Wednesday 30 May 2012

MADHURA MANI, MADURAI MANI, MADHURA NERAM

Ever energetic “Yessel” organised a programme on MMI live on Saturday, the 26th May 2012.

 It was organised in Krishna gAna sabhA. Yessel must have got lot of confidence after seeing the crowd in RK Convention Centre.

To tell you about the RK Convention Centre Programme, last month there was another live recording of MMI that had been played and nearly 300 people attended in the centre which has the capacity of only 100. One could see people sitting in stairs listening to the concert. (confirmed by KGS secretary)

 To my knowledge, I have never seen a recording being played in a sabha and attended by 200-300 people with an empty dias. I have seen concert with empty rasikas seat but not vice-versa

 This programme in KGS was received with an overwhelming response and nearly 300-400 people attended and even last rows were also seen people sitting in few seats. I was really in awe at that time and the magic of gAna kalA dhara.

 This was for the first time that the podium is empty throughout 3 hours and 30 minutes with only a portrait of Shri MMI and people were clapping, besh, sabhAsh many times to acknowledge the best of music of Shri MMI. I was wondering if some unknown person visited that day, what he would have thought about us- Audio playing, podium empty......and rasikas sitting in rapt attention....!

 This concert was the programme of 1957 at Mumbai –Shri MMI with Shri LGS and Shri PMI and Shri Umalyalpuram Kothandarama Iyer-Ghatam. Though I have the recording with me and I have heard it few times, KGS acoustics and MMI’s voice erewas superb and one should be there to experience that. Honestly, at home, I would never have heard this concert continuously for 3.30 hours. I wanted to make it at any cost as I missed RK Convention concert.

 Interesting, I met a person who attended 1957 concert in Mumbai. He added that the concert was held at PoddAr College hAll and not in ShanmugAnandA hall as the hall was not constructed at that time. This was like- rasikas sitting on the floor and the artists sitting on the bench covered by carpet. Kudos to the person who recorded the concert. He also added that it was july concert on a Thursday, with heavy pouring outside. I realised later that the disturbances in between must have been because someone opening the nearby door.

 Brihaspathe-atAna kriti-one of the navagraha kritis was not played (deleted) because it was Saturday. I strongly felt that kriti also should have been played. Any kriti on any day by MMI is a beauty..

 Another news was that LGJ was 27 years old and a bachelor.

 Shri LGJ’s presence moved many of the rasikAs, including me in tears. Each and every time when the violin played, whether it is Bairavi, vAchaspathi, kAmbodhi... I could not stop seeing this Great Man in sheer admiration.. “Oh God. What a magic he created during those years”. In KGS, when I saw his hands trembling and one of his colleagues lifted his hand, I was crestfallen and thought- “the hand which created magic and making me everyday even today (today morn, I was listening to GNB,LGJ, PMI) -and could not reconcile the reality of age factor.  If we take take the Ranjani ragamalika pallavi in that concert.  The way he played ranjani varNam with Shri GNB (my morning) and the way he played for Shri MMI - what a difference. what an ecstacy. MMI's occassional accolades..!!!!. 

 While MMI was singing swaram in Bairavi,  LGJ's assistant was wiping his tears with a cloth. I did not know whether it is the music or because of his health. But it was really touching scene I will never forget in my life.

Let me take Einstein’s comment on Gandhi, to suit to our Shri LGJ

 “Generations to come, it may be, will scarce believe that such one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth. We are happy to see him live sitting next to us in flesh and blood”

 His son’s GJR krishnan’s smile, while LGJ playing violin, was to show the “Proud” movements of son-father relationship.

 Coming back to Shri MMI, also met few people who attended 400-500 concerts. I could have got more stories if they are asked to speak. But the concert duration and the paucity of time as  KGS needed to close the halll.  Another wonder was at least 60-70 people were there till the last minute and no one walked out during Tani. !!!!!!.

 One thing is certain- I need to precaution Yessel to be more careful in arranging the programmes like this.. If it is continued, certain  things will happen

1. He may have to hold the session in Chepauk statdium or Nehru stadium very soon

2. This will spread to all the other metros and we can meet Yessel only in the Airports.

3. Cleveland will have a session of his 1963 Programme.

4. Above all, December season, MMI will be a tough competition for other artists. The other sabhas may have to refuse to give timing for other artists  because of overwhelming response to MMI concert.

5. MA- December season will read like this.

24.12.12- 7.30 PM Madurai Mani Iyer- Vocal


TN Krishann- Violin


Palani Subramaniya Pillai-Mridangam


Umayalpuram Kothandarama Iyer- Ghatam


This was 1962 programme held in Calcutta


With an introduction speech by Trichy sankaran on his guru Palani and about the programme.


No season tickets will be allowed for this. Only Daily tickets. Price will be.....


Raskias will be requested to take the seats one hour before the programme.


There was no 4.30 PM concert on this day.

 Rasikas request was pouring after RTP, He started with yerumayil in Mohanam followed by kandhan karunai, kaa vAA vAA – all murugan songs.

 Thanks yessel... once again, for making my week end so nice and wonderful. With the scorching heat outside and humid condition, this was a sort of  big relief.