Abhishek Raghuram MA Dec 26 2013

hema · Post by **hema** » 26 Dec 2013, 23:22

Abhisekh Raghuram, Mysore Srikanth, Bhaktavatsalam, Gopalakrishnan

It was really a festival of phrases in various ragas

Song List:
Asaveri: Ra Ra mayinti, Tyagaraja, adi
Arabhi: nadha Sudha Rasam bilanu, Tyagaraja, misra chaapu
Simhendra madhyamam: Ninne nammithi, Mysore Vasudev?, misra Chaapu
Khamaas: RTP, Maate dhwaja pandya …, adi, 2 kalai

The presentation of Asaveri itself gave me a feeling that it is going to be a good concert. Arabhi was rendered well (sans gimmicks) -- well supported by Srikanth (a very good understanding) -- he must do something to make his bowing to keep pace with swara flood of Abhisekh. Simhendra madhyamum was also very good -- he did have some brikhas but it did not sound like a scale-based raga. When he completed Simhendra madhayamum, the time was 8.20. I thought for once this guy is actually going to sing an RTP completely.

In Khamaas Abhishek could not help himself. The Alaap lasted about 30 mins. The entire audience was with him. A student of mine who only started listening (has a ear for music) recently to CM -- long alaap used to get her bored, but she did not even watch the time. Bhaktavatsalam complimented Abhisekh on the stage itself -- apparently Abhisekh asked him to play the
tani in ninne nammithi. He said he would play for RTP. Quoting him "you would not have heard such a superb khamaas if I had played tani." The tanam was brief. He sang the pallavi (sans swaram) very quickly and then it was tani time. This was also very, very good -- added to the festivities. I wish I could describe this. It felt as if the mridangam and kanjira came to give the grand finale to the feast. Then Abhishek had a few minutes -- about 10 mins left, he sang swarams in khamaas, ahiri and Sindhu bhairavi (?) -- then closed. I thought he had exhausted all the phrases in the alaap but swarams (even though brief) saw a few more!

Many people tell me that his phraseology is perhaps not correct -- I do not know whether he violates the raga's phrase structure, but the sung phrases sound beautiful to the ears of listeners like me -- I have no complaints.

I feel he should be given an opportunity to sing an open-ended concert. Last year he promised a talamalika in the RTP (which did not happen since there as no time). I hope some sabha will give us an opportunity to hear this some time. The concert ended with a standing ovation. The hall was even more crowded than that of Sanjay.

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 26 Dec 2013, 23:52

HEMA: YOU BEAT ME TO THIS.
In my opinion it was an awesome concert-the Khamas raga elaboration was out of this world--what imagination,verve and execution--his voice traversed the octaves nonchalantly(so it seemed to me although there must have been Asura Sadahakam behind it!!He deserved every bit of appaluse--couldnot stay for the Pallavi itself but the "tail" could not have been long so that I amy not have missed much!! Ahishek needs to regulate his Manodharma to the time allotted--he is the kind of artist that needs a stage like the kapali temple(where Madurai Mani Iyer used to sing for over 4 hours without a single person leaving the temple to go home).
Hema,please clarify--I sensed a trace of behag in the Khamas alapana--is it legit?

FORUMITES IF THIS CONCERT COMES OUT IN CD PLEASE DO BUY IT!!!

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 27 Dec 2013, 12:19

HEMA, MKR, my friends were likewise whatsapping me ecstatically from the venue.

AR= Creative Volcano (Sachi's Third Law of Thermodynamics)

By the way, have often found many Behag and Khamas phrases overlap:

Kamās S M1 G3 M1 P D2 N2 S S N2 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S
Behāg S G3 M1 P N3 D2 N3 S S N3 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S

sankark · Post by **sankark** » 27 Dec 2013, 13:45

It was creativity gone awry in khamas. I had walked out after 10 mins, don't know if I could have taken 30 mins. Srikanth was superb as was percussionists. Sensitive accompaniment IMO.

hema · Post by **hema** » 27 Dec 2013, 15:17

Ramasubramanian M.K wrote: Hema,please clarify--I sensed a trace of behag in the Khamas alapana--is it legit?

FORUMITES IF THIS CONCERT COMES OUT IN CD PLEASE DO BUY IT!!!

This is what I meant when I said that the phraseology was perhaps not appropriate. Khamaas is lilting, I too perceived
a difference --- thanks so it was behag-like? I wondered but simply stopped worrying.

samarasaa · Post by **samarasaa** » 27 Dec 2013, 15:57

A comment on "right phrases".. often wonder what the audience thought when GNB or a TNS or a BMK or an SKR let their creative juices flow. Is a rendition "correct" when one hears the same familiar phrases one has always heard? There is theory documented based on knowledge at a point in time. Music like any art is a deeply personal experience - I for one am with the eager thirsty listeners who can't get enough of this young man's creativity. A concert like this one, I'd agree with TMK that music is larger than all of us and perhaps the usual concert format simply doesn't work - would have loved like many to hear just the Khamas all 2.5 hours.. for others, there is peace in the usual sixteen items all neatly stacked up and delivered with comforting predictability. Neither is wrong..and neither is right

CommonMan · Post by **CommonMan** » 27 Dec 2013, 21:38

Overall excellent energy througout the concert....thought Kamas went a bit over board and had repititive phrases, which is bound to happen if you sing a ragam for 30mts. Instead, a 15-20 mt roundoff would have given more time for the rest....even I heard many Behag sagathis....

sankark · Post by **sankark** » 27 Dec 2013, 22:08

samarasaa, saying that khamas was a overkill isn't the same as saying the concert didn't have 16 (whatever #) of items. just saying is all. the same day @ MA for 4:00 pm slot, mallAdi bros opened their concert with an asAveri as well (janakajA samEta), and that AFAIK certainly isn't "comforting predictability".

may god almighty (the latest avatAr seems to go by the name abhishEk raghurAm as far as carnatic music is considered) grant you your wish of 2.5 hours of khamAs

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 27 Dec 2013, 23:18

This was an absolutely superb concert. I have never seen a carnatic crowd go wild like this in my lifetime (except at an earlier Abhishek concert).

Srikanth was sensational. I will refrain from commenting about the mridangist

So, for all the mavens that think that they understand the phraseology of khamas... This is a desiya ragam whose origins are independent of harikambhoji (though it has been retrofitted to fall into this melam), so some folksy phrases are permissible. Abhishek was clearly pushing the boundaries of expression in this domain. And any post-hoc sophistry about the grammar of khamas is missing the point about its origins and the treatment given to it by great vaggeyakkaras, who each pushed the boundary of the ragam in their own way.

And special mention about his play with swarastanams as he he toggled between khamas, ahiri and sindhubhairavi at the end of the pallavi was outstanding. MKR, you missed this part!

Ahishek needs to regulate his Manodharma to the time allotted

MKR sir: N Murali was heard commenting that the rules about time allotted need to be changed for Abhishek

And yes I do have long ears. I have had the pleasure of listening to Abhishek for 4+ hours and it is worth every second. I would have been happy to hear a longer tanam and pallavi from him.

annamalai · Post by **annamalai** » 27 Dec 2013, 23:40

I thought Abhishek's concert is the best I heard this year @ Meccademy. I hear the lines were much longer @ 6 AM in the morning for the tickets.

I really liked the Khamas alapana - Wonderful voice, imagination. touches of GN, KVN and TNS . I felt Khamas had several anchoring phrasings from the Khamas alapana from GN/Chowdiah/PSP - National Program of music. Simhendramadhyamam alapana was based on suddhaswara phrasings. I would imagine this might have been similar to GN's rendition of the same raga (no recordings of GN in circulation).

I wish Abhishek the best and he will be the numero uno star in 4 - 5 years.

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 27 Dec 2013, 23:54

I feel like something has gone right in my world when I am in complete agreement with Sri Annamalai

sankark · Post by **sankark** » 28 Dec 2013, 00:19

I have never seen a carnatic crowd go wild like this in my lifetime (except at an earlier Abhishek concert).

I hear the lines were much longer @ 6 AM in the morning for the tickets.

Just a thought experiment - how many of the current crop of popular female carnatic performers would meet both this and how many would be showered with praises/found praiseworthy in this forum?

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 28 Dec 2013, 02:23

Answer = 0. I have been to most of the MMA concerts this season. I have not felt this electricity anywhere else.

Not sure about ticket sales though...

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 28 Dec 2013, 05:01

Shreya Devnath in her Vidyamandir tête-à-tête: Lalgudi used to say that a raagaalaapana is like telling a story. We need to build it up step by step, with each line and element, character and happening. And the story has to be really interesting and memorable!

If a raagaalaapana is a story craft, then Abhishek is the Roald Dahl of aalaapanas!

( I am starting to patent these metaphors for AR).

devan · Post by **devan** » 28 Dec 2013, 06:03

For arunasairam,and jaisree the q was from 4am in the morning.this is a male forum,the women singers will be derided with so many adjectives.not men.our social reformer of this forum do not have a single name . calling for sanjay tmk .abishek is 29,the women singers are all above 40.let us see whether this little carnatichindustani jugalbandi singer is going to last that long.dont compare koli with tendulkar .the time will.tell he may go tmk way.

VijayR · Post by **VijayR** » 28 Dec 2013, 07:23

For arunasairam,and jaisree the q was from 4am in the morning.this is a male forum,the women singers will be derided with so many adjectives.not men.our social reformer of this forum do not have a single name . calling for sanjay tmk .abishek is 29,the women singers are all above 40.let us see whether this little carnatichindustani jugalbandi singer is going to last that long.dont compare koli with tendulkar .the time will.tell he may go tmk way.

I really don't know which part of your post to take offense to; there are so many things I can pick. So, I'll just say this - please do not make sweeping (and untrue) generalizations about the forum. I am not sure if you intended that or if it was just a bad choice of words. Either way, in bad taste, sir.

samarasaa · Post by **samarasaa** » 28 Dec 2013, 07:54

Among the younger women musicians, I think Aishwarya Vidya Raghunath could be electrifying very soon. A very good blend of creativity and classicism - some comparisons to early MLV. Will need to wait and see how her capabilities get honed...

sankark · Post by **sankark** » 28 Dec 2013, 08:04

Aishwarya Vidya Raghunath - sometime last week caught her kIrvAni in radio; great it was. She has been added to the must listen list.

CM seems to be peculiar - so much of above average/v good supply but not commensurate demand.

hema · Post by **hema** » 28 Dec 2013, 08:31

"Just a thought experiment - how many of the current crop of popular female carnatic performers would meet both this and how many would be showered with praises/found praiseworthy in this forum?"

I attended quite a few of the female artists this season (Savita, Bombay Jayashri, Sowmya, Ranjani Gayathri, P Rama, Amrita, Sangita). Savita Narasimhan was really very good. Bombay Jayashri (whom I am very fond of) was too sedate. She sang Kharaharapriya, Shuddha Saarang -- sang well-- great range -- but there was no excitement. Savita has a great voice sang Sankarabaranam beautifully -- lacked mandara stayi sancharas. RG's, Sowmya, PRama's RTPs were all good -- Amongst these, I like P Rama and RG's RTP. Similarly I also attended quite a few of the male artists (Sanjay, Malladi Bros, Sikkil G, TMK, Abhishek R). Sanjay's concert was superb, Malladi was good (I did not like the violin very much), TMK's morning concert at NGS was very good. Sikkil -- less said the better, I left after the tani.

Without gender bias I feel what set Abhishek apart was: He sang with gay abandon. This is not because he had decided to do this -- it just happened! There are many flop concerts of his too -- his Hamsadhwani concert in April this year was bad. In fact I went to the MA concert with much trepidation.

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 28 Dec 2013, 09:31

Hema, do you follow cricket!? Then you will know what they say, 'bad day at the office.' Happens especially to creative mavericks.

hema · Post by **hema** » 28 Dec 2013, 09:36

Used to play and follow -- not any more -- too much happening on a daily basis. I understand what you mean.

grsastrigal · Post by **grsastrigal** » 28 Dec 2013, 15:38

Another surprising incident happened during AR concert.

Middle of the concert, I came out to canteen as I was completely tired after Malladi and AR's continuous "assault of my little brain", I saw a hugh crowd gathered at the entrance of the canteen. I thought some special menu like "keerai vadai" or "bOndA" and ....

I saw film actor, Andrea. I don't know whether she is the fan of AR and has come to attend the concert. But I certainly saw huge fans for her !!!.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 28 Dec 2013, 17:30

mahavishnu wrote: N Murali was heard commenting that the rules about time allotted need to be changed for Abhishek And yes I do have long ears.

Academy can make the second evening slot for 3 hours instead of 2 and 1/2 hours. It will benefit all of them not just abhishek. Hope more time is given to the artist.

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 28 Dec 2013, 18:56

My two pesotos:
In an already packed schedule balancing so many factors of timing, breaks and presentation needs, maybe MA need not juggle the schedule to extend just one or other slot. The musician/s also have to find a way to bring out their best within the time slot in MA. There of course should be separate concerts in an open-ended format where musicians and rasikas can be together maybe even for all day and all night sessions, but elsewhere not within the format of a MA season schedule.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 28 Dec 2013, 22:33

grsastrigal wrote: AR's continuous "assault of my little brain"

Brilliant summation!

prakashi · Post by **prakashi** » 29 Dec 2013, 07:05

An excellent concert, probably the best of the season for me…despite some very good Sanjay Subramanian concerts. In the Ragamalika swaras in pallavi, he sang Ahiri, Sindhu Bhairavi, Hari Kambhoji and Keervani…

Yes he seemed to have phrases of hamsanandi in Pantuvarali in NGS, and seemed to have some Behag phrases in Kamas, but that is when he tried to do too much with his voice…Am sure, being young, he will mature with time and take these little negatives off his concert

Sivaramakrishnan · Post by **Sivaramakrishnan** » 29 Dec 2013, 07:46

Going by various scintillating reports on the performance of the youngsters, I believe they are Safe in the hands of Carnatic music!
(contrary to the popular adage 'carnatic music is safe in the hands of youngsters'!)

Such a big canvas the art has given to them!

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 02 Jan 2014, 23:06

The review in The Hindu talks about Abhishek in the academy.
http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday ... 529975.ece
whereas two days back he was awarded the coveted yogam nagaswamy award by music academy. Two polarities of reaction.

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 03 Jan 2014, 09:47

Rajesh: I do not look at it in this way--the reviewer was right in his own way--the flaws that he pointed out--which he is duty-bound to reprt were there=--n orefutation from me or other Abhishek's fans who heard him at the MA.Myself,mahavishnu t ook away home what were the positive aspects WE enjoyed!!YES Abhishek tends to overdo--not so much due to his "alleged" penchant for Showboating"as his passion to scale new heights wihin the bounds of tradition-he succeeds very well at times and also fails sometimes. He will "mend" his ways of concert balalnce,need for restraint over time. If you had heard Tanjore Kalyanaraman in his debut days when GNB was alive,he used to let his unbounded imagination run amok and over the years he mellowed--unfortunately for all of us he died prematurely--the amazing thing was that GNSir--a trailblazer himself was suportive of the experiments and i am told never asked him to mend his syle!!

As regards the second point of how ABhishek could get award when there was some dissonant opinions about his concert(our forum itself has had diverse opinions about the concert),YOU are right in wondering aloud. What criteria were used we do not know-I myself felt that Abhishek would win the award but not having heard all the concerts,my opinion is just that--subjective and does not pass the "smell' test!!

being an old timer--having tolerated, and hankered after the antics of Mali,TNR and willing to put up with excesses,I will be a hypocrite if I frown upon Abhishek or TMK now!! Whether I am right or wrong,I must be CONSISTENT in my appreciation or disavowal!!!!

samarasaa · Post by **samarasaa** » 03 Jan 2014, 10:00

The review is skewed towards negative points and imbalanced. A good review must bring out the positives and constructively offer suggestions for improvement. This one drips of unnecessary viciousness - Unbecoming of The Hindu to publish. Forget a mature artist like Abhishek ... such critics are the ones who demoralize bright young talent. They should be asked to learn the art and the art of writing - the reviewers sentences are contradictory eg the one on the Thani.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 03 Jan 2014, 10:43

The saving grace in that review is his occasional wit ('without distorting Tyagaraja’s sahitya beyond the regular', 'Mysore Srikant on the violin scratched his way through some of the complicated kanukkus' )

One nit pick. It is quite presumptuous for the reviewer to say 'it proved a bit stressful for all'.

One thing reviewers should be careful is to not color reporting about the audience reaction with their own perceptions of the concert. There is that unmistakable, albeit mild, ridicule in writing about how much the audience enjoyed the concert which they showed with that ephoric reaction. That is a disservice to his reading audience. Report those things in an honest straightforward manner.

And finally, 'low on music'? Oh come on, that is a low blow. But I was not there, so I can't be too critical of that characterization.. but really?

Rajagopalan_V · Post by **Rajagopalan_V** » 03 Jan 2014, 10:52

"High on technique, low on music and zero on aesthetic, to sum it all up." says this report.

"Zero on aesthetic"??!!! Doesn't it sound really harsh? Was it such an exercise only in virtuosity and completely devoid of bhava and aesthetics?

Unfortunately couldn't attend this concert and so am looking for responses from informed Rasikas in attendance.

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 03 Jan 2014, 11:09

I already got several reports of this concert.
This Veejay Sai review actually says all the things that will help AR evolve in his trajectory. Most importantly AR would be well advised to usher in a sense of proportion, a big element of aesthetics.
I will pardon the reviewer for his closing line...he wanted to say something dramatic and it didn't come out so right. A risk every adventurer runs, just like AR!

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 03 Jan 2014, 11:30

>A risk every adventurer runs, just like AR!

OK, fair enough.

One consistent theme I see is people want to reign him down. Why? It can not be for the sake of CM since that will be way too presumptuous to even think one knows. Can it be out of concern for Abhishek and his career? May be, but he is smart enough and adult enough to take care of himself. The only other reason I can think of is 'themselves'. That is understandable assuming it comes from those who like him. They want him to adapt himself into a template they have in their head. They want him to be the best template singer that ever was since they see so much potential in him.

But think about the limitations we will be putting on him with such insistence. And the possibility of damage to something profound and path breaking that can come out of him. Can we afford that, even thinking selfishly?

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 03 Jan 2014, 11:38

I agree with much of what MKR said.

But I find many things in Veejay Sai's review, that were completely different from my perception of the concert, notwithstanding the lenses we each wear. He is entitled to his opinion, but I would like to challenge a few basic premises in his review, since they do not capture the spirit of the proceedings of the evening at all. MKR, myself and several others were witness to these events.

First of all, there was no ambiguity in Simhendra madhyamam. There was nothing scratchy about Srikanth's bowing, nor did he have to pause to think about anything to return swarams. I thought his accompaniment was actually top-class.

Also, I honestly don't think Abhishek overstretched the khamas alapana; and the melange of ragams in the end was actually most enjoyable, the highlight of the pallavi's coda in my opinion. With the exception of the last point, I don't think the rest are not even matters of opinion.

The fact that Veejay didn't get simmendra madhyamam right away is a reflection of his own ignorance and lack of gnanam. This is not for any lack of delivery by the artiste (MKR has a lovely narrative about GNB and rasika gnanam to this effect).

Also to say that Bhaktavatsalam refused to give a percussion interlude, is a clear misrepresentation of what happened, especially to those who weren't at the concert, the vast majority of the Hindu's readers.

Bhakta merely suggested that he would prefer to play after the pallavi, so Abhishek would have more time to sing an elaborate khamas. The artistes had decided how they were going to tile the time between themselves. Here Veejay breaks the first rule of reviewing. One should review the concert they attended, not the concert they wish they had (paraphrased from John Updike's rules for constructive criticism).

Many of those that were gathered there, including the ones that woke up at 4am to get tickets, came for this fare: this particular arrangement, so they could catch most of Abhishek and the kind of concert he presents. If you want to listen to a concert with systematic planning, go elsewhere; do not try to fit a circle into a square.

Veejay goes on to say that "it proved a bit stressful for us all". I was there and clearly there was no stress whatsoever. Most of us who were immersed in the music, had no idea about external parameters like this; so making a sweeping statement like that is not only incorrect but also not an accurate depiction of the events that actually transpired. If they were so stressed, why would the audience erupt into this euphoria of which he speaks?

The unilateral summary statement that the concert was "low on music and zero on aesthetic", makes me believe that the reviewer was neither fair nor balanced. As I said before, a reviewer is entitled to his opinion. I think Veejay Sai belongs on fox news, with no compliments to the news organization.

Vyuptakesha · Post by **Vyuptakesha** » 03 Jan 2014, 12:01

I was at the concert for the entire duration; simhendramadhyamam was bang on. Srikanth was good...not scratchy as the scribe described in his write up.
Kamas was good - long versus short discussion is worth it. But it was the artiste's manodharma; and we should allow such trials and experiments. otherwise, music at its mecca may seem devoid of the art it intends to share, and will become a mathematical voice exercise.
Thani's description by this scribe - confusing.
Even if one forgets the concert, for a while, that this scribe got several details wrong makes me wonder if he was fed all these details. Is this scribe a prolific writer/critic? How many articles has he/she written in the last couple of years?
The sum of this review - "High on technique, low on music and zero on aesthetic, to sum it all up".....extremely harsh specially when the artiste was announced the best vocalist by Academy. The write up is a hatchet job, smelling of a last ditch effort to mailgn Abhishek Raghuram.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 03 Jan 2014, 12:37

Vyuptakesha wrote: extremely harsh specially when the artiste was announced the best vocalist by Academy. The write up is a hatchet job, smelling of a last ditch effort to mailgn Abhishek Raghuram.

Dont impulsively pull the trigger that way. Veejay Sai already submitted the review after the concert- any time before Jan 01st,2014 with sadas announcing the award. The review was published post facto the awards- Jan 2nd online and Jan 3rd print .

mahesh3 · Post by **mahesh3** » 03 Jan 2014, 15:57

Pathetic review - even a simple glance of this article betrays the writer's obvious lack of knowledge. I'd imagine it is embarassing for the writer and even worse for the newspaper to publish such trash in the name of a review. If one read something this ridiculous about Abhishek Raghuram - and for e.g. happened to be a witness to the most brilliant oru kalai dwi raga swarams singing during pallavi that he demonstrated last night or the soulful abhogi - one will realize that no one with even a wee bit of sanity is going to give this article any time of day.

CHIGO · Post by **CHIGO** » 03 Jan 2014, 16:06

This refers to the biased review in THE HINDU by one Veejay Sai on Abhishek”s concert in the Music Academy. The mute question is who this Veejay Sai is. Is he a known critic or a reviewer? When The Hindu’s reviews on music concerts are invariably by the commonly known three scribes, has this Veejay Sai been roped in at the behest of somebody who has a clout with the daily? There does not seem to be any report or review by this unethical so-called scribe in any other daily or journal. Is he trying to claim any publicity mileage from the review that lacks all ethics? Will The Hindu publish a similar review on their blue-eyed musician/s without going into the contents?
http://gayathrigirish.blogspot.in/
Quote
I can firmly say that there was no ambiguity in the simhendramadhyamam that he sang that day at the Music Academy.
• His immense virtuosity needs to be first understood. Remarks made in the review are in poor taste.
• The kamAs AlApanA was definitely neither dragging nor repetitive. Hats off to him for the rAgamalikA swarAs that he presented - it is not easy to sing like that- I can vouch for it !
• Mysore Srikanth- one of the most wonderful violinists that I have known. Has accompanied me in more than 100 concerts and I know from personal experience that he is very quick in responses, be it in a rAga AlApanA phrase or mathematical patterns and kanakkus that we sing. That he is one of the most sought-after violinists says it all !!
• This kind of a review gives a very different picture of the entire concert for people who have not attended.
• Reviews have to be more balanced and just - be it accolades or brickbats.

Finally, I truly believe that Abhishek Raghuram has richly deserved the Yogam Nagaswamy Award that he has got in December 2013, which is the highest honor that the Music Academy bestows on an artist in the senior category.
Unquote
There are already scores of bete-noires for Abhishek in and out of Rasikas.org. There are many who are heaping curses on young Abhishek, short of saying that he will not last long and so on. One person says there are seniors to Abhishek who should have been considered for the award and Abhishek was only eight when Sanjay was already performing in the Academy. If Abhishek was not there earlier than now, it was not his fault. For that matter you can go on citing no. of prodigies. Can’t this be attributed to any younger musician getting an award when there are very many seniors who are/were in the fray?
Abhishek’s concerts are attended by a lot of musicians, predominantly percussionists, young and old. He is one who is holding the younger generation till the end of the concert even at 7 pm slot. Not many senior female artistes, however much they are famed, prefer to sing at 7 pm slot for fear of diminishing crowd from 8 pm on wards. For the crowd that Abhishek draws they are called “Sheeple” little realizing the fact that it is ultimately the rasikas who determine the fate of a musician and not the forumites of Rasikas.org Going by the posts of everyone in the forum, his / her taste, preference, agenda can easily be understood and they are far from unbiased observations notwithstanding their flowery language and a few street fighting.

Vyuptakesha · Post by **Vyuptakesha** » 03 Jan 2014, 19:28

From the carnatic fraternity it is good hear that Smt Gayathri Girish spoke out boldly against this biased review.
I sincerely hope other senior vidwans will join issue with the the newspaper and/or the scribe, to bring in sanity in reporting and reviewing.
While it is Abhishek today, it can be any of them tomorrow. Who knows.

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 03 Jan 2014, 22:37

I am GLAD TODAY'S ARTISTS (LIKE SMT.GAYATHRI GIRISH) & AUDIENCES are NOT KEEPING QUIET- in my days there was NO FORUM LIKE THIS- & exposing the "EMPEROR'S CLOTHES" SYNDROME as it should be exposed was not possible. It is LACK of this that ENABLED S.V.K., NMN, SUBBUDU etc to let the EVIL EMPIRE SPIRITS to taKe over the CRITIC'S ROLE as it is easier to write non-sense which is titillating as they lacked the BRILLIANCE OF KALKI for example.The one EXCEPTION was our MKR'S FATHER KSM WHOSE REVIEWS contained Shakespearian level of language & PROPER REVIEW (HE was decent enough to reach the artists in private to make suggestions etc).
REG ABISEKH'S TALENTS -LIKE THE CASES of GNB,MMI, MLV, MSS etc - its THE AUDIENCE that will ultimately prevail. I am BREAKING my view not to comment on current artists to point out that I have observed this phenomenon & AFTER THE GOLDEN AGE ARTISTS ABISEKH is one of the FEW whose TALENTS & ABILITIES are UNQUESTIONABLE . Also any amount of the equivalent of the "DOG BARKING AT THE MOON" type of criticisms in Hindu or any other place WILL NOT HOLD DOWN the PROMISE of him EMERGING as the LEADING LIGHT IN CARNATIC MUSIC TODAY. Ultimately the audiences decide & critics try to sell newspapers.....
I still wish some one start a section on what a critic shd. write about as well as THEIR QUALIFICATIONS. JUST BECAUSE HINDU has been considered a great Newspaper it does not excuse us or let us condone the atrocious reviews appearing in it...... VKV

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 03 Jan 2014, 22:38

Way to go, Smt. Gayathri! I have not understood why rasikas get so polarized regarding Sri Abhishek - they seem to either love him, or love to hate him/his music.
The problem with a biased review (a negative one such as this) is that it serves no useful purpose - i.e., it does not help the artist one bit in helping him/her shape future presentations, but those of us who did not attend the concert have no way of figuring out what is true and what is biased. A uniformly positive review has the same downside.
But with such reviewers being the norm, rather than the exception, I do hope that artists actually listen to their own recordings and use their own critiquing abilities to learn, and shape future performances. If that happens, we should be able to safely consign all reviewers and their reviews to the 'kuch tO lOg kehEngE, lOgOn kA kAm hai kehnA' category

shankarabharanam · Post by **shankarabharanam** » 04 Jan 2014, 03:15

This guy veejay sai was in fact in the panel during one of the sessions in the academy. I think he is a reviewer who also has been involved in organizing some festivals abroad. I wan't there in India this season but followed a lot of updates in rasikas and time and again I found a complete mismatch in reviews published here and in the the Hindu. It is time they stop asking writers like veejay sai who aren't that knowledgable and do an unbiased coverage of the season. This guy has been doing a lot of loose talk about lot of musicians. In fact a friend of mine had a really bad verbal fight for abusing musicians like TNS, Sudha Ragunathan, Neyveli etc. at the academy canteen. Hindu please wake up and stop claiming to be the only patron of classical art with such cartoons in your kitty.

Coming to the point of why abhishek should have won the yogam nagaswamy award. What's wrong if he is younger than Sanjay. For that matter didn't TMK perform in the senior slot when TNS or TVS were performing. Age has got nothing to do with your talent. And may be academy thought abhishek was a better choice and having given this award to Sanjay earlier, it was good on their part to encourage this youngster.

VijayR · Post by **VijayR** » 04 Jan 2014, 05:00

'mahavishnu' put it very eloquently... I would like to add the following. Since this is a pretty strongly worded post (for me, at least), let me preface it by saying that negative opinions are absolutely part of the game in any review and I am fine with reviewers expressing negative opinions. However, I have some pretty basic expectations of any review/reviewer. As I am sure many others will attest to, these are fairly standard expectations in any field that involves structured reviewing, including, but not limited to, scientific publications.

1. Separate 'facts' from 'opinions'. Trying to peddle one as the other is a complete no-no.

2. Make sure that any 'opinions' are informed opinions. Substantiate and backup such opinions with good, clear reasoning. The next part is especially important if the opinions are negative - check, double-check, and triple-check your facts as well as whether your reasoning passes the smell test, else you risk coming off as a fool.

3. Humor and wit certainly have their place, but making rude or condescending statements in the name of humor is just plain idiotic.

Unfortunately, this review completely fails each of the categories above. Veejay Sai calls himself a culture critic, but one look at his Twitter feed has left me with an impression that he is just an irreverent clown who thinks that his ability to make smart-ass comments is a qualification to write reviews. It is hard to fathom that this joker was on the Music Academy panel about "reporting, reviewing, and criticism of arts in the media". To me, that says a lot about the vetting that the MA does as well as The Hindu.

Alas, many of these so-called expert reviewers seem to be completely clueless about the distinction between "critique" and "criticism".

samarasaa · Post by **samarasaa** » 04 Jan 2014, 08:12

one look at his Twitter feed has left me with an impression that he is just an irreverent clown who thinks that his ability to make smart-ass comments is a qualification to write reviews.

VijayR: a perfect summary :ymapplause:

Said reviewer could be spotted cackling and gossiping in almost all sabha canteens.

Both negatives and gushing positives need to be clearly explained by the reviewers. The Hindu reviews are usually the positive extreme even for the worst performances. I was amused to read about a "lilting mellifluous" concert - having attended the concert, I can vouch for Shruti lapses every five minutes, repetitive phrases and general need to work harder for this performer.

I think I will continue to rely on the discussions in rasikas or my own experience

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 04 Jan 2014, 09:51

Well said SAMARASA--the forum has room for dissent provided forumites learn to distinguish between fact and opinion.I find the reviews of the same artist at the same venue to be quite fair and balanced--YES--I was too shocked and for a moment ashamed(Did I miss something syndrome!!) at the Hindu review of Abhishek at MA because I attended the concert till the Pallavi(could not sit till the end unless Abhishek did some monstrous errors EMBOLDENED BY MY ABSENCE)!!
I do nott know the reviewer Vijaysai but had I known that he fequents the canteen I would have loved to meet him as I too spent considerable time at the canteen!!!! I have suggestion for him and for the Hindu--please ask these reviewers to send some audio clip of their singing or instrument--it need not be of aprofessional calibre--even their rudimentary singing/playing capabilities can be discerned for readers to understand how legitimate the reviewers' comments are.
This may seem like a facile statemnt but my own experience (without formal learning) in my early listening days which were confined to identifying ragas gimmickry and mimicing musicians without undrstanding the nuances and their depth of knowledge and training,I was very cynical about every performance(I once casually mentioned after an MS Amma concert that she overdoes the Shankarabharanam-- a very uninformed cavalier comment which drew my mother's ire(because it was her friend I was commenting on as wellas my father's ire who hit the ceiling and challenged me to hold one note with pitch for 20 seconds). Subsequently I began singing(still confined to bathrooms!!!) for my own pleasure--I realised that even a 12 year old mounting the stage and performing has to be respected and casual statements and cutting ones expose the commentators' ignorance--I do not mean to say one has to indullge and encourage mediocrity but in today's world nobody can promote/sustain medicrity no matter how well-placed one may be --the "market place is omniscient !

last,once I asked MLV when she had vsited NY in my house--what does she think of Subbudu--she deftly evaded a direct response and said a true artist has to be his/her own toughest critic and she herself was one and as such she is least bothered about subbudu's critcisms and then slid a snyde,

casual remark that critics who hav had some dilettente attempts at playing or singing are not knowledgeable as their reviews might seem to the lay reade

r(implying in my opinion that Subbudu's harmonium playing skills are not adequate tobe given weight to his comments!!

She(MLV)--a very articulate,knowledgeable conversationalist said how nowadays--almost 30 years back--there is a tendency to hail everybody a genius when he/she does something seemingly innovative" and how in our zeal to applaud every newcomer in a particular line--vocal or instrumenta-as somebody who has excelled the predecessor. She went on to illlustrate:
When Palladam Sanjeeva Rao came on the scene--he was a disciple of the great sarabha Sastry-- he was hailed as a new discovery outshining even his Guru--when Tiruppamburam Swaminatha Pillai(no doubt not a sishya of Palladam) was considered an improvement etc etc lauding every newcomer on the scene to be superior to the predecessor.

She finally ended this narrative with a remark--IF WE WERE TO ACCEPT THAT EVERY NEW FLAUTIST Is AN IMPROVEMENT OVER HIS GURU IF YOU KEEP TRACING BACK TO THE ORIGINAL PLAYERS.lORD kRISHNA MUST HAVE BEEN THE LoUSIEST FLAUTIST!!I

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 04 Jan 2014, 10:25

I am still shocked that the likes of Subbudu & SVK had the GUTS to write things about a LALGUDI OR a MLV TOTALLY ABSURD SO CALLED CRITICISMS. Not only that a paper like HINDU published them. Even worse many actually think these guys are great......DISGUSTING....When a TRUE TALENT APPEARS ON THE SCENE the LAST THING NEEDED IS SOME IGNORAMUS writing utter nonsense.....I applaud this generation for calling the shots as they correctly perceive them....VKV

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 04 Jan 2014, 10:32

I put the hindu url and did not offer my comments . I was thinking the review apart from the last two lines was well written- he has clearly stated without doing any soft pedalling . Possibly if abhishek did not get yogam nagaswamy our tones would be indeed different . That indeed is the googly.

In the beginning of the season i went to abhishek - bhaktavatsalam at CCA , only heard the second half . I was thinking loud all myself as to how bhaktavatsalam is going to take abhishek in academy(i did not review few of half concerts at CCA will do that bit more leisurely). Abhishek has to indeed thank shri bhaktavatsalam - he gave more vocal space and that is indeed a very important reason for his award. The khamas ,,,,,,,,, ended with a lovely yogam fullstop.

Shankarabharanam/Rvijay
I see this reviewer veejay sai has written few dance articles in shruthi magazine too.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 04 Jan 2014, 10:36

Mahesh3/mahavishnu
May I also know if the concert had any tukkada after pallavi?. Was that rtp then small tani (or may be even a tani like a typical end of pallavi) and then pavamana

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 04 Jan 2014, 10:46

[quote="samarasaa"]A comment on "right phrases".. often wonder what the audience thought when GNB or a TNS or a BMK or an SKR let their creative juices flow. Is a rendition "correct" when one hears the same familiar phrases one has always heard? There is theory documented based on knowledge at a point in time. Music like any art is a deeply personal experience - I for one am with the eager thirsty listeners who can't get enough of this young man's creativity. A concert like this one, I'd agree with TMK that music is larger than all of us and perhaps the usual concert format simply doesn't work - would have loved like many to hear just the Khamas all 2.5 hours.. for others, there is peace in the usual sixteen items all neatly stacked up and delivered with comforting predictability. Neither is wrong..and neither is right

I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU HAVE WRITTEN. Before any one jumps on Ariyakudi or his format etc I HAVE ATTENDED MANY CONCERTS OF ARI which lasted more than 4 hours. Actually MMI used to WONDER HOW he could render a THODI IN 3 MINUTES OR 3 HOURS YET MAKE IT COMPLETE! BEING A VERY HONEST person that he was HE SAID HE HAD BEEN TRYING to render a raga alapana like ARI in a short period of time & was just UNABLE TO DO IT! In the other direction GNB,TNR, SOMU(whose concerts lasted 7 hours many times & no one left!) had the CREATIVE GENIUS to expound things for hours! THERE IS NO UNIQUE FORMULA FOR THE DURATION OF ANYTHING. ITS only today's almost commercial approach of THE SABHAS that RESTRICTS THE GENIUS OF THE PERFORMER. However I must also add that THERE IS NO EQUIVALENT TO THE MADRAS SEASON anywhere in the world where 50 Sabhas present close to 1500 concerts. May be an ABISEKH like the GOLDEN AGE MUSICIANS can raise the levels of the audience so they do not settle for the TIME RESTRICTED CONCERTS. I have attended CHITTOOR SUBRAMANIA PILLAI'S CONCERTS WITH A FULL BENCH WHERE THE KAPLANA SWARA PART ALONE WILL LAST AN HOUR & WITH NO REPITITION! AMAZING DAYS THOSE WERE.....VKV