Kalki Deepavali Malar and Amudhasurabhi on 'Myriad Forms of Lord Siva'

I am very fortunate and feel honored to have been featured in this year's "Kalki Deepavali Malar" and in the October 2013 issue of the Tamizh monthly "Amudhasurabhi "- both regarding the Project "Myriad Forms of Lord Siva" that I have undertaken since February 2013. It is a year-long project and planned to be done in 12 episodes.

I am giving below the Deepavali Malar interview and the article that has been published in "Amudhasurabhi".

(P.S - Right-click on the image->open link in new tab->zoom in)

(Kalki - Page 1)

(Kalki - Page 2)

(Kalki - Page 3)

(Kalki - Page 4)

(Amudhasurabhi - Oct 2013)

Myriad Forms of Lord Siva (Episode 9) - 27/10/13

Venue : Tattvaloka, Eldams Road, Teynampet, Chennai

Chief Guest : Sangeetha Kalanidhi Smt. R.Vedavalli

Guest of Honor: Sri.K.V.Rangaswami, Advisor to Chairman, Larsen &Toubro Ltd

(Sri.Rangaswami being honored by Sri.P.Ramabhadran, Shanthi Arts Foundation)










Forms taken up in this episode:
Gnana Murthy (Dakshinamurthy) and Nrutta Murthy (Nataraja)

Co-Artists:
B.Ananthakrishnan - Violin
Mudikondan S.N.Ramesh  - Veena
Poongulam Subramanian - Mridangam








I started this series in February 2013 and by God's grace, 9 episodes have been successfully completed.
I am planning to write in detail about this project very soon.

I can only say that it has been a great experience for me doing this project and a wonderful learning process. A lot of careful study and research, meticulous planning for each episode etc etc...this list goes on...

I would like to thank other artists like Smt. Gayathri Venkataraghavan (who attended this episode), Sri. Vijay Siva, Sri.K.R.Ganesh and Malladi Brothers, who have all attended earlier sessions of this project. It is indeed heartening to see one's colleagues on such occasions !

Not to forget the members of the audience who have been attending this series in large numbers, with a lot of enthusiasm and interest.
 
The next episode of "Myriad Forms of Lord Siva" will be on 24th November 2013 (Sunday) at 5 pm at the same venue.

I will announce the dates for Episodes 11 and 12 very soon. It would be great to see a lot more of my friends and Rasikas in the last 3 episodes, now that the series is nearing its completion.

Myriad Forms of Lord Siva (Episode 8) - 22/9/13

Venue : Tattvaloka, Eldams Road, Teynampet, Chennai

Chief Guest : Vidushi Smt. Ritha Rajan

Guest of Honor: Sri.R.Seshasayee, Vice-Chairman, Ashok Leyland Ltd.

(Sri.Seshasayee being honored by Cleveland Sri.V.V.Sundaram)

Forms taken up in this episode: Somaskanda Murthy

Co-Artists:


V.Sanjeev - Violin
N.Vijayalakshmi - Veena
Poongulam Subramanian - Mridangam

Members in the audience:

Myriad Forms of Lord Siva (Episode 7)- 25/8/13

Venue : Tattvaloka, Eldams Road, Teynampet, Chennai

Chief Guest : Padma Bhushan Vidwan. P.S.Narayanaswamy

Co-Artists:

Mysore Srikanth - Violin
Poongulam Subramaniam - Mridangam
N.Vijayalakshmi - Veena

A section of the audience:

Forms taken up in this episode: Somaskanda Murthy

Next episode is on September 22nd at 5 p.m, at Tattvaloka,Eldams Road, Teynampet.

Sri Matha Samarpanam Trust, Chennai

Sri Matha Samarpanam Trust is the brainchild of Smt.Nalini Ramprasad and Sri.Ramprasad, based in Chennai.
The Trust celebrated its 15th Anniversary on the 24th of August at Sivakami Petachi Auditorium, Chennai.

Smt.Nalini Ramprasad used to run an organization called "Children Academy" in the 80's and many of us gave our maiden concerts at Children Academy :-)

My debut concert was for Children Academy in the year 1986.

As part of the 15th Anniversary celebrations of  Sri Matha Samarpanam Trust, Smt.Nalini chose to honor many of us with the title of "Sangeetha Sarathy", who grew along with Children Academy during our school days. I shared the dias along with my colleagues including Embar.Kannan, S.Varadarajan, Calcutta Sisters, Manoj Siva, Poorna Siva, S.P.Ramh, K.Arunprakash and many more. We were all given awards in recognition of our achievements. It was indeed a very pleasant occasion :-)
    

A CD of "Shiva Shlokas", rendered by the disciples of Smt.Nalini was released on this occasion by Padmasri.Dr.Nalli Kuppusami Chettiar. I received the first copy.

(seen in the picture from L to R: Sri.Ramprasad, Smt.Nalini, Sri.Koothapiran, Dr.Nalli Kuppusami Chettiar, myself)

Rasika Ranjana Sabha- Trichy- 17/8/13

Concert was on 17th August, 2013 as part of their L.V.Memorial concert series.

Co-artists:

B.Ananthakrishnan - Violin
B.Sivaraman-Mridangam

Myriad Forms of Lord Siva (Episode 6)- 28/7/13

Venue : Tattvaloka, Eldams Road, Teynampet, Chennai

Chief Guest : Sangeetha Mahamahopadhyaya Sri. T.R.Subramaniam

Co-Artists:

Mysore Srikanth - Violin
Mannarkoil.J.Balaji - Mridangam
N.Vijayalakshmi - Veena

A section of the audience:

Forms taken up in this episode: Umasahita Murthy and Somaskanda Murthy

Episode 7 - on August 25th (Sunday), 5 p.m,  at the same venue.

Myriad Forms of Lord Siva (Episode 5) - 30/6/13

Venue : Tattvaloka, Eldams Road, Teynampet, Chennai

Chief Guest : Sangeetha Kala Acharya Smt. Suguna Varadachari

Co-Artists:

Mysore Srikanth - Violin
S.Balashankar - Mridangam
N.Vijayalakshmi - Veena

A section of the audience:

Forms taken up in this episode: Kirata Murthy, Sadashiva Murthy and Umasahita Murthy

Next  episode is on July 28th (Sunday), 6 p.m,  at the same venue.

Myriad Forms of Lord Siva (Episode 4) - 26/5/13

Venue: Tattvaloka, Eldams Road, Teynampet, Chennai.

Chief Guest: Sangeetha Choodamani Smt.Suguna Purushothaman

Co-Artists:
Dr.R.Hemalatha- Violin
Sri. Poongulam Subramanian - Mridangam
Sri.G.R.S.Murthy - Veena

Forms taken up in this episode: gangAdharar, neelakanTar:

A section of the audience:

Next episode is on June 30th, 2013 at 6 p.m at the same venue.

Myriad Forms of Lord Siva (Episode 3) - 6/4/13

Venue: Tattvaloka, Eldams Road, Teynampet

Co-Artists:

Sri.V.V.Ravi - Violin
Sri.S.Balashankar - Mridangam
Mudikondan Sri.S.N.Ramesh - Veena

Next episode is on 26th of May, 2013 at Tattvaloka, Teynampet at 5 pm.

Myriad Forms of Lord Siva (Episode 2) - 5/3/13

Venue: Ragasudha Hall, Mylapore

Co-Artists:
M.A.Krishnaswamy - Violin
Smt.R.Ramani - Veena
Mannarkoil.J.Balaji  - Mridangam

Next episode is on 6th April at Tatvaloka, Eldams Road at 6 p.m.

Adambakkam Sapthaswaralaya - 3/3/13

Co-Artists:

B.V.Raghavendra Rao - Violin
B.Ganapathiraman - Mridangam
Chandrasekhara Sharma - Ghatam

N.R.Mohalla Sangeetha Sabha, Mysore - 22/2/13

This was part of the Tyagaraja and Purandara Dasa Aradhana celebrations in Mysore.

Co-Artists:
M.R.Gopinath - Violin
B.Sivaraman - Mridangam
M.R.Manjunath - Ghatam

Song List: (R-Raga Alapana,N-Neraval,S-Kalpanaswaram,T-Tani Avarthanam)

1. varNam -sAvErI - Adi (S)
2. iti samayamu - nAtakapriyA - rUpakam -mysore vAsudEvAchAr (R)
3. nArAyanA - sudhdhadhanyAsi - kanta cApu - purandara dAsar (R,S)
4. rAja rAja - nIrOshtA - tisra Adi -harikEsanallur muthiah bhAgavatar
5. sukhi evvarO - kAnadA - Adi - tyAgarAja
6. tAyE yashOdA - tOdi - Adi - uthukadu vEnkatakavi
7. EthAvunarA -kalyANi - Adi - tyAgarAja (R,N,S,T)
8. chinnanjiru kiLiyE - rAgamAlikA - tisra Adi - mahAkavi subramanya bhAratiyar
9. dEvaki nandana - rAgamAlikA - Adi - purandara dAsa
10. tillAnA - madhuvanti - Adi - lAlgudi jayarAman
11. mangaLam

Sri Ananta Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Adayar - 19/2/13

This was part of the Brahmotsavam Celebrations at the temple.

Co-Artists:

Mysore Srikanth - Violin
Kumbakonam Swaminathan - Mridangam
Anirudh Athreya - Kanjira









Song List: (R-Raga Alapana,N-Neraval,S-Kalpanaswaram,T-Tani Avarthanam)

1. Azhwar Pasuram- Bowli
2. dEvadEva - mAyAmAlavagowla - rUpakam - maharaja swAti TirunAl (S)
3. kshEmam kuru - mOhanam - misracApu - nArAyaNa teerthar(R)
4. innudaya bAradE - kalyAnavasantham - kanta cApu - purandara dAsa (R,N,S)
5. virutham, AdAdu asangAdu - madhyamAvati - Adi - UthukAdu vEnkatakavi
6. O rangasAyi - kAmbhOji - Adi -  tyAgarAja (R,N,S,T)
7. Om namO - karnaranjani - kanta cApu - ambujam krishna
8. rAma nAmamE - dEsh - Adi - tanjAvur sankara iyer
9. ksheerAbdhi kanyakaku -  kurinji - kanta cApu -annamAcAryA
10.tillAnA - madhuvanti - Adi - lalgudi jayaraman

Nadajyothi Sri Tyagaraja Swamy Bhajana Sabha - 17/2/13

This concert was held at Sri Vasavi Temple Premises, 8th Cross, Malleswaram, Bangalore.

Co-Artists:

B.K.Raghu - Violin
B.C.Manjunath - Mridangam
Bharadwaj R.Sathavalli - Morsing







Song List: (R-Raga Alapana,N-Neraval,S-Kalpanaswaram,T-Tani Avarthanam)
1. varNam - pantuvarALi - Adi (S)
2. shakti gaNapatim - nAta - rUpakam - harikEsanallur muthiah bhAgavatar
3. chintayE mahAlinga - paras - Adi - muttusvAmi dIkshitar
4. neenEdayALO - Anandabhairavi - misra cApu - purandara dAsa (R,S)
5. sarasa sAmadAna - kApinArAyaNi - Adi - tyAgarAja
6. sEshAcala nAyakam - varALi - rUpakam - muttusvAmi dIkshitar (R,N,S)
7. manavyAla - nalinakAnti - Adi - tyAgarAja
8. cakkani rAja - kharaharapriyA - Adi - tyAgarAja (R,S,T)
9. rAma rama - chenjurutti - rUpakam - tyAgarAja
10.kanakasaila - punnAgavarALi - Adi - syAmA sAstri
11.sadA enna - bEhAg -  rUpakam - vijaya vittala dAsa
12.tambUri meetidava - sindubhairavi - Adi - purandaradAsar
13.rAmakrishnaru - tilang - Adi(misranadai) - purandaradAsar
14.nAgendra hArAya - sivapanchAkshara stOtram
Mangalam  

Sri Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha - 16/2/13

Tyagaraja Aradhana Celebrations.
Venue - Vani Mahal, T.Nagar

Co-Artists:

Dr.R.Hemalatha - Violin
B.Sivaraman - Mridangam
K.V.Gopalakrishnan - Kanjira








Song List: (R-Raga Alapana,N-Neraval,S-Kalpanaswaram,T-Tani Avarthanam)

1. rA rA mAyintiki - asAvEri - Adi (S)
2. dinamaNi vamsa - harikAmbhOji - Adi
3. Dudukugala - gowLa - Adi
4. kAlaharaNa mElarA - sudhdhasAvEri - rUpakam (R,S)
5. karuNa ElAgantE - varALi - Adi (R,N)
6. enduku peddala - sankarAbharaNam - Adi (R,N,S,T)
7. rAma pAhi - kApi - misra cApu
8. rAma rAma - chenjurutti - rUpakam
9. mangaLam

Anandam Isai Vizha - 15/2/13

Anandam is a free home for senior citizens, located at Kallikuppam in Ambattur.
They celebrated their tenth anniversary and had many concerts on this occasion.

Mysore Srikanth and B.Sivaraman performed with me at this concert.









 



The entire complex is a very nice one, with a library, common lounge, physiotherapy room and many such facilities.
   
Anandam provides free accommodation for these seniors with comforts like cots, mattresses, fans, solar water heaters, refrigerators, color television and much more. Regular medical check-ups are done and the elderly people are taken care of in a wonderful manner.


It was an extremely enjoyable experience to sing for the senior citizens, who had assembled in large numbers in the prayer hall. The love and affection shown by each and every inmate of the home was very touching.

Some of the inmates who couldn't even walk up to the prayer hall, were seated in the lounge and library and witnessed the concert through the huge LCD screens installed there.

We were all treated with immense warmth by the senior citizens. A very memorable experience.... And an evening filled with affection from every direction....What more does one need?

  

Myriad Forms Of Lord Siva (Episode 1) - 10/2/2013

"Myriad Forms of Lord Siva" is a thematic presentation and on 10th Feb was the first concert of this series. There will be 11 more presentations on the same topic, one every month.

This thematic production is supported by the Ministry Of Culture, Govt.Of India.

The concert presentation deals with the Forms of Lord Siva based on the compositions of Muttusvami Dikshitar and other well-known composers.

Venue : Ragasudha Hall, Luz.

Co-artistes:
V.Sanjeev - Violin
Poongulam Subramaniam - Mridangam
P.V.Ramana - Flute






Sangeetha Siromani, Vidwan Prof.S.R.Janakiraman inaugurated this series. Renowned Bharatanatyam Exponent and Expert Member, Ministry Of Culture, Smt. Nandini Ramani felicitated.

The thematic concert also included a multimedia presentation.

After giving an introduction to the theme and a brief outline about my approach for the next 11 episodes,  the following Kritis were rendered along with explanation on the temple iconography, Purana references, references in Sastras etc.

1. hastivadanAya - navroj- misra cApu
2. tEvaram- keeravANi(virutham)-tirunaavukkarasar (kAlasamhAra mUrthy)
3. sankaramabhirAmi manOharam-kamalAmanOhari - tisra Ekam (kAlasamhAra mUrthy)
4. kaala bhairavam - bhairavam - Adi (kAlabhairavar)
5. srI vatukanAtha - dEvakriyA - misra cApu (vatukabhairavar)
6. swarNa kAla bhairavam- kalyANi - sankeerNa triputa  (swarna vEnkatEsa dIkshitar's composition on swarna Akarshana bhairavar)

This program was very well received by Rasikas and the response was heartening.

Oscar Nomination for Bombay Jayashri

85th Annual Academy Awards : Carnatic Vocalist and playback singer Bombay Jayashri has been nominated in the "Best Original Song Category" for the lyrics of the lullaby that she has penned in the movie "Life of Pi". The song is in Tamizh and has been beautifully sung by Jayashri.

We are indeed proud that one of our colleagues has been nominated for such a prestigious award.

Lets keep our fingers crossed and wait for the results to be announced on February 25th, 2013 !

Nadhasudha, Velachery - 3/1/2013

Venue: Poojyasree Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Ashram,Velachery

Co-artistes:
M.R.Gopinath - Violin
Poongulam Subramanian - Mridangam
N.Guruprasad - Ghatam











Song List: (R-Raga Alapana,N-Neraval,S-Kalpanaswaram,T-Tani Avarthanam)

1. dEva dEva - mAyAmAlavagowLa - rUpakam - mahArAja swAti tirunAL (S)
2. needAn mechikolla - sriranjani - Adi - UthukAdu vEnkatasubbier
3. hiranmayeem lakshmIm - lalitA - rUpakam - muttuswAmi dIkshitar (R,N,S)
4. kalyANarAma - hamsanAdham - Adi - UthukAdu vEnkatasubbier (R,S)
5. saravanabhava - pasupatipriyA - Adi - harikEsanallur muthiah bhAgavatar
6. innamum sandEha - keeravANi - misra cApu - gOpAlakrishna bhArati (R,N,S,T)
7. srI mAdhava - bEhAg -  Adi - pApanAsam sivan
8. needhAn thuNai - rAgamAlikA - misra cApu - N.S.Chidambaram
9. kanaka saila - punnAgavarALi - Adi - syAmA sAstri
10. mangaLam   

N.K.T Music Festival - 2/1/2013

Venue: N.K.T Hall, Triplicane

Co-Artistes:
B.Ananthakrishnan - Violin
B.Ganapathiraman - Mridangam









Song List : (R-Raga Alapana,N-Neraval,S-Kalpanaswaram,T-Tani Avarthanam)

1. varNam - sAvEri - Adi (S)
2. swAgatam krishnA - mOhanam - Adi(tisra) - oothukAdu vEnkatakavi
3. marivErE - Anandabhairavi - misra cApu - syAmA sAstri (R,S)
4. nambikettavar - hindOLam - Adi - pApanAsam sivan
5. Anandanatam AduvAr - pUrvikalyANi - rUpakam - neelakanta sivan (R,S)
6. EdayyA gati - chalanAta - Adi - kOteeswara iyer
7. pakkala nilabadi - kharaharapriyA - misra cApu - tyAgarAjA (R,N,S,T)
8. virutham, pArthasArati - sumanEsaranjani -Adi  - Dr.Rukmini Ramani
9. irakkam varAmal - bEhAg - rUpakam - gOpAlakrishna bhArati
10. mangaLam