This music festival is a wonderful oppurtunity for all music lovers. Firstly it is a free event! Secondly, to telecast it, is a way for rasikas to enjoy an hour of music. Rasikas in all parts of India have been delighted to experience this musical extravaganza for yet another year, But this year we music lovers in USA also love this evening show!

Ofcourse it is not a complete concert experience. An hour of selected songs, with commercial breaks?

This is not satisfying at all! hopefully someday we will have a channel exclusively for carnatic music!

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Here is a brief info of some concerts being telecast on Jaya tv.

The first concert on Dec 16th was by artists – Malladi Brothers (I missed this one, but will post details soon).

The second concert was by Priya Sisters.

Dec 17th Vocal concert Priya Sisters

Theme – Hariyum Haranum (compositions in praise of Lord Siva & Lord Vishnu)

Highlights:

>Viruttham – Anandaroope (Bhoopalam, Rakesri,Hindolam)

>Annamacharya krithi – Laali song – Hindola raagam – Adhi thaalam

>Viruttham – Paal ninaidhoottum (Shanmukhapriya & Kharaharapriya raagams)

>Navasidhdhi petraalum – Kharaharapriya raagam – Khanda chaapu

>Malai meedu vaazhum – Sivaranjani – Adhi

The one hour concert was good. Older sister Shanmukhapriya’s voice was not co-operative at a few places. Haripriya’s rendering of the viruttham in Shanmukhapriya raagam was very good.

There was a lot of audio (contorted voice) disturbances…..it could also be a problem with the telecast here (usa).

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Dec 18th Vijay Siva

Theme – Uruvaay Varuvaay (Guru Mahima)

Vio -  R K Sriramkumar

Mri – Manoj Siva

Vijaysiva gave a wonderful performance. His introduction/explanations to each song was very informative and interesting. It was a spiritual experience to listen to him!

1.Gurulekha yetuvanti – Sri Thyagaraja – Gowrimanohari raaga – Chaapu thaala

2. Shree Shukra bhagavan – Muthuswamy Dikshithar – Paras raagam – Ata thaalam

3. Moorthamaheshwara (in praise of Swami Vivekananda) – Desh raagam – Adhi thaalam

4. Guruvina ghulamanaaguva – Purandaradasa – Pantuvarali raagam – Adhi thaalam {Vijaysiva’s kannada pronounciation certainly needs some improving!! There were many words which were pronounced wrongly)

5. Arunachala siva (in praise of Ramana Maharishi) – Raagamalika

6. Thiruppugazh – Uruvay Varuvay

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Dec 19th Sanjay Subramaniam

Theme Mayavaram Vishwanatha Shastry compositions

Vio – S Varadarajan

Mri – Neyveli Venkatesh

1. Bhagavan unakke unakku – Hamsadhwani – Adhi

2. Raagam Khamas – Jhaalame Seyvadhazhagaagum – Adhi (in Tisra and Chaturasra gathis)

3. Mayilvahana manamohana – Amruthavarshini – Deshadhi

4. Ozhukkam uyirinum ombapadum

5. Bharata samrajya – Desh raagam – Adhi

Sanjay sang very well;he had very interesting answers to all questions! His pronounciation and rendering of all the songs was commendable.

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Dec 21st Dr.Nithyasree Mahadevan

Vio – M A Krishnaswamy;Mri – I Sivakumar; Ghatam – Sivaramakrishnan; Khanjira – Alathur Ganesh;

Morsing – Deenadayalu; Tambura – Lavanya Sundarraman

Theme – A Dedication to DKPattammal

Nithyasree gave a good concert, with her usual flair! Her answers to all questions was well recieved by the crowd. She gave an introduction to each song, and also spoke about her grandmother with a lot of affection and respect. It was also nice to see her and the organizer thank her real guru – her mother (her Guru) Lalitha Sivakumar.

1.Vandanamu ragunandana – Sri Thyagaraja – Sahana Raagam – Adhi thaalam

2. Andavane unnai – Papanasam sivan – Shanmukhapriya raagam – Rupaka thaalam

3. Kanjadalayadakshi – M Dikshithar – Kamalamanohari raagam – Adhi(2) thaala

4. Yaaro Ivar yaaro – Arunachala Kavi- Bhairavi raagam – Adhi thaalam

5. Viruttham – Pullaay pirandaalum (Neelambari, Saveri, Hamsanandi, Karnataka Devagandhari raagas)

Eppadi Paadinaro – Suddhananda Bharathi – Karnataka Devagandhari – Adhi thaala

{Seems like Nithyasree’s favourite viruttham raaagas are Saveri and Hamsanandi – No viruttham is complete without her signature in these raagas).

6. Mamava pattabhiraama – M Dikshithar – Manirangu raagam

7. Chelinenetlu – Javali - Pattabhiramayya – Paraju - Adhi thaalam

8. Shanti nilava vendum – Sethu Madhavan – Tilang raagam – Adhi thaalam

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Dec 22nd T M Krishna

Vio – R K Sriramkumar; Mri – Arunprakash; Khanjira – B S Purushottam

I missed this one – will post details soon!

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Dec 23 Vocal duet Ranjani & Gayatri

Vio – H N Bhaskar;Mri – Arunprakash; Ghatam – Dr.Karthik

Theme – Krishna/Muruga compositions (Maalum Maruganum)

Both Ranjani & Gayatri gave a wonderful performance, as usual. It is such a delight to listen to their beautiful voices with absolute synchronization.

1. Gnanamusagaradha – Sri Thyagaraja – Poorvikalyani raagam – Rupaka thaalam

2. Oraru mugane - Neelakanta Sivan - Reetigowla raagam – Adhi thaalam

3. Chetasri – M Dikshithar – Dwijavanthi raagam – Rupaka (2) thaalam

4. Viruttham Soolam pidiththu yamapaasam – Kharaharapriya raaga

Vizhikku thunai – Amruthavarshini & Sindubhairavi

Manadirkugandadhu – Tanjavur Sankara Iyer – SinduBhairavi raagam – Adhi thaalam

5. Saravanabhava – Muththiah Bhagavathar – Pashupatipriya raagam – Deshadhi thaalam

6. Sakha maazaa – Marati abhang – Sant Dhyaneshwar

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Dec 24th Neyveli Santhanagopalan

Theme – Vazhi Vazhi Vandavai (Songs composed by his Guru, and guru’s Guru, etc)

Vio – Delhi P sundararajan ; Mri -Neyveli Venkatesh ; Khanjira – B S Purushottam; Morsing – Srirangam Kannan

1. Varnam – Maal Marugan – Tanjavur Sankara Iyer – Hindolam – Adhi

2. Ganapathiye Ninn paada bhajaname – Neyveli Santhanagopalan – Malayamarutham – Adhi

3. Karnaranjani – Vanchatonu naa – Harikesanallur Muthaiah Bhagavathar – Adhi(tisram)

4. Nathajana paalini – Tanjavur Sankara Iyer – Nalinakanthi – Adhi

5. Tillana – TNSeshagopalan – Niroshta -Adhi thaalam

Santhanagopalan had wonderful and interesting answers to all questions…the city he often visits? USA!

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Dec 25th – Christmas day

Ganesh & Kumaresh – Violin Duet

Mri – Patri Sathish Kumar; Drums – ArunKumar; Guitar – Keith Peters

Theme – 6 Seasons of India

This was a wonderful concert! The brothers gave a good introduction to each rendition, answered all Q’s very well. It was a very innovative concept.

>Spring – Vasantha kaalam

Bilahari raagam

>Summer – Kodai kaalam

Shanmukhapriya raagam

>Monsoon  – Mazhai kaalam

Chaarukesi (Kumaresh’s explanation – this raaga had 7 swaras that reminded us of the 7 oceans/water surrounding us)

>Autumn – Sharad Ritu

Kalyani

Shades of different raagas to celebrate diff festivals:

Deepavali, Christmas, Vishu & Spring

 (Khamas, Saaramathi, Hindolam, Shankarabharanam, Madhyamavathi, Desiyathodi)

>Early Winter & Winter – Hemanth ritu & Shishira ritu

Hemanth raagam & Surutti raagam

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Dec 26th Aruna Sairam

Vio – H N Bhaskar; Mri – J Vaidyanathan; Ghatam – Dr.Karthik

Theme – En thaay Nee allo (Mother/Devi)

1. Viruttham – Annapoorne sadapoorne shlokam

Yehi Annapoorne – M Dikshithar – Punnagavarali raagam – Adhi (2) thaalam

2. Viruttham – Mayilaivaazh Karpagavalliye – Kalyani

Unnai allal – Papanasam Sivan – Kalyani raagam – Adhi thaalam

3. Chinnanjiru Kiliye – Subramanya bharathi – Raagamalika – Adhi thaalam

4. He Bhagavathy Tumi  – Bengali shloka

Jaago Tumi jaago – Bengali bhajan in praise of Devi

5. Kadanakuthuhalaraagapriye – Kadanakuthuhalam – Deshadi thaalam

(tuned to Raghuvamsha sudham)

Aruna Sairam gave a wonderful performance, answered all questions very well. She dedicated the concert to all mothers. It was a very emotional moment when asked about her mother….

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This month, Jaya Tv has its annual Margazhi Maha Utsavam in Chennai. I will post song lists of the concerts that will be aired on the channel. I will also try to post reviews. Watch out for more updates on this!

Artists – Feel free to add your concert schedules or your musings here. You can also post reviews of concerts you have attended.

Rasikas – please do post your reviews, questions. comments etc.

Dr.Sankaran Mahadevan from Nashville, Tennessee is once again visiting Chennai to perform. Here is his schedule:

(Note: All concerts are in Chennai, except the one on December 19th)

Dec 11 4:30 pm Narada Gana Sabha, Alwarpet

Dec 14 2:30 pm Sri
Meenakshi College Auditorium, Kodambakkam

Dec 15 6:30 pm Sri Ragam
Fine Arts, at Vadapalani Murugan Temple, Vadapalani

Dec 16 12:30 pm Mylapore Fine Arts, Mylapore

Dec 19 6:30 pm Rasika Ranjana Sabha, Tiruchi

Dec 20 2:30 pm Carnatica,
at MGR-Janaki College Auditorium, R.A. Puram
(Thematic
concert – Guru Mahima)

Dec 22 6:30 pm Music
Education Trust, Gokhale Institute Hall, Mylapore
(Thematic
concert – Sri Ganesha)

Dec 24 12:30 pm Parthasarathy Swami Sabha, Mylapore

Dec 26 2:30 pm Vani Mahal, T. Nagar

Dec 27 5:00 pm Neelakanta Sivan Academy, Velacheri

Dec 28 2:30 pm Nungambakkam
Cultural Academy, Nungambakkam

Dec 29 2:15 pm Brahma Gana
Sabha, at Pethachi Auditorium, Mylapore

Dec 30 10 am Sri T. R.
Subramanyam 80th birthday celebrations

Jan 3 4:30 pm Sri Ranjani, at Swamy’s Hall, Mandaveli

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