CM heard in unexpected places

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 04 May 2007, 15:12

I boarded a Malaysian Airlines flight between KL and London a few months ago, and guess what music welcomed me? A violin rendition of Orajupuju! It was such a welcome change. I so much wanted to share my happiness with other passengers, but couldn't find any who looked like a rasika!

Has anyone else heard CM in such unusual places?

(In fact, here's an idea for a CM kutcheri in the air, on board a flight! Has this been tried?)

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 04 May 2007, 22:04

Only from the music channel you can listen to with earphones on board. Air India had a substantial fare (I don't know how it is now). Time could fly while flying long hours.
I enjoy listening to CM (instrumental) while shopping at Nilgiris the grocery store in Chennai and Bangalore (I don't think it's a seasonal thing as christmas carols) because I have heard CM music before and after the season...

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 04 May 2007, 22:20

This may not be unusual place but I enjoyed a violin recital (don't know the artist) on Annamayya kIrtanas while climbing tirumala hills. They had it playing over the speaker for certain distance of the route. It was lightly drizzling and such a joy to listen as you climb.

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 05 May 2007, 01:58

Only from the music channel you can listen to with earphones on board

Arasi - the music on Malaysian was blaring at full volume inside the plane! This was the music they played as the plane was on the ground getting ready. It felt as if I had entered a music sabha, not a plane. This, followed by excellent vadai-sambar (bus. class), made my day!

The Saravana bhavan here in London used to play nice carnatic music when they opened - and I commended them for that. But these days they have switched to the usual dubba stuff.

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 05 May 2007, 08:37

http://www.chennaionline.com/musicseason2006/int02.asp

some interesting stuff here

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 05 May 2007, 09:45

Indeed Kji.. Wild stuff!! CM Concert at mile high!! Very nice.

mahakavi · Post by **mahakavi** » 05 May 2007, 18:53

...more than a mile high! They fly at 30000+ feet above and hence one could say six mile high concert.

kaapi · Post by **kaapi** » 05 May 2007, 19:22

"The Saravana bhavan here in London used to play nice carnatic music when they opened -"

I think the name also has changed to Sangamam.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 05 May 2007, 19:37

Sub
If by accident the plane went higher to penetrate the ether one could be (?un)fortunate to hear wonderful CM in the company of nArAyaNa

Eons ago as I was sharing a flight from TVM to Chennai in the company of SSI, as the rickety Dakota tossed and roared I requested mama to sing to forget the travail. With a smirk mama replied;
"intha shruthikku naan paaDina appaRam en paaTTai kEkka yaarum varamaaTTaa"
(If I sing for this shruti nobody will ever come to listen to my singing!)

Jayaram
Malaysia is also a Tamil country and no surprise they play CM!

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 05 May 2007, 20:13

K-ji, thanks for the link to the interesting story about Suryaprakash singing in the air.
It must have happened during his 1996 tour - can't believe they would have allowed any passenger into the cockpit post-9/11.

CML - yes, Malaysia does have Tamil as one of its official languages (it's not a 'Tamil country'!) but how come this doesn't happen on any of the Indian flights? I have only heard Hindustani music on Indian airlines - that too very rarely.

baboosh · Post by **baboosh** » 05 May 2007, 21:02

jayaram wrote:K-ji, thanks for the link to the interesting story about Suryaprakash singing in the air.
It must have happened during his 1996 tour - can't believe they would have allowed any passenger into the cockpit post-9/11.

CML - yes, Malaysia does have Tamil as one of its official languages (it's not a 'Tamil country'!) but how come this doesn't happen on any of the Indian flights? I have only heard Hindustani music on Indian airlines - that too very rarely.

There was an episode described by Khushwanth singh in late 70s when MSS and TS were going by train to N.Delhi for a concert.They were travelling by First class and MSS and Radha started practising when they realised that Khushwanth singh was in a nearby bay.TS went and apologised for being noisy.Singh asked them to keep their bay open so that he can enjoy the music in full measure

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 06 May 2007, 08:35

Indian Airlines used to play Ananda Shankar's tracks (and occasionally VijayRaghavaro's Tracks) for most of the 80s.
Ad nauseam...

Manna Dey once sang for me on a train journey from Pune to Mumbai.I had packed up to alight , when the train was crossing Bhiwandi.Though it was not an official stop, occasionally the trains would hat for a signal, giving room for the likes of me to get down and catch a cab to Powai , thereby saving precious allowance.
But on that day , I was unlucky and had to walk back again , this time to a seat nearby , for the rest of the journey .And I spotted Manna Da, sitting alone , and singing to himself.
Bright Orange shirt with gaudy Mango-like designs.
I told him that I was such a big fan of his , and he hummed a few tunes from Madhur Shala for me.
He also signed an autograph for me, on a Thurber classic that I was carrying.Such a Simple person.

The story of Gangubais learning of Suha on a Train from Pune to Dharwar, has been written about, in some some earlier discussion,here.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 06 May 2007, 19:17

Madhur Shala - is that a movie Kji? Or, did you mean Harivamsh Rai Bacchan's madhushAlA?

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 06 May 2007, 19:26

oops
I stand corrected.It is indeed,the rendering of Bachhan's Classic.

ksrimech · Post by **ksrimech** » 07 May 2007, 00:25

vasanthakokilam wrote:Indeed Kji.. Wild stuff!! CM Concert at mile high!! Very nice.

Lucky were the crew and passengers of the Luftansa flight. That is never gonna happen in the Mile High City (aka Denver). So if I hear CM here, then it is definitely at an unexpected place.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 07 May 2007, 07:46

coolkarni wrote:oops
I stand corrected.It is indeed,the rendering of Bachhan's Classic.

Kji,
Having learnt so many of the verses from his madhuSAlA and 'madhuSAlA ki madhubAlA', it is really sad that I remember just a few:

bhAvukatA angUr latA sE
khInc kalpanA kI hAlA
kavi sAki bankar AyA hai
bharkar kavitA kA pyAlA
kabhI na kaNbhar khAlI hOgA
lAkh piyEn, dO lAkh piyEn
pAThak gaN hain pInE vAlE
pustak mEri madhuSAlA

lAl surA kI dhAr lapaT sI
keh na isE dEnA jwAlA
phEnil madirA hai
mat iskO keh dEnA ur ka chAlA
dard naSA hai is madirA kA
vigat smritiyAn sAkhI hain
pIDA mein Anand jisE hO
AyE mEri madhuSAlA

lAlAyit adharOn sE jisnE
hAi nahIn chUmI hAlA
harsh vikampit kar sE jisnE
hA na chuA madhu kA pyAlA
hAth pakaD lajjit sAkI kA
pAs nahI jisnE khIncA
vyarth sukhA dAlI jIvan kI
usnE madhumay madhuSAlA

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 07 May 2007, 08:00

then you must acquire Manna Deys recording of it.Let me look for more details.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 07 May 2007, 08:21

Ravi,
What you remember 'sE'--Aj mErA pyAlA bhar gayA...

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 07 May 2007, 08:26

http://www.raaga.com/channels/hindi/art ... a_Dey.html
Ravi
A few clips available here

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 07 May 2007, 08:36

Folks travelling to Bangalore-from Chennai- by the KSRTC Volvo Bus are treated to a different kind of experience.

Very often, as I settle down ,I hear the FM broadcast through the Speakers installed in the Bus, usually Film Music.Some program that ends at 10PM.
And then it is left unattended only for just a few seconds , not even minutes.
The Bus Driver, who also acts as a Conductor for the trip , is down ,busy finalising the manifesto , when the next program sends horror waves through the entire set of people inside.

The announcer would not even have completed a line like say -"Next is Voleti Venkateswarulu" or something similar- before hell breaks loose.And if the Driver delays to the extent that I get to hear the strains of that famous Varali album , there will be young chaps, running down to see how further damage to their ears can be avoided.

One great reason to support a a kid performing classical stuff, no matter what calibre.Future does look scary , in such conditions.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 07 May 2007, 08:57

A scary scenario. Cleveland thread is more promising

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 07 May 2007, 09:04

coolkarni wrote:then you must acquire Manna Deys recording of it.Let me look for more details.

That will be awesome..that clip from raaga.com was great!

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 07 May 2007, 09:05

arasi wrote:Ravi,
What you remember 'sE'--Aj mErA pyAlA bhar gayA...

You are WELCOME!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 07 May 2007, 09:11

Geetha too, on that Manna Dey clip. What a voice!

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 08 Jun 2007, 14:48

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/des ... iscs.shtml
What a lovely surprise...Got to listen to some beautiful veena music on a local BBC radio program

Program: Desert Island Discs, Radio 4, BBC
Today's guest: Prof Tom Blundell, a leading scientist
Music included in his list: Jayanthi's veena recital of 'sakhi prANa'

-- Desert Island Discs is one of Radio 4's most popular and enduring programmes.
Created by Roy Plomley in 1942, the format is simple: each week a guest is invited by Kirsty Young to choose the eight records they would take with them to a desert island. --

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 08 Jun 2007, 20:33

I am surprised the program still goes on, Jayaram.

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 08 Jun 2007, 21:02

Yes, it still does. It's a favorite of mine.
Next week they are featuring Yoko Ono.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 08 Jun 2007, 22:29

Hmmm...that should feature a Ravi Shankar then!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 08 Jun 2007, 23:20

Opting for Ravi Sankar is like the sweeping statement: I love curry! They do too. More knowledgable ones would say, I love kottavaraikkAi paruppu usili or veNDaik kAi mOR kuzhambu...

kadambam · Post by **kadambam** » 11 Jun 2007, 20:00

Unforgettable experience of hearing CM in Disney World, Florida

As we entered the Asian Jungle in Animal Kingdom, we were welcomed by flute Mali's Kavadi Chindu. It was truly an unforgettable experience & for a few seconds we were swept into Mali's kingdom of Melody and creativity!!!

chalanata · Post by **chalanata** » 11 Jun 2007, 20:49

once i happened to go to thyagaraja urchavam at thiruvaiyaru and heard blemishless pancharatna by vidwans! a great and shocking experience!

gsriram · Post by **gsriram** » 15 Jun 2007, 03:47

The Hindi movie Shalimar (1978) features a rendition of 'shrI vallI dEvasEnApatE' (naThabhairavI) in a hotel, with kalpanAsvara. Quite unexpected. I've always wondered who the artise(s) are.

Best,
Ganesh

rrao13 · Post by **rrao13** » 17 Jun 2007, 06:43

Here is an article from T.M.Krishna's website. Hope I am not violating any copyright restrictions!

WORLDS APART, YET SO CLOSE
In the last 2 months, I had the great pleasure of experiencing the power of human passion and drive in two different parts of the world. One was in a town called Vertou in France and the other in a small village near Dharmasthala in Karnataka, India.

Let me first talk about France. Vertou is a small town in north-west France around 500 kms from Paris. Andre Martin, a very old friend of mine and a Carnatic music student of my guru Shri Seetherama Sharma lives there. He has been associated with Carnatic music for the past 15 years . He learnt from Mrs. Savithri Nair in Paris and then from my guru. After meeting him in 1989 as a 12 year old boy and visiting his town then I had an opportunity to go back to his home after 15 years.

The town is an ancient French town very close to a city called Nantes. Vertou is a beautiful small town with vineyards all over and old houses dotting the countryside. His house is over 200 years old. An absolutely gorgeous place.

The last time I was there he was a professional Oboe player in the local orchestra. I had the opportunity then to travel with him when they were performing. Recently he brought a group from France to Madras and told me that he had quit his job and was now teaching Carnatic music in his town. At that point what he said did not have such a great impact. He said that some of his students are people with whom he tries and use Carnatic music as a tool to help in their human unfoldment and some were serious learners of the art form. Though it did sound very interesting I really felt the impact when I spent a week with him and his students.

Imagine a French household in some small town in France where the only music you hear all day is Carnatic music. It was almost a culture shock for me. The commitment to our music from himself and all his family was just so great that it affected me very deeply. Here are people who have given up their lucrative professions to share with others an art form that is totally alien to their culture. This was almost an awakening of sorts for me. We take so many things for granted even our own music that we sometimes lose this honesty and intensity in our work.

I did some work with his students and his family. The interest, commitment and drive to learn was amazing. There were days when we sang till midnight. They wanted to learn to sing the gamakas as we do and use their voice with complete openness which is not something they do normally. I learnt a lot in the process of teaching these wonderful students. Some of the students came during the weekends and spent the whole weekend with the family and it was a family of almost 25 people from many places in France with one common factor - Carnatic Music. He hopes to bring more such groups to India so that they not only learn the music but also experience India. I wish him the very best in his work.

Dharmasthala a typical pilgrimage town in Karnataka was the other calling. A good friend and popular violinist of today Shri Vittal Ramamurthy called me one day and said that he wanted me to perform in his ancestral home in a small village near Dharmasthala. I accepted without asking any questions. I did not know the occasion for the concert or the purpose of holding such a concert.

I got the answers to these questions only when we went to his home. Itâ€™s a very small village in the hills around Dharmasthala. A picturesque place. Trees, streams and mountains all around and as I basked in the glory of nature I wondered what is the concert all about? We took a turn away from the tar road and entered a mud path that finally reached a house in-between two hills. As I got down from the car I saw almost 60 young girls and boys waiting to receive us. Only then did Vittal Ramamurthy tell me that they had been holding a camp for these children for the past 5 days. They were children from many small villages around the area. They stayed at his house and learnt music. Shri Vittal Ramamurthyâ€™s sister teaches music there and he come to his home town once a year to conduct this musical camp. Their whole week is filled with learning music and sharing it with all their friends- an extended family of music students.

We heard all the children sing. They sang Reethigowlai, Kannada and many other krithis in other ragas to perfection. Their love for learning and enjoyment in performing these krithis was written all over their face.

The similarity between the two worlds was unbelievable. People from two different parts of the world contributing to the reach and growth of carnatic music in similar ways. Their love for the music is the same, their commitment the same and their urge to share the joy of music with others the same yet they are miles apart.

These journeys were wonderful experiences for me. Journeys where I saw something different, where people were all givers - I learnt a lot.

-T.M. Krishna / May 2004

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 17 Jun 2007, 15:19

rrao13,

It would be better if you write to TMK informing him of this posting here made by you quoting from his website. I dont think he will say no, but its better that he is kept informed. Thanks.

You may be able to find his email or other contact in his website.

grsastrigal · Post by **grsastrigal** » 17 Jun 2007, 19:02

rrao13-whatever it is- Excellant article. 100 marks.. People in our own motherland are waiting in the long queue, full night, for watching Sivaji movie, some unknown place (Paris), unknown people appreciating CM is really wonderful.

Thyagaraja was 100% correct-"Entharo Mahanubhavulu"

rrao13 · Post by **rrao13** » 18 Jun 2007, 19:11

srkris:
I have written to Shri T.M.Krishna and he has given his permission to use the material from his web site. Thanks.

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 18 Jun 2007, 20:42

rrao,

Thanks for the follow up

vinayo · Post by **vinayo** » 19 Jun 2007, 02:23

In the initial days when Coramandel Express was introduced, the PAS in Howrah station would play carnatic music when the express train steamed into the platform at half past eight in the morning. (The train took exactly 24 hours from Chennai to Howrah those days! diesel and not steam engines incidentally)