Vidwan Palghat Raghu to become Sangeetha Kalanidhi on Jan 1,

knrh05 · Post by **knrh05** » 15 May 2007, 02:20

http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/15/stories ... 120500.htm

Music Academy's 81st annual conference

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The executive committee of the Music Academy, at its meeting held on Sunday, has chosen Vidvan Palghat Sri R. Raghu to preside over the 81st annual conference of the Academy, to be held from December 15, 2007 to January 1, 2008.

He will be conferred the "Sangita Kalanidhi" title at the Sadas on January 1.

Awards

According to a press release from N. Murali, President, Music Academy, the Committee will also confer the following awards during the conference:

Sangita Kala Acharya on Vidvan Sri B. Krishnamurthy and Vidvan Sri V. Subramaniam and the TTK awards on Guru Bhagavatulu Sri Seetarama Sharma and Vidushi Smt. Sita Doraiswamy.

Vidvan Madurai Sri G.S. Mani will receive the Vaggeyakkara award.

The awards will be presented at the Sadas on January 1.

gumki_thatha · Post by **gumki_thatha** » 15 May 2007, 02:37

its about time....

ksrimech · Post by **ksrimech** » 15 May 2007, 03:39

appa! Finally! Congrats to raghU mAmA and the other vidvAns.

gsn · Post by **gsn** » 15 May 2007, 04:42

Excellent news! Long overdue recognition for Raghu sir, one of the greatest titans of the mridangam! : )

ignoramus · Post by **ignoramus** » 15 May 2007, 05:44

congratulations to MA for coming to their senses. i think that would be more like it.

ambiksk · Post by **ambiksk** » 15 May 2007, 06:41

good choice.should have been honoured earliar.raghu mama deserves the award

krishnan sankaranarayanan
royal palm beach
florida

mohan · Post by **mohan** » 15 May 2007, 06:47

Congratualtions to Raghu sir! It is indeed an early announcement from the Music Academy. The last few years the announcement has come quite late in the year.

Information about Sri Raghu at http://www.geocities.com/nand12/PRRHome.html

I wonder if he is the first Sangeetha Kalanidhi to be born outside of India? (He was born in Burma).

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 15 May 2007, 07:17

Congratulations to the worthy recipient!
Glad that the Academy made an early announcement instead of dragging it until the very last minute. Also that considerations about rotating the categories didn't come into play ('UKS was given SK recently, why another mrudangist?' etc).

I am very happy too that G.S. Mani got the vaggeykara award!

ignoramus · Post by **ignoramus** » 15 May 2007, 07:21

can we expect any " laya oriented sweets" in this thread? this is an occassion which warrants sweets distribution, i think.

bhaktha · Post by **bhaktha** » 15 May 2007, 07:58

Finally!! Raghu mama deserved it long back! Good that MA has finally come to its senses.
-bhaktha

prashant · Post by **prashant** » 15 May 2007, 08:53

Bale bale!!! What a great choice. It's about time!!!!!!!!!!!!!

avichinnu · Post by **avichinnu** » 15 May 2007, 21:53

Thats a great news! Atlast the greatest mridangam vidvan of our times got this award.

MANNARGUDIYAAN · Post by **MANNARGUDIYAAN** » 16 May 2007, 01:10

congrats for palakkadu ragu....

avichinnu wrote:Thats a great news! Atlast the greatest mridangam vidvan of our times got this award.

i think umayalpuram and t.k.murthy are also vidwans of our times...!

sathsangeethapriyan · Post by **sathsangeethapriyan** » 16 May 2007, 01:59

The entire music performing and listening community especially those who have a special nerve for intricate laya appreciation, ear for majestic nada of the mridangam and a vote for dignity throughout a looooong career unanimously applaud this honour for Padmasri Palghat Raghu sir. But time and again we keep attaching special importance to the title Sangeetha Kalanidhi without reasoning.
Music Academy, is the only organisation which has been playing an ugly caste politics for many decades.
This is the only organisation where in the name of democracy mud slinging, groupisms, power politics, allegations, public appeals, and interference of govt. and court have been shamelessly enacted
This is the only organisation which gives least importance to artistes, their requirements, comforts, but speaking authoritatively of their legend
care more for protocols, money and moneyed rasikas.
This is the only organisation famous for its non-recognition and untimely recognition of some of the greatest geniuses of carnatic music
Unfortunately right from mid eighties canvassing for Sangeetha Kalanidhi is taking place openly by vidwans driven more by anxiety and greed unsure of their own merit earned through decades of hard work and divine grace. While one section of Rasikas are totally ignorant of all these ugly happenings and innocently discuss, most of the well informed rasikas choose to ignore.
Most of us think of music and chennai only when December season approaches.
I appeal to the rasikas not to project sangeetha Kalanidhi as some Indrapadavi difficult to attain. Artistes like Palghat Raghu are far above these. ( I knew how some junior and less capacitated percussionists worked their way to grab the same in the past)

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 16 May 2007, 12:11

Great news. Congrats to the MA for honouring itself by choosing Shri Raghu for its highest award, albeit belatedly.

sindhu · Post by **sindhu** » 16 May 2007, 13:03

The other percussionists who have got SK in the recent past are:

Palghat Shri Mani Iyer
Shri T.K.Murthy
Shri UmaLpuram K.Sivaraman
Vellore Shri Ramabhadran

.. and now Palghat Shri Raghu

Interestingly no ghatam/kanjira vidwan has been honoured (to check)

Maharajapuram family have two SKs already
Ponnaiya Pillai family have two SKs already.

Academy plays real MUSIC.

108talas · Post by **108talas** » 16 May 2007, 16:23

Sindhu,

You are trying to open a new spectrum of MA...

tmt fan · Post by **tmt fan** » 16 May 2007, 23:01

Raghu mama is going to be honured with award ,sangitha kalanidhi, the highest place in the music field, bale besh/.

thanjavooran · Post by **thanjavooran** » 25 May 2007, 07:41

welcome decision. most deserving. this time above 65 has bn selected for this honour

erode14 · Post by **erode14** » 25 May 2007, 12:07

I remembered the lines of MahaKavi Bharathy....

" செந்தமிழ் நாடென்னும் போதினிலே

இன்பத் தேன் வந்து பாயுது காதினிலே... "

when I heard Palghat Shri Raghu Sir is going to be the "Sangeetha Kalanidhi" of the musical year 2007.

We thank the Music Academy for bringing pride to the award and the institution by conferring such titles to legendary artistes like shri Raghu sir.

He is one among those who should have been honoured with such titles long back.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 25 May 2007, 17:17

Balaji,
Can you please provide english transliteration and translations when you post something in tamizh?
Thanks,
Ravi

mridhangam · Post by **mridhangam** » 27 May 2007, 00:16

rshankar
balaji has not written anything in tamil i suppose. it was erode nagarajan sir .. who hs written in tamil .. The meaning goes like this ..."When you hear about Tamil Nadu it is like sweetness pervading your ears" like that Erode sir felt sweetness pervading in his ears on listening the news abt SK for Palghat Raghu sir.

Balaji

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 27 May 2007, 03:37

Sorry, Balaji

Sam Swaminathan · Post by **Sam Swaminathan** » 27 May 2007, 04:56

Palghat Raghu Sir and Tamilnadu.....???

while talking about Raghu Sir......who is the senior between Sivaraman Sir and Raghu Sir ?

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 27 May 2007, 06:13

raghu sAr seydhi kETTa pOdhinilE

inbath thEn vandu pAyndadu kAdhinilE

ரகு சார் செய்தி கேட்ட போதினிலே

இன்பத் தேன் வந்து பாய்ந்தது காதினிலே

sankirnam · Post by **sankirnam** » 27 May 2007, 08:20

Raghu sir is senior to UKS sir, but I dont know exactly by how much...

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 27 May 2007, 15:02

Sam Swaminathan wrote:Palghat Raghu Sir and Tamilnadu.....???

while talking about Raghu Sir......who is the senior between Sivaraman Sir and Raghu Sir ?

They are both equally senior. But Raghu sticks more with the PMI way of performing, I feel, when compared to UKS.

mahesh33 · Post by **mahesh33** » 28 May 2007, 04:17

They are both equally senior. But Raghu sticks more with the PMI way of performing, I feel, when compared to UKS.

How so?

I am aware that Vid. Palghat Raghu was Vid PMI's student for a while, but I find their styles to be rather different. Maybe I am wrong. Sri PMI's nAdham and anticipation and pleasing korvais are easy for me to appreciate, it is real hard for me to able to fully appreciate Sri Palakkad Raghu's thanis with complex korvais and and calculations. Ofcourse, that is perhaps due to my own limited knowledge, rather than anything else.... As different as they sound to my "untrained"ears, early Palakkad Raghu style of playing is supposed to be more in Sri PMI mould.

By the way, as a tribute to his guru, Palghat Mani Iyer, Palghat Raghu runs an organization in Chennai known as Gurusmaranam.

mri_fan · Post by **mri_fan** » 28 May 2007, 10:06

IMO, I've noticed that Sivaraman's korvai's are uniquely his own, whereas Palghat Raghu's share a little more with the Mani Iyer style. Raghu's playing is definitely more mathematical in nature compared to both Mani Iyer, and Sivaraman, while Sivaraman's style is more layam based, but even without those differences, I agree with srkris's opinion.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 28 May 2007, 15:14

Great news indeed! Congratulations to the maestro for a long overdue recognition.

ignoramus · Post by **ignoramus** » 28 May 2007, 15:19

agree with you mri_fan. following raghu sir's playing is a tough job, for me anyway.

apasruthi · Post by **apasruthi** » 28 May 2007, 16:19

I think finally Music Academy has opened their eyes and has come to senses in giving this very belated recognition to one of the greatest maestros of all times, which has been very long overdue, whosoever being responsible for it...

It also shows the maturity and the large-heartedness of the maestro to accept it so late, and after many juniors having been conferred before him...

Shall we conclude that Music Academy has finally come of age, and is trying to correct itself!

Apasruthi

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 28 May 2007, 16:43

Let them award a great vidwan like Shri Manakkal Rangarajan with the Sangeetha kalanidhi, then I will accept they have come of age. Until then they shall remain a crony-filled, nepotistical, small-minded organization, to be shunned by true rasikas everywhere.

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 28 May 2007, 20:13

jayaram wrote:to be shunned by true rasikas everywhere.

If past is an indication, Music academy will be shunned by no one, irrespective of its limitations.

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 28 May 2007, 22:40

srkris wrote:If past is an indication, Music academy will be shunned by no one, irrespective of its limitations.

Agreed. And the meek shall not inherit the earth.

Sam Swaminathan · Post by **Sam Swaminathan** » 29 May 2007, 05:22

"Shall we conclude that Music Academy has finally come of age,"

One swallow does not make a summer....if leopard (?) canee changee spotee make the whole world happee!!!

Sam

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 29 May 2007, 20:01

Perhaps we can use this space to hear exciting records of the SK Designate.

Here is a fine SimhendraMadhyama RTP of
SKalyanraman-VVS- Palghat Raghu

http://www.sendspace.com/file/zrv9ij
02-KanakaSabesan(RTP)-Simmendhramadhyamam-MChapu.mp3

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 30 May 2007, 07:41

With Somu- Lalgudi
RTP-Mohana

http://www.sendspace.com/file/a6ewi7

vageyakara · Post by **vageyakara** » 30 May 2007, 09:07

coolkarni sir,Somu's rendering of RTP sounds more like MohanakalyaaNi than Mohanam, since traces of Prati madyamam
and Nishadam are profusely deployed leaving Lalgudi (a purist) to struggle a little while acompanying to raaga alaapanai (of Somu).Any way thank u sir, for posting the clip
Ramaraj

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 30 May 2007, 10:23

Vageyakara

Thanks .
Wonder if those additional traces are the reason for my finding this track so very sweet.
Probably I should rename it RTP-Mohanakalyani !!

Here is a another one from a Ramanavami 1970-Concert with a short Thani.Same combination.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/ukprsk
Chakkani-Kharaharapriya.mp3

mahesh_narayan · Post by **mahesh_narayan** » 30 May 2007, 23:29

Coolkarni Sir,
Thanks for the treat:). Could you please upload a couple of pieces containing SSI with Raghu Sir?

Thanks.
Mahesh.

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 31 May 2007, 05:59

Yes.I am trying to cover as many artists as possible.
Will cover SSI in the next couple of tracks.

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 04 Jun 2007, 07:43

Dear mahesh33 & mri_fan,
YOU must realise that Palghat Raghu had to compete against Palghat Mani Iyer & Palani Subramania Pillai not to mention C.S.Murugabhoopathy- Like competing with Federer, Nadal, & Mcenroe- to make a name&career for himself. HIS FANTASTIC BRILLIANCE WAS IN USING BOTH PMI'S&PALANI'S strenghts while coming up with his own unique style. HIS ABILITY,CREATIVITY & SMARTNESS CAN BE ADMIRED THE MORE ONE KNOWS ABOUT LAYAM. To relate a simple story both Alla Rakha(Zakir Hussain's dad & Unlike Zakir who is very brilliant in both N&S INDIAN MUSIC) AND RAGHU ACCOMPANIED RAVI SHANKAR IN NYC FOR 2 MONTHS EVERY DAY AT LINCOLN CENTER & CARNRGIE HALL ETC. Alla Rakha could only play rupaka & adi talam SAMA EDUPPU. But when he appeared with his Shajahan pointed shoes& n.indian dress there was applause for 5 mins & when he tuned the Tabla there was applause. Raghu duly smashed him in the figurative sense but got less applause because he was an expert & professional & would NEVER go for theatrics. He left everything to his playing! If applause is the way to judge he didn't win but if music was the criterion THERE WAS NO COMPARISON TO RAGHU. I happen to have literally attended every night! VKV

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 04 Jun 2007, 10:26

VKV, true - most Tabalchees struggle to keep pace with carnatic rhyhms in Jugalbandis although I am no one to comment on the great Allah Rakha. The tabla is certainly faster and catchier, winning easy applause but only those familiar with CM realize how they struggle to keep pace with the taalam....and Palghat Raghu is is known to keep even the biggest of laya vidwans on their toes so I can well imagine how it must have been!

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 04 Jun 2007, 10:59

Western audiences applaud the simplest of stuff on tabla. I don't understand why this is!

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 04 Jun 2007, 11:30

Everyone who has an idea of CM & HM, knows that the talas in CM are much more structured and complex than in HM.

Applause is not an indication of understanding. Dont know how many would concur with me on this

apasruthi · Post by **apasruthi** » 04 Jun 2007, 12:00

Completely agree with you srkris.

Shri Raghu's style in itself is of substance, let alone the substance in his performance. I also agree with vkv43034's observations about Raghu. If you notice the way he plays, he has specialised a pattern that enahnces the beauty of each song, and to the style of each main artiste. It is his high element of customisation that is amazing. Also his strategy and approach for each tani, from where the main artiste is leaving is another masterpiece. Like the way he mixes ghantam with chaturasram by simple mathematics and announces the arrival of ghantam in three or four steps before playing it, anticipation of sangathis, and more importantly, the leaving or the pause he gives...

Among the mrudangam artists, Shri Raghu is a thinking mrudangist. Like someone used to say about our great spinner trios, that Bedi thinks and bowls, Chandra bowls and thinks and Prasanna thinks and bowls at the same time, Shri Raghu can think and play at the same time on the spot unlike many others, who either play and then think or keep thinking and preparing in advance before playing it on stage..

He is a complete mrudangam player, in terms of kanakku, naadam, layasukham, accompanying style, genius or manodharmam, and above all medai nirvaagham (or on-the-spot improvisations on the stage).

He is the toast of the connoisseur.....a class by himself, a cut above the rest...

Apasruthi..

mri_fan · Post by **mri_fan** » 04 Jun 2007, 19:38

Well said apasruthi (and nice id)

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 04 Jun 2007, 20:06

apasruthi,
Said in suSruthi!
Even though I know neither cricket nor laya (I can enjoy the latter though, as a novice), your accolade hits home...

mahesh33 · Post by **mahesh33** » 04 Jun 2007, 20:10

Apasruthi, SRKrs, & VGV sir, Many thanks for the discussions.

apasruthi wrote:If you notice the way he plays, he has specialised a pattern that enahnces the beauty of each song, and to the style of each main artiste. It is his high element of customisation that is amazing. Also his strategy and approach for each tani, from where the main artiste is leaving is another masterpiece. Like the way he mixes ghantam with chaturasram by simple mathematics and announces the arrival of ghantam in three or four steps before playing it, anticipation of sangathis, and more importantly, the leaving or the pause he gives...

Apasruthi..

My sentiments exactly.....for an amateur listener like me, it gets real hard to keep up my levels of comprehension when I am listening to a PR thani...the calculations are complicated, and I feel there are instances where "potential for applause" is sacrificed for number crunching!

Applause does not indicate understanding (fully or otherwise), but perhaps, it denotes appreciation.

My point here is that, many of us (including me) know that this recognition has been long delayed though fully deserved. This is, perhaps, because an artist like Sri PR is much more difficult to understand and appreciate for a novice, than say a Sri UKS or a Sri Trichy Sankaran sir.

Also, other than Sri KVN/Sri Nedunuri, (both awarded SK's eons ago), I have noticed that Sri PR did not align himself with any single individual on the vocal platform...

I am very happy personally that mridangam artists are finally being recognized for the unique contributions, sadhana and brilliance they bring to our concert format....

Long live people like Sri PR. Granting him the SK is a true measure of his greatness and sadhana.