இதயப் பேழைக்குள் ஒரு இசைப் பொக்கிஷம் !

இதயப் பேழைக்குள் இட்டு வைத்திருந்த இசைப் பொக்கிஷம் ஒன்று , இன்று உயிர் பெற்று இன்னிசை பொழியத் தொடங்கியது! கடந்த 45 ஆண்டு காலமாக அந்த இரண்டு காகிதங்களைப் பொக்கிஷமாகப் பாதுகாத்து வருகிறேன் நான் ! ‘அந்த இரண்டு துண்டுக் காகிதங்களுக்கா இத்தனை மதிப்பும் மரியாதையும் உங்கள் மனதில்' என்று நீங்கள் கேட்கலாம்! ஆம் ! அவை வெற்றுக் காகிதங்களல்ல! அவற்றுக்கு உயிர் உண்டு ! ஏறக்குறைய 60 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன்பு , எனது அருமை சித்தப்பா நடராஜன் அவர்களால் எழுதி வைக்கப்பட்ட 'தரங்கம்பாடி பஞ்சநத அய்யர்' அவர்களால் இயற்றப்பட்ட ஒரு அருமையான பாடல் அது. 'ஆரபிமானம் வைத்தாதரிப்பார் என்னை' என்று தொடங்கும் ஒரு ராக மாலிகை! இந்தப் பாடலை சித்தப்பா பாடி ஒரு முறை கேட்டது இன்னும் நினைவிருக்கிறது. ஒவ்வொரு வரியிலும் ஒரு ராகம் மிளிரும் அருமையான பாடல். இப்போது இதை எழுதும்போதும் கூட என் காதில் ரீங்கரித்துக் கொண்டிருக்கிறது அந்தப் பாடல் ! ஒரு இசைக் கட்டுரைக்காக ,'ஆரபி' ராகத்தில் அமைந்த பாடல்களைக் கணினியில் தேடிக் கொண்டிருந்தேன் ! அப்போதுதான் அல்வாத் துண்டு போல் என் கையில் விழுந்தது 'ஆரபிமானம்' பாடல் ! எத்தனையோ காலமாகத் தேடிக் கொண்டிருக்கிறேன் நான் ! மிகவும் அபூர்வமான இந்தப் பாடலை வெகு சில பாடகர்களே பாடியுள்ளார்கள் . அதில் ஒன்றுதான் எனக்கு இப்போது கிடைத்தது. கையெழுத்துப் பிரதிகளைப் புகைப் படம் எடுத்துக் கணினியில் இட்டு வைத்தேன். அதை அருகில் வைத்துப் பார்த்துக் கொண்டே பாடலில் லயித்தேன் நான் ! நெய்யாற்றின்கரை வாஸுதேவன் அவர்கள் பாடியுள்ளார் இந்தப் பாடலை ! எத்தனை முறை கேட்டாலும் அலுக்காது ! இந்தப் பாடலில் உபயோகப்படுத்தப்பட்டிருக்கும் இனிமையான ராகங்கள்: ஆரபி, ஆனந்தபைரவி, கல்யாணி, ஹம்ஸத்வனி, சாரங்கா, சாமா, மோஹனம், லலிதா, தர்பார், பைரவி, பூர்விகல்யாணி, கமலாமனோஹரி. இதே பாடலைப் பாடியுள்ள இன்னொரு பாடகி , விசாகப்பட்டினத்தைச் சேர்ந்த திருமதி. பந்துல ரமா அவர்கள் ! கேட்டுக்கொண்டிருக்கும் பாடலையும் , எழுத்துப் பிரதியையும் பார்க்கும்போது, சித்தப்பாவின் ஸங்கீத ஞானத்தினைப் பற்றியும், அவருக்கு அதில் இருந்த ஈடுபாட்டினையும் குறித்து ஆச்சர்யத்தில் ஆழ்ந்து போனேன் நான் ! எந்த இடத்தில் எந்த வரிகளை இரண்டு முறை பாட வேண்டும் என்பது பற்றி ஒரு குறிப்பு; லலிதா ராகம் 'வஸந்தா' ராகத்தைப் போல் இருக்கும் என்று ஒரு குறிப்பு ! சிட்டஸ்வரங்கள் எங்கெங்கு வருகிறது என்பது பற்றியும், அவை எந்த வரிசையில் இருக்கின்றன என்பது பற்றியும் ஒரு குறிப்பு ! கேட்டுக்கொண்டிருக்கும் பாடலோடு ஒப்பிட்டுக் கொண்டே வந்த நான் அதிசயித்துத் தான் போனேன் !

இணைத்துள்ள, எழுத்துப் பிரதியின் புகைப் படங்களைப் பார்த்தால், மறைந்த என் சித்தப்பா அவர்களின் ஞானம் குறித்து நான் சொன்னது எவ்வளவு உண்மை என்று புலப்படும் ! சித்தப்பாவின் இசை ஞானத்தைக் குறித்து என் தந்தையார் சொல்வது என் நினைவுக்கு வருகிறது : "என் சகோதரி ராஜிக்குப் பாட்டு வாத்தியார் அப்போதுதான் சொல்லிக்கொடுத்து விட்டுப் போன பாடலை , அடுத்த நிமிடத்திலேயே ஹார்மோனியத்தில் வாசித்துக் காட்டிவிடும் அளவுக்கு இருந்தது அவனது இசையார்வமும் ஞானமும்" என்பார். பல இசைக் கச்சேரிகளுக்கு என்னைக் கூட்டிச் செல்வார் அவர். அவரால்தான் எனது இசையார்வம் வளர்ந்தது ! இன்றுஎனக்கிருக்கும், அற்ப சொற்ப இசை ஞானமும் அன்னாரின் கொடைதான் ! என் நினைவில் என்றும் நிலைத்திருக்கும் அவருக்கு என் பணிவார்ந்த வணக்கங்கள்.

Music is immortal and the Great Artist Manna Dey joins the Club to prove it !

With profound grief we have to accept the bitter truth that the Great Legend Manna Dey, is not alive now. Though he is not alive in physical form, he lives for ever in the minds of his near and dear .  He LIVES ETERNALLY in his Sweet songs and Music.

Manna Dey's Melodies can never be forgotton by Hindi Music Lovers! They are immortal and ever green in our memory ! The following link if opened, would give a vivid description of the celebrated artist's life and his achievements. He still lives in his songs! Manna Dey's  original name ws Prabodh Chandra Dey.  He has recorded over 3500 songs during his adorable career.

You can see and hear the Ever-Living artist by clicking the following link :

Manna Dey's Ever-green Melodies

A collage of some of the rare pictures of Manna Dey and his events is given below:

May his soul rest in Peace!

A Musical Memory of Raghavan Master !

With profound grief we receive the demise of a Great Personality Sri K. Raghavan (Malayalam: കെ. രാഘവന്‍) , affectioately called as 'Raghavan mash/Raghavan Master, a Malayalam music composer. If lived, Sri K Raghavan, would have completed 99 years on this December 14. Born in Thalasheri of Kannur District, Kerala , Raghavan Master is given credit for the renaissance of Malayalam Film Music, along with Baburaj. He set a new trend in Malayalam film music with the release of the 1954 movie "Neelakkuyil" , a Sathyan starrer film. The Lyrics for this song was penned by Sri P. Bhaskaran, who is also a renowned lyricist of Malayalam film songs. Raghavan Master himself has rendered his voice for one of the songs in 'Neelakkuyil'. This song "Kayalarikathu valayerinjappol" became a hit song! You can hear the song here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7oRdTJZFTE&list=PL59B4E2E758491DC3&index=13
In his career spanning for four decades, he has composed Music for more than sixty films, and most of his songs remain as 'ever-green ones', which many of us still keep humming even today ! During those times when there were only a few Playback artists were being made use of , Ragavan Master was dare enough to introduce many new singers to Malayalam Filmworld. Famous Artists like Mehboob, Brahmanandan, Balamuralikrishna, M.L. Vasanthakumari, A.P. Komala, Gayathri Srikrishnan, Santha P. Nair, A. M. Rajah, K.P. Udayabhanu, M.G. Radhakrishnan, P.B. Sreenivas, Vani Jayaram, Jikki, V.T. Murali, G. Venugopal, etc. have sung for him. He was awarded so many times for his fabulous contributions to the World of Malayalam Film Music; "PADMA SHRI" Award during 2010, Kerala State Film Awards during 1973,197and 1997, Best Lifetime Achievement Award during 2000, Swaralaya Yesudas Award during 2006 and M.G.Radhakrishnan Awrd during 2011. We are really proud of having lived in such a great Musician's period. Needless to say that he lives among us still, through his immortal songs ! Here I am reminded of the lines of Tamil Lyricist Kavignar Kannadasan : "naan nirantharamaanavan azhivathillai endha nilaiyilum enakku maraNamillai" நான் நிரந்தரமானவன் அழிவதில்லை - எந்த நிலையிலும் எனக்கு மரணமில்லை meaning " I am permenant; I never die at any point of time" ! Yes, Poets and Writers live FOREVER in the minds of their followers, rather Music lovers and our great Raghavan Master is no exception ! May his soul rest in Peace!

To hear some of his songs one may please click the following link, which is a Playlist collected by me :
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL59B4E2E758491DC3&feature=edit_ok

Nostalgia of Carnatic Music: Musical Ecstasy of N.C.Vasanthakokilam

Nostalgia of Carnatic Music: Musical Ecstasy of N.C.Vasanthakokilam

Easy-to-follow Rules to lead a Peaceful Life !

One thing my father always said was, ‘Have Faith’ !

Not a single moment goes off without thinking of my beloved Father! A Great man! very loveable ! The very vital character of my father was his love to whomever he came across in life! I would say his love was in abundance to the whole humanity! He never used to discriminate his son/daughter with that of others! Everybody was the same to him !

Memories of him keep thronging and do not actually allow me to write in coherence! Such was his interaction with me. He was always a friend and never used to be like any other father! What I mean is, he had never been strict beyond limits. When one understands his love, he would never make any mistakes in life. He used to make me learn from my mistakes. If I was not adhering to what he says once, he would wait for the right time to point out the obvious results and then correct me.

Following are some of his advice given to me on various occasions, which I can never forget in my walk of life!

His main advice to me was never to be afraid of anything. 

 'If you are afraid of something or somebody means, you have committed some mistakes. Understand that and always never hesitate to admit your mistakes. 

There is nothing like being honest, which would always keep you peaceful.

Another important thing in life you should learn is to accept things as it is;  whatever that is being offered to you, should be accepted with full heart. When there is no regret about what you have got, there will be no restlessness in your life!

When once you decide doing something, never turn back and get confused . Walk further in the same path with confidence till you reach your goal. Make your utmost effort for that. Everything will be good!

Have always a heart to share with others whatever you have. You will find pleasure in giving others and seeing them happy.

Try your best not to get obligated to others.

Be always polite to people. If somebody is not able to understand what you say or mean, be patient till they realize things.

 

Life is not always a bed of Roses, and problems ought to be faced. Face them with full heart, never try to escape! Do always your duty while facing any kind of problems and never expect for results to be of your taste, whims and fancies! When a stage comes that you are unable to tolerate any situation, you don't have to tolerate but just leave the responsibility to the Almighty; surrender in full. But once surrendered, never take back the burden on your shoulder again, which is not going to fetch you anything. Wait patiently and things will always turn out to be very smooth and safe for you. The Solution shown would always be the one you would relish. Patience is the most wanted character always!

Keep yourself always cheerful.

Above all, HAVE FAITH, have trust in your own self, and you will be always be Happy with Mother's Blessings!"

I have been following all of his advice and I am always successful in my life;  all with his Blessings and the Blessings of The Almighty !

A Friend may die, but not the Friendship !

"A Friend may die, but not the Friendship" ! - These are the very words uttered by a very close friend of mine, so many years back, on the date of leaving for a Foreign Country on a long assignment. The words and the day of his departure is still green in my memory, including the feeling of loneliness and grief I had at that moment, but still I consoled myself saying that the feeling of friendship would ever exist even in the absence of physical presence of the person!

Yesterday i happened to browse through STORYLANE which had prompted a Topic for article to be written and it is:  "Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you?" - A Great Question and so very touching too! As the question reminded of my experience in Life I thought of putting through my views and feelings.


In this material world, True Friendship is the only solace for anybody, among all the other relationships! Friends may keep meeting everyday or they may not meet at all for a long time; but still their friendship continues. Once they meet, they can continue from where they left, provided they had maintained the true love and affection towards each other right from day one of their meeting.

Coming back the question that somebody put, I would say it would be a worse feeling when a good friend really moves away from you on some difference of opinion or on an utter misunderstanding of the situation. 'No, he should not have done this! should not have said bye for ever to me like this! Then what is the point? Where has his love and affection showered to me all these days have gone?' Even here I would say when there is true love prevailing at one end, the separation should not cause that much damage; In the heart of hearts of the one who feels this, the feeling of Friendship would still remain and the light of love and friendship would never extinct.

The second situation of losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you, is not a problem at all , I would say! Loosing touch with him can only be temporary because the bondage is still there! It is like a cow sent for gazing the grass. The other end of the rope is still in our hand! A waive of reminding the love would bring it back! Lack of regular meeting or loosing touch would never cause any serious problem in this case, but for some egoistic clashes here and there.

But my ultimate feeling with respect to both the situation is that Friendship and Love is never lost! If my love and affection towards that character, that personality is TRUE, I can never loose it in my lifetime ! The question of loosing friendship never arises at all, because whatever be the outward situation, the light of love keeps glowing! May be I loose the friend in physical form, but not the feeling of FRIENDSHIP at any time !

'A Friend is one who can hear the song in my heart and sing it for me when my memory fails"!

Memories are always Green !

Everyone has a role model. The concept of role model comes into one’s mind even as a child, as Psychologists put it. That way, my role model was my Uncle, Late Sri K Natarajan, who was my father’s younger brother, with whom I spent the years of my adolescence to prime youth. A memorable Smiling Face he had! My praises for him are not for the fact that he was my Uncle, but for the fact of his having proved so very an affectionate human being. Hmmmm…..memories drag me back towards my early days during sixties and seventies!

In a joint family, I was mostly brought up by him with fond and favor right from my birth up to my 10th year of age. Again I came to him when I started my career as a college student. In the middle I was with my beloved aunt(father's Sister) for my schooling, but still I would say, I was in the close vicinity of my Uncle KN!

His closeness taught me so many things! I was a very timid person by nature, always pulling myself inside, not willing to interact with people. He was the one who showed me the outer World! I remember the days when he used to imbibe confidence in me to go out to get things done, interacting with people outside. When people used to envy me for having got an opportunity to stay in College Hostel, I threw that life off and came to live at home with my uncle, and I was that raw and timid to face fellow hostel-mates! He led me into the light of outer World, like making a child walk holding his fingers!

Oh! What a smiling face he had! Be it his Smile or his Frown, it used to tame down people! My admiration for him was for so many….. so many reasons; for his in-born flawless affection, sincere thoughts, clean habits, able administering powers, straight forward dealings, extreme diplomacy, proper reasoning….. and what not! Though traditional in activities, reasonably modern in thoughts he was! He was trademarked for his anger, but there would be an undeniable, proper reason for that!

A Connoisseur of Music, Arts and what not was he! My very little knowledge of Carnatic Music is because of him. A wonderful Music critique was he!

And, his knowledge on Photography during those days of early Forties, was amazing! As I have heard from my father, with a very basic Camera he used to do wonders, which were talk of the town then! A Collection of his photographs had and has always been a thing of Joy for each and every one of us in the family! And not to forget the Caption he used to give for each photograph; so amusing and so true they used to be! He used to show duel personalities, I mean duel figures of the same person, some in action and some less of action! I have attached copies of some such photographs here!

They are same person in each photograph, taken during Forties! With such a basic Camera, he had the capacity to show an amazing technique like this!

And yet another photograph he gave for us was of all our cousins as children, which has always been a memorable one for each one of us. He asked all of us to come and pose just like that. He used to call it for fun, ‘a photograph of slum children’!

This was taken during 1964! All children are standing with their feet raised, because of the hot sun!

Memories of him keep rolling and rolling, finding no end! Such was his interaction, his sincere affection, his humility, his frankness, his pranks and jokes, his knowledge, his way of imparting the same to others, his love for music, his love for all around him, ………….an endless Saga is he!

K.Balaji
Bangalore
March 17 2012