DD Podhigai series on up-and-coming musicians

nivedita · Post by **nivedita** » 10 Feb 2009, 07:51

Starting tomorrow, the 11th of February, DD Podhigai will telecast 'Puduppunal', a 1 hour program on up-and-coming musicians, every Wednesday from 9 pm to 10 pm. The program will consist of an interview and a performance. Yours truly is the host of the show.

Tomorrow's program will feature Mandolin Sisters Sirisha and Sree Usha.

I have been given considerable leeway in deciding the musicians for the show and its format. So I'd love to have your feedback on the show. I will do my best to incorporate all suggestions. Please post your comments here on in my blog http://nivedita-n.livejournal.com/

Thanks

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 10 Feb 2009, 08:26

All the best and looking forward to a good programme.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 10 Feb 2009, 08:35

Good Luck Nivedita!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 10 Feb 2009, 09:19

Great news Nivedita! Good to know that music is being given more air time. Upcoming artistes do need exposure. We are very happy that one of our young forumites (vocalist too ) is going to host this show. The very best to you!

vganesh · Post by **vganesh** » 10 Feb 2009, 10:54

All the very best. Very impressive blog. Good luck to you.

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 10 Feb 2009, 11:10

Best of luck, Nivedita! Good initiative.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 10 Feb 2009, 11:17

Good luck Nivedita - will try to see if I can tune in to Podigai in Mumbai!

prashant · Post by **prashant** » 10 Feb 2009, 11:27

All the best, Nivedita!

gobilalitha · Post by **gobilalitha** » 10 Feb 2009, 16:51

ALL THE BEST. Thanks to DD podhigai. Only Jayatv and podhigai devote some time for carnatic music.
But, unfortunately most of the cable operators of Bangalore avoid podhigai. Good luck to Nivedita gobilalitha

nivedita · Post by **nivedita** » 10 Feb 2009, 19:44

Hi everyone, thank you very much! I will be traveling tomorrow, so I won't be able to watch the program - I'll rely on your feedback!

Arasi-ji, I sent you an email a few weeks ago. I'm not sure if you received it. You wanted to listen to one of my recordings - I've put up 'Appa rama bhakti' from my album in my blog. Do listen to it if you have the time. Thanks

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 11 Feb 2009, 02:01

Missed the show. Any repeat airing scheduled?

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 11 Feb 2009, 02:05

oops... it is still only 2 am on wed... will try to watch it tonight.

thanjavooran · Post by **thanjavooran** » 11 Feb 2009, 04:50

Nivedita,
good luck to you. Is it an substiute for Isaiyodu nan progm stopped long back.
Thanjavooran

nivedita · Post by **nivedita** » 11 Feb 2009, 08:31

Thank you, thanjavooran.

In a way, yes - the show director told me words to that effect during one of the shoots. DD is trying to revive the importance that Carnatic music once enjoyed in terms of airtime.

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 11 Feb 2009, 08:38

Hasn't Podhigai cut down its early morning broadcasts of CM concerts?

vganesh · Post by **vganesh** » 11 Feb 2009, 09:40

Yes! Infact they have started broadcasting some prayer on Jesus. I think it is a readjustment to keep every religion happy so that no complaints =D

gobilalitha · Post by **gobilalitha** » 11 Feb 2009, 17:09

Though we must be thankful to podhigai for allotting the prime time for your programme, many of the tv viewers are caught in two minds , whether to miss the serials for which they have been sitting glued to their seats for over 2 or 3 years or to tune to your very useful programme. Will there be a repeat of it in the morning? people have become so much serial crazy that even if a friend suddenly visits them, they avoid conversing!! . gobilalitha

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 11 Feb 2009, 18:55

"people have become so much serial crazy that even if a friend suddenly visits them, they avoid conversing!! ". gobilalitha.
They consider them 'serial killers'-

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 11 Feb 2009, 21:21

Very clever

!

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 11 Feb 2009, 21:56

Punarvasu, that was a riot!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 11 Feb 2009, 22:10

Super one, Punarvasu! Are the 'chain saw' grade, boring-you-to-death conversationalists any better than the 'serial' killers?

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 11 Feb 2009, 22:23

All birds of the same feather!
orE kuTTaiyilE URina maTTai-

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 11 Feb 2009, 22:50

Now to Nivedita:
Could not miss your debut performance, though I regret that I missed the first few minutes and missed seeing your name on the screen. Waited at the end for credits, but the news took over. Will catch one or two more before I leave India.
First of all, I applaud Podigai for creating a slot for CM, and that too for upcoming performers which would certainly help in the spread of CM among younger audience. I do not know much about talent programs on the TV except when someone calls me up and says, 'watch that kid!' on such and such a program. The few I have watched (not for more than a few minutes, in the light music genre) have too many commrercials and a lot of peppy hosts who seem a little hyperactive. Then again, my exposure to television in India is minimal.
Nivedita, you looked natural and your questions were slow-paced and to the point. You were impressive, not overwhelming. I liked the way you looked, your sari blending in with the set. By the way, the set was modern with jigsaw pieces of a musical collage, the colors vibrant to suit the theme of the program--emerging youth in music. The only thing I wasn't keen on was the spirogragh like motion in the foreground which distracted me a bit. Also the artiste islands! They should bring those individual rostrums closer so that the musicians can interact.
As for the sisters, they seem to be talented. Your questions brought out some interesting points like how learning to play on the mandolin is not only difficult, but has the added hardship of their having to learn and translate what they learn from their teachers to adapt it to mandolin playing. They played the dEsh and tilang very well and they are perfect rAgAs for the mandolin, I think. The screen showed raghu vara as raghu varar. The absence of the din of the commercials made the show easy to watch (I was surprised to see that little clip of Manorama selling some product in a low key flash of an ad).
Congratulations on your impressive debut performance Nivedita!

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 11 Feb 2009, 23:41

I caught a bit of it too - way to go Nivedita! Will look forward to future episodes

Sathej · Post by **Sathej** » 11 Feb 2009, 23:47

There would be a re-telecast of the program tomorrow (Thursday) in the morning from 11 AM to 12 noon.

....on behalf of nivedita

thanjavooran · Post by **thanjavooran** » 12 Feb 2009, 05:25

I enjoyed the whole progm. It was good. Your questions were very apt and well answered by sisters. btw are they from kerala or karnataka ? Their tamil accent was little odd.

Thanjavooran

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 12 Feb 2009, 05:53

Nivedita,
watched the programme ; it was good; the sisters ARE really talented and will go to great heights I think;very promising youngsters.I really liked the way they expressed themselves so clearly inspite of not being fluent in tamizh-esp. when the younger one answered to your question if they did not miss having a regular college lifee like others.
They were at ease with you- nice comradarie.
Reg. the set, somehow I was not too happy with the background and the colour.
Good programme altogether. Keep improvising.All the best.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 12 Feb 2009, 12:40

Great job on the debut episode. Now may be we can get some Tamil speaking artistes

ganeshkant · Post by **ganeshkant** » 12 Feb 2009, 13:11

I watched the programme.It was good and the answers of the sisters in somewhat Mazhalai Tamizh was quite enjoyable.A few years back I was their neighbor and used to speak about music,artists,etc.

I am seeing Nivedita for the first time and I can say she has a good screen precense and its a news to me that she sings.This is a better program than the earlier on-line one where getting line was very difficult and so many nonsense calls used to come.When MSG was the guest I wanted to ask him some thing but in vain.Ultimately I called him at his residence ph.the next day and that was a quite unique experience.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 12 Feb 2009, 17:04

Seriously!

Svaapana · Post by **Svaapana** » 12 Feb 2009, 18:29

We are die hard fans of Podhigai and hence we saw the inaugural show even though we did not know about it till it started! Podhaigai programs do not appear in the local Hindu. I endorse all that was said by Arasi. The show was exellent to say the least. Kudos to Podhigai.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 12 Feb 2009, 23:48

vganesh wrote:
may be we can get some Tamil speaking artistes
SureshJi
This is CM. Language should not be a barrier

Nope. It is an interview program with some short musical interludes. Try to watch it next week

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 13 Feb 2009, 06:35

sureshvv wrote:
vganesh wrote:
may be we can get some Tamil speaking artistes
SureshJi
This is CM. Language should not be a barrier
Nope. It is an interview program with some short musical interludes. Try to watch it next week

As long as the persons interviewed are into CM , language should not be a barrier;the sisters, though not fluent in tamizh, tried their best to talk in tamizh with very little English words inbetween. It should be appreciated.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 13 Feb 2009, 10:08

Their tamizh, as you say Punarvasu, had lesser number of english words than that of the natives, and they spoke clearly (though with the flavor of a child's mazhalai because tamizh is not their language).

Suresh,
Still, we got a clear idea about them--serious students who work hard and do not mind spending their time almost exclusively on learning , practicing and performing music. We heard quite a bit of their music. If this is an example of what is to come, I don't think it is going to be a 'nAm ke vAste' music show...

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 13 Feb 2009, 11:44

arasi wrote:Their tamizh, as you say Punarvasu, had lesser number of english words than that of the natives, and they spoke clearly (though with the flavor of a child's mazhalai because tamizh is not their language).

Suresh,
Still, we got a clear idea about them--serious students who work hard and do not mind spending their time almost exclusively on learning , practicing and performing music. We heard quite a bit of their music. If this is an example of what is to come, I don't think it is going to be a 'nAm ke vAste' music show...

Agreed. The sisters were particularly endearing, when they said their favorite dish was Chennai's perennial favorite of "Sambar Idly". But the show just whetted the appetite to hear a good interview with an up and coming musician who can converse in Tamil fluently, irrespective of where they are from.

vganesh · Post by **vganesh** » 13 Feb 2009, 12:54

Nope. It is an interview program with some short musical interludes. Try to watch it next week

SureshJi
I recently moved to Chennai and staying with my sister for the time being. They are hard fans of Idea Star Singer Asianet {which is a also very good CM related program unlike other channels because the judges are good CM guys/critics}. Hence I become a serial killer

, if I intervene. [thanks punarvasu]. Any which way I need to watch now. And I always feel DD-Podhigai gives the best without any advertisements
All the people consider Chennai as mecca of CM. Hence anybody and everybody interested in CM should be encouraged. =D

jayanthisundar2k · Post by **jayanthisundar2k** » 13 Feb 2009, 14:38

It was interesting.But you can make it still more interesting.I have been doing lot of interviews for Andal priyadarshini in podigai, few years back.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 13 Feb 2009, 14:39

I think it is a great program. Since the interview portion is in Tamil, it would be nice to have someone who can speak it well. Then they may be able to get into subjects deeper than Sambar Idly.

nivedita · Post by **nivedita** » 14 Feb 2009, 23:06

Hi everyone, thank you very much!

Arasi-ji,

Thank you, I will try to do future episodes without the stage scanner lights. I'll also put in a word about the rostrums.

Thanjavooran,

The sisters' mother tongue is Telugu.

Punarvasu,

The multi-coloured, vibrant set has been designed keeping in mind that it is a show featuring young people. I'm not sure if it will change after a few episodes. Thanks for your comments. I will keep improvising!

sureshvv,

I can assure you that the artistes you will see in the next two episodes speak Tamil very well and we've discussed subjects deeper, much deeper, than sambar idly!

---

The sisters are unassuming. I enjoyed talking to them and listening to their performance!

Please do continue to watch the program every Wednesday. It is great to get feedback from fellow forum-ites!

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 15 Feb 2009, 06:29

I wonder when these episodes will reach youtube, so that overseas rasikas will be able to enjoy them as well!

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 15 Feb 2009, 08:26

Ha, I was wondering the same myself!

vganesh · Post by **vganesh** » 16 Feb 2009, 10:58

Nivedita

How these artists are chosen ? Is there any specific format/ Selection process? Can you please share the same, if you don't mind?

V.Ganesh

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 16 Feb 2009, 12:28

Hi Nivedita:

Building on Ganesh ji's question, would it be possible to share your upcoming guest list with us? And can we suggest some questions for these artists that you can choose at your discretion?

This may cause some nice synergy between your program and our forum here.

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 16 Feb 2009, 12:50

Nice suggestion, sureshvv

nivedita · Post by **nivedita** » 16 Feb 2009, 22:24

vganesh,

There is no 'selection procedure'. It works just like concerts - we call in talented up-and-coming musicians that we know or have heard.

sureshvv,

About putting up the guest list here, I might have to consult the director. Gimme some time and I'll get back to you about it. It's definitely a wonderful idea to take questions from here for the show!

P.S.: For this week, the guest is a talented kid who has been written about quite a bit in this forum!

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 16 Feb 2009, 23:34

Nivedita, your guest for this week MUST be very young, since you consider him a 'kid'!

And let the guessing games begin!

Is it Satya?

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 17 Feb 2009, 05:04

Nivedita,
My guess is the same as rshankar's.
Whether you give us the list or not, we can still give suggestions reg. the questions to be asked, can't we? You may use them at your discretion.
Waiting for the next episode.

ShrutiLaya · Post by **ShrutiLaya** » 17 Feb 2009, 23:44

It *is* Satya .. a message was just posted on rasikapriya-dot-net (yahoo group) by his mother

To reiterate the comments of others, it would be great if this program was available online for viewers abroad ..

- Sreenadh

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 18 Feb 2009, 03:32

Or at least on youtube!

Lakshman · Post by **Lakshman** » 18 Feb 2009, 03:53

Best of succes with all your programs Nivedita. Hope we are able to see some of the programs abroad, on utube.