Rohan Krishnamurthy and Cleveland Aradhana

Dr Krishnamurthy · Post by **Dr Krishnamurthy** » 07 Apr 2008, 08:40

We had quite a number of inquiries from friends and musicians as to why my mridangist son, Rohan Krishnamurthy, did not participate in the Cleveland Aradhana this year considering that he has been a regular performer there with leading artists for the past ten years without a break. Couple of them even asked us if we have picked up a â€œfightâ€

Always_Evolving · Post by **Always_Evolving** » 07 Apr 2008, 09:40

Dr. Krishnamurthy,
While one can appreciate your parental pride in your son's achievements, it seems extremely promotional and self-indulgent to write such a long account of his pursuit of graduate studies. I wish him the best for this endeavour and hope that the "eagerly awaiting" is a two-way feeling!

I request moderators to remove this post from a thread that is supposed to be devoted to Cleveland concert reviews.

gobilalitha · Post by **gobilalitha** » 07 Apr 2008, 10:41

would it not have been better to send your remarks by e m ail than thro a public forum.definitely it hurts even my feelings , though I am not concerned gobilalitha

mohan · Post by **mohan** » 07 Apr 2008, 10:49

Well done Rohan! Hope you keep us informed about your research.

manikand28 · Post by **manikand28** » 07 Apr 2008, 11:08

Good luck for the budding artist. Really shows the dedication

rrao13 · Post by **rrao13** » 07 Apr 2008, 17:08

I totally disagree with the post that asked for removing Dr. Krishnamurthy's detailed message on Rohan. As an American of East Indian origin and as a fellow Michigander, I take immense pride in Rohan's accomplishment and I believe that such news should be shared in detail and to a wide audience via such a message board. I thank Dr. Krishnamurthy for giving us information about the Music School and Rohan's pursuits. It is great to see that a talented youngster is pursuing Karnatik music in USA for his higher education as though he was in Chennai Music College; I wonder how many youngsters back in Chennai/India have such focus. Rohan must have so many options and lucrative careers to chose from and we are fortunate that he has decided to pursue the path of divine music. Rohan and his parents are blessed and have the divine grace. Sir, Dr. Krishnamurthy, please do provide updates as appropriate - your posts may be considered promotional and self-indulgent or whatever by a few of the Rasikas of the board, but I think that the majority will be with you and your son, blessing him and wishing him all the best.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 07 Apr 2008, 17:16

All the best to Rohan! We are all proud of his assets and achievements, wherever we happen to be. I request the mods to to move the responses to the other thread on Rohan...

Always_Evolving · Post by **Always_Evolving** » 07 Apr 2008, 17:58

rrao13: Please note that
a) I only asked for this post to be removed because it is a double-posting and is irrelevant to this thread. In fact Dr Krishnamurthy himself says he wasn't sure if he should have posted here -- I am just clarifying his doubt. By all means if the moderators see fit a separate thread can be devoted to this.
b) I did offer the lad my best wishes as I believe it is a great opportunity for HIM too (though the post sounded like it is an opportunity for Eastman school of music

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 07 Apr 2008, 19:02

Always_Evolving wrote:It seems extremely promotional and self-indulgent to write such a long account of his pursuit of graduate studies

Hello A_E,

The only line which would have hurt most is the one above. While you are right in pointing out a double repeat of the post (and possibly this is in a wrong thread) , maybe you could have also been a little sensitive to the herculean efforts Rohan's parents have put in.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 07 Apr 2008, 20:57

Best Wishes to Rohan! I am sure he will 'always-evolve&improve'!

And special kudos to his parents for having nurtured him so well!

SSK · Post by **SSK** » 07 Apr 2008, 21:04

I am sure Rohan is great student of music and son of his proud parents. But these kinds of writeups can always be perceived as promotional if the parents did not intend to.. Assuming that the parents concerns or genuine and the did not mean promotion / marketting in an otherwise free medium meant for sharing of knowledge, is it ok to enocurage rasikas and bring to attention many noble and possiblly neglected projects such as preservation and promotion of "Dikshithar's Residence", and other saints, vidwans, artists and composers.. There are quite a few, and I hesitate to lsit them here since even they may be percieved as promotional.. Is it within the charter of "rasikas.org" to do so... May be one can enlighten me...

u.vikram · Post by **u.vikram** » 07 Apr 2008, 22:07

Disease here in the USA.....in the name of encouragement ...we create "prodigies"....place them at a pedestal far higher than their competence and experience - type of "Guerrilla marketing/branding/positioning" by parents. Time will answer whether these strategies will pay............

meena · Post by **meena** » 08 Apr 2008, 01:25

Rohan
Congrats and i wish u the very best.

komalangi · Post by **komalangi** » 08 Apr 2008, 02:20

I am sorry, I must be missing something or in a time warp! Who is Rohan Krishnamoorthy?
Thanks

mridangamkid · Post by **mridangamkid** » 08 Apr 2008, 02:47

komalangi:

Rohan Krishnamurthy is a 21? Year old boy from Michigan who plays the Mridangam. He learns from Guruvayoor Dorai and has accompanied some of the top most artists at a very young age.I believe his website is rohanrythm.com If you want to learn everything about him.

I have not yet met Rohan even though I too live in Michigan, I hope I get to meet him personally soon. He seems to be a very dedicated person and someone I truly aspire to be. All the best to him.

Also, there are a couple videos of him on youtube.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=jisXeZ_-TNg

http://youtube.com/watch?v=AI9RJbljBLw&feature=related

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 08 Apr 2008, 04:03

The posting on Rohan is just informational and does not appear to be promotional in my view. He is a very bright youngster who has earned his kudos in CM and if he is also academically a high achiever, he will be a role model for other aspiring youngsters. In particular I get the message that serious training in CM not only does not interfere with Academic Performance but on the otherhand will be a positive advantage. I remember the vedic trainings that our generations received as youngsters promoted cultivation of excellent memory which came handy in the pursuit of academic interests. I think it will be nice if Rohan can narrate his experience in 'riding two horses' at the same time and be a winner on both counts.

You are free to express your views frankly as long as you are not offensive or slanderous which may necessitate Moderator interference!

Congratulations Rohan! Keep it up! We are proud of your musical as well as academic achievements!

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 08 Apr 2008, 04:13

u.vikram wrote:Time will answer whether these strategies will pay............

I guess the same could be said of all the other artists who have been awarded the 'yuva kalA bhArati'....which, AFAIK is awarded to talented, and deserving youngsters, many of whom have gone on to become established performers. But then, unlike some, most of us do not have crystal balls, and rely on statistics and peronal judgment, and will continue to expect wonderful things from Rohan and will always wish him the very best!

mri_fan · Post by **mri_fan** » 08 Apr 2008, 05:14

There is no doubt that Rohan is very talented. But I was certainly taken aback when as a 13 year old, he gave me his professionally designed mridangam card after I had just met him. He is certainly a role model for younger mridangam players.

appu · Post by **appu** » 08 Apr 2008, 06:24

Rohan was there at the Aradhana. I distinctly remember seeing him on stage with Dorai. He of course had a back seat as a new student of Dorai (Mr. Babu was accompanying) was playing second Mridangam. Nevertheless I am inclined to agree that the post by Rohan's dad was definitely self promoting. If questions were asked in this thread as to why Rohan did not perform, an answer would have been appropriate. Rohan was definitely at the aradhana for at least 3 to 5 days. If he wanted to he could have performed. May be he did not get the desired slot to play for the senior vidwans and hense...........

mri_fan · Post by **mri_fan** » 08 Apr 2008, 06:32

That wasn't Rohan...that was mridangamkid (he posted earlier in this thread). His name is Kiran, and he's a student of Dorai sir (like Rohan)

mridangamkid · Post by **mridangamkid** » 08 Apr 2008, 07:07

yes appu it was me at the Cleveland Aradhana, not Rohan

mri_fan, do I know you some how?

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 08 Apr 2008, 07:36

Too much of discussion has gone on Rohan. We all should wish him all the best in his efforts to leave a lasting legacy to Carnatic music. 50% what one is comes from parents. We should thank Rohan's parents for encouraging their son to pursue what he wishes to do.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 08 Apr 2008, 07:41

u. vikram,
If you go through the forum, you will find that many of us (like you) are not keen on applauding any 'so called' prodigies at random.
On the other hand, parental pride for their talented children is understandable and we should encourage the youngsters who deserve praise. If we as rasikAs are interested in the future of CM, this is one way of showing it.

SSK mentions the preservation of the past, and I agree with him. And how about the future? The youngsters who show interest in CM, learn it, shine in it and carry on with it along with their studies (in which they excel too) are certainly to be encouraged and appreciated.
By the way, encouraging each other, whatever our age, is essential for healthy living. You also know that we tend to think independently and do not play the 'yes men or women' here. If you find a chorus of voices or a bit of kidding around, it is because of the friendliness which prevails here.
As Govindan said some time ago, we may differ in our views sometimes but our intentions are the same and we respect each other...

komalangi · Post by **komalangi** » 08 Apr 2008, 09:11

Thanks mridangamkid. Based on the nature of the thread, I thought some one has taken the carnatic world by storm a la Mali or U Srinivas or someone like that and I missed the entry!

My best wishes to Rohan and many such talented kids who are coming along just fine in India and abroad.