WOCUE

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...

V idushi Bombay Jayashri culminated her musical yagnas Margazhi season Chennai appropriately at a Sabha whose name is synonymous with the Vedic sage holding Tampura singing songs of Vishnu and Sadguru Gnanananda . Yes Sadguru Gananda Auditorium of Narada Gana Sabha was chocked with ardent music lovers from Chennai and rest of the ‘world’ to listen to Carnatic music by Bombay Jayashri. While, on 30 December 18, people started queuing up outside the gates in 'tune' with the anticipated calm and meditative music, there was a celestial event of invisible line up of ragas waiting to waft in and gently enter the vocal chords of the divine singer framed between two Tampuras . And when curtain was raised at 4 pm. Bindumalini, Kalyani, sriranjani, Sindhu Bhairavi, Desh - to name a few Gandharv Beings - came one by one in a very orderly manner. In contrast to the melody , the applause was higher than 6 on the Richter Scale and the standing ovation appeared to be unend...

S he came she sang she conquered. Bombay Jayashri performed scintillating concert at Music Academy today prime slot. For 150 minutes several ragas ( Carnatic music does not have concept of Ragini ) wafted. Thodi, the central piece, descended from Heaven and embraced in its aura the entire audience of 1500 passionate music lovers. After a soul stirring Alap,she chose Shyama Sastri Swami’s masterpiece Ninne Namminanu Sada for her characteristic treatment. The music was sublime and emphasis was pristine purity with traditional hues. Acute poverty of expressions come in the way of describing her concert in words. Heard melodies are sweet but the reverberations are sweeter because of the joy of recollections in tranquility. Today’s fulfilment of a dream for me reminded me of a place in Scotland which I visited last year where Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy were said to have stayed for some time . The poet wrote The Solitary Reaper in 1815 at that place and I q...

I have always nursed a dream of attending a live concert of young and prodigiously talented Saketharaman the Carnatic Vocal * on the horizon. There is something about Saketh that leaves you craving for more and you submit an urgent wish list looking yonder at sky and a prayer in your lips to soon grant you the wish of next concert. He has a knack of disproving that there is satiation as your greed and appetite increases multifold and Eh Dil Mange More. Saketh lit the auditorium with cascaded divine Carnatic music and it was music for the souls as evidenced by earth quake of applause repeatedly at every subtle nuances he scaled effortlessly. The repertoire : Palayasumam – Arabhi Sundaratara deham – Pantuvarali Amba Neelambari – Neelambari VaraNarada – VijayaSri Marakathavalli – Kambhoji Ragam Tanam Pallavi – Varamu & Saveri (dwi-raga) Aadu Chidambaramo – Behag Tirupugazh – Hamir Kalyani Saketh started the concert with a slokam in Arabhi and he j...