There was a slight nip in the air but the much awaited rainfall gave us a miss. That was November, 2016. Hm.... even I have to give a miss to dear Chennai during this warming up time! November slipped away fast but our own northeast monsoon also eluded us.
I was trying to look for ways to go to the season at least for two days as December was around the corner. Our wait for the rainfall came to a disastrous end with cyclone Vardha had a monstrous run over the city of Chennai! But once again, the city came out of it remarkably in a short span of time and got back to celebrate one more music season.
But, what about me? "Can I make it for 16, 17 or better still for the Christmas weekend?", I was working out the logistics desperately. Would have loved to be in Chennai around 28, 29 and 30th of December.
Surprisingly, I was not greatly disappointed with every moment longing for the sweet strains of a Kalyani or Thodi or Reethigowlai or the chirpy Hamsadwani or soul- stirring Saveri. Hope, yes, that was the feeling! I hoped to listen to good music and get soaked in the ragapravaaham. The 'Malai', Arunachalam pulled me here and soothed me in a way which cannot be described in words! Every morning, evening and night I used to look up to the 'Deepam' there on top and I was sucked into the Jothi to be one with the whole!. The stillness and the calm that engulfed me cannot be reduced to words. It was a different kind of downpour that soaked me - not the monsoon rain or the musical downpour - the entire city and thousands of people focusing on one thought - Annamalaiyan! Just walking in the busy streets around the temple during and before the Karthikai festival was enough to let go of everything to be in oneself.
So, with hope, I kept working on a plan and finally got a two day slot! Not the prefered dates, but still it is music, my passion!
(Chennai! here I come!)
I got to listen to Panthula Rama and Saketharaman in MFAC. Panthula Rama's singing was as usual traditional and crisp in her unique style. Her Thodi was aesthetic and she sang the thanam in Kaapi - " Nandabala, Navaneethachora.."
Saketharaman's voice with practice and regular singing has become like a ripe mango. He made a brisk beginning with 'Saalakellala'(Arabhi). Both the Dhanyasi('Kanakasabhapathi darisam') and Kambhoji ('Rangam, Srirangam, Ranganatham urangum arangam')pieces were soaked in Bhathi bhava.
His RTP in Saveri and Abheri was like jackfruit soaked in honey. With perfect ease he glided from one raga to another.
His swaraprasthara was like the most welcome droplets from above falling like diamond stones shining bright!
The added bonus was Dushyanth Sridhar's Harikatha accompanied by singing.
I listened to a lot more of Markazhi uthsavam, thanks to Jaya TV and Vijay TV.
That is beyond the scope of this article, I think.
I missed the usual 'getting ready' for the evening concerts, planning from the morning and seeing the regular listeners like me and enjoying collectively!
A little 'hoity-toity' discerning Rasikas of Chennai would measure me and they would keep their smile and recognition within the slight lift of their brows and lips. No more! I used to get pieces of critical information about who sang where and how when they discuss the 'kutchery happenings. There is a group of middle aged men who visit the concerts and their knowledge of classical music is astounding. The moment the artist begins to hum, a voice from the group would promptly reveal the raga. There was never a feeling of being alone! Again, I go there to be with the music. The discerning rasikas just enhance the experience. This setting and ambience add to the fun.
I was trying to look for ways to go to the season at least for two days as December was around the corner. Our wait for the rainfall came to a disastrous end with cyclone Vardha had a monstrous run over the city of Chennai! But once again, the city came out of it remarkably in a short span of time and got back to celebrate one more music season.
But, what about me? "Can I make it for 16, 17 or better still for the Christmas weekend?", I was working out the logistics desperately. Would have loved to be in Chennai around 28, 29 and 30th of December.
Surprisingly, I was not greatly disappointed with every moment longing for the sweet strains of a Kalyani or Thodi or Reethigowlai or the chirpy Hamsadwani or soul- stirring Saveri. Hope, yes, that was the feeling! I hoped to listen to good music and get soaked in the ragapravaaham. The 'Malai', Arunachalam pulled me here and soothed me in a way which cannot be described in words! Every morning, evening and night I used to look up to the 'Deepam' there on top and I was sucked into the Jothi to be one with the whole!. The stillness and the calm that engulfed me cannot be reduced to words. It was a different kind of downpour that soaked me - not the monsoon rain or the musical downpour - the entire city and thousands of people focusing on one thought - Annamalaiyan! Just walking in the busy streets around the temple during and before the Karthikai festival was enough to let go of everything to be in oneself.
So, with hope, I kept working on a plan and finally got a two day slot! Not the prefered dates, but still it is music, my passion!
(Chennai! here I come!)
I got to listen to Panthula Rama and Saketharaman in MFAC. Panthula Rama's singing was as usual traditional and crisp in her unique style. Her Thodi was aesthetic and she sang the thanam in Kaapi - " Nandabala, Navaneethachora.."
Saketharaman's voice with practice and regular singing has become like a ripe mango. He made a brisk beginning with 'Saalakellala'(Arabhi). Both the Dhanyasi('Kanakasabhapathi darisam') and Kambhoji ('Rangam, Srirangam, Ranganatham urangum arangam')pieces were soaked in Bhathi bhava.
His RTP in Saveri and Abheri was like jackfruit soaked in honey. With perfect ease he glided from one raga to another.
His swaraprasthara was like the most welcome droplets from above falling like diamond stones shining bright!
The added bonus was Dushyanth Sridhar's Harikatha accompanied by singing.
I listened to a lot more of Markazhi uthsavam, thanks to Jaya TV and Vijay TV.
That is beyond the scope of this article, I think.
I missed the usual 'getting ready' for the evening concerts, planning from the morning and seeing the regular listeners like me and enjoying collectively!
A little 'hoity-toity' discerning Rasikas of Chennai would measure me and they would keep their smile and recognition within the slight lift of their brows and lips. No more! I used to get pieces of critical information about who sang where and how when they discuss the 'kutchery happenings. There is a group of middle aged men who visit the concerts and their knowledge of classical music is astounding. The moment the artist begins to hum, a voice from the group would promptly reveal the raga. There was never a feeling of being alone! Again, I go there to be with the music. The discerning rasikas just enhance the experience. This setting and ambience add to the fun.
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