Here's a story.
King Mahendra Varman invites the celebrated Shaolin Master from the Temple of the Upper Mountains to come and perform at Madurai during the festival. It is a musical Shaolin show. Sri Dikshitar is the guest of honour.
The Shaolin master presents the famous Meenakshi Memudam. Remember Meenakshi was a fiery-tempered princess who went and challenged Shiva in battle (and he is the guru of the Shaolins).
The master's rendition is full of aerial acrobatics, fire throwing, and constant clang of shiny knives that produce eye-blinding sparks. When it is finally done, and yes, the song is properly dusted, Dikshitar is requested for comment. He shakes his head in utter disbelief, as if he has witnessed a 10000 cracker string burst at close quarters.
I am talking of Abhishek Raghuram's Sangeet Sammelan concert last night. I even recorded it on my tiny Walkman:
http://bit.ly/ARShaolin
Ananthakrishnan of the Parur bani acquitted himself well, despite the occupational hazard of a couple of squeaks while accompanying the Shaolin Master. The mridangam vidwan, B. Natesan, gave a proper thrashing to his kuchi mridangam and it felt like, paraphrasing Rajiv Gandhi, "teri naani yaad ayegi". The tani with Guruprasanna was in full Shaolin style and enjoyable.
The Khamas LGJ tillana was great... could wake up the dead indeed.
Conflict of Interest:
Some of us have formed a group who call Abhishek Raghuram as God. The group tries to never miss his concerts and travels long distances. Age and mental weakness prevent me from joining the festivities regularly, but you know what, everything needs a thorough dusting once in a while at least, for our own wellbeing. Abhishek does it. Day after day. Song after song.
God Bless.
