26th September

I had forgotten how lovely it is to just be in a concert hall – to just sit and relax and hear the music from your favorite artist. I had forgotten how people dress up just to show off their new pattu sarees, and how improved the canteen facilities were every year. I had forgotten the sabha hopping fun and the kolams in front of every house. How me and my grandma would catch a bus or auto from one sabha to another in the evenings to make it to the concerts on time…

I was reminded of all of this and more on September 26th, 2015, when Lemon dropped me at one of the temple auditoriums here to attend Sudha Ragunathan’s concert. I did nothing that whole day except getting ready for this wonderful experience after a long time.

For starters, Lemon hates Carnatic Music. So obviously I went alone. And no wonder he messaged me every now and then and checked if I was okay. Lol.

I dare say that day transformed me in ways that I couldn’t imagine. Late in the evening Lemon picked me up and I was all smiles and glowing. I really really needed that. I wish there were more concerts in and around the Boston area.

Here’s to the joy of doing nothing and just enjoying your favorite music!  

Bhavayami Gopala Balam….

… Humming this wonderful carnatic song is how I began the day today and even as I am typing this post, I am singing the same one. This is a kind of song that lingers in your mind even long after you have stopped listening to it… Aww! I am mesmerized 🙂

Top sOnGs in mY mInD !

There have been quite a few songs grabbing my attention these days….so, needless to say, they refuse to get out of my mind !! 😉 Hence this post !!!

• The FIRST is Pachai Nirame from Alaipayuthey Wow… I love this song !! 🙂

• The SECOND is Bahara from I Hate Love Story
• The THIRD: Bin Tere from I Hate Love Story

mUsIc & mE

Carnatic music ~ has always played an important role in my life. My first memory of music is probably the lullabies that my Paati and Mom used to sing for me. 🙂 All @ home were ardent fans of Carnatic Music and I remember listening to the notes ‘Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa Da Ni’, tHe first time, @ the age of 7.

I had to attend Music classes on all Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and Bharatnatyam classes on all Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Yes, I was a busy girl ! 🙂 Initially, I had no interest in tHe music classes. I used to start crying the moment I knew it’s time for music lessons and I even remember times when I was forced to attend classes 😛

We had this huge collection of Carnatic songs at home FROM Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, Balamurali Krishna, Bombay Jayashree, Bombay Sisters, D.K. Pattammal, Lalgudi Jayarama Iyer, M.S. Subbulakshmi,  Madurai T.N. Seshagopalan, Maharajapuram Santhanam, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer TO Bombay Jayasree, Nithyashree Mahadevan, Ranjani-Gayatri, P.Unni Krishnan, Sanjay Subtahmanyan, Sudha Ragunathan and T.M. Krishna.

There also used to be a BIG collection of Ilaiyaraja / Rahman and other Old Melodies of Hindi & Tamil Cinema at home. The very first song that inspired me was “Kannodu Kanbadellam” from ‘Jeans’ released sometime in 1997.  It was sung by Nithyasree Mahadevan and I loved her voice soo much that I started listening to her cassettes. There were some days when I just simply wanted to, well, enjoy the music.

As days passed by, I started to hear more Carnatic songs played on TV and Radio. I used to love listening to tHe Pancharatna kriti rendition by all the singers at Thyagaraja Aradhana broadcast on Doordharshan. I then started having my own list of favourite Carnatic songs which included Sriman Narayana, Vandanamu, Bandu riti kolu and Jagadodharana……. Hmmm, this is how my interest began…  I am in a nostalgic mood now! 🙂

It makes me feel that mUsIc is tHe best thing to have happened to me. I cheer up listening to it when I am sad. It makes me happy! It’s the one that comforts me all time. It’s just amazing ! What’s life without music?

Stay tuned to know more !