Carnatica Editor's Blog - Latest Comments

Re: The Best of Times & The Worst of Times… Notes from Tiruvaiyaru

B Radhika Ravi — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:36:31 -0000

Dear Mr. Ramanathan iyer,

I am so happy to see your article, particularly the photographs of sri Thyagaraja's house!

My husband and I visited the saint's house in august 2003. It was a beautiful experience. We had reached at 3pm, the house was locked. A very enthusiastic neighbour lady called for saint Thyagaraja's brother's( Japesan) great grand daughter living nearby who opened the house for us. We stood mesmerised, it was such an emotional moment. I sat down in front of the idol of the saint and sang 'Nanu Kanna Thalli, naa bhagyama'.

Kindly post some more pictures of the house. Also you mentioned there was a puja room. All we saw was a large central room withpillars on one side. The roof was leaking with rain water. So, the idol of the saint was placed in the centre of the room which was dry. Unfortunately for us our camera stopped functioning, so could not take any photos.

I will be grateful if you could please reply to this post explaining the orientation of the saint's house.

Regards,

Radhika

Re: Remembering Shyama Sastri

VIGNESH VENKATA GOPALA KRISHNA — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 12:43:25 -0000

Its very shocking to know that,the descendents of shree shyama shastri,who redefined ragas like bhairavi and saveri,are leading a pathetic life. Its my personal feeling that,shyama shastri ,does not receive the same attention as received by other composers. I hope the musicians take up this seriously and popularize his rare krithis. May the goddess kamakshi help musicians in achieving this.

Re: One hundred years of GeNius Balasubramaniam!

Sairaman Keerthy — Sat, 14 May 2011 10:04:05 -0000

Way back, Once GNB was contacted by a group of rasikas of a temple in one of the villages in Kanyakumari district for a carnatic concert. At that time, he was in Trivandrum so the place of concert was easilly accessible by him though the temple situated on the northern interior near hillside. GNB came on time on the scheduled day and performed with his accompanists. After the concert, the organisers asked him as to how much consideration he needed for this performance and GNB, rightfully and reasonably, requested only Rs.1000 in all for transport,food and for the accopanists. The organisers pounced on him saying that was too much and they were arguing among themselves and finally they unanimously decided to pay him Rs.1000 and they stretched a thaambulam plate with the agreed sum. GNB received the money humbly and put it in the hundy of the temple and walked majestically , thanking the organisers. This was witnessed by my grand father who used to attend all concerts of GNB without fail. What a great soul of CM !!!!

Re: The MDR Manuscripts

Guest — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 07:36:29 -0000

please publish his compositions into a book that can be widely available with english translations.

Re: One hundred years of GeNius Balasubramaniam!

M. Srinivas Dixit — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 16:05:19 -0000

I can Give GNB Live concerts. Contact me. my mail id
maxworthconsumer@yahoo.com

Re: New Initiatives

V.Kannan — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 04:50:45 -0000

interested in becoming a member. pls let me know the fee.
Enjoyed the November season .
Does a member get free ticket? what row.
I am interested in two tickets for me and my wife who are carnatic music lovers

Re: One hundred years of GeNius Balasubramaniam!

B S Sekhar — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:16:17 -0000

No words to explain GNB's music. Even after a century, people would get wonderstuck when they hear GNB - especially on a Andolika, AmritaVarshini or shifting from a Kanada to Subali in a Virutham without a pause...... etc... etc...... Some great musician told me after listening to his Karaharapriya, Rishabapriya, Ranjini & Sindubhairavi ( in VandeMatharam slokam) ..." Paadina Ippudi Paadanam' ..... meaning " Sing like this if want to sing".
Could anyone get the recording of Raga GOWDAMALHAR ( kriti - Saarasamukhi Sakhalabhagyathe)?

Re: One hundred years of GeNius Balasubramaniam!

G.K.SHANKAR — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:12:14 -0000

GNB Concerts are never ending and like to listen all through nights and days. We are unfortunate that we never saw him.

Re: One hundred years of GeNius Balasubramaniam!

PRAKASH IYENGAR — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:12:58 -0000

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR HIS - SRIRAMA JAYARAMA SRINGARARAMA YANI CHINTINCHARAADEY OOH MANASA - SONG. WOULD BE GRATEFUL TO ANYONE WHO GIVES THE DETAILS
THANKS

Re: One hundred years of GeNius Balasubramaniam!

Somu Sankaran — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:16:40 -0000

No doubt GNB was a genius.

Re: One hundred years of GeNius Balasubramaniam!

V.VENKATESAN — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:24:59 -0000

Astonishing,astounding,amazing and the one and only GNB--Laden with blistering voice,sweetened with fast brighas,and rich and fertile imagination,vivid delineation of ragas-Andolika-Raga Sudharasa;Kalyani-Shivakakameswarim;ragamalikas-Vande Mataram,a master piece and kalambodhara to name a few; I am an avid listener knowing nothing about carnatic but mesmerised and enchanted by GNB sir--My one and only wish to Lord--Should there be another life, I want to do Gurukulavasam for the master GNB and capture the glimpses of the uniquely gifted Genius in the annals of carnatic music.I understand how gifted are his shisyas like Ramachandransir,MLVamma,S.kalyanaraman Sir,and TS Balasubramaniam sir--I have some rich collections of him and other stalwarts.
Venkat

Re: One hundred years of GeNius Balasubramaniam!

M.K.Ramasubramnaina — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:18 -0000

As an unrepentant sycophant of GN Sir and a lucky person to have heard him over two decades and having been closely associated with him thro my father the late K.S.Mahadevan-Music Critic of Indian Express CHENNAI, and moved with him in close quarters,I can say undoubyedly that his arrival was a breath of fresh air with his unique 'Bani'. He was one of the most self-effacing artiste that I have ever met and had an uncanny sense of humor. He always referred to himself as a "Good for Nothing Bhagavathar(GNB) in a self deprecating tone. In 1964,a year before he died I attended a concert of him at the wedding of the Late Alathur Bros(Sivasubramania Iyer's daughte in Trichy.Needless to say the concert was aphenomenal one. At the end of the concert like so many eager fans buzzing around him,I rushed and told him that it was one of the best concerts I had heard from him to which he promptly replied in Tamil.:Nan Ennikkum Padara Madiri than Padinen. Unnudaya Gnanam vena improve ahirukko ennavo( I have been singing the same way-perhaps your Gnanam may have improved!!I have many more anecdotes to tell if space and readers' patience permit!!!

Re: One hundred years of GeNius Balasubramaniam!

MANIAN — Sat, 23 May 2009 10:29:54 -0000

I HV HEARD GNB QUITE A LONG TIME.
HE IS A GREAT BOON FOR THE MUSIC WORLD.
HE IS A "VARAPRASAADHAM" FOR THE SOUTH INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC

Re: Now, let me sleep!

kishore — Wed, 20 May 2009 09:33:59 -0000

good work

Re: Remembering Shyama Sastri

vkailasamvenkat — Thu, 07 May 2009 07:34:52 -0000

I am in tears. and, also happy to learn
the helping hand of the music lovers.
I hope some permanent arrangements have been made.Governement is providing funds for Cine artists of yesteryears.Can this be taken up ?

Re: One hundred years of GeNius Balasubramaniam!

(GN)B.MURALI — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 07:23:37 -0000

It is very interesting to go through the synopsis about the Great Legend GNB. In Tamil, there is a saying "Oppaarum Mikkaarum Illai". In my opinion, this aptly matches GNB. Such was his generous performance. Since GNB passed away much before the impact of media , his performance could be felt only by the yester-year generation. GNB is a multi-faceted personality, an academic (BA Hons.), Vaaggeyakaarar, actor, teacher, and above all, a scintillating vocalist.

Re: Remembering Shyama Sastri

R.Gurumurthy — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 06:31:25 -0000

The great composers and musicians did not bother for material prosperity and and their decendandants suffer. I know many. but they do not approach people for help. There must be common funds and trusts who can look after these people.

Re: One hundred years of GeNius Balasubramaniam!

M. Srinivas Dixit — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 04:52:24 -0000

Your uploading song of GNB is yedukula kamboji is very good. I do have some collections.

Re: One hundred years of GeNius Balasubramaniam!

Dr K Parameswaran — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:23:35 -0000

The Vividh Bharathi program Sangeetha Sudha is a fond memory for me too! It followed the main listener's request programme in the vening and I remember waiting with bated breath to take over the single transister at home from my sister who was a regular film song addict!

Re: One hundred years of GeNius Balasubramaniam!

M.Ramanathan — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 18:59:54 -0000

I am an addict of G.N.B's music.In 1964 I met him at Tanjore railway Retiring room and accompanied along with Lalgudi Jayaraman in the car to the sabha where he performed with none other tha the legend Palghat Mani iyer.What a concert. The collector of Tanjore Sri.vedanarayananandSri. K.S.Gopalaswamy Iyer of Ananda Lodge were present on that day to listen to the great Master.

Re: One hundred years of GeNius Balasubramaniam!

S Sivaramakrishnan — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:11:28 -0000

That was one of the best tributes to the Evergreen Hero and the Super Star of carnaic music - GNB noted for his 'Grand Nascent Briga-s'!
The editor has exactly 'relived' my experience with the Navaratri Mandapam and Sangeetha Sudha of Trivandrum!

Re: One hundred years of GeNius Balasubramaniam!

MIRLE KARTHIK — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:18:05 -0000

Himagiri Tanaye, Shivakameshvariyim, Mama Kuleshwaram---. when I hear these songs, yes, my mother's words come surging. Of a tall, handsome personage, with that periodical characteristic brush of the hand against the nostrils, tossing out birkas like tidal waves. Not fortunate enough to have heard GNB in
person, whatever little I have heard is enough to tell me that he was a trendsetter in the true sense of the word, with his dashing speed, stately poise, crisp kalpana swaras, at times beguilingly treacherous . And oh, yes, how can I forget that Andholika? Ragasudharasa, Sevika Vendumayya---! Anandabhairavi-Shivakama Sundari, Pallavi-Tillai Isanai Kana Yenna Punniyam Shaideno, Hindolam-Sama Gana Lole etc etc tumble out of memory. The GNB Bani has inspired many, with T.R.Subramaniam reminding me of the master. But somehow V. Ramachandran strikes me as a clone, but without that essential ingredient of originality.Is Gene Balasubramaniam lurking somewhere in the family tree, waiting to spring a surprise?

Re: Remembering Shyama Sastri

MIRLE KARTHIK — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 11:31:37 -0000

I agree with Saiganesh. Just because they happen to be the descendents of Shyama Shastri does not entitle them to any privileges, especially considering that none of them have made any tangibile contribution to Carnatic Music as performers or composers or even plain rasikas. Going by the reports in The Hindu, none of them have any musical leanings or even a remote connection with music. Some old moth eaten manuscripts, some inscriptions somewhere, there is nothing to support their claim. Even today, there are so many descendents of great Vaggeyakaras who are also in need but with no musical leanings whatsoever. If we start entertaining their claims, there would be no end to it.If as Mr. Shivaraman says, Shyama Shastri would be pained to see his descendents suffering in penury, would he not be pained to see their musical ignorance?
But renovating Shyama Shastri's house, propogating his compositions, trying to unearth the lost kritis, these are commendable aims and need to be supported.

Re: Remembering Shyama Sastri

B Jagannathan — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:27:03 -0000

I remember an officer of Chennai Telehones(now BSNL ), I had forgotten his name in one of the interviews said that that he is one of the descendents of Shyama Sastri and he is still having the Bangaru Kamakshi idol ( actually worshipped by Shyama Sastri)in his custody.

Re: Remembering Shyama Sastri

T.M.Sivaraman — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 23:07:58 -0000

I beg to differ with Sri Sai Ganesh.For a moment,forget the lineage of the descendents of Shyama Sastry and focus the centre of attention only on the Saint's immortal contribution and legacy to the world of carnatic music.What a colossal treasure house of compositions has he left behind for posterity to feast on with music for the soul, invoking the Goddess Kamakshi and her different rupams.Can any carnatic concert today be complete without rendition of his classic "Amman" krithis?His bhava filled krithis contain the essence of all the religious and humanitarian philosophies at the core of the Hindu Dharma,and really serve as a worthy treatise on the "Art of Living".
I feel that the saint's soul would be tormented that his descendants are forced to live in penury, while the carnatic musicians of today,using his compositions are wealthy and are in a position to ensure the prosperity of their future generations.
It is no crime for any person to accumulate wealth to ensure that his progeny live in comfort with a good quality of life.By the same token it would be no crime for the descendants of Saint Shyama Sastry to live a life in comfort and not have to starve and struggle in abject penury, whether, they have contributed anything to the carnatic world or not.And I doubt anybody has really done a study on whether any of his descendants have carried on the legacy of the Saint and contributed in any way to enriching carnatic music in some way.In the absence of such a study, it would be unfair to condemn the descendants of the Saint for not contributing anything to carnatic music and make an affirmative statement that they do not deserve some measure of economic sustenance,merely by reason of their birth.Isn't it true that the children of today's film fraternity,sports stars,politicians and industrialists enjoy all the wealth and publicity and live a lifestyle of opulence,merely by reason of their birth? So why should the Saint's descendants not have at least some measure of economic well being without having to starve?
The bottom line of this debate:
"By all means honour the Saint's memory by renovating his residence,building a memorial,spread the richness of his compositions to all corners of the globe by translating them into all languages.But also do whatever we can to ensure that his descendants do not have to starve in penury.This would a fitting way to honour the Saint,and give his Soul lasting peace and happiness in Heaven"