Pandit Samta Prasad - Resonance unlimited

If each year is a beat, today the second cycle of the twelve beat Ekthal is completed, after the demise of the Maharaj of Thaal- Pandit Samta Prasad (Gudai Maharaj). Of course, his life was not different from his own words: "The whole life of a tabla artiste is dedicated to finding a special beat with the tali and the khali. They reside in his heart, because his soul rests and throbs with the thaala of measured matras".

He is a musician who had dominance over both the baayan and tabla. He was an illustrious soloist and accompanist. In Pandit Kishan Maharaj's ( tabla exponent ) opinion, "Tabla in Gudai ji's hands seemed like a fish trapped in an eagle's claws". He had such an astonishing control over the instrument. It is said that in those days, the organizers felt like- without Gudai Maharaj the concerts were incomplete and they will first attest to the date of Gudai Maharaj before they finalize the main artist ! He was awarded the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1979 and the PathmaBhooshan, the third highest civilian honor given by Govt. of India in 1991.

Pandit Samta Prasad and Ustad Amjad Alikhan

Not too many artists had the blessing of leaving this material world after a concert on the same day like Gudai Maharaj. 1994, May 31st was such a day. From the ultimate Tali to the richness of Khali !

Pranaams to the Legend.

Written by
Nambiar Sooryavamsha Kshathriya

Get updated!
Visit and Like our fb page at : www.facebook.com/wocue

Comments

Steve AleyJune 1, 2018 at 12:37 AM
Nice to see such Legends are remembered
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment

Nrithya Seva Mani by Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival to Kalasree Dr Sunanda Nair

C leveland Thyagaraja Festival's Nrithya Seva Mani award will be presented to the renowned Mohiniyattam exponent Dr. Sunanda Nair. The title of Nrithya Seva Mani is bestowed upon an individual who has made a lasting contribution to Classical Dance through propagation and demonstration. Senior disciple of Pathmabhushan Dr Kanak Rele, Dr. Sunanda Nair is one of the foremost exponents of the art today. She is the first student to complete Masters Degree in Mohiniyattam in India. She has completed her PhD from University of Mumbai for her thesis "Intrinsic Lyrical Feminism in Mohiniattam". She was in high school, while she started the Srutilaya Institute of Fine Arts, which trains students both Mohiniattam and Bharatanatyam, in 1980. She had performed all around the globe in prestigious venues and had received somany awards such as 'Kalarathnam’ from Kerala Kalamandalam(2016), 'Kalaasree' from the Kerala Sangeetha Natak Akadem...

"Birju Maharaj: The Master Through My Eyes" - Saswati Sen

P resents layers of the Kathak maestro's personality as witnessed by one of his foremost disciples. This book reveals how this icon of Indian dance, who is a mentor for thousands and an inspiration for countless people across the globe, is actually an unassuming, simple person outside his artistic world. Saswati Sen has known Pandit Birju Maharaj for over forty-five years. Gradually, she began to see the divinity in her talented master and decided to write a book on his life and work. Birju Maharaj: The Master Through My Eyes presents layers of the Kathak maestro. Title - Birju Maharaj: The Master Through My Eyes Author - Saswati Sen Publisher - Niyogi Books, 2013 ISBN - 9381523827, 9789381523827 Length - 216 pages Subjects- Biography & Autobiography › Composers & Musicians Buy this Book >>

Prayers through Music, Dr. Bombay Jayashri

S adguru Sainath attained Samadhi on Vijaya Dashami day exactly 100 years ago . In relation to this on 18th Oct. 2018, Vidushi Dr. Bombay will offer the prayers through Music. In August 1918, Shirdi Sai Baba told some of his devotees that he would soon be "leaving his mortal body" . Towards the end of September, he stopped eating. As his condition deteriorated, he asked his disciples to recite holy texts to him and continued to meet visitors. On 15th October 1918, he breathed his last. This year on 18th October 2018, the thithi of Dasami comes after mid day as per Hindu lunar astronomy. Hence Sai Temple all over observe 18th October as Samadhi Centenary.

Nrtya Techniques in Mohiniyattam; book released

R enowned 'Mizhavu' artist and Guru - Padmashri P.K. Narayanan Nambiar released a book ( Malayalam ) - 'Nrthya Sankethangal Mohiniyattathil' written by Dr. Geetha Sivakumar at Palakkad, Keralam. Over the years, different 'Baanis' or 'Traditions' had contributed a lot in the nourishment of Mohiniyattam. This book -'Nrtya Sankethangal Mohiniyattathil' focuses on 'Kalamandalam baani'. ”Mohiniyattam, a lyrical dance form of Kerala, has a well structured 'prayoga' style in Kerala Kalamandalam Kalaries. This book tends to analyse the techniques of Mohiniyattam adopted by Kerala Kalamandalam so as to consider it as a Lasya Nrtya form. The queries on the techniques of nrtya such as what, why, where, when are the basic thought of this study. It is analysed on the basis of Sanskrit texts, which give us more scientific explanations and principles. ...

!da Dance Fest 2019 at God's Own Country - Third edition

T hird edition of ida dance fest was organized on 14th and 15th December 2019 at 'The Land of Lords and Looms' -Kannur, Kerala, a region famous for the Theyyams and Handlooms. On the first day, Kathak by Richa Guptha, Bharathanatyam by RLV Anand, Harinie Jeevitha & Bhairavi Venkatesan, Kuchipudi by Ruchi Krishna and Aavani Rakesh were presented. An item that depicted the story of Lord Ayyappa in Ragamalika set to Aadi thalam was presented by RLV Anand. Harinie Jeevitha & Bhairavi Venkatesan started their performance with an invocation to Lord Ganesha. Through their next item 'Ananada Natana Prakasam' of Shri Muthuswami Deekshithar, both Harinie and Bhairavi captured the attention of the audience. Due to the deviation from the Bharathanatyam's traditional style of music in the background, their next item 'Janani Jagathkarini' did effect the 'classical mood' of the performance. It is not that the choreography or performance ...

Celebrating Fifty Years of Guru Narasimhachari's Kalasamarpana Foundation

K alasamarpana Foundation, a notable academy that have been spreading and training the classical art forms, is completing Fifty Golden Years. It was founded by the Artist couples Guru Narasimhachari and Vasanthalakshmi in 1969. The program titled 'Swarnaanjali' will be conducted on 4th August 2019, Sunday at Narada Gana Sabha, Chennai 5.00 PM - 5.45 PM at Lobby - A walk-through gallery showcasing rare photographs of The Narasimhacharis 5.45 p.m. Auditorium opens for seating. 6.00 - 8.00 p.m 'Swarnaanjali' - An offering of Natyam dedicated to Guru Narasimhachari featuring over 100 artistes.

SPIC MACAY 'Kumbh' - A plethora of Indian classical music and dance

W e all know the 'Kumbh' or 'Kumbha' Mela (Fair) to be one of the largest human congregations in the world. This 50 day festival is a pilgrimage of faith where people gather to bathe in the sacred river, Ganges. Traditionally, the ArdhKumbh (which is now celebrated as Kumbh) is held once in every six years at different locations (Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik and Ujjain) depending on Hindu astrological positions. This year, the Kumbh is being celebrated from 15th January - 4th March 2019 at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. SPICMACAY has come together with Ministry of Culture, Government of India, Dept. of Culture, U.P., District Administration, Mela Administration and got the opportunity to be a part of the Kumbh Mela 2019 Anahad Naad 'The Unheard Sound' and celebrate the richness and diversity of our Indian heritage. In this regard, SPICMACAY has invited students from different states to participate in the majestic SPICMACAY Kumbh Mela 2019 to be hel...

Executive Music Therapy Health Check up for the Wandering Monk! - Margazhi 2018

H aving come from Delhi to Chennai Margazhi, i decided to do an executive music therapy and consulted different 'resident doctors', specialists, super specialists etc located in different Sabhas. My music therapy began at Krishna Gana Sabha on 24th December with 'a detailed examination' by Pandit Ronu Majumdar who is arguably the best Lungs and Breath specialist. He decided immediately on 'checking' me that i should first be de-toxicated as I have come from a highly polluted Delhi. He breathed melody of his magic flute for two hours and i felt as if i am surrounded by Air Purifier. At the end of the session he gave me a hug to certify that i am purified. My next visit was to Partha Sarathy Swami Sabha where a Fulbright ( fully bright ) GP by name Sikkil Gurucharan took me right under his nose . I was seated by him in the front row and the session of 150 minutes was rejuvenating. He also took help from a very senior Consul...

WOCUE

Search This Blog