KS Rajendran: Dramatist who had to move to Delhi to fly high
Professor Rajendran was an expert in improvisational theatre in which on the spot improvisations happen as per the situation in the theatre arena.
Aarvalan
Padma Shri awardees are eighth generation nagaswaram vidwans
This year, Padma Shri, one of the highest civilian awards, has been bestowed on Sheik Mahaboob Subhani and his wife Kaleesha Mahaboob, exponents of Nagaswaram . As much as the award recognizes their talent, it recognizes nagaswaram music as a whole. Sheik Mahaboob Subhani and Kaleesha Mahaboob...
Three ragas from the nagaswaram couple
Nagaswaram artiste Prabhavathi who was featured in the article,“Biology is not destiny. Women’s bodies are no hindrance to playing nagaswaram,” recently sent us the alapana of three ragas. They were Ranjani, Saraswati and Purvikalyani. Ranjani has the quality of not allowing errors, i.e., the...
Biology is not destiny: Women’s bodies are no hindrance to playing nagaswaram
Men have owned the nagaswaram musical instrument as their own over many years. The sacred art of playing the nagaswaram has generally been seen as belonging to the masculine domain. But that is changing. Today, many women are taking up the instrument at a young age, learning how to play it, and...
A family of veteran nagaswaram artistes
Three nagaswaram artistes on stage was itself an awe-inspiring sight. For the artistes, it seemed routine. Throughout the concert they played naturally. Within five minutes of playing, they left a mark on the listener – evidence that they were veterans. The trio consisted of TC Karunanidhi, his...
The couple’s bond was as strong as the Nagaswaram-Gambiranattai link
So when did Nagaswaram and Raga Gambiranattai form a bond? The answer is not known but the bond has sustained to this day. And that bond was vividly brought out by the alapana that Ochira Sivadas and his wife, Prasanna Sivadas started their concert with. The kriti was the famous Sri Jalanthara...
The man who created the grammar of modern Tamil drama
The tell-tale moustache seemingly unkempt, eyes taking a measure of you as they look through the spectacles, a disarmingly contained laughter not loud, a pattern of talking that tended to bite the words as they are being rendered - those close to him will miss all of this. Na Muthusamy,...
Can vegetarians play the nagasvaram? Yes, if they want to and go for a protein-rich diet, say docs
Nagasvaram may be the king of instruments in Tamil Nadu. Musically, it has the pride of place in the Carnatic system. It is to the nagasvaram that vocalists turn to for the nuances. Yet, though the Carnatic music “market” has a flock of ‘disciples’ learning vocal, violin, veena or the flute,...
A genre-jumper for sure, but no less classical
Aruna Sairam's constant touch with Chennai, albeit being primarily a Mumbaikar seemed to have run her in good stead. At least that has been proven by her being chosen for the Sangita Kalanidhi that is to be conferred on her by the Music Academy, Chennai at the beginning of next year. She won...
