Palani M Subramania Pillai - Guru Puja

[mridhangam]

Members

I am attaching the invite for the ensuing Guru Puja to be organised on 25th May 2011 at Narada Gana Sabha, Chennai. I request all the members to treat this as a personal invitation and try to attend.



Mannarkoil J Balaji

[cacm]

My BEST WISHES for a great occasion. I am happy all of you are keeping the memories of one of our GREATEST VIDWANS alive. Regs, VKV

[cienu]

Balaji,

Best wishes for the program.

[mahavishnu]

Sri Balaji, My best wishes for the program. It is wonderful that you are organizing this every year.

[Ramasubramanian M.K]

I ECHO CACM'S COMMENTS!!! PSP was a truly towering giant not only in his on-stage manners but also off stage.Highly principled he would bow down to no one and his contemporary artistes held him in high regard. There have been some unsubstantiated veiled innuendos suggesting that he and Palghat Mani Iyer were a little aloof. Nothing could be farthest from the truth.
When PSP was ailing,PMI visited him at the Nursing home I think in the Isabella Nursing home(I may be wrong about the nursing home) in Chennai. PMI is reported to have "reassured" PSP--"Do not worry for posterity there are only two distinct schools of Mridangam that would survive--yours and mine.

One of PSP's regrets in life was that PSP never had a chance to play Mridangam with PMI on the Kanjira. PSP has accompanied PMI on the Kanjira. My father tried to 'coax" PMI to agree to one concert but PMI threw col water on the idea. If there is any private collection showing the two(PSP on Mridangam and PMI on the Kanjira that would fetch a fortune!!

I have to relate a personal anecdote with PSP that my father has alluded to in his book Musings on Music and Musicians.

In July 1954, my sister got married in Chennai @ the Old Abbotsbury Hall in Mount Road(teynampet). For the janvasam my sister's teacher KVN sang. For the wedding reception oin the evening Radha Jayalakshmi sang. After these were fixed Alathur bros--good friends of the family insisted that they would like to sing and my father arranged a night concert after the noise and din of the reception had subsided. TNK and PMI also wanted to accompany Alathur.

PSP heard about it and insisted that he would play Knjira. That day he had an evening concert@ P.M. concert with GNB @ Vani mahal(just less than a mile away from Abbotsbury). he requested that the concert be over by 830 or 845 P.M. so that he could rush to Abbotsbury. GNB the gracious man that he was obliged him and finished the concert around 8;40 or so. PSP rushed did not even want to have a full meal--took some payasam and got on the stage. There was a 3and half hour concert with the elite of Madras sabha secretaries and other prominent rasikas in attendance.Unfortunately we did not have any tape recorders.That was a marvelous concert with the "QUARTET" scaling new heights-- Pallavi Four kalai chatusrajathi triputai(Neerajakshi kamakshi Nikhila loka jnani Niranjani--with anulomam and pratilomam--unforgettable.

That was an era when the musicians were loyal to their rasikas and families--money was least important. Ofcourse PSP had Bohemian tastes be it the Javvadu or the tobacco(Thanga baspam) . A natty dresser who would take 30 to 40 minutes to 'comb" his dark black hair(no coloring. Throughout the performance every strand of hair would be in place despite the sweat and sweltering heat . generally not a talker in public but in private -a wonderful raconteur !!
BALAJI---Wishing the function lots of success!! Please post pics and accounts of the function.

[RaviSri]

Thank you MKR for the anecdotes. BTW, who is your father?

In the 1970s and 80s, the gurupuja of PSP was observed at the Thyagaraja Vidwat Samajam in Mylapore. The organisers were Palani's consort (whose name I forget now) and Ramanathapuram M.N.Kandaswamy. It was a regular yearly affair and conducted in the evenings with a speech and a concert. I remember one year Semmangudi spoke in a glowing manner about PSP and recounted a lot of incidents.

[thanjavooran]

Mannarkovil J. Balaji avl,
Best wishes for the smooth conduct of the function. Last year you carried the show. BTW one cannot forget the mini lunch that was served as prasadam .

Thanjavooran 13 05 2011

[VK RAMAN]

Wish the function success.

[Ramasubramanian M.K]

Dear Ravi Sri Thanks for your comments. My father was the late K.S.Mahadevan who was the Secretary of the Shanmukhanada Sabha in the fifties and sixties and was one of the key pillars in the institution.Subsequently in the late seventies he moved to Chennai and till his death in 2006 he was the Music Critic for Indian Express Chennai. He also wrote a book Musings on Music and Musicians(currently out of print) which was brought out in Dec 2003 on the occasion of his 90th birthday.
PSP and my father were very close. I myself have accompanied my father to his house in Mambalam (Boag Road) which he built in the fifties.

Also PSP's consort was Kolar Rajam--they did not have any issues and Trichy Sankaran was treated as a son. MNK was the most steadfast loyal disciple of PSP. Coming to think of it all the sishyas of the ARI- SSI-GNB-MMI-ALATHUR era were such great loyal students who were treated as members of the household.

One of PSP's disciples(roughly the same age as Trichy sankaran) died of electrocution--trying to hang clothes in PSP's house and the clothes line(wire) was close to live wire hanging loose-- a freak accident. PSP was so upset because he had high hopes for him. he was unstinting in his encouragement and support of his sishyas and would not hesitate to talk to a Sabha Secretary to give the young boy a chance. For Radha's wedding(MSS/TS's daughter) in 1957,PSP accompanied SSI and had Trichy Sankaran as double Mridangam and showcased Trichy Sankaran before an elite audience--SSI started saying sabash for Trichy sankran's play on that day and never stopped singing Trichy Sankaran's praise till he(SSI) died!!!

Oh stalwarts like him--if there was a Hall of Fame for CM artistes, PSP would head the list!!

It is very thoughtful of artistes like Balaji(who I am sure may not have been born when PSP died let alone hear him play!!!) to celebrate the anniversary of a great human being and artiste like PSP.

[mridhangam]

Sir thank you very much for the excellent reflections of PSP ...
You are right i was not born when the stalwart left this world.

Mannarkoil J Balaji

[raghavt]

I Wish the Function a Grand Success. Thanks.

[RaviSri]

MKR, thanks. Yes, it was Kolar Rajam, I remember now. Good to know that K.S. Mahadevan was your father. My father knew him in Bombay, since he lived there in the 1940 through the 60s. Of course I was very young then and did not have the occasion to meet him in Bombay. But I have spoken to your father several times in Madras during the 80s and 90s. He had his opinion of musicians but would voice them with dignity. He was also the editor of the "Shanmukha' magazine of the Shanmukananda Sabha for many years.

I have a concert of SSI with Papa and PSP as accompaniments. The concert was in the Rock Fort, Trichy in 1961. Papa's and PSP's accompaniment were splendid.

Trichy Sankaran posesses the sunAdam of PSP. I think Palani must have willed it to him through his blessings.

BTW, I have heard that one of K.S.Mahadevan's sons' name is Suryashekar. Is it right?

[Ramasubramanian M.K]

Ravi Sri Thanks for your kind words.My younger brother is Suryasekhar(he is known as M.S.Sekhar--also Bombay Sekhar when he was young and played Mridangam in Chennai concerts!!). He learnt under PMI and TKM during summer vacations in Chennai-he won the Best Junior mridangam Artist in the Music Academy season(1961) and also the AIR award in 1965.he has accompanied SSI,TRS,MSS,Flute Ramani et al. Unfortunately he did not want to go into the profession and instead chose the corporate route with a leading Chennai-based conglomerate and for the last 34 years since he settled in Chennai(my father had also settled with him till his death in 2006) I have been seen in more concerts in Chennai than him despite the fact my Father was quite active in the concerts-sabha circuit He still retains his A grade artiste status with AIR and gets his annual quota of 2 or three opportunities accompanying young artistes!!

BTW PSP was eager to "draft" him as his sishya when he was 16 but our family decided it was important for him to pursue studies and the Bombay-Chennai link may not work. PSP having seen the PMI school having lots of following,was very keen to pick students that would carry the Pudukottai tradition. and it is to PSP's credit--old timers in those days would be overzealous in guarding their "turf" and were not keen on leaving a legacy--that he sought good students(like Trichy Sankaran,Guruvayoor Durai) and imbibed in them all the skills--very much like Drona in Mahabharata!! Ofcourse both TS and GD have held the torch admirably--especially TS despite his lack of continued presence in the Chennai music scene!!

In my over 6 decades of association with Musicians, PSP would be in my Top Five when it came to dignity,proficiency and generosity!!!

[rajeshnat]

In my over 6 decades of association with Musicians, PSP would be in my Top Five when it came to dignity,proficiency and generosity!!!

I heard recently the TTD temple in venkatanarayana road , T Nagar was the house of PSP. PSP did not donate the house but moved some where opposite and in his home is built the TTD temple.

[gardabha_gana]

Can we have a detailed report of the function - including the concert review please! Thanks in advance. Wishing it the very best.

[gardabha_gana]

mridhangam sir - best wishes for the program and eagerly waiting for a detailed report and snaps of the occasion.

[Nick H]

Best wishes for the function, which I will not be able to attend.

[thanjavooran]

The function started exactly by 09 00 hrs. Though there were only 25 initially slowly the hall became full within 15 mits. Some of the observations are given below.
1 There was no speech and invocation song etc.
2. It was a real anjali to the Guru Palani Subbudu
3. Mannar koil J Balaji introduced the participants to the rasikas.
4. 13 Artistes participated in the Anjali
5. An appeal was made by the organiser to limit with the rendering of kriti only w/o dilineation of raga, niraval and swaram in view of more participants.
J B Keerthana vocal
Sruthi Sagar Flute
Villivakkam Raguram Violin
Thiruppur Sridhar Kumar Mirudhangam [only Left hander bringing the memory of the Guru]
Gana nayagam Rudrapriya
Ekkathilum Maravene Nataikurinchi R by flute

Srimathi Usha padmanabhan vocal
Anantha Padmanabha Violin
Mirudhangam
KVRS Mani Kanjira
Kuniththa puruvamum viruththam Nadanamakriya
Sivaloka nathanai viyacheri Ramasamy Sivan ... do ....

K. Baskaran Flute
C.A. Rajasekar Violin
KVRS Mani Kanjira
Mirudhangam

Kandha va va Varali

Rajyasri pathi Vocal
Rahul Violin
Rajesh Mirudhangam
kVRS Mani Kanjira

Sankarachaaryam Sankarabharanam

Kumari Amrutha Murali Vocal
Anantha Padmanabha Violin
Mani kantan Mirudhangam
Giridhar Kanjira

Thanikai valar Saravanabhava Thodi

Aiswarya Vocal [ Carnatic music idol jaya tv contestant ]
Amrutha Murali Violin
Manikantan Mirudhangam
Srivatsa Kanjira [ A physically challenged and his debut performance on mirudhangam in late 60s at MA in the AN progrm is coming to my mind]

Saalivatteeswram Bajeham Deva Gandhari


srividhya Vocal
Rahul Violin
Sairam Mirudhangam
KVRS Mani Kanjira

sankari neeve Begada. I noticed some difference in rendering. A different paatantharam


Brindha Manicka vachakam Vocal [ carnatic music idol jaya tv contestant]
Rahul Violin
KV Gopalakrishnan Mirudhangam
Parameswara jagatheeswara sankara pahimam Nattai

Bharathi Ramasubban vocal
pakka vadhyam same as above.

Swara sadhamaanasa bala gopalam Bilahari

Paramakudi Ravindran Vocal
Villivakkam Raghuram Violin
Madirimangalam Saminathan Mirudhangam
PS Purushothaman Kanjira

Ramuna Arabhi

Visalur Gurumoorthy Vocal
Violin
Guruprasad Mirudhangam
Purushothaman Kanjira

Sandhya devi savithri Devakriya

Jayakrishnan Unni Vocal
Anandha padmanabhan Violin
J Balaji Mirudhangam

Sribalasubramanya Bilahari

Prathush Vocal
same as above

Manasu nilpa sakthi Abhogi [ very very sub standard compared to others ]

The main concert started at 11 hrs
Palghat TR Rajaram vocal
Smt Sukanya sundar vodal support
Shri VV Ravi violin
A Ashok Mirudhangam [ son and deciple of K S Kalidas ]

Karunimpa kanada varnam
Sokasudha mrudhanga Sriranjani R,N and S
Kava vaa kandha vaa Varali R,N and S
Kadai kann vaithu Begada R,N and S
Murahara nandhana Saranga
O Ranga sayee Kambodhi R,N,S and T
Sivaperuman karunai vendum Suruti

The entire concert was good, though Rajaram's voice was not co operating yet he managed the show. Ravi's dilineation of ragas especially Begada was excellent. Ashok's thani with morsing[ name I failed to note ] was very nice. I would have omitted few vidwans name as they were less known [to me] and the introduction was little fast in view of time management. As usual J Balaji was the anchor person and ran the show in a grand manner. As done last year the prasadam at the close of the function was a mini lunch with bottled water. I have been repeatedly pointing out the absence of upcoming artistes and wonder why are not attending such functions organised by their own folks. Srimushnam attended the function during the main concert. Any corrections are quite welcome since the write up may not be exhaustive.
Thanjavooran 25 05 2011

[gardabha_gana]

A Ashok Mirudhangam [ son and deciple of K S Kalidas ]

Karunimpa kanada varnam

Thanks a bunch for the report. Mridangam is by "K Ashok" instead of A Ashok. Isn't karunimpa Sahana - or is there one with Kanada too ?

[mridhangam]

Srimathi Usha padmanabhan vocal
Anantha Padmanabha Violin
Mirudhangam
KVRS Mani Kanjira
Kuniththa puruvamum viruththam Nadanamakriya
Sivaloka nathanai viyacheri Ramasamy Sivan ... do ....

THE MRIDANGAM WAS BY K V GOPALAKRISHNAN

K. Baskaran Flute
C.A. Rajasekar Violin
KVRS Mani Kanjira
Mirudhangam

Kandha va va Varali

MRIDANGAM WAS BY K BHASKARAN'S SON
KAA VAA VAA KANDA VAA VAA - VARALI

For visalur gurumurthy violin was accompanied by Villivakkam sri raghuraman.

Paramakudi Ravindran Vocal
Villivakkam Raghuram Violin
Madirimangalam Saminathan Mirudhangam
PS Purushothaman Kanjira

Ramuna Arabhi

IT WAS B S PURUSHOTHAMAN ON THE KHANJIRA

The main concert started at 11 hrs
Palghat TR Rajaram vocal
Smt Sukanya sundar vodal support
Shri VV Ravi violin
A Ashok Mirudhangam [ son and deciple of K S Kalidas ]

IT WAS K ASHOK , SON AND DISCIPLE OF SHRI K S KALIDAS, TRUSTEE OF PALANI SUBRAMANIA PILLAI TRUST AND DISCIPLE OF PALANI SUBRAMANIA PILLAI. HE IS PLAYING THE ABOVE CONCERT AFTER A BREAK OF NEARLY 10 YEARS AND HE REALLY DID A COMMENDABLE WORK AND ALSO BROUGHT GREEN MEMORIES OF TYPICAL PALANI STYLE OF PLAYING ALSO HIS MISRA KORAIPPU AND HIS KORVAIS IN TISRAM WERE WORTH MENTIONING.

THOUGH THE INVITATION AND THE NEWS PAPER DIDNT CONTAIN THE NAME OF UPA PAKKA VADHYAM ARTISTE IT WAS A LAST MINUTE ADDITION TO HAVE MORSING VIDWAN KALAIMAMANI A S KRISHNAN. HE CAME TO ATTEND THE FUNCTION AND I JUST REQUESTED HIM TO PLAY THE UPAPAKKAVADHYAM FOR THIS CONCERT AND HE IMMEDIATELY OBLIGED. TONS OF THANKS TO HIM.

Karunimpa kanada varnam
Sokasudha mrudhanga Sriranjani R,N and S
Kava vaa kandha vaa Varali R,N and S
Kadai kann vaithu Begada R,N and S
Murahara nandhana Saranga
O Ranga sayee Kambodhi R,N,S and T
Sivaperuman karunai vendum Suruti

KARUNIMPA VARNAM IN SAHANA
SOGASUGA MRUDANGA TAALAMU
PURAHARA NANDANA IN HAMIR KALYANI
SIVAPERUMAN KRUPAI VENDUM

ARE THE CORRECTIONS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER IN THE SONG LIST.

I would like to differ from shri tanjavooran in the sense that many upcoming musicians came and attended the programme and nearly 125 persons filled the hall to pay their respects to the great laya vidwan on a weekday is a point worth noting. Most of the artistes who sang in the Isai Anjali are upcoming artistes. If sir clarifies as to who he thinks are upcoming may be in the years to come i shall try to invite them personally to attend which will not be an issue at all. Moreover i have personally sent about 190 invitations and shri.Kalidas sent about 30 invitations though post, and i have personally sent about 350 SMS messages to all the rasikas, musician friends and others, apart from advertising in the Hindu on 25th May 2011, besides getting a Curtain Raiser about the programme in The Hindu on the preceding Friday. Also an invite was given in Facebook and also in our Forum. Personally i felt that the programme was well attended due the grace of our Grand Guru and our Guru and also due to the efforts of each and one of the trustees and hardcore rasikas like you.

I personally thank thanjavooran in writing an exhaustive review about our programme and i assure every one that the shortcomings if any will be done away with in the years to come making the programme a true and real dedication to the maestro in every sense of the word.

Mannarkoil J Balaji

[mridhangam]

Srimathi Usha padmanabhan vocal
Anantha Padmanabha Violin
Mirudhangam
KVRS Mani Kanjira
Kuniththa puruvamum viruththam Nadanamakriya
Sivaloka nathanai viyacheri Ramasamy Sivan ... do ....

virutham and kriti
sivaloka nathanai - mayamalavagoulam
composer - gopalakrishna bharathi.

[gardabha_gana]

Big Kudos to mridhangam (Vid. Mannarkoil Balaji). Personally, I am very happy and thrilled to see Ashok back on the stage - he is a friend and classmate of mine from undergrad. Any photos ?

[Ragjay]

Ravisri Sir said
"I have a concert of SSI with Papa and PSP as accompaniments. The concert was in the Rock Fort, Trichy in 1961. Papa's and PSP's accompaniment were splendid." Sir can this concert be shared privately if already not in public domain? Regards Raghavan

.

[RaviSri]

Ragjay, Yes, I can share this concert. I have not put iit in public domain simply because I dont know how to do it. If anyone can tell me how to, I'll certainly upload the concert.