Monthly Archives: July 2010

“It is Panchali Sapatham” said one lady to her companion who enquired just before the show what the dance was going to be about. (Panchali being Draupadi and Sapatham being vow, it refers to Draupadi’s vow to bring about the end of the … Continue reading →

The Musical Journey of Kumar Gandharva by Raghava Menon is one man’s attempt to grapple with the musical genius of Shivaputra Komakali, known to the world as Kumar Gandharva (KG).  That KG was a genius, very few dispute.  He assimilated … Continue reading →

 Panta is a pretty untranslatable word in tamil having many hues of meaning stemming from the root sense of “way, manner or form”.   It is used in the sense of fuss and formality in certain contexts such as this. We often find … Continue reading →

 MARGAZHI VIGNETTES (Jottings about events in the 2007 December season in Chennai.  Published in Sruti with the byline ‘Sarvalaghu’) Margazhi was celebrated in the city with full gusto – music concerts, dance concerts, lecdems, tiruppavai pravachanam, other kathakalakshepams, awards, canteens… … Continue reading →

While Hindustani music is more than tolerated down South, the warmth is not reciprocated towards Carnatic music. Continue reading →

The jeeva swara is the life swara or life giving swara of a raga

The nyasa swara can be a resting point in a raga Continue reading →