We have not connected in a long while. So we have a lot of catching up to do, let us get right to it.
Bhagwan Sathya Sai Baba (1926-2011): For a long time I considered myself as a fence sitter than a devotee of Sai Baba. I have never been in close physical proximity with Baba to experience any materialization miracles. That was just as well since for me materialization is a turn off than a draw. Given my attitude, I was very surprised to experience Baba in the ethereal space or dream space. I resisted writing about them because they were personal. With Baba’s departure from the physical world and a lot of information floating in the press, good bad and ugly, I thought it is time to share a bit of my experiences. I will start with the most significant experience with Baba that happened at Vijaya Para’s house in Coral Springs, FL. Let us see where this takes us.
As many of the South Florida readers know that the Para family conducts monthly Sai Bhajans. One time, a few years back, it was a particularly crowded day. I could not make it to my usual sitting area so I sat in the family room closed my eyes and started participating in the Bhajans. A tap on my shoulder, it was Vijayamma. She asked me to go sit inside the altar area where the photo of Baba’s feet is kept as the center piece in a beautifully arranged pooja room. It was a strange suggestion from a person who I have known for a decade but hardly spoke a couple of sentences till then. I complied and went inside the altar area, closed my eyes and continued with the Bhajans. Half way through the Bhajans, I “saw” Sai Baba floating into the altar. He noticed me sitting inside and made a 90-degree turn facing me. The ethereal form Baba must have been at least 15-20 feet tall. I looked up to see his face as he looked down smiling at me. I experienced an indescribable feeling of calm, joy and contentment all at the same time. To me this is real, not an imagination nor hallucination.
Many in the South Florida community are distraught about Sai Baba leaving the world. It certainly is difficult news to process when their relationship with Baba is personal. It is an emotion that is even stronger than losing a close family member. Hopefully, focusing on the inner experiences will help to heal.
December Season in Chennai:
This section is dedicated to my beloved cousin Sri Venkatramani. He passed away in December 2010 when he was only 61. Ramani was an avid listener of Carnatic music and was present in Chennai every year. He was a linguist with mastery over eight languages including French. He was probably one of the few Indians who can speak in Swahili. Ramani was a rasika to the core of his being who simply enjoyed everything in life be it music, dance, art collection, language, work, food, attire, travel or being with people. He is survived by his wife, Girija, and two wonderful kids, Kripa and Kiran – God bless.
I don’t remember Chennai being this cool in December during my growing up days there. What is happening to my dear Madras? This global climate change is probably having an impact. In talking to my South/Central America friends I get the same impression that the winters are cooler there as well. In fact, I feel the same weather pattern in Florida with cooler winters. I am beginning to think “global warming” is a very limiting or even a misleading headline for the climate changes we are experiencing. If you pay close attention to the weather patterns, you will see that winters are colder and longer and summers are hotter and longer. Fall and spring are compressed with winter and summer extending in both directions. In case Al Gore is wondering why he is not able to get through the thick skull of the Tea Party activists with his Global Warming message, here is the answer. Mr. Gore – the fact that you are a boring speaker is only part of the answer, you need to change your message altogether. The Tea Party guys are simply averaging the temperature of the entire year and refuting the concept of Global Warming. In fact some of them are saying it is a Global Cooling phenomenon and want to put more SUV’s on the road. Good luck with them.
Sorry I digress, what has Al Gore got to do with December Music season in Chennai - nothing. But the climate change has an effect on the voices of the singers. May be we should move the December season to November. It was heartening to see traffic jams around the sabhas that are actually created by Kutcheri goers. But the season overall was a bit disappointing to me from the quality of music. Let us look at concert by concert, the ones I attended:
Sowmya (vocal) with Sri Ramkumar (violin) Neyveli Narayanan (Mridangam) and KV Gopalakrishnan (Kanjira) – Percussionists were overshadowing the singer. Overall Kutcheri was “nothing to write home about”. Varali alapana was miscued in several places (failed experiments?). Bhairavi was the main piece and thani avardhanam was fantastic – especially the Kanjira was simply superb.
Malavika Sarukkai Dance – this was a double header for me – Sowmya’s vocal concert with my son Prem and the dance with my daughter Deepa. Had to swap the kids as we were only able to get two season tickets. The dance was simply superb with the concept of how river Ganges relates to different segments of society. Beautifully done.
Malladi Brothers (vocal) with Mysore Nagaraj (violin) Thiruvarur Bhakthavathsalam (Mridangam) Vaikom Gopalakrishnan (Ghatam) – Very beautifully executed concert. First, about Sri Bhakthavathsalam Sir – His mridangam playing had his usual energy but the sound was softer than his normal – just loved it. Malladi Brothers were in top form, sang some very popular ragas like Sankarabharanam, Bhairavi, Kalyani, Sahana and Saveri.
Aruna Sairam (vocal), HN Bhaskar (violin), J. Vaidhyanathan (mridangam), SV Ramani (Ghatam) – Aruna Sairam made even Prem stop reading and listen to her alapana in Atana that is saying a lot about her singing prowess. Sound system was not set up right. We could hear an echo coming from the back of the hall – very distracting. Kutcheri overall was ok, not to my expectations from Aruna Sairam. Sangeetha Samrajya in Mohanam was the highlight of the concert. Main piece was in Madhyamavathi with nice swaras.
Bombay Jayashree (vocal), Embar Kannan (Violin), Pathri Sathishkumar (mridangam), Udupi Shridhar (Ghatam) – Clearly the best concert of the season, as far as I am concerned. Main piece was in Ranjani with a small ragamalika section in a unique 12-beat thalam. After a few frantic text messages we found that it as Chaturasra Jathi Ata Thalam – two 4-beat laghus followed by two dhrutams. Mridangam was very expressive in his thani avardhanam.
TM Krishna (vocal), TKV Ramanujacharyalu (violin), Karaikkudi Mani (mridangam), V Suresh (Ghatam) – it finally happened to me in a Chennai festival – someone asked me about the ragam for a song and I knew it was Varali. Wow, what a feeling? The concert had the expected energy from the singer especially in the English note. He almost made me a fan of Karaharapriya with his main piece. Thani was amazing. Nice concert.
Alright, enough of Chennai, what’s happening in South Florida? The first half of the music season is in full swing. We had a beautiful start with an instrumental concert.
Sri Sanjay Chandran (Violin) with Dr. Ramakrishnan (Mridangam) – Overall the concert was very enjoyable. Sanjay playing to friends within the South Florida community showed extensive interaction with the audience. The concert really flowed very well thrilling the audience with some popular krithis.
Nattaikkurinji Varnam – very energetic song but needed better coordination between the artists. They settled down after this song.
Siddhi Vinayakam in Shanmugapriya/Rupakam – very confident and fluent delivery
A song in Valaji in Rupaka Thalam – folksy number, very nicely done
Janani Ninuvina in Rithi Gowle/Misra Chapu – one of my favorite ragas. Alapana was very sweet. By now the artists have captivated the audience. They were visibly having fun on stage
Pandurithi Kollu in Hamsanadam/Adi – fast number, brigas fell precisely
Kanchadalaya in Kamala Manohari – very meditative and deep number. Impressive niravals and swaras with mridangam adding color
Amba Brovamma in Dharmavathi/Rupakam a Bidaram Krishnappa composition – I don’t have a lot of exposure to this ragam but nice
A lively number in Bilahari/Kanda Chapu – made people sit up and listen
Purvi Kalyani song – “La Jawab”. I always enjoy Sanjay playing this ragam and he did not disappoint me this time. But the energy among the audience seemed to drop a bit
Jagado Dharana in Kapi – Nice pep
RTP in Khamboji – Surprisingly so deep into the concert this was the best song. Alapana was superb with nice coordination among artists. Audience getting back into the concert
Kaliyuga Varada in Brindavana Saranga – Honestly, I did not give any Raga list to Sanjay but he played many of my favorites. Thanks.
Raghuvamsa Sudha in Kadana Kuthoohalam – a toe-tapping number, never fails to put a smile on everyone’s face. Watch out for some difficult sangathis.
Bhageshwari Thillana with influence from Tarana (Hindusthani) – this is one of Sanjay’s compositions. I don’t remember hearing the Hindustani part. I will listen hard the next time
Madhava Mamave in Nilambari followed by Bhagyatha Lakshmi Baramma – well done concert.
I missed a couple of concerts after Sanjay and Ramakrishnan. I will write about Rajesh Vaidya’s Veena concert the next time.
See you at the next concert – Carnatica Brothers on Friday, May 20 at 7:30pm at the Shiva Vishnu Temple Auditorium.
