Skip to main content

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.

author
Written by
Nambiar Sooryavamsha Kshathriya

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


Labels:

Comments

  1. Steve AleyJune 1, 2018 at 12:37 AM

    Nice to see such Legends are remembered

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

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. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Where the Artist Disappears, the Art Lives On - Dr. Sunanda Nair

W hat does a five-decade sadhana give to a practitioner? The sadhaka disappears, and the art speaks through the artist. What Dr. Sunanda Nair gave at Rose Theatre Brampton was a riveting 30–40 minutes of performance. The program, held on November 17, was part of the Umang Festival – Light of Hope, organized and curated by Mrudanga by Enakshi Sinha from Canada, supported by the Department of Heritage Canada and the Ontario Arts Council (OCAF). Sunanda Nair brought 'Adharam Madhuram' and 'Kubja' to the stage. When the artist speaks about what she is bringing to the stage, it feels better than an emcee reading it out. It is the emotions of the artist about the item, in their own voice, that come out, thereby giving life to the item even before it starts. Adharam Madhuram began by beautifully expressing Krishna's sweetness, slowly transporting us to the details. When he came to conso...
Post a Comment
Read more

!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 ...
Post a Comment
Read more

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...
Post a Comment
Read more

Aananda Bhairavi and Sree Thyagaraja Swami; 'Neeke Theliyaka Pote..'

T housands of Keerthanams that streamed down from the Divine Heart of Sri Thyagaraja Swami have been spawning unfathomable and indecipherable feelings in us for centuries. 'Neeke Theliyaka..', among those priceless gems, is the only 'Keerthanam' in Ragam AanandaBhairavi from Sri Thyagaraja Swami! A snippet on this:- Once Swami ji happened to hear Sri Shayama Shasthrikal singing AanandaBhairavi. Feeling it to be an awesome sauce, Swamiji fell head over heels in love with the AanandaBhairavi of Shasthrikal. Bowing before Shastrikal, with such a pure and humble heart Swamiji's words broke the silence," Divine is Thy rendition, henceforth dost I wish no Keerthanams from me take shape in AanandaBhairavi !" (Note: "ksheera saagara vihaara aparimita.." in AanandaBhairavi by Sri Thyagaraja Swamikal is a   DivyaPrabhandam [Utsava Sampradaya] ) Lyrics and Meaning below:   Keerthanam on Lord Sree Rama. ...
Post a Comment
Read more