Creativity-- thy name is SRIRAM GANGAHDARAN

After the concert at Brahma Gana Sabha, Shri.SRIRAM GANGADHARAN, followed suit in the next concerts at Narada Gana Sabha, Valayapatti Nadhalaya, Parthasarathy Swami Sabha, Music Academy Madras and the same evening at Panchamuga Anjaneya Festival. These concerts deserve special mention.

I would like to draw attention to the numerous rasikas who listen and appreciate to the greatness of Carnatic Music. Listening to SRIRAM GANGADHARAN will leave many on a greater note of absolute ecstasy!!!

At Naradha Gana Sabha: The audience were awestruck by the brilliant rendering of RTP in Shanmukapriya, the soft handling of Saveri, or the vibrant Kalyani with the excellent support of Akkarai Subbulakshmi on the Violin, Sri. J.Vaidhyanathan on the mridangam, Bangalore Sri.Purushothaman on the Ghatam left many wondering on the MANODHARMA which were very superior !!!!

If it was RTP in Shanmukapriya in Narada Gana Sabha, it was the great rendering of Karaharapriya in Parthasarathy Swamy Sabha... One could close his eyes and still listen to the subtle rendering of a rare ragam called SRUTHIRANJANI where Shri. SRIRAM outshone by the IMPECCABLE alapana rendering, followed by the krithi EDARI SENCHARINTURA as an authentication of his repertoire, thereafter the neatly packed swarams are to be commended a lot. As an avid listener, I would like to recall his Karaharapriya in Kapali Fine Arts, about a couple of years back with the able support by Violinist. Shri.Sathish Kumar... The difference that Shri. SRIRAM GANGADHARAN made at Parthasarathy Swamy Sabha with the same supported violinist was something extraordinary!!!

What was in store at Music Academy was something very different: RTP in Thodi. It is said that Raagam Thodi is like an ocean and this is where the artistes are tested especially during the Season.. Shri.SRIRAM GANGADHARAN's delivery of RTP in Thodi not only resembled the Prince Charming of music GNB, (whom I believe is alive still with the kind of reverence and respect he demands even many decades after his death) but also showcased Shri.SRIRAM's skillsets and creativity. By and large, many would agree with me that this man who has come by virtue of sheer hardwork deserves a special slot in the Music Academy Madras by way of his innate quality in him. There were no repetitions, it was a class act by a humble and quality musician.

We eagerly await his next concerts at this season.
Let us conclude by saying: CREATIVITY THY NAME IS SRIRAM GANGADHARAN.

ISAI VANI- Gayathri Girish @ the MECCA of MUSIC aka MUSIC ACADEMY, MADRAS

I happened to listen to Gayathri Girish after my close friend insisted since he said I shall find it interesting and he was not wrong. I regretted - that I kept my eyes and ears closed and not having listened to Smt. GG, since the time I started to appreciate and trying to understand what is Carnatic Music is all about and the effects it creates on rasikas like me...

Special mention must be made on the attempts that she takes, be it either a temple concert or a sabha concert. Every concert has something unique in offering be it a krithi rendering or an elaborate raga alapana for that matter.

I must say the difference I found when I heard Smt.Gayathri Girish for the first time a couple of years back and the last year @ Music Academy where there was a different RTP in BEGADA. If I am right, many would agree that this Raagam- is something sung by male musicians and a ragam supposed to be of masculine standard.... but a female trying this is something unique at least for a person like me....This year at the Academy, when she presented neatly the RTP in Shanmukapriya, I found it to be very different and quite interesting..... Poor audio quality is something the artistes are uncomfortable with... and despite these standards, it was testing time for Gayathri Girish who outshone with Khamboji, and delivered a comprehensive melaragamalika that was simply astounding.

Younger artistes and a few noted artistes today are compelled by the strong influence of the lighter versions of music that has brought them NAME, FAME but the impact they have on CARNATIC MUSIC especially towards the elite crowd is unfortunately very less. I am happy to note that GG is by and large ahead, superior in terms of delivering interesting notes concert after concert by improving her repertoire and also by giving us variety.

Prince Charming of Carnatic Music

Prince Charming of Carnatic Music-- It is needless for one to explain who am I referring to... For a man who is still heard despite his death in 1965.... Connect to any media viz., newspapers, internet so on and so forth... not one word shall be missed in music fraternity without the mention of GNB...... the inmitable style, the garland of brikhas, not even a stance of concert getting bored... these and some more would add to one of the finest masters of carnatic music.

Several musicians who followed his style left in the interim for many a reason that would keep pondering..... There is still one who hasn't left this style and bhani as they say... and the immediate name that comes forth is SRIRAM GANGADHARAN.... a flautist turned musician without a proper GURU still makes a commendable job concert after concert. It was refreshing to hear this man perform for the first time in the MUSIC SEASON 2008 starting a fresh in Brahma Gana Sabha. Right from start till the end, there were reasons for the audience to sit up straight and listen without sounding bored, whether the KAMAS, or the RANJANI NIRANJANI a sahithyam of the late master Sri.GNB in raagam Ranjani, where he took the entire audience to rapt attention deserves special mention. The audience is looking forward for many of his other concerts as well.

Isai vani Gayathri Girish's concerts mismatch photo

I would like to draw the attention of INDIAN EXPRESS, which has explicitly used GAYATHRI VENKATARAGHAVAN's photograph instead of GAYATHRI GIRISH inside and not even regretting for that despite the artistes reminder....... Why is media in haste and trying to create unwanted issues?