MaNakkAl Rangarajan

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 06 Feb 2006, 11:48

Remember the thread on Bboard on a gnb track and manakkal Srirams clarification.
last week I had a chance To visit them , on behalf of Raju Asokan(I was picking up some Manakkal Rangarajan music on his behalf )

A very pleasant visit , with the whole family standing in attendance.
They have had a lot of emails after our discussions at sangeetham and are quite happy that Internet and all the other related technology is being put to good use in showcasing the past .
for the serious rasika of manakkals Music , I can post further details of music that can be had from Sriram.(Hope I am not giving the impression of soliciting business on their behalf-please excuse me if anyone feels so.I have been listening to this music now and I sincerely feel that these should be heard by more people.)

As i entered their Home they greeted me with " so you are the guy who posted the Konakkol track and the other ones ?'

They quickly put me at ease though.They told me i was free to put up samples from these lots onto forums .

They even asked me -where are your friends from the Forum ? So I leave it to Srkris and other Chennaites to decide a date for the visit.Lots of chembai related stories guaranteed..

Manakkal Rangarajan is still active and was walking briskly around the house .I was offered photos from their collection for scanning and uploads as well.

So i will post here from my earlier stock of music that I had plus samples from this bunch

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 06 Feb 2006, 11:52

Dear coolkarni

is it possible to get the source where the concerts of MaNakkaal can be obtained commercially? It will be nice to have a distributer at NA so that they can be obtained easily without a hazzle!

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 06 Feb 2006, 13:05

CML, I am glad you asked. Not that I have any news that you can use readily on that front, but in the bboard when mANakkal music was discussed, I exchanged an email with Sriram that he should consider putting the music up at the paid download sites.

I did some research on this last year, I wanted to see if my guru's concert recordings can be made available there which can get some income for him since he is having great financial difficulties. iTunes referred me to some twenty other consolidator services that feed music to them from such independent artists. In my Guru's case, they could not deal with me since I do not have the copyright. So it has temporarily come to a standstill.

But in Sriram's case, he should be able to do this. Coolkarniji, if you like you can encourage Sriram to do this and may be help out in preparing the recordings in terms of noise reduction etc. I can share with you the details I have. It is still not trivial or straight forward, he needs to find one of those services to take him seriously but it is definitely worth a try.

On the other hand, looking forward to some samples that are on offer now!!

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 06 Feb 2006, 16:36

VK
the recordings are already in excellent shape.
Sriram has got it done in a studio at a considerable expense.He will definitely need some help -directions that you can offer , in terms of sharing that music.
Otherwise I think the most suitable way for any one of us interested here is to mail him directly and ask for further directions.I will put up his email id tomorrow.

But before that I will give you all details of the recordings.
From memory I can quote two
album 1 : presentation of RTP in khamboji - he titles it as tala with both hands ..almost like a lec dem
album 2.Nandanar charitram with subbudu on the harmonium

Mostly from the concerts of 70s.
I wil also try and request Sriram to participate here ..

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 06 Feb 2006, 20:28

It will be nice to have Sriram online here!

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 07 Feb 2006, 01:14

vk

Let us get the laya team on board! It will be nice to discuss maNakkaal in that context as coolkarni is likely to post his laya wizardry and if we can get sriram to enlighten us on the subtle points; it will be divine!

abadri · Post by **abadri** » 07 Feb 2006, 01:52

Kji, thank you for opening this thread.

Would certainly like to get the details on how to obtain more of Shri Manakkal's music.

Shri Sriram had made a tentative first post, on the sangeetham bboard
thanking rasikas for their interest in his dad's music, when the bboard
went down!! Would be great if we could get Shri Sriram to participate here
to continue those discussions, as well as get details on how to obtain
Shri Rangarajan's music.

> Remember the thread on Bboard on a gnb track and manakkal Srirams clarification.
Here's the track that was the seed for that discussion
[rapidshare link deleted]

And here is the track that hooked me on to Shri Rangarajan's music first,
(thanks of course to Raju sir as always!) - a wondeful SankarABaraNam for
the ages (rAgam, tAnam, followed by MD's dakSiNAmUrtE)
[rapidshare links deleted]

Looking forward to more samples and hopefully Shri Sriram's participation

Thanks
-Badri

venkatpv · Post by **venkatpv** » 07 Feb 2006, 05:06

awesome awesome shankarabharanam!!! violin sounds chowdiah-ish??
gimme more!!!! :rolleyes:

abadri · Post by **abadri** » 07 Feb 2006, 07:44

Venkat, the info I've tells me that the violinist is V Sethuramiah, Chowdiah's student.
We'll give you half a point for getting the school right!

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 07 Feb 2006, 07:53

Badri
That shankarabharanam is simply awesome! Is the mridangist Tanjore Upendran? I would love see our laya specialists doing an analysis1

venkatpv · Post by **venkatpv** » 07 Feb 2006, 08:19

oh thanks badri

i could hear the double string

abadri · Post by **abadri** » 08 Feb 2006, 00:55

Badri
That shankarabharanam is simply awesome! Is the mridangist Tanjore Upendran? I would love see our laya specialists doing an analysis1

Full-list of accompaniments
Manakkal Natarajan, Padma Rangarajan (vocal support)
V Sethuramiah (violin)
Tanjore Upendran (mridangam)
R Gurumurthy (ghatam)

With Upndran sir on mridangam, it's a pity that Param's going to be
out of station for the next fortnight!

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 08 Feb 2006, 08:40

a sample from the new bunch - as promised

http://s39.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1ZUJ ... WGFDIKVQY5

Badri.. I have problems with rapidshare.Does not upload any track.Wonder why.
Since yousend it allows only few download, Do you mind converting this to a rapidshare track ?
Thanks in advance.

abadri · Post by **abadri** » 08 Feb 2006, 09:34

Kji, here's the rapidshare link for Manakkal's Vatapi
[rapidshare link deleted]

param · Post by **param** » 08 Feb 2006, 10:07

Badri
That shankarabharanam is simply awesome! Is the mridangist Tanjore Upendran? I would love see our laya specialists doing an analysis1

Lord Ram,

I am a mere vanara - still trying to find a suitable name for myself - by no means a laya specialist - wonder if vanaras ever got into layam - Nandi was a specialist is what I am given to understand :rolleyes:

I am reminded of the days at School when I have won the fancy dress competition for a straight seven years playing the role of none other than the Great Vanara - Hanuman

Abadri - you are partly right - I will be on vacation but will be in the ashram of Sabari for a while (trying to receive a part of the fruits collected for Lord Ram) and will definitely try and put up an analysis - my father will be with me - so a more detailed analysis is sure to be up for the reading of my brethen vanaras

Thanks for all the support I am receiving - it really encourages me to venture into new areas.......

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 08 Feb 2006, 10:32

the second and last sample from the bunch of music at srirams place.

Here is a link for your reference:
http://s52.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2655 ... 27H0TN0IT2

abadri · Post by **abadri** » 08 Feb 2006, 10:57

the second and last sample from the bunch of music at srirams place.

Here is a link for your reference:
http://s52.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2655 ... 27H0TN0IT2

rapidshare link:- [rapidshare link deleted]

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 08 Feb 2006, 13:07

any suggestions as to why i might be having problems with rapid.
after i click the upload button, i do not get the status line ( % kb uploaded and the bar that keeps growing until 100 %)

drshrikaanth · Post by **drshrikaanth** » 08 Feb 2006, 15:52

Coolkarni
I have faced a similar problem. Apart from the inconvenience of not knowing where things are, it doesnt matter as the uploading still takes place and you will get a link at the end. When it finishes, it still shows the message "uploading complte. Scroll down for the links". Initially I had thought that perhaps this too may have now been restricted to premium uses. But now that you are facing the same, I guess it is a generic problem.

meena · Post by **meena** » 09 Feb 2006, 00:15

Kji

i faced the same prob now, no status bar. BUT no prob with the u/l (knock on wood)

mantra · Post by **mantra** » 09 Feb 2006, 00:35

Coolkarni Sir,
I am listening to the Vatapi by Manakkal sir, classic rendition. I wish we could get to hear more of this great man. He has a great voice too.
Is the violin Chowdiah by any chance? Do you also know the mridangist

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 09 Feb 2006, 09:12

album 1
sobillu-marivere(anandabhairavi)-neepadamule(navarasakanada)-bhavanutha-accomp-kandadevi-sriram-alangudi
album2
khamboji rtp -(titled thalam with both hands)-with sriram
album3
siddhi vinayakam-brovabarama-thaye idu tarunam(panthuvarali)
album4
anandanatamduvar-bhavanutha (elaborate)accomp sethuramiah-sriram-shyamsundar
album5
nandanar charitram -with subbudu
album 6
kamalapthakula-kripaya palaya-emanadichivo(SAHANA !!!!)-sriramajayarama(y'khamboji)
album7
nagumomu-raghuvamsha-ninnuvina(navarasakanada)nennerunchi-kaa vaa vaa
accomp-chowd-madurai kr iyengar
album 8
sree raghukula-sankaree nee-appan avadharitha-sree ramam(narayanagowla)
coimb dakshin-madras kannan
album 9
vathapi-tsalagala- evaroora
album 10
mahalxmi-niravathi-swaragasudha-karthika balanai-meragathulachi rara(aana)-malarin(ragamalika)-thiruvasagam(manickavasagar)=mangalam

sriram can be contacted -for the albums-at
manakkalsriram@yahoo.co.in

meena · Post by **meena** » 09 Feb 2006, 10:00

Deleted

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 09 Feb 2006, 10:45

Thanks coolkarni/meena !

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 09 Feb 2006, 12:10

Oh sorry I didnt see these threads earlier... regardless of Chembai related stuff, I would like to accompany you on your next visit to their home... I will be free at home upto Monday i.e 13th February, so it would be nice to meet them on or before Monday, if possible.

Others who may want to accompany us are welcome, subject to Shri Kulkarni's assent.

padren68 · Post by **padren68** » 09 Feb 2006, 18:36

Dear Kulkarni
Electrifying music n fabulous. Any varnam renditions if u have, request you to post (sply the kambhoji ata tala varnam)

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 10 Feb 2006, 08:36

padren
I will not be posting any more tracks from srirams stuff listed above.
I have five other concerts , which will be put up progressively.
Right now i am working on TKR MA Concert.should be up on monday.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 10 Feb 2006, 09:23

Fantastic performances on Shankarabaranam, Vathapi and Ka va va.

These days, to improve my laya sense, I try to keep thalam with two little taps per beat so I can synchronize with the mridangamist. Try doing that for the speed at which MR sings Vathapi. I gave up. Later I switched to 80% speed ( with WMP ) which does not change the voice characteristic that much, then I could just barely manage to keep up.

Ka va va rendition is just too good. What a great bhakthi and meditative mood MR creates with this song. I thought the violinist scored a small point over Manakkal on getting to the core of the raga at the beginning seconds ( but then I feel that way about almost all vocalists ) but then Manakkal took over big time, not to mention during the song. Despite the eventual impression that the violinist might have overdone the kalapanaswaras at the end, the way MR was progressing through the kalpanaswaras, I felt he was all set to launch into some major kanakku and nadai changes but that did not quite happen. But that is quite alright, that may not even be appropriate for the mood he managed to create.

venkatpv · Post by **venkatpv** » 10 Feb 2006, 18:30

vk,
quite contrary to what u r saying about the violinist...i felt that MR was spot on varali..while the violinist touched shuba pantuvarali!!!! just a second right at 0.05 into the track... and once more at 0.24 or thereabouts
its just the way he glides from P to M and then to G... anyone else felt the same???

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 11 Feb 2006, 01:27

Venkatpv: After reading your post, I paid closer attention to the ascent and descent of the violin in the first couple of seconds. You are right, the descent of the violin toches on shuba pantuvarali.

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 25 Mar 2006, 14:47

Srkris.. and other chennaites

last week, when I had been to the Manakkal Home to meet Sriram,
I had the pleasure of spending a wonderful two-hours with the Grand Old Man.
The first question he popped at me was "Where are your other forum members/ .I am looking forward to meeting all of them and spending a few hours with you all ..make sure you bring in "Chembai" too.

The affinity to Chembai in that Home is very conspicious.
Treated to a great cup of coffee , I went through the family photo album when I started wondering if Madras University should start a course on "Reconstructing the Golden Days of CM through Interviews, family Photo albums, marriage Videos , and old newspaper clippings'.
Just imagine students , year after year , fanning out to all parts of the country, visiting these stalwarts ,sabhas, old photo studios , rummaging through their albums and archiving them
There is so much history to be tapped !! .

Anyway , I confirmed that we would make it on a Sunday Morning in April .So we start again...

Silent members from Chennai also..please do join us.It will be great fun, if the visit to DKP's Home was any indication.and do get your cameras,handycams ready..

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 25 Mar 2006, 23:05

Those of us salivating abroad would love to vicariously participate through some homely snaps!

Also pl record the conversations and u/l since the voice is the next best thing to being there!

kiransurya · Post by **kiransurya** » 26 Mar 2006, 00:35

I second CML.
I have never heard these great souls singing in person, never mind speaking. So Coolkarni!!!!! Please, please record the conversation if at all possible. Though I wont understand Tamil, would still be gooooooooood to hear them all talking away about music...

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 26 Mar 2006, 09:36

Coolkarni,

Next Sunday, I am game. To be sure, it happens to be April the 2nd, so let's forget our visit being an April Fool joke.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 26 Mar 2006, 10:07

Would you please ask him on my (our?) behalf to bring out the golden gems of his concerts which I hold only in my memory banks! Just remind him of his three hour neravel on 'kaalinil chilambu konja' (ThaayE yashODA) in 1947 at the temple at Suchindrum when a crowd of 50000 stood spell bound at the svarakalpana which even held up the deity himself!

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 26 Mar 2006, 10:14

three hour neravel on 'kaalinil chilambu konja' (ThaayE yashODA) in 1947 at the temple at Suchindrum when a crowd of 50000 stood spell bound at the svarakalpana

Oh my... really? I am amazed at the duration as well as the size of the crowd...

sumram99 · Post by **sumram99** » 28 Mar 2006, 20:51

Kulkarniji,

As somebody suggested could you please audio/video record whatever he speaks on carnatic music? it will be a great treasure to cherish and pass on to my children.

mahesh3 · Post by **mahesh3** » 17 Apr 2006, 09:41

Could somebody please repost the Manakkaal links. Thanks

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 18 Apr 2006, 02:58

Manakkal is my grandfather's village (it's only 4 streets or so), so I guess MR would be knowing my grandfather. Got to ask him when we meet him.

I heard the name "ManakkAl" comes from the smell of Sandalwood trees which were standing there. The wider municipality/district is called ManappArai, located near Trichy.

I have no idea about where the affinity with Chembai fits in! I have heard Manakkal Rangarajan attempt the kathri swarams (triple frequency swarams which Chembai used to sing) in concerts, more than once.

Was he at any time a disciple of Chembai?

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 18 Apr 2006, 11:48

Srkris
Shall we fin out this sunday.I am free.

BTW MR mentioned that there are two Mankkals.His village is the Mankkal nearer to lalgudi.

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 18 Apr 2006, 13:27

Yeah I am also talking of the same Manakkal. My grandmother is from Lalgudi and grandpa is from Manakkal, and they were from nearby villages.

So unless there is another Lalgudi that is near the other Manakkal, we both are talking about the same villages.

Please find out whether it will be convenient this sunday. I will be able to come. Thanks.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 18 Apr 2006, 20:17

Pl convey my praNAM to the maestro and also the request to bring out more of his concerts to lime light!

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 19 Apr 2006, 13:35

Srkris and other chennaites .

We are visiting the Manakkal Home on Sunday -tentatively 10AM

Please confirm to me on 9840162038 if you are joining.
Photos , voice recording allowed !

The place is a short walking distance from jayanti theatre at thiruvanmiyur.

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 30 Apr 2006, 11:58

Truly sorry for not being able to visit last week, and sorry for keeping silent about that too...

Will soon be free again to agree for a weekend visit.

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 30 Jun 2006, 03:17

Dear all, Manakkal is currently in London giving performances here. I attended his 1st concert last weekend and it was simply brilliant! The highlight was a majestic 'O Rangasayee'. I spoke to Sriram after the concert and mentioned to him about this forum. I am working with another rasika to see how best we can popularise Manakkal's music. Sriram asked me whether I can help him to get the CDs across to North America. Can anyone here help?

We have another concert on July 9th, plus a few workshops and a house concert to boot! As you can see, I am in seventh heaven...

In case any of you would like to get in touch with me, you may do so at: jayram_oz@yahoo.com

Jayaram Ramanathan

p.s. I used to live in the US and Canada for many years, have relocated to London recently. Hope I can hear from some of my old 'rasika' friends.

meena · Post by **meena** » 30 Jun 2006, 03:24

Deleted

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 30 Jun 2006, 07:45

A delightful AIR recital

http://rapidshare.de/files/24520136/manakkal_1.mp3

http://rapidshare.de/files/24522119/manakkal_2.mp3

http://rapidshare.de/files/24524940/manakkal_3.mp3

manakkalsriram · Post by **manakkalsriram** » 30 Jun 2006, 14:20

Dear rasikas and Mr. Coolkarni,
Thank you each and everyone for your well wishes. At present, we are in Residence No.1,Kingsley Road, Crydon,Surrey,CRO 3NP.
Phone: 0208 4058590. Mobile: 07950 91 98 07
Rasikas are welcome with pleasure at any time to meet us.
Mr. Raghu is taking care of us and he will also help you.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 30 Jun 2006, 22:20

Thanks Coolkarni
Is it a recent performance?

May I wish AcArya MaNakkaal and group a rousing success at London and look forward to a tour across the Atalantic!

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 02 Jul 2006, 21:57

The last posting by cmlover where he says "...and look forward to a tour across the Atalantic!" makes me wonder how come a vidwan of his calibre has not been to North America all these years! Any way, better late than never, let's all work on realizing this.

I have already spoken to couple of my friends in the US and they have promised me they would their best to organize a concert tour of Manakkal next year. As you all know, such a tour requires a lot of advanced planning to make it a success - I would be more than willing to work on it from here in London. Shall speak to Sriram about this soon.

If you know of organizers in various US/Canadian cities, do send across their contact details to me at: jayram_oz@yahoo.com

Thank you all.
Jayaram