Status of the Chennai December music season

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 07 Dec 2015, 07:42

Dear Rasikas: The situation in Chennai is terrible. In addition to many sections of the society across economic levels, there are many musicians (and sabhas) in dire straits. If people have (reliable) information on the status of the season that is relevant to the readers of this forum, please post here on this thread.

My best wishes to everyone that is doing amazing work amidst serious challenges. If there are useful things people from afar can do (including donations) please post relevant information here.

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 07 Dec 2015, 08:52

We are planning a get together of people of all origin including Indians in our city on December 19 to raise Relief Fund for Chennai

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 07 Dec 2015, 10:12

[quote="VK RAMAN"]We are planning a get together of people of all origin including Indians in our city on December 19 to raise Relief Fund for Chennai
LET ME EXPRESS MY ADMIRATION FOR THE CONCRETE STEPS YOU ARE TAKING & HOPE OTHERS FOLLOW YOUR EXAMPLE. VKV

hamsadhwani · Post by **hamsadhwani** » 07 Dec 2015, 11:00

mahavishnu wrote:Dear Rasikas: The situation in Chennai is terrible. In addition to many sections of the society across economic levels, there are many musicians (and sabhas) in dire straits. If people have (reliable) information on the status of the season that is relevant to the readers of this forum, please post here on this thread.

My best wishes to everyone that is doing amazing work amidst serious challenges. If there are useful things people from afar can do (including donations) please post relevant information here.

Mahavishnu, this is from a facebook post by The ARTery. They are coordinating donations to procure relief materials with Smt. Sowmya's foundation and Carnatica and few others organizations...

==========================================================================
Dear Friends, many of you sent messages inquiring abt us in Chennai. Power and telecoms are now stable, we hav net access off and on. Enough food, water, supplies, etc. Precious diesel was procured yesterday, so we are able to move about the city... The ARTery is doing its bit along with some friends and a few noted musicians/artists to gather and dispatch relief material to badly affected ppl. Social media doing a great job to help identify needs and situations. Plus a tremendous outpour of volunteer support.
In case anyone is interested in contributing, here are a few details. This is a joint effort by The ARTery along with Vidushi Smt. S. Sowmya's Sukrtam Foundation, Sensational Productions & Srishti's Carnatica Pvt Ltd. All donations will go towards procuring essentials like bread, blankets, milk powder, batteries, sanitation supplies etc. We want this to be a corpus so that work can be continued even after this disaster fades from public memory & attention in a few days. All donations will be accounted for and you will get receipts.
For dollar remittances in the US:
Account name : The Artery Foundation
Account Number: 4814670931
Bank: BMO Harris, Burr Ridge Pkwy, burr ridge, IL
ARTery Foundation's EIN: 46-4623741 (501c3 exempt non profit charity)
For rupee donations in India:
Acct name: Sensational Productions
Bank: AXIS BANK, MG Rd, Sastri nagar, adyar, Chennai
Account No.: 911020061948621 MICR code for ECS: 600211006 IFSC code: UTIB0000082
PAN: ABWFS0369M
If you make a contribution, pls send a follow up email to [email protected], mentioning the amt and ur name, address, ph number so we can track and update. Thanks!
==============================================================================

grsastrigal · Post by **grsastrigal** » 07 Dec 2015, 12:24

Yesterday, Bharathiya vidhya bhavan bravely re-started the concert schedule with Trichur Brothers at 4.30 slot followed by Shri.O.S.Arun.
I attended O.S.Arun's concert and it was very moving. He, first, asked all the rasikas to pray for the betterment of chennai and chant Narayana.... Surprisingly, the hall was almost full and "group chanting" was a moving experience for me. Everyone was in a bad shape sharing our woes of rain story. Though, Mylapore and Mandaveli were not affected that much, the stories what "all of you reading and watching TV" is nothing compared to reality in the outskirts of chennai.

O.S.Arun shared a thought- When Lord Krishna was holding "govardhana malai" (mountain) to protect the people from rain, He tried to prove the world that the nature could not be stopped even by a God, but He can protect the "bhaktAs" from a possible destruction because of heavy rain.

Samy way, O S Arun emphasised that by worshipping Krishna, He could protect us. Such a thoughtful speech was well taken by the rasikas. His first song was nArAyanA in sudha danyasi (of purandaradAsa)

Good news is today- Karthik Fine arts just confirmed that Sanjay subramanyam is giving a concert at 6.30 PM. Malladi brothers cancelled their programme (4.30 PM).
Bad news is -Vijay siva who is to perform at Bharathiya vidhya bhavan cancelled.
Brahma Gana sabha- supposed to be active, had it started 5 days ago is struggling to start the programme at Petachi Auditorium at Alwarpet because of heavy water inside the school

munirao2001 · Post by **munirao2001** » 07 Dec 2015, 12:34

hamsadhwani and Artery/Sensational,

I will perform my duty and shall email the details of transfer.
Thanks & Wishing a great success
munirao2001

hnbhagavan · Post by **hnbhagavan** » 07 Dec 2015, 14:22

Dear Freinds and Rasikas, I have cancelled my concerts this Margazhi season. Chennai, which has always supported art, is now battling the aftermath of torrential rains. rescue teams and volunteers are working day and night ! With so many people homeless and struggling for basic needs , I feel it is not the time for festivals . I sincerely hope the resources and energies used to back the December festival are channelised to help Chennai get back to normalcy .

The above posting is by Bombay Jayashree in FB

MaheshS · Post by **MaheshS** » 07 Dec 2015, 15:08

I also read from FB, that Vijay Siva has cancelled all his December concerts.

pattamaa · Post by **pattamaa** » 07 Dec 2015, 16:05

I have heard Unnikrishnan also cancelled his concerts, along with Jayshree and Vjay shiva...

grsastrigal · Post by **grsastrigal** » 07 Dec 2015, 16:39

I don't understand cancelling the concerts. They can contribute the money received to Relief fund, if they are really "worried" about the rain and its aftermath. In this process, they satisfy two sets of people, one the rasikas and the "affected people".
They also need to consider the loss for the sabhas by not giving the concerts.

In the december season, Vijay Siva's attitude is really appalling for me. First he decided not to sing in MA and today, he cancelled BVB concert today despite the fact that chennai limping back to normalcy and Mylapore is 100% fit for holding concert.

hnbhagavan · Post by **hnbhagavan** » 07 Dec 2015, 16:49

Please note the houses of Manoj Siva and Vijaya Siva was water logged as per FB.Instead of just blaming them,Chennai Rasikas can visit each one of them and find out for themselves in what situation their houses are?Manoj siva posted pictures of his water logged houses.
I expected better from Chennai Rasikas.

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 07 Dec 2015, 17:09

Forumites; Thanks for all your efforts in keeping us all infomed about the relief work being done. I will make my contribution as per the guidelines.

The only caution I would like to mention is to make sure that the org that actually delivers the services(I presume the ARTery foundation will properly "oversee" the delivery).

Reports about how the State Govt
s efforts are dysfunctional have us all worried.

Re; artistes I feel each one's opinions about performing or not should be respected.

Our heartfelt sympathies to he brave chennaites!!!!

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 07 Dec 2015, 17:34

Mods
Duplicate post
Kindly request you to delete

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 07 Dec 2015, 17:45

GRS
I presume you were not aware of the background and perhaps you may have reconsidered your views had you known the actual status.
The homes of Vijay Siva and Manoj Siva have been absolutely devastated. Under the circumstances it may not be justified on our part to expect them to perform this season. They are after all as human as we the rasikas.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 07 Dec 2015, 18:36

Gayathri Venkataraghavan singing "ma kelara vicharamu". It's going to be all right!

You cannot stay sad forever.

A moving pantuvarali with a plaintive neraval at "rama rama" giving way to a bright begada and a definitive "neeve jeevanamu".

On to "nee padhamule" as main for those of us who are going to miss Vijay Siva this season.

MaheshS · Post by **MaheshS** » 07 Dec 2015, 19:50

grsastrigal wrote:I don't understand cancelling the concerts. They can contribute the money received to Relief fund, if they are really "worried" about the rain and its aftermath. In this process, they satisfy two sets of people, one the rasikas and the "affected people".
They also need to consider the loss for the sabhas by not giving the concerts.

In the december season, Vijay Siva's attitude is really appalling for me. First he decided not to sing in MA and today, he cancelled BVB concert today despite the fact that chennai limping back to normalcy and Mylapore is 100% fit for holding concert.

I'm going to pull you on this, even though I really really don't want to, especially not at this time, I am sir, disgusted by your comments and thoughts.

"Worried", "affected people" => in double quotes. Why?

Of course sabhas will loose money, so what? People have lost lives. Relatives. Homes. Valued posessions. Treasures like a tambura that they have had since they were young which cannot be replaced by money.

What ARE you thinking? Just because YOU are OK to attend concerts and YOU are safe, YOU want OTHER people to sing and perform for your pleasure? And you add that they should donate THEIR money? You should worry about what YOU can do rather than telling people what THEY should do.

You are they same type which sticks political figures on relief packages so you can boast about it later and say, even when millions were affected and lots of people died, I didn't miss a concert you know? Ohh you should have heard the Bhairavi that day with water flowing outside Ahhhhhaaah, you won't hear like this very soon.

arunk · Post by **arunk** » 07 Dec 2015, 19:51

+10000000

arunk · Post by **arunk** » 07 Dec 2015, 19:52

Although I do think that it would be better if the concerts are postponed (rather than cancelled) as these concerts during season are primary source of income to many artists.

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 07 Dec 2015, 19:52

Maakelara vicharamu
Why (ElarA) should we (mAku) (literally for us) (mAkElarA) worry (vicAramu)?

That is the spirit.
Do our best, leave unto Him the rest.

But I think each of our wonderful muscians is full of dedication, pragamatism and maturity. So some will perform, and some will refrain. In each case, the maturity is the same.

hnbhagavan · Post by **hnbhagavan** » 07 Dec 2015, 20:13

Music Academy and all the others should postpone the concerts to Feb 2016 giving time for recovery.some of us from outside Chennai would not like to venture out now adding to the problems in chennai.
I cancelled my tour program.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 07 Dec 2015, 20:16

But this is for margazhi... In thai we eat pongal

MaheshS · Post by **MaheshS** » 07 Dec 2015, 20:35

sureshvv wrote:But this is for margazhi... In thai we eat pongal

It's not like you only eat Pongal during Thai masam or you'd refuse it during other months ... so there is nothing wrong in postponing the concerts to mid-Jan or Feb 2016.

People will just have to make do with singing Thirupavai at home this season!

gardabha_gana · Post by **gardabha_gana** » 07 Dec 2015, 21:26

gssastrigal sir - You are at best ignorant and at worst insensitive. While you can respect the judgment of the artists, whatever they are, I don't think given what has happened, you can question that.

pattamaa · Post by **pattamaa** » 07 Dec 2015, 21:30

GR Sastrigal - the priorities are different, cultural activites, festivities and celebrations take back seat. I also heard that sri VVS had to be evacuated from his home, near banks of river adayar. It is really sad state... Hope you understand... I am deeply shocked that Vijay & Manoj siva are badly affected in west mambalam and that they had to move to a safer place... Obviously, they will not be in a mood to sing, and we no need to listen to any concerts peacefully... We don't know how many other musicians are affected... I'm really concerned...

pattamaa · Post by **pattamaa** » 07 Dec 2015, 21:35

these are the exact messages.... scary... it seems they moved to a 2nd floor house in ramapuram, which is also equally affected in floods..

Message from N Vijay Siva - We are safe in Ramapuram. West Mambalam residence wrecked. Not the moment for happy singing. Calling off December music season concerts. Plan to resume on 1st Jan 2016. Well wishers may help informing concerned organisers and accompanying artistes. Can be reached mostly through SMS at 9551547716.

pattamaa · Post by **pattamaa** » 07 Dec 2015, 21:41

let's also keep in mind that NRI crowd will be almost nil or very minimal, there is a travel advisory from US

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/che ... 956399.ece

Safety first...

parivadini · Post by **parivadini** » 07 Dec 2015, 21:50

This year Parivadini will not do any live webcast during the December season. Instead, our webcast engineer - Padmamani, a native of Cuddalore, will be doing flood relief work there. The rest of us in team Parivadini will try and reach out to him and help him in whatever ways we can. He will be reporting from the ground starting tomorrow. We hope fans of Parivadini and carnatic music would come together in the rebuilding work.

MaheshS · Post by **MaheshS** » 07 Dec 2015, 21:58

Parivardini & team - May your tribe increase.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 07 Dec 2015, 22:00

pattamaa wrote:let's also keep in mind that NRI crowd will be almost nil or very minimal, there is a travel advisory from US

Aah... May be now TMK will change his mind and participate!

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 07 Dec 2015, 22:55

I am assuming GRS did not read the exact reason that VijaySiva stated in his FaceBook. Very sad to hear the state of vijaysiva's house . I hope other musicians are all safe and flooding did not happen inside their house. I am atleast thinking about vidwans Erode Nagaraj and Mannarkoil balaji whose house is in West Mambalam and KK Nagar respectively which partly bore the brunt of excess water from adayar river.

harimau · Post by **harimau** » 08 Dec 2015, 05:18

pattamaa wrote:let's also keep in mind that NRI crowd will be almost nil or very minimal, there is a travel advisory from US

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/che ... 956399.ece

Safety first...

During Bharat Sangeet Utsav, the crowd for Sanjay Subramanian's concert was less than at his concert yesterday. There was some rain during BSU but not the devastating downpour we witnessed in the first week of December. In addition, the approach to Narada Gana Sabha has been closed off by Metrowater or something.

The fact that there was a larger crowd indicates that the Season would get its migratory birds just like the Pallikkaranai Marsh does. In fact, I overheard an NRI visitor describe her route as US-Singapore-Delhi-Bangalore and then by road from Bangalore.

Anything for tup-tup!

PS. I ran out of the concert after an hour. I vote with my feet.

shankarr17 · Post by **shankarr17** » 08 Dec 2015, 05:29

An article today in "The Telegraph" titled Damper on Chennai music season

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1151208/j ... mYXsE1Mqpo

shankarr17 · Post by **shankarr17** » 08 Dec 2015, 06:16

Yet another article, this one in "The new Indian Express" titled Rains Spoil Marghazhi Mood, Artists Cancel Show

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/6597 ... 5#page/2/2

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 08 Dec 2015, 07:56

dec 08 write up in THE HINDU, some sabhas like SKGS are having a late start. Looks almost everywhere the SHOW Is ON
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/che ... ref=tpnews

harimau · Post by **harimau** » 08 Dec 2015, 08:13

shankarr17 wrote:Yet another article, this one in "The new Indian Express" titled Rains Spoil Marghazhi Mood, Artists Cancel Show

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/6597 ... 5#page/2/2

Those who have cancelled their programs for the Season -- I exempt here those who have suffered personal losses such as Vijay Siva -- should follow the example of Lalgudi GJR Krishnan and Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi who have announced that they will participate in the December Season but will donate their earnings from concerts during the Season to flood relief work. The Lalgudi Siblings themselves live in flooded T Nagar though I do not know of flood damage to their residences; certainly, they have been inconvenienced in a major way like all Chennai residents have been.

They also need to think of accompanists such as violinists, mridangists, Ghatam, kanjira and mohrsing artists who normally earn much less than the main artists and who need the money most. Cancelling concerts means these supporting artists lose a major share of their annual earnings while still having to cope with the financial impact of the flood on their lives.

pattamaa · Post by **pattamaa** » 08 Dec 2015, 08:57

the suggestion is only to postpone and have restricted season, and not to cancel... This month is not ideal, too much damage... If one can ensure that there would be audience as usual, and all outstation artists ready to arrive and perform here, why not? Otherwise... May be Jan 1st to 14th ?

ramamantra · Post by **ramamantra** » 08 Dec 2015, 09:05

pattamaa wrote:let's also keep in mind that NRI crowd will be almost nil or very minimal, there is a travel advisory from US

Safety first...

Thank God ! Good riddance, them coming over and adding to the chaos.

Let the musicians take a break and for a change, help others selflessly (after making so much money without tax). Why sing now and drive the already scared people mad ?

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 08 Dec 2015, 09:24

ramamantra wrote:Why sing now and drive the already scared people mad ?

To deal with people like you, perhaps?

ramamantra · Post by **ramamantra** » 08 Dec 2015, 09:47

rshankar wrote:To deal with people like you, perhaps?

Guess you are one of those non-responsible Indians

ramanathan · Post by **ramanathan** » 08 Dec 2015, 10:02

Folks (especially hamsadhwani who shared my post from The ARTery fb page) and those who expressed interest in supporting: there will be personal oversight of all fund inflows and expenses by myself and Vidushi Smt Sowmya. Even as I write this, packing food and essentials for distribution is happening as it has been for the past few days. So far, all procurement has been through personal funds as well as previous donations made to Smt Sowmya's Sukrtam Foundation. We need as much support as possible. Smt Sowmya, Bharat Sundar, Ashwath Narayanan, V Subashri and several young musicians and students have been visiting relief camps and personally distributing items to the needy as well as coordinating supplies & outflows from many collection points. Any and all help is welcome. Each donation will be acknowledged and appropriate receipts given. Re-posting details:

For dollar remittances in the US:
Account name : The Artery Foundation
Account Number: 4814670931
Bank: BMO Harris, Burr Ridge Pkwy, burr ridge, IL
ARTery Foundation's EIN: 46-4623741 (501c3 exempt non profit charity)
Address: 1520 Birmingham Dr, Aurora, IL 60502

For rupee donations in India:
Acct name: Sensational Productions
Bank: AXIS BANK, MG Rd, Sastri nagar, adyar, Chennai
Account No.: 911020061948621 MICR code for ECS: 600211006 IFSC code: UTIB0000082
PAN: ABWFS0369M
Address: 12 Hanumantha Rd, Balaji Nagar, Royapettah, Chennai 14

munirao2001 · Post by **munirao2001** » 08 Dec 2015, 12:05

The devastation, damages and losses affecting fellow citizens and other living beings in Chennai is enormous and all living beings need the help to manage the suffering and rebuild their living. This is not the time for 'Art form Music and Dance Festival' and its celebration. Rasikas, Practitioners, Patrons, Event Managers, Institutions and Governments must act with the spirit of humanity. Acting and restoring the normalcy of living to the fellow citizens, we can celebrate the spirit and conduct the festival. All the resources of music festival must be given away to relief. I have cancelled my Chennai Music season visit and I will contribute to bring a smile, at least to a living being in Chennai. This will be my celebration.

I also request forumites to end the postings inappropriate and not in spirit.

munirao2001

thaaye · Post by **thaaye** » 09 Dec 2015, 09:51

In this time of crisis, I think all sabha organisers including music academy need to shed their egos and organize just one mega musical event and raise funds for the flood victims, instead of trying to reschedule concerts partially or whatever little they are putting together separately now.

grsastrigal · Post by **grsastrigal** » 09 Dec 2015, 11:10

I don't have access to FB or twitter nor do i see daily. My office has blocked these sites and at home, Iam allowed to see only one Face (of Home minister). Adding to these, in Mylapore also, net work was down.

Ignorance of law in not excusable, but ignorance of facts surely is.

After I finished Sanjay's concert, yessel told the reason vijay Siva cancelled and Bruga Balu, (Udayalur Kalyanaraman's team member) also told me VS' house is bad. I think he is very near to VS' home. I felt really sad for making a statement of VS. Iam, afterall, a rasika who loves VS' concert, My spontaneous reaction was that !!

Bombay Jaishree, today, in thatstamil.com, said that it is not a time for celebration. I don't agree with this.
We can still have the concerts, give the amount to "needed" people.

MaheshS shall forgive me for making such a statement, it was written not as GRS but as a "veri" rasikA of VS !!

Still I have humour in my report because I want to forget the sad memories of my own close relatives who suffered a lot. Carnatic Music is a healing therapy for me, (for us) always. Without mAnikkam vairam, mArubalga, enna kavi pAdinAlum, - I would have been "clinically" dead long ago.

munirao2001 · Post by **munirao2001** » 10 Dec 2015, 12:04

Grsastrigal Sir and forumites,

It is time not for listening for therapy or pleasure but to act, the result of the past therapy. In delivery of relief to the suffering, establishment of attainment of truth, Dharma; Daya; Dana, the ideals in higher Spirit, the value of our Karnataka Sangeetham, in line with the Vedanta. Sri VKV Sir and Sri VVS Sir, are acting, let us all join, contribute, attain individually and collectively the pleasure of service.

munirao2001

MaheshS · Post by **MaheshS** » 10 Dec 2015, 19:38

The Man from Madras Musings has spoken.

The floods have been of such magnitutde that for the first time the city is asking: Should the December Music Season be cancelled? Is it appropriate to have a festival of the fine arts at a time when there is so much suffering in the city? The answers to this have been as varied as the opinions on what constitutes good Carnatic music.

Some artists have cancelled concerts while others have said that since this is a profession like any other, the question of calling it off does not arise. A third group has not expressed any opinion but continued to perform, letting art speak for itself. A fourth says performance is prayer.Whatever the truth in any or all of these claims, there is one indisputable fact: The Season has never been cancelled in the 89 years of its existence.

There is another one, there has not been an incident like this in Madras for MORE than 89 years. Respect to the artists who perform and respect to artists who do not. This is a futile argument, "It has never happened therefore should not". There are rules, and the there are exceptions.

BTW, Sriram V will not be forgotten or forgiven for the botch job he did on sangeetham.com

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 10 Dec 2015, 19:45

MA and other subhas have dedicated this season to Chennai relief fund also and many artists performing will part with a part of their compensation towards relief fund. Let us not stop this noble effort in MHO

MaheshS · Post by **MaheshS** » 10 Dec 2015, 19:58

VK RAMAN wrote:MA and other subhas have dedicated this season to Chennai relief fund also and many artists performing will part with a part of their compensation towards relief fund. Let us not stop this noble effort in MHO

Absolutely, respect to them.

What I am objecting is to the logic of, it's been going on for 89 years, therefore it should go on. The entire "music" season itself was invented for the betterment of the artists, not art, that as ever is a wonderful by product. Before they would have had NO concerts during Marghazi due to no weddings and the fact they wouldn't have been paid by the temples. It was and is commercial.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 10 Dec 2015, 20:07

MaheshS wrote: What I am objecting is to the logic of, it's been going on for 89 years, therefore it should go on.

I don't think it was a statement of logic. Something more foundational.

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 10 Dec 2015, 21:27

An interesting perspective here: https://baradwajrangan.wordpress.com/20 ... the-qualm/

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 10 Dec 2015, 23:10

Loved the cartoon