Yes I am back...Still fuming! I was watching this Kaapi with Anu where Crazy Mohan (I really hope he was joking) was saying that Kamal will get Oscar for Bussavatharam! I just lost it. I did what any sane person would do...muted the tv! I was wondering for what Kamal would be getting the Oscar...for the best comedy (may be). May be the Democratic party will invite him to do his imitation of George Bush, just to ensure that the Republicans lose!
And then there was this mail forwarded by a well wisher (after reading the mail, I was really wondering on the well part) on some other fan's ravings on Kamal and Buss! Apparently this movie is based on Chaos Theory and Butterfly Effect. And they had try to make a science theory by attaching a wiki link! The only chaos in that movie was the story line! And the butterfly was really a bad special effect!
To undo the bad effects of this movie I have decided to watch 10 where Kamal has done only one role!!!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
Dashed Avataars
I woke up early in the morning two days ago to ensure that I could book tickets for Dasavatharam. Left early from work, beat the traffic, picked up the family and ran to ensure that I could see Dasavatharm in full. I did see it in full and in this case as far as I am concerned it was a case of a glass half empty.
As we often justify something we make locally...Amazing quality for a tamil movie, great action for an Indian movie, did you see the 20 roles that actor did, Isn't he amazing! But if you really do think about it, these are justifications for our own limitations or incompetence. Any actor is supposed to act and play the roles. Be it one role, 10 roles in one movie or 200 roles in the same movie. Expecting an actor to act is an entitlement. In that case, was the acting adequate in this movie. Yes to nearly all the Indian characters played by Kamal. The grand-ma was really Avvai Shanmukhi after 20 years. The tall guy clearly fit the minority quota. Avtaar singh was there for the sake of satisfying the north indian quota. Two performances that stood out were that of the Son of the soil, and Naidu, the RAW agent. Was as close to Kamal as I always want to see him...someone who trusts his acting skills the most and uses make-up to just make-it up a little. The Americans (2) and Japanese were more of the fancy elements. If we were to consider Kamal to be someone who grew up in Paramakudi till yesterday and spoke like an American today, I accept that this movie is a significant achievement. But that was not the case here.
When Ulaga Nayagan takes over, you expect global standards. Here you see make-up that was similar to what the Jim Carrey had in Mask, after he wore the mask! The president character, the CIA character, the Japanese character stuck out like sore thumbs. Will appeal to the jingoist to proudly beat his chest and say "Namma aalu nalla pannirukkan".
Tell me something! Why do all people who learn fighting in India in the movies have to move their head the same damn way before they make a strike...you know the way they release the stress in their head and put sodukku in their hands. In this case it was funny to see the Japanese Kamal and the American Kamal do it. And I thought the Hiroshima and Pearl Harbor dialogs were extremely primitive in style. We need some classy lines please like the discussions that happened in the train and in the river bed and on the Tsumami shores on God, Science, Environment.
Just because we have Computer Graphics people sitting on bench in India they should not have run riot on the screen. And while these are amazing graphics for a tamil movie, it was such a let down. Why the hell do you need graphics in the Railway train, Why do you need the camera to move in all those wierd angles in the opening sequences...the main problem was that the computer graphics were never subtle. They were announcing their presence all the time!
Sujatha, the writer, used to say that the beginning and the end need to be good for a powerful story. The end of the movie is based on a recent calamity. Interesting thought! The opening was based on an absorbing century episode, which was really needless but what the hell, it was good. But it is the middle that sags. The story really tracks a vial. The US part was poorly acted and directed. I really hate it when Japanese want to talk tamil. Kudos to Gowtham in Vettayaadu where he had everyone talk in English in the US. Where Kamal the story writer does injustice to an interesting beginning and a novel end is when he bends the story (actually stretches it) to introduce other characters and satisfy his ego. Would these characters be there if it was not Dasavatharam but Panchamukam? We lose all the interesting discussions on God and science and they just go by! When the ego interferes the story goes for a six and gets my thumbs down vote.
One word on the music...the songs...Hopeless!
Thus in the same way that Nambi resolutely holds on to the Ashtaacksharam even when he faces death, and as Nakkeerar famously said to the Pachaakshara , I hold on to my opinion, this movie fails. I do write this with sadness since you really know that Kamal could have done such a good job.
Nallathor veenai seithe....
As we often justify something we make locally...Amazing quality for a tamil movie, great action for an Indian movie, did you see the 20 roles that actor did, Isn't he amazing! But if you really do think about it, these are justifications for our own limitations or incompetence. Any actor is supposed to act and play the roles. Be it one role, 10 roles in one movie or 200 roles in the same movie. Expecting an actor to act is an entitlement. In that case, was the acting adequate in this movie. Yes to nearly all the Indian characters played by Kamal. The grand-ma was really Avvai Shanmukhi after 20 years. The tall guy clearly fit the minority quota. Avtaar singh was there for the sake of satisfying the north indian quota. Two performances that stood out were that of the Son of the soil, and Naidu, the RAW agent. Was as close to Kamal as I always want to see him...someone who trusts his acting skills the most and uses make-up to just make-it up a little. The Americans (2) and Japanese were more of the fancy elements. If we were to consider Kamal to be someone who grew up in Paramakudi till yesterday and spoke like an American today, I accept that this movie is a significant achievement. But that was not the case here.
When Ulaga Nayagan takes over, you expect global standards. Here you see make-up that was similar to what the Jim Carrey had in Mask, after he wore the mask! The president character, the CIA character, the Japanese character stuck out like sore thumbs. Will appeal to the jingoist to proudly beat his chest and say "Namma aalu nalla pannirukkan".
Tell me something! Why do all people who learn fighting in India in the movies have to move their head the same damn way before they make a strike...you know the way they release the stress in their head and put sodukku in their hands. In this case it was funny to see the Japanese Kamal and the American Kamal do it. And I thought the Hiroshima and Pearl Harbor dialogs were extremely primitive in style. We need some classy lines please like the discussions that happened in the train and in the river bed and on the Tsumami shores on God, Science, Environment.
Just because we have Computer Graphics people sitting on bench in India they should not have run riot on the screen. And while these are amazing graphics for a tamil movie, it was such a let down. Why the hell do you need graphics in the Railway train, Why do you need the camera to move in all those wierd angles in the opening sequences...the main problem was that the computer graphics were never subtle. They were announcing their presence all the time!
Sujatha, the writer, used to say that the beginning and the end need to be good for a powerful story. The end of the movie is based on a recent calamity. Interesting thought! The opening was based on an absorbing century episode, which was really needless but what the hell, it was good. But it is the middle that sags. The story really tracks a vial. The US part was poorly acted and directed. I really hate it when Japanese want to talk tamil. Kudos to Gowtham in Vettayaadu where he had everyone talk in English in the US. Where Kamal the story writer does injustice to an interesting beginning and a novel end is when he bends the story (actually stretches it) to introduce other characters and satisfy his ego. Would these characters be there if it was not Dasavatharam but Panchamukam? We lose all the interesting discussions on God and science and they just go by! When the ego interferes the story goes for a six and gets my thumbs down vote.
One word on the music...the songs...Hopeless!
Thus in the same way that Nambi resolutely holds on to the Ashtaacksharam even when he faces death, and as Nakkeerar famously said to the Pachaakshara , I hold on to my opinion, this movie fails. I do write this with sadness since you really know that Kamal could have done such a good job.
Nallathor veenai seithe....
Saturday, April 26, 2008
The First Leaf - A Children's Play for Adults
First the good things....
It was very commendable for AHA, the Ranga Shankara Group to come to North Bangalore saving us a few miles and many hours of journey across the magic box-ridden, silicon-laden mini streets of Bangalore to go to Ranga Shankara. They did a neat little job in Seva Sadan, a neat little auditorium safely tucked in 14th cross Malleswaram.
The play that they presented today was called the First Leaf and it was billed as a play for children. It was a play on how a group of kids along with well wishers convince a stubborn man and the stubborn people in the community general to grow trees and save the environment. Was it a play for 5 and above...sure if all the 5 year old were PhDs!!! Was it a laudable attempt? You bet. I felt that the core theme of the play was may be a little bit of OHT (over head transmission as we used to say in our college days!!) for kids. I would know because I had two kids (6.5 and 4.5) with me. What held them and had them glued was the slapstick humor. That was the disappointment for me, as I slide into the whine segment.
Too much of stereotyping..the fat bad guy part especially. I know it gets the laughs, but it is too much of a stereotype. There were glitches as was accepted by the director, but it is how the group manages the truth of the moment that makes theater fun. I don't think this team was ready for that. The adults who played the kids could have done better if they had watched real kids in action. They were, I thought, playing adults playing kids. But that was okay, they got the energy part right.
I would have loved if the team had made an attempt to sing the song that was in the play on stage and not have a playback...it was kind of cheesy. Also I felt the cast was not used to the stage. It would have been wonderful if they had gotten used to the stage.
I am sure they will take care of the obvious glitches in the shows to come. The icing on the cake for me was the awe that my kids had looking at the stage and the lights during the play. They went to see the stage after the play was over. It was enjoyable to watch the awe and excitement in their little faces when they climbed the stage and touched the tree. They were touched by the magic of theater!! And for that two thumbs up to AHA!!
It was very commendable for AHA, the Ranga Shankara Group to come to North Bangalore saving us a few miles and many hours of journey across the magic box-ridden, silicon-laden mini streets of Bangalore to go to Ranga Shankara. They did a neat little job in Seva Sadan, a neat little auditorium safely tucked in 14th cross Malleswaram.
The play that they presented today was called the First Leaf and it was billed as a play for children. It was a play on how a group of kids along with well wishers convince a stubborn man and the stubborn people in the community general to grow trees and save the environment. Was it a play for 5 and above...sure if all the 5 year old were PhDs!!! Was it a laudable attempt? You bet. I felt that the core theme of the play was may be a little bit of OHT (over head transmission as we used to say in our college days!!) for kids. I would know because I had two kids (6.5 and 4.5) with me. What held them and had them glued was the slapstick humor. That was the disappointment for me, as I slide into the whine segment.
Too much of stereotyping..the fat bad guy part especially. I know it gets the laughs, but it is too much of a stereotype. There were glitches as was accepted by the director, but it is how the group manages the truth of the moment that makes theater fun. I don't think this team was ready for that. The adults who played the kids could have done better if they had watched real kids in action. They were, I thought, playing adults playing kids. But that was okay, they got the energy part right.
I would have loved if the team had made an attempt to sing the song that was in the play on stage and not have a playback...it was kind of cheesy. Also I felt the cast was not used to the stage. It would have been wonderful if they had gotten used to the stage.
I am sure they will take care of the obvious glitches in the shows to come. The icing on the cake for me was the awe that my kids had looking at the stage and the lights during the play. They went to see the stage after the play was over. It was enjoyable to watch the awe and excitement in their little faces when they climbed the stage and touched the tree. They were touched by the magic of theater!! And for that two thumbs up to AHA!!
Monday, April 7, 2008
Fearless!!!
After a long time, I got to watch a movie where I was feeling miserable to hit the pause button. May be the fact that I watched some ordinary movies this weekend helped. But this one was special. The movie is Anjaathey...Wiser men have discussed this a lot.
There have been comments on what the Director did in excess and how he should have cut it short, yaada yaada yaada. The way I looked at it was that as a Director, Mysskin, gave us a story. Did I like it? Absolutely, resoundingly yes.
I loved the story telling, I loved the way many things were set up. There were some predictable moments, some over the top...The good part was I was going along with the director over the top as well! While on stage, it is the actor who has to respond to the truth of the moment, this movie demonstrates that Cinema is always the directors baby. He has good performances from all of the actors. It is refreshing to see a chocolate boy hero like Prasanna do a role that people would not touch with a barge pole. The only good shot of him you get to see is a photograph that comes thorugh a fax machine! He is in the dark all the time. But he makes an impact. Naren makes a good impact as well. Excellent modulation and wonderful delivery in many places. Pandiarajan was a revealation. He can act! Music was good and to the point. I can go on and on, but it is safe to say this is one of the better 3 hours that I have spent in the recent past.
Fearless...way to go!!!
There have been comments on what the Director did in excess and how he should have cut it short, yaada yaada yaada. The way I looked at it was that as a Director, Mysskin, gave us a story. Did I like it? Absolutely, resoundingly yes.
I loved the story telling, I loved the way many things were set up. There were some predictable moments, some over the top...The good part was I was going along with the director over the top as well! While on stage, it is the actor who has to respond to the truth of the moment, this movie demonstrates that Cinema is always the directors baby. He has good performances from all of the actors. It is refreshing to see a chocolate boy hero like Prasanna do a role that people would not touch with a barge pole. The only good shot of him you get to see is a photograph that comes thorugh a fax machine! He is in the dark all the time. But he makes an impact. Naren makes a good impact as well. Excellent modulation and wonderful delivery in many places. Pandiarajan was a revealation. He can act! Music was good and to the point. I can go on and on, but it is safe to say this is one of the better 3 hours that I have spent in the recent past.
Fearless...way to go!!!
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Sujatha - We will miss you
My college days were made immeasurably better because of the tryst with Sujatha, the writer. Semester after semester, we would read his stories and do his plays. He was one of the few writers who wrote good and contemporary Tamil drama. We had privilege of staging it every semester in college. When we gobbled his plays quicker than this writing would allow, we went to his stories and made them into plays! And what amazing hits they were with the crowd.
This man had a day job in the Garden City, designing electronic voting machines among other things and still managed to churn out a wonderful of stories and plays. After he retired he started writing screenplays and memorable scripts for movies. Full of fun in one side and full of thought in the other.
I loved the plays he wrote and the lines I had the privilege to speak.
The first was Adimaigal - The story of a dominating Periappa. I had the chance to play an advocate who read out "The last will and testament of...."
The second was Dr. Narendranin Vinodha Vazhakku - The story about a doctor who becomes a victim of the system and still does not lose his dignity. I played Dr. Narendran and who saves the politician because he suspected "massive myocardial symptoms"
The third was Kadavul Vandhirundhaar - one of my favorites - Science fiction in a middle class retired brahmin family! I played the brahmin who meets Jo, the person from future. Some absolutely fabulous lines that had the cast and crew in splits. Every rehearsal was a treat. We had a space ship land on stage! You had to have been there!
The fourth was Oonjal - one of the toughest - Inspired by Death of a Salesman - Most difficult and depressing roles as a yesteryear successful industrialist. Very demanding play, moving. To see how a man can falter
The fifth was Oru Kolai, Oru Prayanam - Two plays in one. The first was a journey on a train (Imagine we had all the effects of a train in stage). I got to be a pompous dude who yoddled for his love with a guitar...smoked my first cigarette on stage! The other play was one heck of an anticlimax which literally pissed the audience. They did a huge walk out.
The sixth was Naan Avanillai - The play that I did not act. Incredible story of a man whose mind had been manipulated. Exciting stuff for the college days. I did the sounds for that one
The seventh was Pirivom Sandhippom - We scripted Sujatha's famous novel into a play. I played a character that had two lines in the original story. But since we were writing the script, managed a quite a bit more. Played the hero's father.
The eighth was Padavikkaaga - This was the magnum opus of our college times which I partly scripted and directed. Cast and crew of over 50 people. Amazing political play...nay movie! Each line in that play and each character was so well received.
It was a privilege to have had the association with the man that I never had met. He inspired a legion of us to do theater and have fun doing it. End of the day we all connected with his scripts may be because he was an engineer too!
One line as I sign off from Kadavul Vandhirundhar would be most apt. The last line in the play when the character who transforms from a retiree to a God Man says to the audience, "Naan konja neram kadavula irundhuttu varen"....Let me be God for sometime! Is that what you have done sire?
This man had a day job in the Garden City, designing electronic voting machines among other things and still managed to churn out a wonderful of stories and plays. After he retired he started writing screenplays and memorable scripts for movies. Full of fun in one side and full of thought in the other.
I loved the plays he wrote and the lines I had the privilege to speak.
The first was Adimaigal - The story of a dominating Periappa. I had the chance to play an advocate who read out "The last will and testament of...."
The second was Dr. Narendranin Vinodha Vazhakku - The story about a doctor who becomes a victim of the system and still does not lose his dignity. I played Dr. Narendran and who saves the politician because he suspected "massive myocardial symptoms"
The third was Kadavul Vandhirundhaar - one of my favorites - Science fiction in a middle class retired brahmin family! I played the brahmin who meets Jo, the person from future. Some absolutely fabulous lines that had the cast and crew in splits. Every rehearsal was a treat. We had a space ship land on stage! You had to have been there!
The fourth was Oonjal - one of the toughest - Inspired by Death of a Salesman - Most difficult and depressing roles as a yesteryear successful industrialist. Very demanding play, moving. To see how a man can falter
The fifth was Oru Kolai, Oru Prayanam - Two plays in one. The first was a journey on a train (Imagine we had all the effects of a train in stage). I got to be a pompous dude who yoddled for his love with a guitar...smoked my first cigarette on stage! The other play was one heck of an anticlimax which literally pissed the audience. They did a huge walk out.
The sixth was Naan Avanillai - The play that I did not act. Incredible story of a man whose mind had been manipulated. Exciting stuff for the college days. I did the sounds for that one
The seventh was Pirivom Sandhippom - We scripted Sujatha's famous novel into a play. I played a character that had two lines in the original story. But since we were writing the script, managed a quite a bit more. Played the hero's father.
The eighth was Padavikkaaga - This was the magnum opus of our college times which I partly scripted and directed. Cast and crew of over 50 people. Amazing political play...nay movie! Each line in that play and each character was so well received.
It was a privilege to have had the association with the man that I never had met. He inspired a legion of us to do theater and have fun doing it. End of the day we all connected with his scripts may be because he was an engineer too!
One line as I sign off from Kadavul Vandhirundhar would be most apt. The last line in the play when the character who transforms from a retiree to a God Man says to the audience, "Naan konja neram kadavula irundhuttu varen"....Let me be God for sometime! Is that what you have done sire?
Saturday, December 29, 2007
JumBore Circus
Took the family and went to see the Jumbo circus. The key question I ask myself is why? I thought I would take my kids to see something I enjoyed as a child.
We were late for the circus (as usual!) and then I did this cinematic run to the Rs 150 ticket counter only to be told that it was sold out. I jumped (yes, I can), skipped (again, yes I can) and ran (again...alright! I jogged!) and displaced enough people from the Rs 80 Q. I got the tickets! Yes! Or so I thought.
We entered the tent (asthma delite!). There were these unbelievably dusty chairs and fine dust particles floating all around. We waded in and found seats. And then I endured the next 90 minutes. It is not that the performers were sincere. I just realized I had grown up and the kids (at least the ones I still claim to have under my sphere of influence) were not interested. The jokes from the clowns were stale, the tricks were okay. The animals pretty much walked in and walked out. The elephant attempted to play some cricket. Other than the motorbike rounds in the cage there was little to give us excitement! The best fun I had was with the kids and their antics.
There were literally thousands that enjoyed the circus. I guess I have just out grown it and moved on. The problem was that the tricks had not changed. The circus had not come to the 21st century. They were safely ensconced in the 1960s.May be if they do something more fun and more contemporary I will like it.
We were late for the circus (as usual!) and then I did this cinematic run to the Rs 150 ticket counter only to be told that it was sold out. I jumped (yes, I can), skipped (again, yes I can) and ran (again...alright! I jogged!) and displaced enough people from the Rs 80 Q. I got the tickets! Yes! Or so I thought.
We entered the tent (asthma delite!). There were these unbelievably dusty chairs and fine dust particles floating all around. We waded in and found seats. And then I endured the next 90 minutes. It is not that the performers were sincere. I just realized I had grown up and the kids (at least the ones I still claim to have under my sphere of influence) were not interested. The jokes from the clowns were stale, the tricks were okay. The animals pretty much walked in and walked out. The elephant attempted to play some cricket. Other than the motorbike rounds in the cage there was little to give us excitement! The best fun I had was with the kids and their antics.
There were literally thousands that enjoyed the circus. I guess I have just out grown it and moved on. The problem was that the tricks had not changed. The circus had not come to the 21st century. They were safely ensconced in the 1960s.May be if they do something more fun and more contemporary I will like it.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Magic Times in Chennai
Ya! Ya! We have heard it before. Too many concerts, Too little artists! Music season has become commercial! There is not enough young people watching! Way too many Sabhas! And the list of whines can go on. This blog is not one more to that list.
The time I spent in Chennai is that of celebration. I think the music season is unique to this city and has survived nay sayers for so long. Looking at the crowds (albeit the graying generation), I think there are enough people to have this going on for sometime. One needs to be there to experience the magic created by amazingly talented artists interacting on a daily basis with the crowds. I think this is where it is great to have the population we have in India. Because, there are people everywhere! In the concert, in the sabha cafeteria, in the music exhibition, on the roads, in the buses, in the surrounding restaurants after the concert and even in the Sabha restrooms! Every activity gets supported with its diligent followers.
I attended four concerts and had great company to hear some wonderful music. The bane of going alone to a concert is that you don't have anyone to look at to confirm that they are as ignorant as you are in identifying the ragas. It may get lonely at the top, but you don't want to get caught lonely at the bottom. Always find someone to share the misery.
I heard Kadri on the Saxophone, and three vocal concerts of Aruna Sairam, Sanjay Subramaniam and Sudha Raghunathan. Each was different.
The day we heard Kadri, he was awesome. This was in Bharat Kalachar which has converted its school stage into an auditorium. I saw this after 21 years and it was exactly as it was 21 years ago but with the seats etc. In this concert, while Kadri on the saxophone was the show piece, it would would unfair not to comment on Kanyakumari as well. In my opinion both deserve equal mention. It was a great experience listening to them enjoy their music and in the process transmitting the enjoyment to ignoramus like me. There was so much zest in their music and the playing. I was thankful that this was one of the concerts that I went to.
The next concert in they day was that of Aruna Sairam. Through a well wisher I managed to beat the lines and get the tickets. This lady is the super-star of the music scene right now...NUMERO UNO...no competition if the number of people waiting for a canceled tickets is any measure. The concert lived up to its billing. When I told a few people (clearly the erudite kind) that I was going to this concert they gave me the look (if you have received it you will know it!). Their opinion was that she is too popular and may not be the quality singer that I should go after. Here I was questioning myself...am I a good fan? Do I know how to be a connoisseur of Carnatic Music. After standing in the Q for 30 minutes to get into grab a reserved seat, listening to 2:50 hrs of amazing music and looking around at the merriment around listening to Carnatic Music, the visible joy when she sang a Vittoba song or her Ashtaraga RTP or the Thillana or the audience response when she playfully asked whether she can take leave, connoisseur be damned! I am happy I am a lesser mortal who was completely taken for a glorious ride. I never knew Carnatic music can be toe-tapping, head shaking and hand clapping experience. Her concert was the best!
May be on par was the Sanjay concert. Began at 6:15 and went on till 9:30. It was just bliss. Not on the style of Aruna, but just the same in terms of joy. A Kodak Moment if you may was when Sanjay did an amazing Alapana and the audience gave a resounding applause. Then there was this man who could not control his excitement and asked almost pleadingly, "What Raga was that?". Sanjay, with a wonderful smile, replied Bageyshree. To me that summed up what makes this a great season. The liberty of the audience to interact with a performer during the performance is incredible. And Sanjay sang tamil songs on Shiva, probably composed by the Tamil Moovar. The main thing was again the ability of Sanjay to transmit his excitement and joy of singing to the audience. Everyone including the Ghatam Mama enjoyed this. Paisa Vasool!
The fourth was on Christmas day listening to Sudha Raghunathan. It was a good concert, great presentation but somehow, I felt that it did not transcend to a great concert. If you ask a person with my understanding of the nuances in Carnatic Music, I cannot give you a better answer that this. It just did not feel the same. It was like a mannequin dressed in a beautiful dress than a real person with the same dress. No life! Having said that I am sure some well respected art critic is going to say that this was the concert of the millennium!
I hope they do change a few things in the years to come...no! no! not the usual whine list.
1. Have clean restrooms. The one in Narada Gana Sabha was appalling and stinking to high heavens. S0me one sponsor them 5 gallons of "Phenaail"?
2. Can some of our esteemed artists find it in themselves to share some of the names of the Ragas they sing? Undeserving rasikas like me also need lifeboats once in a while.
3. Can they begin ticket booking on the net so that out of town folks like me have a chance to plan and come for a concert?
Many wise people will have wiser things to say on the Season 2007, but to me this is something that has to be cherished and I am thankful that I could be a rasika and listen to some divine music, albeit without a clue!
The time I spent in Chennai is that of celebration. I think the music season is unique to this city and has survived nay sayers for so long. Looking at the crowds (albeit the graying generation), I think there are enough people to have this going on for sometime. One needs to be there to experience the magic created by amazingly talented artists interacting on a daily basis with the crowds. I think this is where it is great to have the population we have in India. Because, there are people everywhere! In the concert, in the sabha cafeteria, in the music exhibition, on the roads, in the buses, in the surrounding restaurants after the concert and even in the Sabha restrooms! Every activity gets supported with its diligent followers.
I attended four concerts and had great company to hear some wonderful music. The bane of going alone to a concert is that you don't have anyone to look at to confirm that they are as ignorant as you are in identifying the ragas. It may get lonely at the top, but you don't want to get caught lonely at the bottom. Always find someone to share the misery.
I heard Kadri on the Saxophone, and three vocal concerts of Aruna Sairam, Sanjay Subramaniam and Sudha Raghunathan. Each was different.
The day we heard Kadri, he was awesome. This was in Bharat Kalachar which has converted its school stage into an auditorium. I saw this after 21 years and it was exactly as it was 21 years ago but with the seats etc. In this concert, while Kadri on the saxophone was the show piece, it would would unfair not to comment on Kanyakumari as well. In my opinion both deserve equal mention. It was a great experience listening to them enjoy their music and in the process transmitting the enjoyment to ignoramus like me. There was so much zest in their music and the playing. I was thankful that this was one of the concerts that I went to.
The next concert in they day was that of Aruna Sairam. Through a well wisher I managed to beat the lines and get the tickets. This lady is the super-star of the music scene right now...NUMERO UNO...no competition if the number of people waiting for a canceled tickets is any measure. The concert lived up to its billing. When I told a few people (clearly the erudite kind) that I was going to this concert they gave me the look (if you have received it you will know it!). Their opinion was that she is too popular and may not be the quality singer that I should go after. Here I was questioning myself...am I a good fan? Do I know how to be a connoisseur of Carnatic Music. After standing in the Q for 30 minutes to get into grab a reserved seat, listening to 2:50 hrs of amazing music and looking around at the merriment around listening to Carnatic Music, the visible joy when she sang a Vittoba song or her Ashtaraga RTP or the Thillana or the audience response when she playfully asked whether she can take leave, connoisseur be damned! I am happy I am a lesser mortal who was completely taken for a glorious ride. I never knew Carnatic music can be toe-tapping, head shaking and hand clapping experience. Her concert was the best!
May be on par was the Sanjay concert. Began at 6:15 and went on till 9:30. It was just bliss. Not on the style of Aruna, but just the same in terms of joy. A Kodak Moment if you may was when Sanjay did an amazing Alapana and the audience gave a resounding applause. Then there was this man who could not control his excitement and asked almost pleadingly, "What Raga was that?". Sanjay, with a wonderful smile, replied Bageyshree. To me that summed up what makes this a great season. The liberty of the audience to interact with a performer during the performance is incredible. And Sanjay sang tamil songs on Shiva, probably composed by the Tamil Moovar. The main thing was again the ability of Sanjay to transmit his excitement and joy of singing to the audience. Everyone including the Ghatam Mama enjoyed this. Paisa Vasool!
The fourth was on Christmas day listening to Sudha Raghunathan. It was a good concert, great presentation but somehow, I felt that it did not transcend to a great concert. If you ask a person with my understanding of the nuances in Carnatic Music, I cannot give you a better answer that this. It just did not feel the same. It was like a mannequin dressed in a beautiful dress than a real person with the same dress. No life! Having said that I am sure some well respected art critic is going to say that this was the concert of the millennium!
I hope they do change a few things in the years to come...no! no! not the usual whine list.
1. Have clean restrooms. The one in Narada Gana Sabha was appalling and stinking to high heavens. S0me one sponsor them 5 gallons of "Phenaail"?
2. Can some of our esteemed artists find it in themselves to share some of the names of the Ragas they sing? Undeserving rasikas like me also need lifeboats once in a while.
3. Can they begin ticket booking on the net so that out of town folks like me have a chance to plan and come for a concert?
Many wise people will have wiser things to say on the Season 2007, but to me this is something that has to be cherished and I am thankful that I could be a rasika and listen to some divine music, albeit without a clue!
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