23 February 2010

Heights of melody - Reetigowlai

This time I am back with another favourite ragam of mine - Reetigowlai!

Listening to this ragam tugs your heat - You call it melody, harmony whatever - but it creates a recognizable pattern, a shape, a direction.. Blissful..

Some of my favourites in carnatic are Guruvayur Appane Appan, Janani Ninuvina..

I've put together some tamizh film's evergreen melodius numbers based on this ragam. (Please add your favourites too in this list..)

I think this ragam is unique and magical. These numbers vouch for themselves! Just simply enjoy, folks!












20 February 2010

Bala Kanakamaya

Two amazing variations of the evergreen "Balakanaka Mayachela" - Just can't stop admiring this song, lyrics and poetic presentation. Music is universal and its life!

This song is a composition of Thyaragarjar, when he has the darshan of the young prince Lord Rama and Lakshamana alongwith with sage Vishwamitra. Set in Atana Ragam, "Ela Nee Daya radu" is spun into fleeting images of child Rama.

Malladi brothers rendering this song for 2009 Marghazi utsavam for Bhagavat Satchakara Krithis, which brings out the spirit of the composer and his experience!



The second clip is from the movie "Salangai Oli" aka "Sagara Sagamam" where Manju Bhargavi & Kamal Haasan occupy the stage to dance away to this golden splendour - Amazing peformance.. I love especially the words and bhavam in the words "Ra Ra Devaadideva" - Enjoy!

Muthuswamy Dikshithar


Muthuswamy Dikshitar's portrait, over 170 years ago..

Muthuswami Dikshitar was born in Tiruvarur, He was named after the temple deity, Lord Muthukumaraswamy of Vaideeswaran Kovil.

As a young man, Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar went through rigorous training in vocal music and veena playing. He soon embarked on his first pilgrimage to Kashi along with his spiritual teacher, Sri Chidambaranatha Yogi. Prior to leaving Kashi, he entered the river Ganga and a veena fell onto his outstretched hands. This veena, which has 'Sri Ram' inscribed on it in Devanagari script, is still there in the house of Balaswamy Dikshitar, a descendant of Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar.

His first brilliant composition of Sri Nathathi Gurugoho, in Mayamalava Gowlai has a scintillating story behind it :

On his way back from Kashi, Dikshitar stopped at Thiruttani, the abode of Lord Karthikeya. Here, it is said that Lord Subramanya appeared in front of Dikshitar, asked him to open his mouth and presented him with a piece of sugar candy. With this, Dikshitar burst forth the brilliant krithi "srI nAthAdi guruguhO". Since Guha (Lord Subramanya) came as Guru and initiated him into Sangeetha Kavitvam, Dikshitar uses guruguha as his mudra (signature) in all his compositions.



On Deepavali day,in the year 1835, Dikshithar performed puja as usual and asked his students to sing the song "Meenakshi Me Mudam" in the raga Gamakakriya.As his students sang the lines "Meena lochani pasa mochani" he raised his hands and saying "Sive Pahi" left his mortal coil.

Listen to MSS's soulful rendering in this link -
http://popup.lala.com/popup/937030201816665443

Brindavana Saranga - Ragam

I am hooked to this ragam and its so lilting and soothing to listen to the songs in this ragam.. Please take some time to enjoy the songs I put together!

Carnatic Songs RaNgapura vihAra - Muthuswami Dikshitar’s master piece on the Lord of Sri Rangam, in the mellifluous voice of MSS..Who else other than MS Subbalakshmi can render this better?



Also listen to Ranjani & Gayathri -



Manamayakkum Isai pole Shenkolai - Aruna Sairam’s divine voice in Oothukkadu Venkatasubbaiyyar’s lyrics, one of my favourite Viruthams! ( Especially the way she renders “Amme” is astounding)…



Kaliyugha Varadhan – Periyasamy Thooran’s song - Listen to MS Goplakrishnan’s melodious violin

http://www.raaga.com/player4/?id=54366&mode=100&rand=0.5381354948061215

Bhakta Jana Vatsale – Namdev’s abhang on the Vittal, by OS Arun

Kakkai Siranginele – Subramanya Bharathiar’s evergreen song by Unnikrishnan http://www.raaga.com/play/?id=48268

Shashank’s flute mesmerizes you in this song




Tamil Film Songs based on this ragam..

Ninjakootil Neeye Nirkiraai from the movie Dishyum



Colonial Cousins – Indian Rain – Hariharan and Leslie Lewis



Pon ondru kanden – from the movie Padithal Mattum Poruma – the duet of legendry TMS and PBS.. From airtel supersinger 2008 contentstants..