Raagtime in "Mint"

samanth · Post by **samanth** » 05 May 2008, 19:00

I write to introduce the rasikas of Rasikas.org to a new Carnatic music column that I am beginning in "Lounge," the weekend supplement of the business newspaper "Mint." The column will be a fortnightly one, and rather than being technical and instructional, I'm envisioning it as a personal journey through Carnatic music. I am equipped to write more as an enthusiast than as an expert anyway, and I hope this way to at least orient lay readers towards this vast and wonderful school of music.

The first column, from May 3, is here:

http://www.livemint.com/2008/05/0300085 ... lunge.html

Apart from your valuable readership, I'd also appreciate feedback and ideas that you'd like to see explored in future columns. Please do write in to me with any comments and criticisms:

samanth [dot] s [at] livemint [dot] com

Regards,
Samanth Subramanian

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 05 May 2008, 19:04

Nicely written!

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 05 May 2008, 19:33

Keep it up!

Please help to persuade people that the music can just be loved and enjoyed, without intellectual accomplishment

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 05 May 2008, 20:54

Samanth,
How refreshing to read your column where tODi's 'gA' is a star (and not one's child alone whose status as a future star occupies the minds of some parents who write reams about the unfairness of festivals and competitions).
You voice the experience of many men and women out there. CM grows on you. It grows and grows until you cease to be, and there is still more to explore.
Your parents did not push you, it is evident. A very good thing. They
provided the ambiance. Great. You were drawn to it by yourself at some point. Even better. Reminds me of some others on the forum who know a lot about CM, going exactly the way you did.
More than anything else, you are enjoying being a rasikA. Ideal!
Thanks for writing so well about it...

arunk · Post by **arunk** » 05 May 2008, 21:49

Excellent Samanth - and all the best for this effort.

one must start early, ideally before the age of 10. But paradoxically, with a system as nuanced and complicated as Carnatic music, you really only begin to appreciate it in your 20s, and sometimes not even then.

How so true as it applied to me - although it was in the 30s

!!

Arun

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 05 May 2008, 21:59

Nicely written article. I can relate some of it it to my own experience.

I heard very little CM in my chilhood. I would pay attention to the only 15 minute lesson on radio before dashing off to school. Enrolled in violin class on my own and studied the basics (actually bought a violin with the scholarship money I got for taking hindi as a second language in +2

). Attended zero concert until past post graduation.

It is never too late to learn... or appreciate CM

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 05 May 2008, 22:23

Samanth,
You quit not because you had the board(exam)but because you were bored.A candid
amission indeed.You have expressed your feelings in a very beautiful manner and now that you are hooked to CM there is no going back.Better late than never.Your article reflects the feelings of many who did not take to CM seriously when they were young.But there is no age barrier to learning.
Happy listening.

rajumds · Post by **rajumds** » 06 May 2008, 10:45

Nice article . Looking forward to more

Sathej · Post by **Sathej** » 06 May 2008, 11:38

Well written, Samanth, in your inimitable style. True, one must start early, sigh. Looking forward to more articles.
Sathej

samanth · Post by **samanth** » 06 May 2008, 11:51

Thank you, all, for your very kind words, and to the people who emailed in as well. I look forward to living up to your expectations!

skandyhere · Post by **skandyhere** » 07 May 2008, 04:09

Very well written, honest article indeed! It was further delightful to see a column on Carnatic appearing on Livemint.com - something very unexpected (just going by the absence of Carnatic in business/general papers such as this).

A very apt one for debuting with - I enjoyed it.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 07 May 2008, 06:11

Well written, Samanth.

Also, you have done your paper some good too. I did not even know about livemint.com. It looks like something I will check out for other content as well.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 07 May 2008, 14:03

Business newspaper... Mint... Coins... Ahhhh!

And here was I thinking about herbs.

<Blush>

knandago2001 · Post by **knandago2001** » 07 May 2008, 15:35

Samanth: Alex Cosper, in his essay, states that â€œIn the theatre of mind music, great music leads us somewhere new while mediocre music simply follows where weâ€™ve already beenâ€

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 08 May 2008, 10:48

I suspect Mint has suddenly found a niche a very loyal audience! A breath of fresh air indeed! Look forward to more!

Incidentally I was about the same age (maybe a couple of years younger) when I switched allegiances to carnatic music and compared to the eclectic dalliances before my conversion, the last 10 years have been remarkably stable as far as musical tastes are concerned although HM has been a welcome addi(c)tion!

Wasn't there a nice thread on how we got initiated etc. etc. sometime last year...