Music And Movies

(Ganesh Kumaresh) Given my work commitments it is becoming difficult to keep posting regularly. Yet sometimes something happens which makes you drop what you are doing and jot down your thoughts. A good friend sent me a youtube link of Kumaresh (of Ganesh - Kumaresh duo) giving a TED lecture cum demonstration at NIT Suratkal (as per the video.) This set me thinking. I wanted to jot down my thoughts. First, here is the  youtube video: It is a nice video. Do listen to what he says and also listen to his playing of Begada ragam. I am sure you have heard what he said but just in case you skipped (or are behind a firewall which doesn't allow youtube), here is the crux of what he spoke. Instrumental music is very different from vocal music. In Carnatic music all instrumentalists play the krithis. While the words of the krithis are good for vocal music, they are not necessary for instrumental music. So they (Ganesh and Kumaresh) play pieces where they explore a raga wit...

I strongly hold the view that women have been very instrumental in ensuring the continuing popularity of carnatic music. While the number of male musicians may be more, it is women in the form of mother and sister who have inculcated the taste for carnatic music in many a youngster. I can vouch for my own interest in carnatic music developing from my mother. She used to sing quite well, though she was not formally trained. I used to regularly take her help in identifying ragas and that slowly translated into a mammoth interest in this great art form. I know of many friends who also have a similar experience in their formative years. Another important thing is the number of rare krithis that many women (who are not musicians) know. When my classmate visited me with his family, I was pleasantly surprised to hear a rare Tyagaraja Divyanama sankeetam being sung by his wife. My colleague's wife rendered an outstanding 'Sree Bhargavi' of Dikshitar much to my surprise and awe !!!...