Navaratri Mandapam Concerts 2008, Thiruvananthapuram

Musique4ever · Post by **Musique4ever** » 03 Nov 2008, 11:25

Solid advice for sure

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 03 Nov 2008, 21:58

arasa AsvAdam asvasthaM ashvati|
rAg~naH rAgabharita rasE rama rAma ||

(hey Ashvati! Revelling in the sapless (savouries) is unhealthy. (instead)
hey Rama! revel in the melody of the raga-filled music of the King (SWati))

( I also meant indirectly to convey the idea discounting the advice of 'arasi'

In medicine we talk about the 3F-risk-factors viz., Fat Flautulant and Forty.
I don't think you have the first one (though you claim otherwise

, I am not aware whether you have the second (but will have it following arasi's advice in excess

, the third is inevitable (but I think those grey streaks , the patina of age, make you look distinguished

Musique4ever · Post by **Musique4ever** » 04 Nov 2008, 10:15

I always thought I would die young since so many of my heroes did. But if I am destined to live longer, then
I would love to blossom into a gracious, classy and wonderful individual like Sir CMLover. Fat, Flautulant and
Forty ! *Ouch* Extremely scary since I am fat and forty. I guess I better start taking care before I end up becoming an old fa.......I mean.....an old fellow who is fat and inadvertently contributes to global warming
the way the sheep in New Zealand do :-/

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 04 Nov 2008, 19:44

From the end where I am (and arasi too, I am sure) we have just one thing to say
dirghAyuShmAn bhava
May Mighty Maharaja's Melodious Music Mould your Mature years!
(and of course with MuraLi's Meritorious Mentorship)

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 04 Nov 2008, 22:16

Being ancient brings some bonuses--blessing younger beings being one of them. Yes, bountiful blessings to (bAla) rAma varmA for blossoming into a balE bEsh musician in the bhavishyam.
Wishing him countless years on earth, steeped in rich sangItam

Musique4ever · Post by **Musique4ever** » 05 Nov 2008, 09:45

Thank you so much Sir CMLover and Arasi Ji. Blessings from a couple of people like you more than compensate for the opposite from a dozen non - youlike people

It would be really wonderful if both of you could attend at least a few concerts at my festival in TVM.

devi · Post by **devi** » 05 Nov 2008, 10:25

Thank God for CM Lover Sir's and Arasi Madam's affirmative reference to about the wonderful musical years lying ahead for Varma Sir.. What a joy for your fans Sir Ji....To look forward to those years to come... Blessed soul indeed you are Varma Sir to have well wishers like CM Lover Sir and Arasi Ji around you. I am sure whoever listening to your soulful singing cannot but wish the best for you wholeheartedly.

devi · Post by **devi** » 08 Nov 2008, 06:56

devi wrote:Sri Rama Varma is performing at Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, 9th of November 2008.
Venue: Rangavilasam Palace, East Fort
Time: 05.30 pm

Dear all,

Sri Rama Varma's Concert on 9th November has been cancelled due to the demise of one of his relatives, Uthram Thirunal Lalithamba Bayi, daughter of Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi, Regent Rani of Travancore.

Regards,
Devi

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 08 Nov 2008, 08:19

Our condolences to Varmaji and the entire family.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 08 Nov 2008, 09:04

Sorry to hear the news.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 08 Nov 2008, 09:30

Our Condolences to Sri. Varma and family.

gowri narayanan · Post by **gowri narayanan** » 08 Nov 2008, 14:19

Heartfelt condolences to Sri Varma and all family members

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 08 Nov 2008, 14:29

Heartfelt Condolences

suma · Post by **suma** » 08 Nov 2008, 19:36

Heartfelt condolences to Shri Varma ji and all of his family members

Shree · Post by **Shree** » 08 Nov 2008, 19:38

Heartfelt condolences to Varmaji..

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 08 Nov 2008, 21:53

A loss in the Royal Family touches all of us.
Please convey my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved Family.
May her soul Rest in Peace with Lord Padmanabha!

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 08 Nov 2008, 21:59

Hearfelt condolences. Prayers for the peace of the departed soul.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 08 Nov 2008, 22:53

My condolences to Shri Varmaji

Rasikaas · Post by **Rasikaas** » 09 Nov 2008, 09:55

Heart felt condolences to the members of the family

Musique4ever · Post by **Musique4ever** » 09 Nov 2008, 15:36

Thank you so much for your sympathy. Um......actually I've met the person who died only once or twice
in my entire life. The concert got canceled because it was being organized by some Kshathiya Sabha people who felt it wouldn't "look nice" if they were to organize a concert now. I remain however, Genuinely touched by your messages. Thank you so much once again.

wordpecker007 · Post by **wordpecker007** » 09 Nov 2008, 22:19

Dear friends,

Here is a superb link that throws light on Maharaja Swathi Thirunal. It is an amazing piece of work that throws light on the contributions of the Maharaja to music, eduation and sciece. The author, Dr. Achuthsankar, of the article has really done a great deal of work to write this well rounded piece.
web link to the article
http://print.achuth.googlepages.com/14
pl go to the first link in this page to find and download the article ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‹Å“An enlightened and princely patron of true scienceÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢
U can find many other articles on Swathi thirunal Maharaja and via this link http://print.achuth.googlepages.com/10

I found this one in the Rama Varma community in Orkut.

Thanks

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 10 Nov 2008, 00:27

Thank you so much. A very rare insight into the life of the Great King. We have yet to appreciate the contribution of Swathi to Travancore and to the world of music, let alone science. Varmaji is indeed blessed to have such an ancestor who is a Bharata Ratna in his own right. God bless him.
Do post more from the historical archives if you find them..

thanjavooran · Post by **thanjavooran** » 10 Nov 2008, 04:22

Heartfelt condolences to Sri Varma and all family members

Thanjavooran

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 17 Nov 2008, 01:37

Dear Varmaji
Pl look at my humble tribute at
http://rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=96321/#p96321

skutty · Post by **skutty** » 17 Nov 2008, 08:03

cmlover Sir,
Unable to download the file- perhaps because I am a free user ??

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 17 Nov 2008, 08:38

Try this
http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=4a88 ... b9a8902bda

wordpecker007 · Post by **wordpecker007** » 17 Nov 2008, 09:49

Dear cmlover sir,

Only you could have come with something so from the heart.
Lyrical and musical indeed!

skutty · Post by **skutty** » 17 Nov 2008, 10:27

cmlover wrote:Try this
http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=4a88 ... b9a8902bda

Thankyou cmlover Sir, the second link worked like a dream. The raga and the technical aspects, I guess I will leave to those with the know-how, but the emotions and feelings are a reflection of all the admirers of the true Maharaja of Music and his more than worthy descendant. If only there were more platforms available to adequately bring to limelight both these sublime musicians, the musical world would be a richer place.

Musique4ever · Post by **Musique4ever** » 17 Nov 2008, 14:39

My God ! I am totally overwhelmed ! Infinitely more so because the author is Sir CMLover himself ! The only
thing I can say as a descendant of maharaja is that I have descended greatly

I have always been looking forward to meeting you Sir CMLover and spending some time with you. But after reading this I feel
it might perhaps be better never to meet you and let you preserve your illusions about my virtues

Heh heh ! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
*Bows deeply and graciously, exposing the bald patch at the back of my head*

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 17 Nov 2008, 19:01

Royalty is a golden cage. The Trinity had it all easy. They could write whatever they wanted and sing wherever they wanted. But the Maharaja was bounden by the shackles of protocol. We can only imagine how much he would have yearned to sing in public to his people. Even his creations were locked up for a century to be released only by a gracious Queen your great grand aunt. You too found those gossamer web of conventions stronger than ropes of steel till your free spirit broke out to perform in public and boldly face the bouquets and brick-bats! We are eternally grateful to you for sharing the divine music of Swathi and making syAnanda puram reverberate with his soulful melody making it into Ananda puram! And as the light starts shining more and more through your balding pate

there will be a global awareness of the Maharaja to have Swathi Festival in every major city where there are CM Lovers!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 17 Nov 2008, 22:26

Musique4ever,

nor is it a heavy head--
since it weareth not a crown--
To say it in our local parlance,
talai ganam uLLavarum illai
(one who is not an egotist)

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 18 Nov 2008, 01:13

...and that is the reason we admire/adore you...
(..those bald spots are not from wearing a crown but from the pats you have received from us Rasikas!)

devi · Post by **devi** » 20 Nov 2008, 20:52

And FINALLY, as promised, Musiqebox has uploaded in youtube, crystal clear clips from this year's Navaratri Festival.

For all those who love listening to Varmaji, here is a beautiful Bhajan of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal, tuned by Sir Ji himself in raagas Mishra Maand, Sushama, Behag and Sindhubhairavi.

Japath japath hari naam Part 1
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=sYkHDcR-kqQ

Japath japath hari naam Part 2
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=6yTDGlnGNC0

Happy listening!

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 20 Nov 2008, 22:00

Thanks Devi
ramath ramath varmaji gaan

Can someone enlighten me on raag Sushma?

devi · Post by **devi** » 20 Nov 2008, 22:36

CM Lover Sir, As I understand the raagam is one of Dr. Balamuralikrishna's own creation. His composition 'Ayya! Guru Varya' (the lyrics of this song is outstanding by the way) is set in this raagam. I am sure Varma Ji will be able to throw more light upon this.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 20 Nov 2008, 23:08

It does sound close to Sivaranjani...
Will wait...

Mdrnkvn · Post by **Mdrnkvn** » 23 Nov 2008, 21:29

I enjoyed the Mukhari. Thank you!

Who played the Mrudangam? Clear vaasippu!
When Mukhari is mentioned, of course, Shri MDR slips into my mind and occupies the centre stage.
He puts his stamp even in the one para of Kanaka mruga rooopa dharam (Bhavayami Raghuramam) - especially in two places - One, when he splits sangataaanjaneya and brings out Aanjeneya separately. Two, when he ends the para with eesham. The two phrases are etched in mind.

Another Mukhari that had left a lasting impact on me was by Shri Nedunuri - in his Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai concert in 1982 I think, where he brings the breeze of Kaveri in the song "Muripemu galada" in the place "eedilleni malaya maruthamunche kootina kaaveri thata mandhu"

They say Mukhari is a plaintive note and generally invokes a crying emotion. I have never experienced it. But I have experienced peace and joy

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 24 Nov 2008, 14:05

They say Mukhari is a plaintive note and generally invokes a crying emotion. I have never experienced it. But I have experienced peace and joy

I do not know who started that but that false impression exists even among those who are not CM rasikas. I am with you fully about the true emotions Mukhari invokes.

gobilalitha · Post by **gobilalitha** » 24 Nov 2008, 16:30

Unfortunatelty, saramati also suffers the same fate. It is not supposed to be sung on happy occasions ,just because the well known kriti of Thyagaraja starts with the words mokshamugaladdha
gobilalitha

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 24 Nov 2008, 18:17

VK,
Have we not discussed mukhAri before? Yesterday in Bangalore, Shankar sang ElAvatAra (see Concert Reviews), a song which has pathos of course, but a dirge it surely isn't. A sense of awe is what the song evokes. The same can be said of aRivAr yAr unnai? How can Sabari bhAgyam be a woeful thing?!!

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 24 Nov 2008, 20:38

Here is a mukhari rendition:

http://www.acidplanet.com/components/em ... 816&T=4108 - when I sing this I always have tears in my eyes

keerthi · Post by **keerthi** » 25 Nov 2008, 13:08

It is when cliched and overused phrases of a raga are sung/ played; that tears come to the eyes of a discerning listener. Any raga can be employed to invoke any emotion . the saamarthyam for this is required in the artiste. An uninspired rendition can create both pathos and bathos!
Karubaaru - another masterpiece in mukhari is a joyous song; celebrating rama's entry into Ayodhya. The popular tune of Anandam-anandam aanandame, sung in weddings is in Mukhari too.
I wager anyone to listen to thyagaraja's Saraseeruhanana ramayya or Sangeethashatragnanamu saaroopya-saukhyadame and then say Mukhari is a raga of pathos..

Musique4ever · Post by **Musique4ever** » 25 Nov 2008, 20:36

With apologies for intruding, here are two videos from this year's Navarathri series. This is Thamarakad
Govindan Namboothiri, who is famous for his disinterest in giving concerts. He gets up at 4:00 am every
morning and sings all nine of Deekshithar's Navagraha Krithis And the Kamalamba Navavarnam Every
single day ! He says "I am interested only in learning and teaching and not in performing." But I felt that it was unfair to deprive the rest of the world of his zenlike shudhdha sangeetham. I hope that people who view these videos will be inspired to invite him and coax him to give more concerts here and there, rather like what has been happening with Golden Girl, Parasala Ponnammal these past couple of years. Meanwhile, please enjoy these videos

Sri Ramachandra (Huseni)
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=07nqy3SdyWY

Gopala (Bageshree)
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=JWTtwoP5wd8

arunk · Post by **arunk** » 25 Nov 2008, 21:14

aha! blissful huseni! Hopefully we get to hear more from him.

Thanks!
Arun

Rasikaas · Post by **Rasikaas** » 26 Nov 2008, 11:24

Such a blissful experience! Thanks for the video.
God Bless you all for these wonderful videos and audio recording. I feel so thankful and blessed!

arunk · Post by **arunk** » 28 Nov 2008, 22:03

Is it possible to get lyrics to this majestic, and exquisite huseni composition?

Those who have not followed the link above - I urge you too. It is sheer magic

Arun

Mdrnkvn · Post by **Mdrnkvn** » 29 Nov 2008, 21:04

Arasi,

You mean
Entani ne varnintunu shabari bhagya?

I have heard MDR singing it. And what you say is absolutely right. It is pure elation!

As Vasanthakokilam/Keerthi mentioned, it is the rendering and perhaps the knowledge of meaning sometimes that invokes a certain emotions.

Once I heard Shri KVN rendering "Thiruvottriyur Tyagrajan" in Athana.
And when he sang, "Paarththa kangaL paarththathu pOl, paarththavidam ellAm", it was purely romnatic. And he has transformed himself to a nayaki feeling lovelorn at TyagEsan! Till then, I have always listened to Athana being some crisp, reedy tune.

Mdrnkvn · Post by **Mdrnkvn** » 29 Nov 2008, 21:30

Great!
What a seamless singing of Huseni!
And Bageshree, the starting one note, Go....! wow! The gandharam with the lilt, just bowled me over!
And perhaps MDR was impressed with this kriti and fashined his "Saagara Shyana vibho?"
Whose composition is this? Swati ThirunaaL Maharaaja?

Thanks Sir! Was so depressed for the last two days because of Mumbai Events. And this rendering (Bageshree) just brought me such a solace!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 29 Nov 2008, 21:47

RV,
I am still unable to hear Tamaraikkad's singing. Can't get the link working.

Arun,
Wish I could hear that HusEni.

mdrnkvn,
Yes, KVN's rendering of that particular line is moving. I would add--you should have seen Balasaraswathi dance to it!

Mdrnkvn · Post by **Mdrnkvn** » 29 Nov 2008, 21:54

http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=07nqy3SdyWY

Try this.
I just listened to this.
And please do not forget to listen to Bageshree as well.