An invitation to participate

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 06 Feb 2007, 17:23

Hello.To all Chennaities.

As you all know,We have been toying with an idea of getting together on a regular basis , for quite some time now.
In Chennai.
In Practice, however , only a few of us have managed to meet and see each other-
notably Rajeshant, rbharath, rajumds, Anand and Vijay.

Outside the scope of rasikas.org , the momentum has gathered a bit more seriously , with the result that the first meet has been scheduled on Feb 15th evening.
I refer to â€œscope of rasikas.org â€œ in the sense that these other enthusiasts are not Net-savvy and hence not visible in such forums.
But much of their work / contributions find their way to rasikas.org through me.

To start with I would request members who are interested ,
to mail me at [email protected] for further information about the objectives and other details.
I would not like to take up much space here, to start with.
Briefly the objectives for the meeting are
1.To find ways of having one musical experience in a month that is tailored to meet our special needs.(Mikeless concerts , having a known list of krithis with lyrics â€“translations-transliteration, Question/Answer sessions with the artists,Ability to have a copy of the concert on CD,etc)
2.To operate in a manner that is continuously invigorating to our minds as well as our tastes.
3.To operate in a small group â€“thereby stressing the â€œpersonalâ€

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 06 Feb 2007, 17:35

Dear Coolkarni:
Congratulations on your effort to get this off the ground finally! Wish you all the best.
May I make a small suggestion: please include senior artistes in these get-togethers, so that we can imbibe some of the knowledge from another era. I feel this is one dimension that could become important in another 10-15 years when many of these great stalwarts have left us. And our group can provide much-needed input in this regard based on our live recordings of these artistes. Also, please try and see if you can get video recordings in addition to audio ones of these events. (of course, if this interferes too much with the ambience of the event, pls don't do it!)
I feel so envious of all of you in Chennai. Please remember that some of us in faraway places are with you in spirit. I would very much like to sponsor at least one of these events. Please let me know if you require any financial input for the event plus additional actitivities such as bringing out CDs/DVDs/write-ups etc. I would be more than happy to pitch in.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 06 Feb 2007, 18:13

Kulkariniji, congrats on the event finally taking off. On my physical particiaption, I am hopeful but still uncertain - my travel schedule may pour water on the best laid plans. On financial participation I am more confident - I will be happy to chip in within my constraints if you can give me the details.

A great start in any case and let us hope we can spawn a culture, in Chennai and elsewhere, of connecting serious rasikas and making their voice heard.

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 06 Feb 2007, 18:15

Jayaram .
Thanks.
In these initial phases, I am trying to focus on what the members may want to have from such experiences (I will be circulating a Questionnaire), what is the level of involvement that can be expected from individuals.
The sharing of these experiences with rasikas is an issue which has already been decided.
And our initial estimates show that we may not have to burden Non Chennaites, if we get a group of 50 settled .
There are interesting angles to the subject of the auditorium etc , but we will get to that at a later stage.
Right now our concern is whether I can get a group of 50 interested.
And we will have to wait till Feb 15th for that.
Interested members outside Chennai can also mail me for details , but as I said earlier , I will start involving members outside Chennai only after some consolidation has taken place in the first stage.
As far as the stalwarts past their prime are concerned-Yes we are acutely aware of these dimensions to the subject .That is precisely what I was referring to , when I mentioned that we would like to lower our gaze from the star studded heights...
So please do keep your thoughts coming.

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 06 Feb 2007, 18:21

Vijay
Chances are that , even if you were away on the particular day , you can hope for a copy of the concert .
Price tag _ well it is expected to work the way our Hostel mess bills were finalised.
Serious rasikas - that is a major key.I have spoken to a number of artists -enough to fill 12 monthly schedules and they all are excited at the prospect of performing to a small group of dedicated listeners -
Hope to see you atleast on Feb 15th.

knandago2001 · Post by **knandago2001** » 06 Feb 2007, 21:04

Its a great idea indeed!! Even though I'm physically located in Kolkata, I'd very much like to participate as and when possible. I'd love to get to know all of you and welcome opportunities for further interactions when I visit Chennai. Sri. Kulkarni, I'm a keen rasika of Hindustani music as well and have enjoyed your missives in this regard. Thank you so much for the initiative.

Best regards,

Nandagopal

mridhangam · Post by **mridhangam** » 06 Feb 2007, 22:37

Unfortunately I wont be able to attend as i have a concert on that day ...
Thanks Kulkarni Sir. All the best
JB

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 06 Feb 2007, 23:29

I'll certainly attend! Even if you all speak Tamil for the whole evening, I'll still come

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 07 Feb 2007, 03:49

Nick,
You don't have to fear that: english will be the lingua franca

shripathi_g · Post by **shripathi_g** » 07 Feb 2007, 04:49

Awesome!! I'll surely attend and thanks for scheduling it on the 15th.

Sam Swaminathan · Post by **Sam Swaminathan** » 07 Feb 2007, 05:14

Dear Coolkarnii

Wonderful effort....sitting in NZ, I realise I cannot participate...but I will be thinking of all of you on 15th Feb. As has been pointed out by a few others, I am quite willing to sponsor an evening in the hope that when I am in Chennai next time, I will be able to participate in this.

I am sure you would give due consideration for a recording to be uploaded for poor rasikas like me....

God Bless

Sam

mantra · Post by **mantra** » 07 Feb 2007, 06:27

All,
I am extremely happy to see this happening. I will try to attend when I am in Chennai. I am also willing to sponsor a program or pitch in depending on whatever is decided by the team.
I am also willing to host events when I am in Chennai.
Coolkarni Sir, As always we are grateful to you for taking extra time (inspite of your busy work schedule and family time) to do this for all the rasikas.
Regards
Shyam

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 07 Feb 2007, 06:30

Another thought: if you have some of the veteran musicians performing at our functions, please do request them to render some of the kritis that were popular during their younger days, but are seldom heard on the concert platforms today. Imagine if Musiri were alive today, and we could hear him sing 'samukhAna nilva' at a live concert...

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 07 Feb 2007, 07:04

Part of the fun planned,is to make a list of krithis that members always wanted to hear.Circulate the running list to artistes in advance and hope for the best.
I have been dying,myself, to listen to Bhavayami Raghuramam for a long long time.

These aspects will define this gathering.Ultimately.
As well as many other things , which we cannot hope for , in a conventional sabha atmosphere.
Shyam.
I Picked up much of the inspiration when I attended the Hindusthani concert at your home.In December.
Though I keep missing out on the Dinners everywhere.

(Arasi , if only you had indicated that there would be a post concert Dinner !!)
If one individual could do so much , certainly a focussed group can achieve whatever we have set to do.

vgvindan · Post by **vgvindan** » 07 Feb 2007, 10:24

I would like to attend. Thanks

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 07 Feb 2007, 11:00

Nick , Vijay ,and Vgvindan
Thanks.please do mail me at [email protected] since I need to attach some enclosures to my mail to you.
rbharath, anand , ignoramus , rajumds are others from chennai ,already in touch.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 07 Feb 2007, 11:10

coolkarni wrote:Nick , Vijay ,and Vgvindan
Thanks.please do mail me at [email protected] since I need to attach some enclosures to my mail to you.
rbharath, anand , ignoramus , rajumds are others from chennai ,already in touch.

Done Sir.

Ananth · Post by **Ananth** » 07 Feb 2007, 11:16

Congratulations! This is wonderful news! !
Even more than the Blind Date (a la Sathyam) on offering, it is the opportunity to put faces to names, that delights me!

See you all there, on 15th.

ananth

mohan · Post by **mohan** » 07 Feb 2007, 13:31

Best wishes for the success of the event and hope to join you all in December!

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 07 Feb 2007, 13:33

Cool,
I just sent you a mail.Nice of you to revitalize the interest. When I and rajumds talked some time before, he gave a peep of what is in store .Perhaps you are going in the same lines. Awaiting to help you on whatever way I could??.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 07 Feb 2007, 15:32

Cool,
Would have loved to have joined you, but I am going to be down south then. Hope I can make it yet another time. Chamber concerts! They are special. Enjoy!
Rajesh and Vijay, Ram and Bharath, looking forward to your posts...

mantra · Post by **mantra** » 07 Feb 2007, 15:34

Coolkarni Sir,
My goal was to do once a month concert in Chennai. .. if I was to move to Chennai for good. I really wanted to start this on my daughter first b'day.. Hence we had VijaySiva.. followed by the Hindustani program..
I am happy that you are taking this additional music initiative (I always have to thank u for the music that u have shared with us) to arrange for concerts..
I will be in Chennai on Mar 16 till 26.. I am willing to host the March one maybe Mar 17....Mar 18.
Regards
Shyam

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 07 Feb 2007, 19:11

This is good progress ...
Mantra
Yes we will schedule the next one ,as you suggest..
Thanks

vijesh.r.c. · Post by **vijesh.r.c.** » 08 Feb 2007, 13:44

i am intersted to attend this meet. but i am out of stateand it would be difficult to me.even tough i will try

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 08 Feb 2007, 15:11

vijesh
Relax.
There will always be another concert following, in 4 weeks time.

Now.If we do see a new face rushing in,on that day, and gasping for breath, we will not need an introduction.
We all know , it should be You.

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 08 Feb 2007, 15:41

Venue
For the first meet.

Residence of
G.Subramanian
Old No 7 , New No 15,
Balakrishna Mudali Sreet,
West Mambalam,
Chennai 33

How to reach ..
Nearest Bus stop is Ayodhya Mantap.
One should take the road that leads to Sathyanarayana Temple -from Arya Gowder road.
Before reaching the temple. take the first left which leads to a dead end.
And into a gate of an Individual House.
One can notice a Huge residential complex adjoining this.
People wwho are travelling by car or Bike can also contact me over phone at 9840162038 for last minute instructions.
Concert is Scheduled to start at 6.30 pm but we will start assembling from 5 pm onwards itself..

srinidhi · Post by **srinidhi** » 08 Feb 2007, 17:14

Wishing the function all success. Lucky -those in chennai.

Now, in the following months , should rasiaks.org span out and if ever you wish to hold a get together at Coimbatore, my services are at your disposal.

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 08 Feb 2007, 17:30

Srinidhi ,Thanks.
In the long term, we have it on the agenda to travel to places related to CM , in a group(-short trips.)
We will consider Coimbatore , too then.

mantra · Post by **mantra** » 09 Feb 2007, 06:52

Who are the artiste performing on Feb 15?
Regards
Shyam

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 09 Feb 2007, 07:39

shyam
I will let you know on the 16th

mantra · Post by **mantra** » 09 Feb 2007, 10:31

I didnt know it was a going to be surprise...Will wait..

vijesh.r.c. · Post by **vijesh.r.c.** » 09 Feb 2007, 13:43

sorry,coolkarniji, i am not attending the function as i need to attend the-purandara-thyaga aradhana fevistival held at sri ganapathi sacchidananda ashram .i want to render the pancharathna kruthis there. soory

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 09 Feb 2007, 13:56

at mysore ???

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 10 Feb 2007, 05:10

Can I request attendees of our inaugural function to take lots of pictures. Please make sure both the artistes and rasikas are caught on film! An album of this function can be treasured for posterity...imagine years from now when people talk in hushed tone about the much revered rasikas.org music society, and we can show them pictures of our humble beginnings!

Make sure multiple people take with them their cameras, in case the designated person forgets to bring theirs!

manakkalsriram · Post by **manakkalsriram** » 10 Feb 2007, 21:45

I just now saw about the inaugural function as I had been to Pudukottai to accompany AKC's Claorinet. Congagulations, Coolkarni. When Coolkarni is in action, we can expect great things to happen. I can imagine it is going to flourish as the real music institution in the future with genuine rasikas and equal opportunities to each and every one of the artist devoid of egoism. Eagerly awaiting the great day where we all will be meeting together as a family. We will all extend the fullest support and cooperation from our end to COOLKARNIJI in this regard. Rasikas.org dreams are coming true.

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 11 Feb 2007, 01:32

Great to see Sriram back on the forum. I agree with you, Coolkarni has to be commended for taking up such a noble cause. The key is to keep the passion and vision alive, and not dilute our ideals.

It would be a good idea to make sure this event gets enough publicity in the media. A feature article by someone of the calibre of Gowri Ramnarayan would be a big plus. Hope we are working on this angle also.

mantra · Post by **mantra** » 16 Feb 2007, 08:18

How was the event? Recordings??
Regards
Shyam

kaumaaram · Post by **kaumaaram** » 16 Feb 2007, 10:45

Superb event.
TV Ramprasadh was at his best, singing in full throttle.
Satisfying experience. Sri Manakkal Rangarajan was present to bless us all.
Recording (both audio and video) done.

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 16 Feb 2007, 11:25

The evening was great.
Fabulous in fact.
Vijay/Bharath/Ram/Rajeshnat must be working on a review.

I took a big holiday from work yesterday.Though I must admit that West Mambalam is one of the easiest places on earth to organise such an event.
Ok Let me start with the news of Rasikas.org members.
vijay, rajesh,sripathig(just landed from california),ram, bharath,rajumds,ananth,govindan,gdg(dad of adityamohan) kaumaram ,Nick,DelhiVMuthukumarwere all there(Hope i have not missed somebody here-just too excited).
The rest were all my friends from the Non-Internet world.
L Narasimhan -Viloinist of the madras quartet fame, was there.

Manakkal family was a huge surprise.
The Grand Old Vidwan sat through the concert (I must admit that I had not planned for a comfortable seat for him) and have to apologise to Sriram for the same.
He spoke a few words of encouregement for us.
Mrs Neyveli Santhangopalan, Mrs and Mr Sivakumar (Critic who reviews for THE HINDU) were the other guests.
There was another friend of mine -a senior Income Tax Officer-
but i kept his identity under wraps so that my Businessmen friends were not scared away !!
There was this senior -Lady - disciple of of GNB- but I did not catch her name.Will get back on that.

Recordings
Yes we have done it on Video .As well as the recording from the Amp.
It may take us some time to organise it and upload here.
Photos- there was a lot of snapping going around.
vijay and rajesh were pleasantly surprised to learn that they live in the same street , without knowing each other.
Wonder If their reviews will start looking similar , from now on.
I even got the Four rasikas reviewers and Govindan to pose for us.
Nick stayed back for a long time after the concert And I was a bit concerned if he would find his way back, at the late hour.
The early birds were treated to sweets , savouries and Coffee , but I must admit I underestimated the turnout.
With the result that the latecomers could only get coffee.
Ambience was great.mobiles were off and the listening was very very focussed.
ALMOST EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED
WANTED THE SHOW TO CONTINUE.
and we shall do that.
A Big thanks to all of you , who were there in Body and spirit , to make it a success.
Keep watching this space.

ram · Post by **ram** » 16 Feb 2007, 11:53

Many thanks to Sri Kulkarni and whoever else helped him organize this. It was a very good experience. Felt like one was listening to a concert with his/her own family members sitting around. It felt great to associate faces with some of the login ids that are regularly seen on this forum. Eagerly waiting for Vijay's review of the concert experience (some of us dumped the responsibility on Vijay's shoulders yesterday ..... why worry when Vijay is there

)

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 16 Feb 2007, 12:47

http://www.badongo.com/file/2248270

A short preview track of the main artist featured yesterday
from an AIR recital.

TV Ramprasadh

Sam Swaminathan · Post by **Sam Swaminathan** » 16 Feb 2007, 13:27

Coolji

congratulations to you and to your crew who made the event possible. May this process go on strength to strength. I will be eagerly awaiting the review by Vijay and of course the audio upload.

regards

Sam

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 16 Feb 2007, 13:31

The "dumpee" of the responsibility wonders how he is qualified to write about a concert attended by so many eminences...anyway, I suppose there is no harm done in recording an experience that was the first of its kind for me. I hope my more knowledgeable "fellow-rasikas" will patch up the technical holes in my account.

I must confess that I arrived more interested in meeting other forum-members than the concert itself but the arrival of the "surprise" changed all that. TV Ramprasad is undoubtedly one of the most gifted young musicians around and a most worthy candidate to inaugurate Kulkarni sir's efforts to unearth hidden gems from the endless rubble of Chennai's music scene.

"Sarkari blue" is what they used it call it in those days of licensed scarcity, a glorious cerulean shade that got wiped off somewhere during the long slide towards economic "freedom and choice". It is a lifeless beige that haunts our walls these days - a reflection of sanitized tastes, restrained emotions, dutiful answers to the totalitarian calls of the global marketplace - a strident, unforgiving refrain that spares no room for the heart, no margin for error, no patience for the heart-rending imperfections of our music...no place for Sarkari Blues....

The brilliant Sarkari Blues that vivify my memories of childhood - the unpretentiousness that masks its passionate exuberance...like Bhimsen Joshi's Multani at Patiala, recorded for posterity in the 50s - the clamour of nasal Shabaashes, Bahut Khoobs, Wah Wahs, bringing down every divine flight to the commonness of the human condition, fleshing out each ethereal vibration with ugly blood, sweat and tears...

Thank you Kulkarniji, Shri Ramprasad, Shri VV Srinivasa Rao, Sri Ramesh and everyone else behind that wonderful evening of Kambhojis and Thodis....Mysore Paakkus and Coffee...Sarkari Blues and Shabashes...Sweat and Tears...

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 16 Feb 2007, 13:34

And now that I done with my usual pfaff, I request my fellow-rasikas who were present to bring out the musical and technical aspects. I, for one, did not even carry a notebook! Rajesh, dear newly-discovered-neighbour, awaiting your pics as well...

mantra · Post by **mantra** » 16 Feb 2007, 13:46

This is unbelievable... Congrats Coolkarniji and team for putting this together.... Looking forward to the reviews and the next one
Regards
Shyam

gdg · Post by **gdg** » 16 Feb 2007, 14:07

it was a great event and the ambience was very warm and informal. more than the concert i was very excited about seeing some of the 'celebrities' of the forum in flesh and blood. i stayed till the pantuvarali and alapana by the violin is still lingering in my ears. i could not stay on because of an urgent domestic committment.
cool to my surprise was looking much younger than what he sounds in his posts.
let this be a beginning and let the seed grow in to a big tree!
thanks cool and associates who made this possible!

shripathi_g · Post by **shripathi_g** » 16 Feb 2007, 14:57

Yesterday's evening was a wonderful homecoming for me after 3 long years. The list of things that gladdened my heart yesterday is too long. Not sure which of those warmed my hearts the most.

* Meeting the great Mahatma thanks to whom my Carnatic music collection has grown and my CM taste has grown and who is now paving the way for a great tradition.

* Meeting other forum members who have just been names. The ebullient rajeshnat, knowledgeable Kaumaaram, quiet Vijay, unassuming Ram, chirpy Bharath and Nick who had just been a nick till yesterday.

* Meeting the people behind this great Carnatic Music collection. Hats off to them for their effort in aggrandizing all the music and digitizing them so that they are not lost to posterity.

* Listening to TV Ramprasadh whom I had the opportunity to pick up from the airport when he performed at SIFA, whose Dhanyasi that day is still ringing in my ears and whose Kambhoji I'll not forget for a long time to come.

* Listening to Kambhoji, which is an ultra-favorite raga for me, for the first time in a concert in the past 1 year. I'm known to go bonkers over that raga and must have heard just the Sarasijanabha varna alone about a 1000 times. No kidding.

* Being served Son Pappdi, Mixture and heavenly Coffee when I was literally starving, having valiantly refused lunch at home, citing calorific requirements et al to my confused Mom.

This was an evening that I'll be talking to my grandchildren about. Thanks Coolji!!

shripathi_g · Post by **shripathi_g** » 16 Feb 2007, 14:59

rajeshnat, where are the pics?

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 16 Feb 2007, 15:24

Congrats to cool and everyone, though I wasn't able to attend the event. Yeah like everyone, i am waiting for the snaps. How many came in-toto?

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 16 Feb 2007, 15:37

Cool and company,
You pulled it off! Wish I were there. There are going to be many more like this, I hope, and I intend being part of it all, sometime in the future. Cool, put our names down when it comes to a venue in Bangalore, next year.
So, you all had a great time and good music!
Well, the secret agent man has come out in the open! Rajesh, you had a hand in making it happen, didn't you? Same neighborhood too, eh? On reading his post, I am now thinking whether he is a closet novelist