Chitravina N. Ravikiran @ Broomfield, CO on Oct 16th, 2010

[arasi]

Uday,
The 'wall paper' woman totally agrees with you on your post on the old vidvAns. They were as much humans as performers. This applies to artistes of all times. 'nAi viTRa kAsu kuraikkumA?' (will the money you got from selling a dog bark?)--Will a superb performance lose its value if the artiste does not happen to be a person of great virtues? What is important here is that the performers are faithful, and are devoted to their music and bring it to us with care when we go to listen to them. While we do not appreciate them at all for their bad behavior on stage, their religious and spiritual state, and their attitude towards money is not our business. Their materialistic streaks make interesting anecdotes for sure, and that's about it.
I wonder--is it better for listeners that they are examples of all virtues (a tall order) but are poor performers in that they are not devoted to their art and do not try to bring us their best? Bless all those unknown and little known musicians who are examples of many virtues, but a performer who treasures music and lives with it in such a way that lends to excellent performances are the ones rasikas cherish. I think we should have the clear idea that when we applaud a vidvAn like MMI for his great qualities, we are speaking a special human being who just happened to be an outstanding vidvAn!
So, to me, it all boils down to how a particular performer brings his/her best to us--with devotion to the art which consumes her/him.

[narayan]

I just don't see what the fuss is about. ksrimech has already clarified this particular instance (that $10 is a suggested thing for CD, not downloads). If and when downloads are charged, I hope users who choose to do that will pay what is suggested or not download or not tell us about it or at least not make money out of it. What if someone charges $1000? It's a free country or so when I last checked. Let them go right ahead. The number of buyers will come down drastically, the total revenue may be even less, or more, let the market figure it out and individuals decide what to do. It's not illegal to charge astronomical amounts or give something for free as per what the law allows. Similarly, some of us may want to give right thumbs (as MT said!) and others don't care two hoots (whatever those are) for something.

I'm sure in every generation there have been all sorts of musicians, listeners, buyers and sellers. Assuming Voleti, Vairamangalam or others were of some quality that fduddy is looking for, there are probably such people even today. There is nothing 'new generation' about this matter. What is the real issue, please? Can we do this discussion without sweeping denigration of people's music and overall art and generational values, if possible?

[cacm]

This whole discussion except for a few persons appears to be at an almost silly level. I wish we celebrate the GENIUS in our midst, RAVI. In addition he has single handedly increased the profile for our culture, music and country ALL OVER THE WORLD.Also he has raised tons of money to help MANY VIDWANS, COMPOSERS ETC. For example the efforts he undertook to help out Eminent composer Tanjavur Sankara Iyer are WORTHY of any amount of PRAISE & RECOGNITION.
With so many so called educated& sophisticated members active in this forum descending to the lowest level tho' "its a free country" as they say it is regrettable& pitiable. Lets discuss FACTS......VKV

[uday_shankar]

Good point cacm. The Musicians' Benevolence Fund set up by Shri Chitravina Ravikiran's International Foundation for Carnatic Music (IFCM) has helped a lot of ageing musicians with some kind of a pension/award. One such musician who was presented a good cash award by the IFCM was .. gasp! fduddy! ... Shri Vairamangalam Lakshminarayanan !

See link below for photos of Shri Lakshminaryanan being presented the award as well as other information about the Musicians' Benevolence Fund:

http://www.ravikiranmusic.com/ifcm/projects.htm

[ragam-talam]

It's interesting to note that people here are ascribing all sorts of things to me, based on the couple of posts I made on the 10-dollar issue at hand! There's even talk about my mudslinging the artiste, and discussion about his vidwat! Perhaps they should go back and re-read what I said!

And this classic statement:

It's a free country or so when I last checked.

Yes, precisely my point! Or are you saying this applies only to the artistes?

And the one who talks about my ugliness better take a look at himself in the mirror. His bullying here in the pretext of defending an artiste is quite apparent.

Finally, the very fact that ksrimech came back and stated the following:

So, it is totally my fault to have merged 'cd' with 'online downloads' and muddling those numbers.

makes it clear that charging for download was not the artiste's idea at all!

Someone here referred to Indian tendencies... it seems some people here like to deify artistes - typical Indian syndrome?

I will continue to call a spade a spade. The jaalra-wallahs can jump up and down for all I care.

[mankuthimma]

Please allow me to tell a small but beautiful story . It is relevant to the discussions here and I hope it brings down the curtains on this Slug-Fest.

One of the members here ( he has not made an appearance in recent times - unless he has changed his ID ) told me his wonderful experience , many years ago . I hope he does not mind it , if he is reading it .
He had interacted with me through rasikas long long ago , and I had sent him lots of Music through friends travelling to the gulf. One fine day he emailed me saying that he was in a Metro City and would like to fly down to see me , and gave me the friends address where he would be staying .
I reached the place in the evening , wondering what kind of a person he would be . Flying down thousands of Miles , just to see me.As soon as I knocked , the Host said : He is performing his Sandhyavandanam . Kindly wait.
After what seemed an eternity , this chap came out and greeted me . He was a frail and simple chap . But he clasped my hands warmly.
And I will continue the story in his words , for this is where this story assumes significance , here .
Quote

Surprised at seeing a simpleton like me ? Flying down just to see you . You thought I was a rich man ? No way .
Let me tell you my story . I could never afford this kind of a travel bill . But the thought of seeing you made me spend this much.
I come from a large family . Dad is a Keerthankar and fairly well known in the place where I live . My whole family except Mom accompanies him from dawn to dusk , practising and singing the praise of God . Dad has never bothered where his next meal would come from . And had managed to convince the rest of us at home too . All except me . And Mom.

The result . I grew up with such a stinging sense of poverty and propriety about this issue . I learnt to help out mom with all her chores . Everyone would call me sissy but I would confine the rage to myself . i would Cook and wash clothes . Why I even sold Phenyl in half litre bottles to earn half a rupee per bottle . One night I dropped a 5 re note by mistake and spent four hours walking up and down the street, looking for it , in vain . That was not very long ago .
.
That rage made me take up secretarial studies. I could afford only second hand books . I finally landed a job in the gulf and became a secretary to the Head of a famous family . Whis is where I come from , now .

In the process I had jumped from the frying pan into the fire . Those family members gave me lots of obstacles . One of the nephews even would order me to stand for 14 hours a day without any work . I have seen hell there . But the sight of my family not earning its upkeep would gnaw at my vitals . Back at my room I would hug the photo frame of My Lord Rama and weep inconsolably . That is when I mailed you for Music and you sent it without a question . How can I explain to you what your gesture had meant to me ?
Night after night I would listen to this music , and try to relate the meaning of the lyrics to what I had been passing through.
Why was there no krithi on the modern day equivalent of pride in living of ones own earning . Pray tell me which krithi has it ? Why did God give me the perspective to find fault with what my Dad was doing - that is leave everything to God ?
What would have happened to Tyagaraja if he were to be around today . If there is yet another one now, can we recognise him ?
So you see my dear friend , I am here to say Thanks.
Thanks for a hundred things that I will never be able to explain in full .
But most importantly in helping me to live out my own convictions , which is in tune with the ethos of a modern day .
I shall always think about you , once every day , for the rest of my life ..
unquote

And with this we moved on to a few other subjects and he took the night flight back .
I have narrated this story here because it throws up a lot of questions which are in the private domain . I would like this thread to wind up to a close without an unjustified rationalising of an artist's action. In hindsight , the narration of my personal experiences , though tangentially related , was not in order . But I think It is not such a bright idea to have the miseries of artists on a society's conscience . We should pay if we can , when asked . If not , both of us can move on in our own directions , without having to glance at the others actions.
That reminds me . He had sent me a mail last week .Which I have to look into . 8)

[mankuthimma]

Forgot to mention a couple of things
He gifted me , my first External Hard Drive .
He has got all his sisters and brothers well settled .
He himself is back in India and is comfortably settled .

[ksrimech]

the Host said : He is performing his Sandhyavandanam . Kindly wait.

An daily duty not performed by many these days. If one meets him, one should prostrate before him!

[uday_shankar]

And the one who talks about my ugliness better take a look at himself in the mirror. His bullying here in the pretext of defending an artiste is quite apparent.

That's a fair accusation. I certainly got carried away by my irritation and will remove the relevant passage (on second thoughts I will let it remain as proof of my lack of self-control ).