Shri.Sriram Gangadharan- Sincere and Devoted

Shri.Sriram Gangadharan @ Hamsadhwani, Adyar on 21 jan 2010

What a soul stirring concert was that? Right from the word GO till the end, it was never sounding boring. His voice was as sweet right from the initial song to the concluding part. I recall an article Fierceness rather than Sobriety marks Sriram's concerts by V.Subramaniam in THE HINDU post Sriram's concerts at Srinivasa Sastri Hall in Mylapore on the 9th of Dec 09 where the artistes nerves were tested on account of poor accoustics and certain other issues (which despite these I believe sriram gave a neat recital the other day) this for Shanthi Academy for Fine Arts (SAFE). If the same columnist/critic who might have listened to this concert at Hamsadhwani at Youth hostel yesterday, I think he might have opined differently. Because, either the not so heard Sruthi Ranjani krithi Ethari sancharinthura -where the alapana, or the swarams were commendable or the more than superb handling of Karahapriya where the alapana, krithi, niraval and the swarams were invoking quite a number of SABASHS and BALLE BALLE's !!! The pace at which Sruthi ranjani was sung or the way in which Karahapriya was handled if best to be described, words just fail me, were more beautiful and they still linger in my thoughts as though am in a TRANS situation, especially in the swarams that he put forth in Karahapriya, I just close my eyes and still could hear those lovely swarams. The subtle but very perservering Akkarai Subbulakshmi followed him like a shadow adding life to the concert, the thani effort by Poongulam Shri.Subramaniam and Shri.Guruprasad on Ghatam took the concert to a very comfortable level.I would say whatever was sung was just a SAMPLE!!! Keep watching and listening for many of such SAMPLES and then there shall be a day where it is going to be a REAL one where the carnatic fraternity shall be left pondering on why they haven't listened to him for so far!!!!!...

Immortal music Prince Charming three magic words - GNB

Jan 06-1910 a day that every one in the circa of Carnatic Music will cherish for ever. Born on this day was a boy who later drove everyone into ecstacy by his extraordinary rendering of krithis, brihas, sruthi bedhams, and everything.

A short stint into tinsel world and later on focussed towards giving concerts, where we were informed he transformed rasikas into a different world altogether, in a short span of his eventful life. How would it be if have something called Time machine which could transport us beautifully to the pre 1965-55 era? I am simply closing my eyes and let my thoughts wander:

• How would it be if we were to listen to his reverberating Malavi/Chenchu Khamboji or a rare piece in Jaya manohari?




• How would it be if we were to simply close our eyes and listen to his RTP in Bhairavi? How would it be if were to listen to his kritis of Dikshitar in Kalyani/Saveri?




• How would it be if we were to hear a Ritigowlai? How great it would have been to let him go on and on in Nattakurinji?




• How would it be to appreciate his racy but a brilliant rendition in Abhogi which not even his contemporaries would have attempted?




• How would it be to listen willfully to his Begada?




• How would it be to listen to all his tukkadas or the entire concert without going dull for a moment?




• Last but not the least, his enduring personality, charm, simplicity or his unending passion for creativity by creating a new ragam Gavati or a Chandrahasitam or a Sivasakthi or listen to his rare rendition of singing his own piece for the first and last time ever in Yadhukulakambhoji? or requesting him to sing a few of his 250 compositions!!!

• How could one forget his humility prostating before a renowned Hindustani Vocalist Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan in public? It needs tremendous courage.....

All these and many many more...... I am just slowly recovering from the phase of after listening for over 6.5 hrs non stop from his various recordings and yearning for more and more of it.....

I am humble nay very humble rasika of music... I must say that I haven't come across any musician of his generation who is still remembered even after 44 years of his death!!!!! and to whose birth anniversary is celebrated across the entire Universe with such reverence.

I am reminded of a English poet who says : Lives of all great men reminds us!!! and how true are these words?

Farewell to you the great master who left us in May 01-1965!!!! you have not died, your music is food for all those rasikas, who are left amazed, who are spellbound!!!

What words do I have unto you the great master? What is it I would need to speak and convince my own self that I could do to come back to reality after listening to you and only to you - very hard to digest that you are no longer alive?

Salutations to you Shri.GNB- you are no ordinary musician !!! You were and you would still be our Gandharva!!! My humble respects to you!!!

Oh supreme master-- for generations to come, your music will remain immortal!!!