wait until the next morning, I sat up and scribbled it on a piece of paper without even turning on the light. I was afraid I would forget it if I waited until the next day. I was humming it as I fell asleep.
I suppose the song sounds more HM. As I have said before, you would hear a slightly different version from RV and Aishwarya.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 16 Dec 2008, 22:43

Coming to think of it 'valaci' implies 'vaLarcchi' indicating growth and renewal!
You are describing how psychologically how a vaggeyakara thinks in words through a haunting raga!

sramaswamy · Post by **sramaswamy** » 16 Dec 2008, 23:36

Arasi

Thats a wonderful poetry. Frankly I was not that much into lyrics. But after joining this forum and looking at enthusiasm of so many people ( with special credit to the painstaking and meticulous translation efforts by rshankar) , I have started to enjoy the lyrics as well. Especially in this case, I am also able to understand the Tamil lyrics.

arasi wrote:I had watched and had read a lot on MS after her demise, my mind replete with her images and music. The song came to me when I had nearly fallen asleep. After debating if I should wait until the next morning, I sat up and scribbled it on a piece of paper without even turning on the light. I was afraid I would forget it if I waited until the next day. I was humming it as I fell asleep.

Very interesting to read this - how composers compose..............

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 17 Dec 2008, 10:13

sramaswamy,
Thank you! We sAhityAphiles are very happy to hear your story. Ravi, Rajani, Punarvasu and others--Ramakriya, Krishna and others who help with kannaDa and telugu and sanskrit. To those who would call sAhitya 'tyranny' (there was a thread with that title, once!), I would say that just as much as we love the words in a song, we like to hear them 'sung' rather than recited. The same way (instrumental music apart), a tune gains more meaning when words combine with them.

CML,
How true! Words are triggers, indeed. After all, it is with words that we describe our feelings to others and to ourselves.
About the process of song making, a song 'coming' to you is not accepted by every composer. One of our members who is an impresssive composer in sanskrit does not go along withthis....

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 17 Dec 2008, 10:40

Arasi: Fantastic work! Great composition!! I can imagine the emotional atmosphere when Smt. Radha sang the composition. Congratulations.

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 18 Dec 2008, 00:26

Rajesh & CML,

Shall upload some photographs and gANA Kuyil by this weekend.

Thanks.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 18 Dec 2008, 00:26

merci beaucoup!

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 27 Dec 2008, 17:46

Dear CML , Rajesh and all other Rasikas,

Regret the delay in uploading.

Here below are the links to the pictures of the book release function held at New Delhi on Dec 11th and at Chennai on Dec 13th 2008.

http://picasaweb.google.com/swamin7191/ ... eat=email#

http://picasaweb.google.com/swamin7191/ ... eat=email#

gANA Kuyil should take a few days more. Kindly bear with me.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 27 Dec 2008, 20:13

Many thanks Cienu for both the Delhi as well as Chennai pictures. It is indeed a star-studded gala event. Take your time with the audio.
Are there any pics of our Rasika Members attending?

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 27 Dec 2008, 21:26

In the Chennai function, there are 3 photographs of the audience. In one of these you can see Arasi and Krishnan. Cool is right behind with a few other rasikas (you have to zoom in on him). I am sure there are a some more, but I am unable to recognise. (rshankar and rajeshnat among them)

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 27 Dec 2008, 22:08

Did Locate Arasi and Krishnan

Not sure about Cool

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 28 Dec 2008, 02:41

Wow, great pictures. Thanks cienu.

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 29 Dec 2008, 05:45

Please find below the link to gANA Kuyil.

http://music.cooltoad.com/music/song.php?id=399933

As Arasi had mentioned in her earlier post, this is slightly different when compared to the original version.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 29 Dec 2008, 07:57

Cienu,

Awesome pictures. Thank you for the painstakingly detailed captioning. It took the guessing away!

(It was great meeting you yesterday!)

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 31 Dec 2008, 21:59

cienu
Thanks for the audio.
What a magnificent song! And what a magnificent rendering!
It is the cuckoo cooing about the cooing cuckoo!
( arasi
the changes to the lyric embellish it!)