Music and Art Scene in Bangkok.
My blogs are randomly written. These earlier blogs are that of
a beginner! Fortunately, this compilation of blogs is mostly written by Gayathri.
I am thankful to her for contributing and making my blogs more relevant!
Hope Tara, Viji, and of course, Gayathri and others who
supported them will enjoy the compiled memories of a very enjoyable period. Nice
to see the comments, from those who enjoyed the blogs, and said so! It is not
easy to make comments on a blog.
A bit on how Tara,
lover of music, got involved in the music scene of Bangkok. Music was
happening in Bangkok. A
get-together of friends on weekends.
Film music, mostly Hindi, followed by dinner and more music post dinner was the norm! We got invited, I guess,
Tara for the music, and I just tagged
along!
She heard about
devotional music sung in Dev
Mandir on Sundays and she wanted to go! We did it for a while,
even if it meant a sacrifice of
a few games of tennis we played
during the weekends! She met
more music lovers. I remember she was invited to sing in a gurdwara in Sukhumvit,
and she did! It was a way of meeting many talented singers. I recall programs of classical music that
were arranged at our home, and at Mukund Gayathri’s apartment hall. Concerts
were by our artist friends who were passing through Bangkok.
All this felt good, but she wanted more. Gayathri and Viji supported her. The trio took
it further! There were concerts on a larger scale. Initially at Gayathri’s home.
They even had dinner after the concert. Often cooked at home! They’d not only perform, but they also cooked
dinners, paid the accompanying artists, if they were lucky to get them. If the
program was in a party hall of a building, the husbands or friends of the artists
helped to carry stuff to the hall, set up systems, arrange for refreshments. Finally,
they would thank the invitees profusely for taking the trouble to attend,
patiently wait for the last enthusiastic music lover to leave.
They again got busy dismantling and lugging things
to their cars! Next step was ticketed programs in auditoriums, which meant
more work and a bit of a risk. Women’s activity center of the Indian Women’s
Club played a great role in supporting the trio! ‘Theen Deviayan’ was the name
given to them!
It was around this time that Shrinivas Rao, studying in
AIT joined them. A good tabla player, student of a renowned tabla maestro Pandit
Suresh Talwalkar. AIT was quite active in classical music. Manjiri Annachatre,
a good singer was active and organized programs in AIT!
I was impressed with
Sri’s persuasive ways. He motivated the group to plan big, collect money through
tickets and pay the artists well. He initiated the plan of inviting artists to
stay in Bangkok and teach. The group arranged music programs of well-known
artists. No records of them as they were my pre- blogging days. My blogs cover
the later parts of our stay in Bangkok. If one wants to acknowledge the help
given by the spouses and friends it is now! The task of arranging a
concert of this type is tough and merits a mention!
Monday, May 11, 2009
1.
A memorable concert by Pandita
Shubhada Paradkar
Very recently, Classical Music Lovers of Bangkok, under
the Kind Patronage of Embassy of India, Bangkok Presented Indian Classical
Vocal Recital by Pandita Shubhada Paradkar
A Renowned and Versatile Vocalist of the Gwalior and Agra Gharanas,
Accompanied by Sameer Shivgar (disciple of Ramdas Palsule) On the Tabla
Satish Paradkar on the Harmonium.
We had a memorable evening, and the artist richly
deserved all the accolades and the standing ovation the audience gave her!
Thanks to Gayathri
for writing the report below, one of the organizers and the compeer:
(Photos courtesy: Kuhn Kong Mangkornkarn a
lover of Indian classical music.)
"The aim and final end of all music should be none
other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul. Johann Sebastian
Bach (1685 – 1750)
Those who attended the concert by Pandita Shubhada Paradkar
would most definitely agree that the evening’s music embodied this quote. There
was a divinity and warmth in the music that transcended all limitations of
language or technical knowledge.
Accompanied by her husband, Shri Satish Paradkar on the
harmonium and on the tabla by Sameer Shivgar, the trio kept the audience in a
state of supreme serenity.
Shubhadaji began the Bada Khyal in Raag Miya Malhar, a late
night, rainy season raag, with "Re Ata Dhum Dhar", Taal Tilwada (16
beat cycle) followed by Drut Teen Taal composition "Ali More Naina
Barasat" and Tarana :"Udatana derena derena "(16 beat with a
different weightage and tabla bols or language).
Shubhadaji sang her own composition that was inspired by her
journies in Europe in the Chota Khyal, Raag Bhup in Rupak (7 beat cycle).
"Ye Jaga Sara Sundar pyara” was rendered with the emotion she felt on the
wonders of creation that she saw around her.
Raga Bhoopali is a very melodious raga and is sung at the
first prahar of the night (7 pm – 10 pm). This raga is called Mohanam in South
Indian Classical Music and consists of all shudha swaras or full notes. Thumri
is a common style of light classical music. The text is romantic and devotional
in nature and usually revolves around a girl's love for Krishna. The language
is a dialect of Hindi called Brij bhasha.
Shubhadaju’s rendition of “Ab Na Bajao Shyam” in Raag Mishra
Khamaj set to Taal Deepchandi (14 beat cycle) was an absolute treat. Tappa is a
light classical style of music from the Punjab. “Bol Suna Janee”, sung in this
style, was in the Raag Kafi set to taal Pashto (7 beat cycle).
Shubhadaji added a dimension of mystery to the composition
with her style of enunciation and voice modulation. Dadra is a light classical
style that is very similar to thumri. Although it resembles thumri, it allows
more freedom for the artist. “Chodo Chodo Dagariya O Shyam” in Raag Mishra
Pahadi set to taal Dadra (6 beat cycle) and “Nahi Aaye Ghar Ghanshyam Re” in
Raag Piloo set to taal Keherva (8 beat cycle), both in the dadra style
demonstrated the artists’ expertise in maneuvering through the complicated
combinations that left the audience breathless!
Raag Bhairavi has traditionally been performed in the early
morning hours. However, due to the fact that performances lasted all night,
it has now become common to consider Bhairavi to be the finale. Today this rag
is performed at any time provided it is the concluding piece. The devotional
composition in raag Bhairavi, Jhap taal (10 beat cycle), "Dayani Bhavani”
was Shubhadaji’s finale and had the audience hoping that the evening wouldn’t
end.
The Tabla and the Harmonium are integral components of
Hindustani classical music and Satishji and Sameer added the degree of
accompaniment that enhanced the vocal recital. Chattarbir Kaur and Tara
Srinidhi accompanied her on the tanpura. Considering that there is so much
spontaneity and creativity in Indian classical music, it requires a depth of
knowledge and immense energy in each of the artists to create the fusion, the
harmony, and set the tempo and ambience. We thank our artists for providing
this indelible experience."
*The organisers and the Artists with the Ambassador of
India, H.E. Latha Reddy, Mr. Azad .
This time with Mrs. Azad and Mukund, we missed
Khalid
Here is a brief note on the artists:
Inspired by Shubhadaji’s guru, Guru GajananRao Bua Joshi, to
become the eminent artist he is,
Shri Satish Paradkar has accompanied artists of great repute such as
Pandita Shubhada Paradkar, Pandita Padma Talwalkar, Veena Sahasrabuddhe, Arun
Kashalkar and Devaki Pandit.
Pandita Shubhada Paradkar is one of the leading
exponents of the Gwalior gharana and is one of the few Hindustani vocalists to
have trained under the Kirana, Agra and Jaipur gharanas as well. Combined with
an absolute control over the stringent requirements of this classical art form,
her melodious voice adds a dimension of spirituality to the compositions
http://www.ragatorock.com/biosV.asp?id=228
Sameer Shivgar started learning tabla in Pune under the
able guidance of Pandit Suresh Talwalkar and Pandit Ramdas Palsule. He has
accompanied many distinguished artists like Girija Devi, Shobha Gurtu, Sanjay
Abhayankar, Aarti Anklikar, Jagjit Singh and Talat Azi.
*Ajay Sharma November
27, 2018 at 1:55 PM
I love her singing. On Sunday (25/11/2018) heard her live
after 16-17 years once again in Baroda!!!
2.
When East marries West. Wednesday,
November 12, 2008
The memory of this evening will remain!
It is one of those days when you go through a roller coaster ride of events
that leave you breathless and anxious while on the ride, but then, at the end,
give you this sense of fulfillment and joy and achievement. That was our day on
Sunday, November 9, 2008.
East Marries West recital began promptly
at 7 pm. We had the Royal Anthem followed by the lighting of the lamp by M.L.
Poomchai Chumbala, a prominent member of Thai society and a very well-known
landscape artist and architect in Thailand.
The program began with a solo recital on the cello by Saskia
Rao-de-Haas. It is difficult to put in words the ambiance that she creates
through her music and her presence on stage. In her hands, the cello becomes
this soulful medium that adds a different dimension to Indian ragas. Many of us
have heard ragas on the violin, but the sound produced by the cello has an
added quality that is almost spiritual. Saskia’s emotional connection with
Indian music and her mastery and knowledge of technique kept the audience
spellbound. Saskia is also an artist who, by her charismatic and dignified
aura, has the audience immersed in the music.
Pandit Shubhendra is not new to the Bangkok music scene. He was here in
November 2007 and gave a spectacular performance. It was an equally riveting
one this time. A student of Pandit Ravishankar, Shubendra’s performance is so
spontaneous and natural that it is almost a meditative experience, and one gets
absorbed into the easy nuances and melody.
Durjay Bhaumik’s complimented the sitar to perfection, and
it was a pleasure to see and listen to a perfectly tuned performance. At every
instant, the tabla was in league with the sitar, a true accompaniment. A young
member of the audience was convinced that it was the powder that
Durjay was using every now and then that gave his fingers the speed! He got up
on stage after the performance to check out for himself what this magic powder
was!
And the performance was at the NIST auditorium, the most energizing and emotive
music ever. It speaks volumes about the dedication, passion and professionalism
of al the artists, Saskia in particular, that they could go beyond the stress
and tension of such a drama before the concert*, and give the
audience an evening of sheer delight.
Shubhendra said that music teaches one to be humble, to focus on this God-given
talent and find means to share the joy that music offers. And that is
exactly what the three of them achieved on Sunday, November 9, 2008.
*The drama before the concert: Scroll back to 11am when the roller
coaster ride began. Phones ringing, calls going back and forth, a state of
panic. Saskia’s cello was damaged on the way from Delhi to
Bangkok. Saskia’s instrument is specially made for her by Dutch violin builder
Eduard van Tongeren, based on her comparative study of Indian string
instruments and European Baroque instruments. This instrument is smaller in
size than its western counterpart, which enables her to sit on the floor like
other Indian musicians. It is the only instrument of its type in the world!
The first reaction was of despondence and desolation. How does one tell people
that the duet was off and only Shubendra would play. There seemed to be no
alternative to this disappointing situation. Fortunately, when Saskia, who was
visibly very upset said that she could try and do a solo recital (that would
allow the audience to get a taste of her unique skills), then began the whole
process of trying to locate a cello that would meet her needs, to some extent
at least. And I think that is when we realized what Darwin meant by survival of
the fittest! Because it needed the optimum skills of each and every person –
language skills, motor skills (literally, since people had to be driven all
around the place!), maintaining-a-great-database-on-the-cell phone skills – you
name it, we had it!
So it was a happy ending when Saskia was able to zero in on one cello at the
Peterson’s School of Music – and we are all truly appreciative of the
cooperation and assistance we received from the people at this school.
The professionalism and the commitment: Now going forward to 5 pm. Viji
and I were at the NIST auditorium with Shubhendra and Durjay who were going
through the sound check and such. It is quite an experience to see such
professionals going through the motions of microphones and fine adjustments.
Their dedication to their art comes through in their attention to every detail
and tone and their determination to ensure that their art form is not shortchanged
by the idiosyncrasies of technology. If ever there is a strong supporting
argument FOR technology, it is how the right and appropriate technology can so enhance
the audiovisual experiences of music. Saskia arrived with Tara at 6.15 pm and
went through the strenuous routine of sound testing with the cello. It was
about 6.35 when the artists retreated backstage to allow the audience to take
their seats. The audience treated to a PowerPoint presentation on the artists
and their instruments was appreciative of the fact that they had a chance to
understand a little more of what was to come.".
The Artists with M.L Poomchai and Mr. Abid Pittalwala
( M.L Poomchai: A person of great knowledge, amazing talent, and
immense humor and modesty, M.L.Poomchai is recognized for his work on Royal
Projects and his efforts at preserving the Thai architecture and heritage. His
home is a true reflection of his efforts at maintaining the essence of Thai
materials of construction and design. Years of collecting antique building
materials from all over the country came to fruition with the building of his
home that is an absolutely gorgeous fusion of wood, water, air, flora and
color. M.L. Poomchai is also the owner and brains behind one of Bangkok’s most
visited teashop called Akaliko. It serves the best teas and pastries and is set
in a portion of his garden area. When asked how he would like to be introduced
at this event, his response was “Tell them I am a friend of India and a
gardener as well”. )
The Trio with the Chief Guest and their admirers.
Thanks to Gayathri for the blog write up and Khalid for the pictures and also
Thanks to Aditi Rao for the Poster Design .
Thanks also to the very knowledgeable audience for their 'Understanding'. Tara
was so keen to present a Duet performance of Saskia and Shubendra
instead of two Divine solo performances that I asked Shubendra if
there was a video clip we could add to the blog. Here is a link to a clip which
will give those interested an idea of what they missed! (I have heard them
perform beautifully in a concert in Vancouver!).... Nidhi
Link to the Video Clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmnXYT3oM78
Labels: Music, Shubhendra
Rao and Saskia Rao - De Hass
*Thanks for the credit there Uncle--and such a prominent one
in red that too!! :) Sounds like it all went off great even with all the
glitches!! Looking forward to seeing you all soon
I remembered one more significant comment from a member of
the audience - "Indian music is the most significant and life-altering
export over the years, not computer technology!!".
I read the blog about the cello recital, a good description
of the event.
Jayshree
*Hi Nidhi,
Enjoyed the video part of the blog. They are amazing. Do you have any of their
CDs?
Rama
*Superbly written as always and congratulations to all of
you
for the success of this fine concert in BKK.
Lovingly
Ram
*Thank you for sharing this
with me. I loved the video clipping and the whole thing put so creatively. You
guys are awesome!
Chaya, Gowa Women
*Dear Taraji,
It was great to have invited and play for you and the most interesting part is
to be a guest of yours. The way you manage everything is a matter of great
appreciation. In fact I simply loved playing that day.
My namaskar to Mr Srinidhi and you. I am forwarding the photographs to you.
Thanks once again for being a wonderful host. By the way, I had a talk with
Guruji, he was very happy. Regards, Durjay
(Dear Durjay: That is very sweet of you. We also enjoyed your stay with us.
Tara and Nid
Hello Viji,
My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed Sunday evening :-))
Kind regards,
Patricia Rosetti
Thanks Tara,
Yes, I loved the music…must talk more about it when I see you. I have some
questions!
John
3.
Zakir Hussain--a true master! Monday, November 03, 2008
The whole evening was unexpected. I did not know I would be
meeting Maestro Zakir Hussain and shake hands with him. The
only thing I could think of saying at that moment was 'I was fortunate
to hear your father in the sixties...' and before I could complete my
sentence he said ' And still you came... (to hear me!) ' with
a smile. I had no quick response for that!
I did not tell him that I almost did not come. The program was titled 'Masters
of Percussion'. I was not really sure about a program of this nature.
I had heard him in India and was mesmerized by his exuberance and the sheer
enjoyment he showed while accompanying on the tabla. I felt that it was better
to keep my old memories intact.
The concert was held at the 'M' theatre. I suppose 'M' meant modest. We waited in
the lobby tucked in between 'Starbucks' in the front and the car park at the
rear! As we went up to the theater, the stairs reminded me of the fire escape.
Probably it was so. I do not know about others, but we were directed to the
auditorium from the rear!
As I entered the auditorium, I thought Ty will have a real
challenge here optimizing the sound system. Some of you will remember Ty
Burhoe who was here last year with Shubendra Rao. A disciple of Zakir
Hussain, he also works as an arranger backstage.
Soon the theatre lights dimmed, and the magical evening began, surprisingly
with our Ambassador Latha Reddy walking towards the audience
as the spotlight picked her. It set the tone of the evening as she was
there sans any formality and introduced the artists
briefly and the program commenced. She was her usual charming self in spite of
this lack of protocol. No wonder she is our favorite Ambassador and we all
admire her a lot! (Moreover, she later reminded me that I had enough material
for one more blog now! It is a nice feeling when one speaks about my blog!)
As we drove back home, Khalid expressed a sentiment we all
felt, that this concert should have been held at the 'Thailand Cultural
Centre'. While I agreed, I also felt that the artists had succeeded
in overcoming all the deficiencies of the stage, the
theatre and possibly the equipment and had given us a memorable
evening of music and rhythm: full of innovation, exuberance and comradeship.
They transported us to a different world; they truly were the masters of their
art. Their energy and obvious enjoyment they showed performing individually and
together made it an unforgettable experience.
After the concert, we went behind the stage to meet Ty Burhoe and Nanda Sethi,
who is one of the organisers invited us to join the artists at an informal
dinner at the theatre itself. It is nice that Tara, Viji and Gayathri are recognized
for their contribution to music here in Bangkok. We were with the artists and
the organizers for the dinner. I enjoyed speaking with Niladri Kumar the
Sitar master and V. Selvaganesh the Kanjira master. The
atmosphere of easy camaraderie which I noticed at the concert continued and it
was clear that it was not just put on for the benefit of the
audience during the concert.
While it was obvious that they all revered Zakir Hussain and he was their
leader, I had a feeling that they all felt equal at the same time. They were
truly masters in their chosen medium, it was obvious by the way they performed
at the concert. I wondered about this sense of equality that they seemed to
enjoy, definitely unique among Indian artists where 'Respect' needs
to be shown and is expected.
I think it is entirely due to the personality of Zakir. The way he spoke of
Krishna mischievously with a sparkle in his eyes, explaining a piece he played
at the concert, gave me the clue. I think he could be a reincarnation
of Krishna! He was really the 'Gopala' amongst them. While they were his
equals, you could see that they hadgreat respect for him.
If you were at the concert you would have seen this in reality. There were many
moments of brilliance from each of the performers as the concert continued to
enthrall the audience time and again. They built on each other’s strength and
seemed to climb on the shoulders of others, so to speak, to reach the peak
reminiscent of the Dahi Handi during Janmashtami.
Sarangi master, Khalid, Niladri Kumar, Shivaganesh, Ambassador, Viji and Zakir
(Others not in the picture: Khete Khan master of Khartal, Navin Sharma master
of Dholak,
Abbos Kosimov master of Doyra and Meiti Pung Cholom masters of Manipuri.)
Labels: Music, Zakir
Hussain
*Nidhi: a very well written blog, pl forward to Latha
also. viji
*Dear Tara and Nidhi
Felt great reading about Z H. I too had had the good fortune of listening to
his mesmerizing performance here and having dinner with him, got his autograph.
By the way I will be in B'kok after long from the 11th to 13th of Dec en route
to India. Hope to meet you! Bye
Sreela
*Nidhi,
It needs to be mentioned that you have been extremely prompt in giving us an
update on all the current events and happenings. Honestly we feel lucky to be
in your mail list. We do remember getting excited about shows when we read
about them in posters and also remember how we used to patronize them in the
past. Now before we realize the show is over and then your blog confirms yes it
is over indeed. But once again glad that we get to read and see the live
comments and the pictures.
Thank you and much appreciated.
Viji
Anonymous said...Delighted
to see the pictures.
Thanks for the blog
4.
Geet, Ghazal Aur Quawali By Bangkok
Residents of India
This is Gayathri, filling in for Nidhi and
totally honored to be allowed into the realm of the “nidhiramblers" Blog!
So what do a group of people do when they want to organize a Geet, Ghazal Aur
Quawalli evening, the main intent being to provide a platform for at least a
few of the many talented residents of Bangkok, people who have demonstrated
their sincere dedication and interest in music by developing a sound classical
music foundation and taking their singing to a greater level of melody and
perfection? Well, what they do is meet up for a thali meal and coffee at Sri
Ganesh. Seriously. You know how all of the cultural advances in France happened
in the little coffee places? Similar. There is something about a truly good cup
of coffee and unpretentious environs that bring out the best in people,
intellectually and emotionally. So that’s what the three of us, Tara, Viji and
I did. Met at Sri Ganesh and planned.
And what a brilliant evening it was, if I say so myself. When
you have singers of the caliber of Tara, Viji, Shyamlee, Ashok Khullar, Rakesh,
Aruni and Ravinder, instrumental accompaniment by the likes of Ashok Khullar,
Aslam Parvez and Shripad Rajguru, the dynamic wit of Ajay Bhatt, a sellout
auditorium with an audience all set to have a good time, and a “gopher” like
yours truly, you sure have it all made for an absolutely scintillating evening.
The major hitch to getting such an event going in all these years has been the
lack of a Bangkok based group of accompanists who could provide the instrumental
support for such a program. This gap was recently filled by the presence of
Ashok Khullar, Aslam Parvez and Sripad Rajguru who are masters on the
synthesizer and the tabla.
The evening started off with Kaahe Tarasaye by Tara and Viji, from the movie Chitralekha, a song that
was a salute to the brilliant composers and lyricists of a bygone era. Then a fast-paced taraana in Raag Janasamohini by Viji,
Tara, Aruna, and Ravinder. Aruna’s soulful rendering of Jagjit Singh’s
ghazal, Kaun Kehta
Hai, was much appreciated. I remember hearing Aruna as a school-going
teenager. Her voice had that magical quality even then, the sweetness that
reaches out to the listener. Gurmeet’s Bahon Mein Chale Aao from Anamika and Lag Ja Gale from Woh Kaun Thi were
wonderful. The clarity and reach in her singing is indeed a precious gift from
the Almighty and is something to be nurtured. It was a pleasant surprise to
meet Rakesh who has not been on the musical radar as we know it! He has this
deep voice that lends itself so well to the emotional content of our film
music. And how beautifully emotional our songs are, well, at least most of
them! He sang Kitna
Hasin Chehra and Sochenge Tumhe Pyaar from Diwana.
Ravinder and Ashok Khullar’s Ude Jab Jab Julfein from Naya Daur was a treat and brought on some nostalgia
for the innocence of the time where love was portrayed with a measure of awe
and wonder. Shyamlee is
a very accomplished artist with a stage presence to match. Her easy and
confident Mere
Mehboob Na Ja from
Noor Mahal and Pyaar
Do Pyaar Lo from JaanBaaz were so easy on the ear and heart. Viji and
Ravinder’s Tum Ko Piya from Shikari was vibrant and got the
audience going. Tara’s melodious and soft voice was just perfect for Hum Pyaar Mein Jalne Walon Ko from Jailer and Tere Sur Aur Mere Geet from Goonj Uti
Shehnai. Seene Mein
Jalan, a song from the movie Gaman, was sung by Askok
Khullar. The depth of his voice and style of singing enhanced the quality of
this meaningful and profound song. So also, with Sanso Ko Sanso that he performed
with Aruna, from the movie Hum Tum. Kajra Mohabbat Wala is such a
romantic song full of lovely nuances and subtle suggestions, that it brings on
an immediate smile. Viji and Ravinder added the joie de vivre required in the projection
of this song from Kismet as also Babuji Dheere Chalna from
Aar Paar, sung by Viji. The quawali, Nigahein Milane Ko from Dil Hi to Hai is a brilliant
composition that energizes and Viji, Tara, Aruna, Gurmeet and Ravinder did just
that.
The grand finale was a fast-paced medley with all the singers
on stage. The selections ranging from Aajkal Tere Mere Pyar Ke Charche to Aaj Ki Raat from Don were
beautifully rendered with precision and fun.
The evening’s program was made particularly enjoyable due
to the presence of Ajay Bhatt, a witty and humorous resident of Bangkok. He had
the audience in splits with his apt poetry and fun-filled comments.
The artists of the evening appeared in scintillating costumes that
added a dimension of glamour that Hindi cinema is always
associated with.
It is truly amazing to see the varied talents that exist within this community
of the so-called NRIs. It is such a sad statement that we get labeled “Non-Residents”
when our thoughts of home and everything associated with it, including the
Bollywood factor, resides within each of us.
What has to be appreciated is the spontaneous response of friends and
family and music–loving community who came and supported the event.
The Ambassador of India to Thailand, Her Excellency Madam Latha Reddy, The
Ambassador of Pakistan to Thailand, His Excellency Mr. Mir Hussain Bakhsh
Bangulzai and Madam Ambassador graciously attended the occasion, and their
presence was a true encouragement to the organizers and artists. It takes many
hours of logistical organization and practice sessions for such an event to
take concrete shape. But what makes it all worthwhile is the oneness that music
brings with it, the feeling of comfort that these tunes bring with them, the
sense of being distanced from the rigors of daily schedules, and the warmth
that thoughts of times spent in the movie theaters back home bring with them.
The families of the people involved in this program have been just wonderful in
offering the affectionate support and confidence in the abilities and talents
of their dear ones. And for this we express our heartfelt appreciation, each
and every one of us.
Khun Kong Mangkornkarn who loves Indian music and attends our
programs regularly has kindly shared the pictures he has taken of the days
event. Please log onto the web site below:
http://web.mac.com/kongm/Bharat_Sangeet/Events/Events.html to
see the slide show.
He says:
'I did not use flash to disturb the artists so the
pictures are not vivid like the flash one but it does render a very natural
colour like what we experienced in the hall.'
The pictures below are coursey: Khalid.
( It is great that you are given a 'short and crisp'
coverage of the event very ably by Gayathri! I hope this will be a permanent
feature in the future! Thanks Gayathri, I am equally honored!)
at May 15, 2008 
Labels: Inidan
Music
Anonymous said...
As a British person who lived and worked in India over 20
years ago, I was delighted to be invited to another wonderful evening of Indian
music. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and only wish I understood all the jokes!
The music and singing was superb and the clothing was beautiful. I hope we have
many more musical evenings like this one!
I have been enjoying the updates I receive from your blog,
Uncle, and as always I love to hear about what you guys are up to. Aunty, you
looked pretty glamorous singing at the ghazal evening! Wish I could've been
there to hear you sing.
Anonymous said...
Congratulations!
The report and the slides are also very good.
Thanks for keeping me informed.
Anonymous said...
Hello Nidhi ji,
So you missed Tara's performance a la Asha Bhonsle complete with glittering
saree and lipstick!!!
Just the day before the concert Tara
and I watched a program called the 'The Little Champs'. It is a competition for
singers who are little, not in talent, but in age and they were so natural. I
was a bit concerned as to how they would fare later in this highly competitive
arena. We hear stories of neglect once they are out of the limelight.
Anyway, I am happy now to write about the concert which
Viji sponsored on February 9, 2008 and Gayathri and Tara chipped in with
their own special talents in organizing the concert. The Venue
was the NIST Auditorium, and the Chief Guest was the Ambassador of India to
Thailand, H.E. Latha Reddy.
(Viji's mother
lighting the lamp.)
Viji and Khalid take pleasure in sponsoring artists from India to perform in
Bangkok. This provides us with a rare opportunity to hear some very
good artists. This year was no exception with a Carnatic music recital
by Sangeetha Vidwan Shri K. Saranathan – Vocal, Shri T.V. Parthasarathy –
Violin and Shri S. Radhakrishnan - Mridangam.
Vidwan Shri Saranathan is the Asthana Vidhwan of Kanchi
Kamakoti Peetam and the Ahobila mutt. He is awarded the titles of Nadhakkanal,
Ganalaya Choodamani and Swararaga Saragner and is a faculty member of
Department of fine arts, Annamalai University, Chidambaram. He is the disciple
of Sri V.R. Sethurama Iyer (Disciple of Shri Madurai Mani Iyer).
Shri T.V. Parthasarathy, a staff artist of All India Radio,
is the disciple of his uncle Shri T. B. Subramaniam and has travelled all over
the world with almost all the renowned artists, Dr. Madurai
Somu and Sri T.N. Sehsagopalan, just to name a few. Amazingly he has performed nonstop
for 28 hours before an invited audience.
Shri T. S. Radhakrishnan, disciple of Shri T. Ramachandra
Iyer and Shri A. Natesa Iyer is an Asthana Vidwan of Kanchi Kamakoti mutt and
has accompanied many stalwarts of carnatic music, Dr.Ramanathan and Mandolin
Srinivasan to name a few, for the last forty years. He is also a pharmacist
running his own business.
The concert was well attended and was preceded by light
refreshments of bonda, uppama and coffee courtesy Viji and Khalid. Very
thoughtful of them as many of us come from long distances! The program
commenced traditionally with the National anthems of Thailand and India. The
variation this time was that the audience sang the Indian National anthem lead
by Tara on the mike. It sounded wonderful with so many trained voices.
Gayathri had done a wonderful job of introducing Carnatic
music to the audience with a very well-designed power point presentation. This
was continuously on display till the program commenced. I believe that it was
also the first time that Bangkok had a concert in the carnatic style organized
in such a formal manner and style. The audience was
knowledgeable in music and enjoyed the concert immensely, evident from
the standing ovation the artists received at the end of the
program.
Tara did well as a compere as our regular compere Gayathri
had lost her voice!
A review I saw on the net should convey to you about the
quality of the program. "SADGURU SRI THYAGARAJAR
ARADHANAI--Students of the music school and the teachers celebrate Sri.
Thyagaraja Aradhanai every year in the month of Jan-Feb corresponding to the
month 'Thai' in Tamil calendar. The function consists of singing of the 'Pancharatna
Keerthis' as is done in Thiruvaiyaru the birthplace of Sri Thyagarajar. On
February 4th a team of eminent musicians under the guidance of the
stalwart vocalist Sri K.Saranathan gave the rendering in a soul
stirring fashion with accompaniments. The other rituals connected with
the Aradhana were also performed bringing Thiruvaiyaru into our School
Auditorium."
I add a comment made by the Ambassador while felicitating
the artists. She said that most of us in South India grow up learning or
listening to Carnatic music while we were still little kids and it stays with
us all through our life. She also said that carnatic music while known for its
spirituality and its sahitya is also very precise and mathematical. She said
its design is worthy of a Nobel Prize!
It was a pity that the concert had to end as planned. The
artists were in a mood to sing further and in fact Shri. Saranathan continued
to sing a few more songs at home as the table was being set for dinner. I was
talking to Viji about her first cousin Shri. Saranathan and
learnt that he started singing at the age of twelve along with his elder
brother and continued to learn and sing as a serious hobby all
through his working life. He is now retired and devotes all his time to music.
It was so good to see the three artists performing together.
They combined and complemented each other well. It was also great to see
them smiling at each other with genuine friendship, I believe
they have been playing together for forty years! Suddenly I was reminded of the
program the day before and thought ' My God, they are just like the little
champs!'
While the clarity of rendering, the obvious spirituality in
their approach to music was enthralling, I think the real sensation for
us was the fun they brought into their music. I had never been
to a formal Carnatic concert where singing was so joyous! It
was wonderful to recognize many familiar ragas and be a part of a ride which
Shri. Saranathan and Shri Parthsarathy took us along with such ease, exploring
these great ragas and Shri Radhakrishnan was very gentle with his mridangam and
embellished the concert with his fine touches. To me to it was a memorable day,
adding to those that I have in my psyche, listening to great performers of live
music.
I wish the artists well and a long term of this great
partnership. I also thank Viji and Khalid for giving us this great treat,
especially her mother, who suggested this concert to Viji. Thanks also to
Khalid for all the Pictures!
This concert also reassured me about my worries regarding
the 'little champs' I saw the day before. I am now certain
many of them will turn into 'a little older' champs
Anonymous said...
I always enjoy the Indian musical events organised by Tara.
Even though this one was held in the NIST Theatre, it seemed like it was a much
smaller and more intimate and friendly gathering. I found the rhythms
fascinating and had to listen carefully to work out the patterns.
Unknown said...
WOW - Fantastic achievement. It must have been a real treat
for the Bangkok residents.
5.
My two days with the artists: Pandit
Shubhendra Rao and Ty Burhoe
Shubhendra and Tara had been in correspondence about
arranging his sitar concert in Bangkok for a while. As Shubhendra said 'Eeega
Samaya Banthu' (The time came now!). Events developed quickly and on
Monday last, Tara was at the airport to receive the artists. Good that I did
not go as they had lots of luggage. Shubhendra obviously had his Sitar, but
what surprised us were the two huge 'storm' boxes that Ty had brought along
with him. The boxes, apart from the Tablas, were full of electronic instruments,
a mixer, an equalizer, a recorder, accessories and tools. They said that they
carried these equipment to ensure the right quality of sound. They had learnt
from experience that most of the sponsors did not have the right system for a
concert. Their commitment to create the best quality of sound and the trouble
they took for this was impressive.
It is interesting that as soon as we hear about a 'live
concert' being held, we begin to talk about the concerts we had attended in the
past and loved. When Tara mentioned that Shubhendra is a disciple of Pt.
Ravishankar, I thought of the evening I had heard Panditji for the first time
years ago in Bangalore. It was an enchantment that still
remains fresh in my memory. My cousin Rangaraj and I just sat on the steps
outside the concert hall till midnight. We did not want to go home and lose
that special feeling we had in us. I am sure, if we were offered lessons in
Sitar by Ravishankar, we would have quit our studies, and I would not have
become an engineer or Rangaraj a doctor. Alas, we were not the chosen few. I am
happy that I went with Rangaraj to the concert as it triggered in me a love for
music and changed my life for the better.
For Shubhendra, Sitar was part of his life from the
beginning as his father Sri Rama Rao was a disciple of Ravishankar. He was
fortunate to be given an opportunity, and he made a choice when just eighteen
to learn Sitar in the traditional guru-shishya parampara and
lived with Panditji for eight years. There are stories about how a guru would
test his shishya and his real keenness to learn. The guru would not even teach
for a while to see if the shishya would give up. Anyway, Shubhendra says it was
easier for him with Panditji. I feel it is a tough choice to make while in
teen.
The story of how Ty Burhoe got into Tabla is that he attended Ustad Zakir
Hussain's concert, and decided instantly that he wanted to learn to play Tabla
from the Ustad. He was twenty-six then. I did not ask him how he persuaded
Zakir to accept him as a disciple, but it happened. Certainly, Ty had a background
of music and more importantly he has a way about him, which makes him very
endearing, and it would have been difficult for Zakir to say no!
Day One: We liked Shubhendra to stay with us, and it
was nice that Ty also was willing to be our guest. As Tara pushes off to school
early in the morning, they were care of me (I was not sure if I could deal with
this, artists are generally reputed to be very moody!) and our Kuhn Nari. I
could soon perceive a difference as the sound from the shruti box in
Shubhendra's room was pervading softly all over the apartment.
Ty had a workshop at the NIST at 9 a.m. and I accompanied
him to the school which is next door to us. As I came back and entered the
apartment, I could hear the melodious sounds of the Sitar. This continued till
Ty returned from the workshop after two hours. They had brunch around 12 noon
and loved the 'Dosa' Kuhn Nari had made and again retired to their rooms for
some more practice individually and together. This went on till Tara returned
from school at 3 and we left for Lopburi for their concert at the Indo Rama
colony. It was a two-hour drive and after a brief chat, they got busy again
creating new 'bols'. They were in their own world after that.
As soon as we reached the colony, they went straight to the
auditorium and devoted an hour setting the system using the equipment which Ty
had brought and went up to the room reserved for them only to change their
clothes and for a cup of tea.
It is no wonder that considering the type of dedication
they had demonstrated the concert was memorable. The auditorium was excellent;
the people were gracious and the food fabulous. It was also a study of contrasts,
there was Mr. Mohta, the Business Head of the factories, obviously a lover of
music, who led the applause, which was often during the concert, and there was
Mr. Umesh Chandra, head of the PET unit, who admitted that a classical music
concert was not something he would normally attend. The
concert ended to a standing ovation and when Umesh spoke after
the concert, he gave a rave review of the concert and said he was a changed man
and would look forward to classical concerts from now on!
I know the artists would have loved to play longer at the
concert and so would everyone who attended, but we had a long journey home. We
returned late in the night, as Tara wanted the driver to go boringly slow,
the artists kept practicing bols to pass the time.
Day Two: I relaxed as I found it was quite easy to
take care of our guests, and it was easier the next day. Hence, I went out for
a walk in the morning as I do normally. When I returned to the apartment, it
was resonating with music. They were up early and had started their riyaz.
I also saw Ty hanging his washed kurta on the clothesline. I suppose he was
taking a break and took care of things by himself.
Viji had offered to send them a car if they wanted to go out
and do touristy things. They were not interested. The only time they stepped
out was to go to the school to check the sound system. They wanted to have a
look and decide in advance things needed to be done to improve the quality of
the system.
Around 1 p.m. we had a simple vegetarian lunch. Ty said he
loved it! The riyaz continued and till it was time to go. Tara got back from
school around 4 p.m. and decided we would not wait for the cars, as both Viji
and Gayathri were stuck in traffic and asked me to get a Taxi. It is easy to
get a Taxi here and before I knew both Shubhendra and Ty had come down with
their Sitar and the two huge boxes. They loaded the Taxi themselves, walked
down to NIST and unloaded their stuff from the waiting Taxi.
This is not the first time I saw artists take care of
themselves this way. As a kid I escorted Vidwan Veena Doraiswami Iyengar in an
auto-rickshaw to the Sabha in Bangalore and had let him carry his Veena to the
concert hall. I was of course scolded for this, but I suppose I was in too much
of awe of the Vidwan and was also too scared to carry the divine Veena. I was
lucky this time as none of the organisers saw and the artists did not seem to
mind! I suppose I compensated to some extent by carrying the Tanpura home.
I will let others
speak about the concert. I am totally at a loss for words to tell you how it
went, except to say it was outstanding.
I should speak a
little about the programme high lights. Ambassador Latha Reddy graced the
occasion and lighted the traditional lamp and spoke beautifully at the end of
the concert. She had also suggested and arranged to invite a few notables to
the concert. The Ambassador of Pakistan and his wife, Ambassador of Turkey were
present. It was nice to see Mr. Jagjit Singh Azad, who has done yeoman service
for music in Bangkok, along with his sons Maiyya Singh and Ganga Singh were
seated as invitees in the row reserved for VIP's.
It was nice to see our friend Sunita Daswani and our well-wisher
Seema Sachdev at the concert. I guessed they came more to support the
organizers. I am sure they went back feeling happy that they attended. It was
good to see Mrs. Suchitra Lohia, who could not make it to the program their
company Indo Rama had arranged a day earlier in Lopburi, present in the
audience. Tara, I am sure would love to mention the presence of Kiran Khurana
and her daughter. Kiran and her husband Mr. Dalbir Khurana, who was not in
town, are ever willing to support music in Bangkok.
The group had requested the Ambassador to join us for a
family dinner after the program to meet the artists. 'The Teen Deviyaan' as she
has christened them, happily forgot the time they would require to wind up
after the concert. The Ambassador waited patiently and gave Tara a ride back
with her! At home the Ambassador relaxed, and we all had a great time talking
about the wonderful concert and reminiscing of the ones we loved.
All kudos are due to the three organizers! Tara, Viji and Gayathri are taking on things
with great enthusiasm. They pulled off a great one this time! It
surely deserves to be the 'talk of the town'.
They organised the program very professionally and at the
same time with minimum formality. The contents of the invitation were well
researched information about the artists, the Sitar and Tabla. There was an
interesting power-point presentation about how the instruments were made. Even
though it was free seating, the rows were marked very clearly. I wonder whether
as teachers, Tara and Gayathri would have loved to give a quiz to the audience
to see if they had read all that was given to them and had understood!
The three also worked hard to inform people by e-mail,
posters and telephone and had succeeded in getting a 'full house' attendance.
I am sure they would love to acknowledge the help given by Sagnik, Joyati,
Ruchi and Priya at the concert.
I wish the artists the very best in the future. I pray that
they continue to do well and as my dear friend Chandra Mouli would say,
discover their own Manodharma. I am sure in time they will
rise to greater heights and captivate audiences the way their gurus have done
all this while.
We were happy to arrange a concert for Shubendra in a
greater style than the one we had for his father Sri Rama Rao sixteen years
ago. It was a concert many still remember for its sincerity and purity. It was
an assay in introspection into which he took us along.
Here are the websites of the artists which I am sure you
will love to read.
Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest
Labels: Inidan
Music, Ravi
Shankar’s disciple. Sitar artist from Bangalore., Shubendra
Rao
Kudos to Tara, Viji and Gayatri for the efforts they put in
behind the concert. It was two hours of sheer bliss. Shubendra and Ty reminded
us of Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Zakir Hussain as both have even absorbed
their respective Guru's mannerisms. None of us wanted to leave the auditorium
and go home at the end of the performance. Thanks once again to the teen deviyaans
for organising such an extraordinary event.
Roopa
Anonymous said...Sounds like we missed another great
event! Congrats!
Anonymous said...
Dear Tara and Nidhi:
That was wonderful. I am glad you were able to arrange Shubhendra's concert in
BKK. His concerts that we had arranged here in Seattle were also a resounding
success. Now I am trying to promote his concert with his wife (Saskia) who
plays the cello and the jugalbandhi is indeed quite an experience to listen to.
All credit to Tara, Viji and Gayathri. They are the star celebrities of BKK in
promoting and presenting the wealth of India's fine arts. I vote for Tara to
become India's Cultural Ambassador to Thailand.
Lots of love
Ram
*A comment from Aloha Lavina, a teacher at the Ruam Rudee
International school.
"Last night I had the privilege to attend an Evening of Classical Indian
Music. The artists were a sitar master and a tabla master. The sitar master
studied under Ravi Shankar, and the tabla master studied under equally
respected tabla guru Zakir Hussain. Both musicians were superb; the precision
and passion with which they shared their music was in a word--soulful. At the
end of the performance, it seemed that the smiles of the strangers around me
contained something different from their glances before the performance began.
We had shared music, a communication beyond language, to arrive at a common
understanding of who we were" Aloha Lavina
Anonymous said...
Gayathri, one of the organisers and a Teacher at the Ruam
Rudee International school said:
"Hi! I think that the term that Aloha has used - 'privilege' - to qualify
the experience of being at the music recital - describes it perfectly. It was
an absolute privilege, one that was made all the more special by the wonderful
presence of the artists. Shubhendra and Ty brought with them a genuine sense of
enjoyment of their music and that spirit pervaded through the audience. I think
that the essence of Indian music lies in its simplicity - it is possible to be
totally absorbed into the music without any prior knowledge or sophisticated
understanding of the techniques involved. May be it is more so in instrumental
music that communicates without the boundaries of language and words. The most
ancient of cultures created music that was replication of the sounds &
sights of nature. And in the emotive style of the sitar and tabla, I think the
audience could identify with the emotions that surface from the sound of rain,
the sound of prayer bells, children playing - just everyday sounds that have
become a part of one's comfort zone - the feeling that all is right with the
world around us! How does one create that perfect balance between technique and
emotion and how does one develop that passion & total dedication, the
absolute trust in the teacher, the lack of ego, and the belief in oneself. When
Ty and Shubhendra were on stage, they brought a certain mystique and awe and
respect for what the human spirit can achieve. And I think that is what events
of this nature can bring into our lives - the certainty that it is possible to
bring beauty and spirituality into our lives while continuing with the required
routines of daily existence. As a teacher myself, I am truly appreciative of
the fact that NIST (Tara works at this school as a teacher) invited Ty to
conduct a workshop for the students of the school. It is not too often that
Bangkok receives artists of this stature who are also willing to spend valuable
time in interacting with this often-neglected sector! The discipline that
artists need to put into their lives, and the importance of recognizing that
fundamental skills need to be practiced and reinforced all the time is a
message that only commited and humble role models can convey to our young people.
As a parent, I think of all the members of that wonderful audience that day,
who would have taken back the positive experience and shared it with their
children, may have even encouraged them to take up music in which ever form and
shape. What more can I add, except a very warm thank you to Shubhendra and Ty
and my friends who gave me an opportunity to be a part of something so
beautiful."
Dear Tara and Srinidhi,
It was, indeed, very interesting to read about the musical concert in Bangkok.
The detailed account of the events and the activities behind the scenes were
very graphic and once again we enjoyed the writing skills of Srinidhi!
Regards,
P.V.R and Sarla
Thank you for your mail. Yes--I did indeed read Srinidhi's
blog and enjoyed it very much. Yes--you can definitely post what I have written
in the blog.
Shbendra Rao said:
Dear Tara,
I have been meaning to write to you ever since I left Bangkok but just didn’t
have the time in HK. I have arrived back home after another successful concert
in HK.
There are no words to express my gratitude to you and everyone there in Bangkok
who made my first visit to Bangkok so successful and memorable. Honestly, I am
overwhelmed by all the love that all of you gave and the hours of work that
you, Viji and Gayatri put in to ensure a successful concert.
The audience response was overwhelming, and it feels good to play for such a
wonderful audience. Of course, everything was so wonderful because of your
efforts in wanting this concert to succeed and I think that it was there for
everyone to see. Sharing my mornings with Srinidhi was great and he was always
so sweet.
Even the other concert for the IndoRama group of people was so wonderful and I
will also write to Mr.Mohta personally. Thanks once again and I hope that we
will see each other soon. Please also thank Viji and Gayatri on my behalf.
You will also be happy to hear that I have been given a special Art and Culture
Award by Zee Television as a Youth Icon for spreading my music with the rest of
the world. The award ceremony is on the 23rd of Nov in Bangalore.
Saskia and I are performing together in Bhuvaneshwar on 24th and in Delhi on
28th Nov. I have a weeklong tour of Punjab starting from the 12th and Saskia
has a solo concert here in Delhi on the 19th. A busy time coming up, but we are
looking forward.
I really hope that I can come back to Bangkok with Saskia and have the
wonderful audience enjoy her music too.
Thanks once again and do stay in touch.
Love,
Shubhendra
Ty was as usual sweet to write:
Hi Tara,
We had such an amazing time with you.
You are one of the most generous people I've met and both you and your husband
were a joy to get to know.
Thank you so much for an amazing time, great food, great music and your loving
spirit.
We'll stay in touch and when your blog link gets set, send it to me and I'll
link it to my web site.
Lots of love and miss you already,
Ty
Varsha Nair said...
Hello Srinidhi and Tara
I just returned from New York and SF; overdosed on art shows and performances
in NY of course! I left to go there a few days after the superb concert given
by Shubhendra Rao and Ty Burhoe with the sound of their wonderful music still
in my ears. Thank you so much Tara for making this happen. Do feel we are
starved of such rich encounters, and it means a lot to have my soul nurtured
via Viji, Gayatri and your excellent efforts to bring us music.
Varsha
6.
Tara sings at the UN ESCAP in Bangkok.
Tara had a unique opportunity on Tuesday the
2nd October.
UN has declared Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday as the
'International Day of Non-Violence'. Thus on, 2 October
2007, ESCAP in collaboration with the Embassy of India, Bangkok
organised a function to commemorate this day.
The Ambassador of India kindly asked Tara to sing
two Bhajan's (Inspirational hymns) which were favourites of the
Mahatma. It was organised at the United Nations conference centre. The UN
building as you can expect is an impressive building and the facilities were
excellent.
It is easier to copy from the aesthetically
designed programme to give you an idea of the day.
10:30 -11.00 hours
Refreshments
10.45 hours
Arrival of H.E. Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar,
Minister for Panchyat Raj, Youth Affairs and Sports and Development
of North-eastern Region, Government of India and H.E.
Ms. Latha Reddy, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and
Permanent Representative of India to ESCAP.
11.00 hrs
Opening of the event:
-Presentation of a sculpture of Mahatma Gandhi
to ESCAP by the Embassy of India, Bangkok.
-Lighting of the lamp.
Visual presentation of Mahatma Gandhi's message on
non-violence.
Rendition of Mahatma Gandhi's favourite Hindi
inspirational hymns by Ms. Tara Srinidhi, Teacher, New International
School of Thailand (NIST) and Vocal Artist, accompanied by
Mr. Maiya Singh on the taar shehanai and Mr. Sripad Rajguru on
the tabla.
Message of Mr. Ban Ki-moon, secretary General of the
United Nations.
Keynote statement by H.E. Mr.
Mani Shankar Aiyar.
Adress by Ms. Noeleen Heyzer,
Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary
of ESCap.
Celebrating peace, harmony and non-violence: songs by Ms.
Sophie Tanapura, Soprano and Founder of the Metropolitan Opera of Bangkok, accompanied
by Ms. Elvira Galioullina, Pianist.
The programme was well attended including children from some
schools. The family was represented by me and Priya (The picture was
taken by her!) Many spoke to Tara and appreciated her singing. It was a good
performance and Maiya Singh and Sripad did really play well
to enhance the quality of the program. I think all were moved by the Hymns,
especially 'Raghupati Raghava' which has a great appeal due to its
simplicity and its message. Equally appealing was the Songs rendered by Sophie.
The Keynote address by the Hon. Minister was made extempore.
It was brilliant and well appreciated.
The programme also included a translation of the Hymns
and the songs elegantly made as a bookmark. It also included a brief
two-page leaflet about Gandhi, quoting a few well-known sayings from him.
Some were nice to send Tara a mail and I am enclosing them
here:
……
Dear Tara,
You sang beautifully. Well done! And in front of all those important people.
Thank you for inviting us.
Simon (Headmaster NIST)
Dear Tara,
I enjoyed your singing and was intellectually stimulated to deeper thought by
the key note address. Can’t get better than that for a trip out, mental and
sensual stimulation,
Thanks
Adrian (Deputy Head NIST)
Dear all,
I wish to thank Ms. Yuen Wah, Mr. Yafei,
Mr. Hak-fan Lau, Mrs. Tara, and Ms. Sophie for the excellent teamwork
exhibited for the success of the International day.
I wish to also acknowledge the support of all those hands who worked behind the
curtain to make this event a great success.
Regards
Anandi Venkateswaran ( Attache' and Asst. Permanent Representative to
UN-ESCAP, Embassy of India
Dear Tara, You and your team greatly enhanced the beauty and
spirituality of the event! Thank you indeed! Yw
Special assistant the executive secretary and secretary to
the commision, Office of the executive secretary UNESCAP.
Dear Ms. Tara,
I did enjoy your lovely performance!
With best wishes,
Pamela Osathanugrah
Labels: Inidan
Music
Tara's singing of Raghupati Raghav must have given many
people present, goosebumps! Congratulations Tara and the other masters, wish I
had been there.
Varsha
Congrats Amma! Another
feather in your cap!
Thanx for letting me know
about this important event, not only for you but for India. You do us proud
Tara
Chaya Srivatsa
Dear Tara,
You should stop singing so that Karnatic music can be saved.
7.
We are all very proud!
Also about the
TRIO'S effort to propagate music in Bangkok!
The TRIO, Tara, Gayathri and Viji teamed
up to promote music, especially the Hindustani style in
Bangkok.
We had a wonderful experience on Saturday, 25th
August. The invitation card The Embassy of India had sent us
promised us a unique programme and so it was!
The concert
titled 'India's Musical Heritage - A tribute to the Great Poet
Saints' was arranged to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of
India's Independence and also the 60th anniversary of India-Thai
diplomatic relations.
During its wonderful moments, one felt what it was to be an
Indian and acknowledge how music has helped to hold us together as a nation
these 60 years!
Ambassador Latha Reddy spoke for all of us. She was
also very gracious to acknowledge that it was Tara's idea which she accepted as
soon as it was suggested. She added that different languages, religions and
styles of music, were put together so beautifully and effectively. It was
unique as it was a concert mostly by amateurs living in
Bangkok. Guru Archanaji did join her students as an equal. The artists
sang very well, and I guess they even surprised themselves with their
performance! They sang in different styles and rightly deserved the spontaneous
standing ovation they received at the end of the program. The embassy
did a wonderful job in organising this program. The Ambassador felt that
this concert deserved a larger audience and should be heard again here and in
India as well.
H.E. Latha Reddy, Ambassador of India, speaking informally
to congratulate the artists said it was 'One of the best, why, the best
programme I have attended in Bangkok!'
Tara received a number of phone calls congratulating her. Dolly (Koghar) put it
beautifully in her mail and to quote her: hi, last nights programme was
fabulous. hats off to you for having organized it.... though the languages were
not familiar, but each of you rendered truth and devotion to each of
those saints longing and love for the universal god that each soul harbors but
is not able to express. thanks to the programme we both came home with a
feeling that yes indeed there has to be a God to enable for so much beauty in
just simple notes ... that became sounds pouring forth from the soul itself..
.... the backdrop helped make it more tangible.... even though some
names were familiar, it was good to be able to relate to their language and
their land of birth and time..... and of course, needless to add that you sing
with tenderness and gentleness that is anyway and always you.....
And Manik Desai had this to say..Now you can add to the
blog about the excellent "dream come true" of Tara
at the NIST auditorium yesterday. Eager to read about it as well.
..... It is indeed a dream come true for Tara. It is a culmination of many
years of yearning to do something for music here in Bangkok.
It is now time to introduce the various artists; in Gayathri's words as she compered the program! Her compering
scaled great heights and contributed highly in enhancing the quality of the
program. In fact, it was as soothing as the music she so ably introduced! I
also quote from the well-made handout (again Gayathri Rao! She is a
teacher at RIS.) given along with the Invitation.
Guru Archana Kanhare, a much
admired and respected Hindustani classical vocalist from Mumbai, chose a
composition, Theeratha vittala, Kshetra bittala, of poet Namdev
(c.1270 - c.1350 A.D). His abhangs in Marathi are inspiring in their
devotional fervor. This was ably brought out by Archanaji, an
honored teacher and artist, and a recepient of many national and international
awards and a visiting teacher at the Activity center of the Women's club. It is
interesting to note that 'As many as sixty-one of Namdev's hymns are
included in the Guru Granth Sahib'.
Aruna Bagga rendered a composition in honor of Guru Nanak, born
20 oct 1469, founder of Sikhism, Nanak Gal Vich Aya. Aruni, always with a ready
smile, gave a thoughtful presentation truly reflecting the message of the
guru, 'Devotion of thought and excellance of conduct as the first of
the duties'. I was impressed that all the artists covered their heads
as a mark of respect to the Guru. Audience were requested not to applaud after
the song, but those who forgot and applauded, I am sure, will be forgiven as it
sounded so good!
“Shabads” are holy hymns that are an integral part of worship in
the Gurdwaras. The shabad is in Punjabi and is a composition of Bhai Gurdasji.
It reflects the emotion and spirit of a deeply humane, humble, and caring
leader and mentor, Guru Nanak Devji, who in his travels all over the country
and outside over a period of 27 years, inspired in people the will to live in
peace and serenity.
Chandrali R. Choudary, a teacher at the Global
Indian International School and Durba Kar combined to give us
this unique song from Bengal, Dhoke No Shomironu, compsed by Kazi
Nazrul Islam (born 24 May, 1899)– the melody, lyrics, the style of rendering,
and the language itself – all the components came together to create an
absolute treat, a fusion of Hindustani classical with folk music.
Mirabai (born 1577 or 1499 in Rajasthan) is considered the
embodiment of selfless devotion and this bhajan, Sakhiri Main Giridhar
Ki Rang Rachi, a devotional song in Hindi, is an expression of her
surrender to Lord Krishna. Chatarbir Kaur truly evoked
the feeling of Meerabai’s dedication through her clear and potent style.
All forms of classical music demand perfection and precision from the artists.
This piece by Thyagaraaja (Born in 1767) in Telugu, a perfect example of the
skill required to address the variations of rhythm, pace, and emotion. Janaki
Balaji, who hails from a family of erstwhile Carnatic musicians and
her interpretation of this song, Samaja Vara Gamana, demonstrated
her expertise in this musical form. Thyagaraaja reknowned as one of the Music
Trinity of carnatic music, is known for 'Bhakti' in his compositions; poetic
excellence and spritual values.
Manjiri Annachhatre, also a teacher - at the school in the Asian
Institute of Technology - , and blessed with a tremendously emotive style, presented
this composition in Hindi, Ghat Ghat Mein. Sant Kabir, (born in
1398) a saint in every sense of the word, compiled an incredible number of
devotional masterpieces that form the essence of contemporary devotional music
programs.
Raghavendra Rao, working at Femina Lace, blessed with a voice that
completely lends itself to the dignity and purity of this powerful
composition, Yadava Nee Ba, enthralled us. This well-known
composition in Kannada is typical of the beauty and simplicity of Purandhara
Dasa’s (Born in 1494) style. I was really transported back to the river bank in
Hampi where he had resided. I could feel the stillness of the river and the
surroundings in his singing!
Rajesh Vasudevan, at the Modern International
School of Bangkok joined Tara Srinidhi, a teacher at the New
International School of Thailand to sing compositions of Adi Shankara (Born in
686, attained Mahasamadhi in 718) . These masterpieces, Ganesha
Pancharatnam, Bhaja Govindam are included in the everyday prayers in
homes all over India. Deeply devotional and spiritual poems in Sanskrit are
dedicated to Lord Ganesha and Lord Vishnu. The program began with these as
traditionally we invoke Lord Ganesha at the begining of any function and this
set the tone for the whole evening.
Tara sang a composition of Jayadeva, born in
Orissa c.1200 A.d., Natha hare' Jagannath hare'. I think she did it
for her mother, in her memory, who would have been inordinately proud on this
day. She also joined with Aruni to sing 'Vaishnav Jana
Tho', composition of Narasinh Mehta (born in 1408). A favouite of Mahatma
Gandhi, they both sang this beautifully along with the Bangkok Symphony
Orchestra years ago!
Ravinder Kaur gave us this wonderfully enlivening song in Sindhi,
that invokes in the listener, the passion and fervour of dedication to an
all-encompassing higher entity. Ravinder, a teacher of music at the Indian
Women’s Activities Center, with her commanding and expressive voice, took this
composition, Lal Meri Path Rakhiyo Balao Jhoole Laalun, to heights
that touch the soul.
There are no words that can adequately describe the emotions
that are inspired through the stunning lyrics and music associated with the
work of Sufi composers. We are truly appreciative of Viji Hashim,
who did an extraordinary job of presenting this lovely piece, Yaad Naa
Bhikha, in Urdu. It was pure ecstasy as the whole group of singers joined
her and so did many in the audience. A sufi is defined as one, who has
submitted to the will of God, who lives in union with god and who has devoted
himself to god.
.
The composition of Tulsidas ( born in 1589 or 1532 A.D in Uttar Pradesh) Shri
Ramachandra sung with true serenity by Tara helped to
calm us down and the program concluded with Buddhist chants that could be
considered synonymous with the spirits of the saints whose compositions,
created to add meaning to the lives of mortals, we all enjoyed and loved for an
hour and a half.
A vital, critical component of this concert were the instrumental
accompaniments. And we were truly fortunate to have talented and accomplished
musicians to support the vocalists.
The Taar Shenai is a soulful & melodious instrument and Mayya
Singhji, a music teacher at the Gurdwara is one a very few artists to have
perfected it.
Shripad Rajguru, on the Tabla, is a disciple of Pandit Suresh Talwalkar,
the renowned tabla exponent. Shri Shripad teaches at the Indian Women’s
Activities Center. The tabla is what provides the rhythm and sets the mood of
the music and Shripad Rajguru, an expert on it, had truly contributed to making
this evening a special one.
Also on the tabla was Manop Kalra, a young, dedicated, and talented
musician.
The harmonium is an extension of the vocalist’s voice, style, and emotion, and
in order to ably support the vocalist, in-depth knowledge of every nuance of
the raagas and talas, the skill to accompany diverse artists, and a remarkably
intense level of concentration become essential facets. We were privileged to
have an artist of Dinesh Namjoshi’s calibre in our midst.
Dinesh works with the Ikebana company.The Mridangam is the equivalent of the
tabla and is usually heard in the Carnatic style of Indian Classical
Music. Krishnan, who works with the Six Senses company, is a gifted
and versatile artist who is adept at accompanying any form of classical music
and a willing contributor.
(We missed Shrinivas Rao and Mukti, who were so much part of our cultural
activity.)
We would like to thank two young people who prepared the presentation we saw
projected at the back: Sagnik & Vinay.
There are numerous people at the Indian Embassy who have been
involved in organizing the event – the logistics of time, place, hand-outs, and
so many other big and small details. And to them our grateful thanks.
We are also very grateful to Khun Mehta and Joita Roy,
she also sings very well, who worked hard to ensure that the sound and light
system functioned without any hitch. Tara tells me that the first rehearsal
they had with the sound system was very discouraging! What we heard was so well
balanced that it illustrates the real dedication of the people who are not
seen!
.........................................................................................................................................................
Reactions to my blog from our friends. Feel
happy to have struck a chord and feel very encouraged!
Khalid: Nidhi, Great job in depicting
what we all felt. Cheers.
Chitra:Thanks for sending me the blog on the musical
function we had the other day. What can I say other than...its been a long
time since I have enjoyed something like this! All kudos to Tara and the
other ladies who organised and ran the programme to perfection. As I have lived
outside of india for the last 28 yrs it has been difficult for me to see a
programme like this, much less the fact that it was so varied and perfectly
showcased the diversity and rich heritage of our country. I enjoyed the various
styles from the different parts of India and each one of the ladies did
an exemplary job of singing their particular song . The presentation
in the background was good as it brought the whole thing together and the
children of NIST have to be congratulated. I was truly proud to be
indian and the ultimate culmination for me that day was that I got to sing our
national anthem!.. which I have not done in a long time! Thank God the
words came back to me as I joined the others in proclaiming our unity in spite
of the awful and often uselessly violent world that we now live in. Thanks once
again and keep on doing this!!
Wonderful to get this!! I lapped it all up!! Delighted to
know that BKK is as bright, vibrant and dynamic as ever!! Keep up
the great work and stay in touch. Ashok Sajjanhar Ambassador,Embassy of India,
AlmatyKazakhstan
Priya:Thanks for the blog. Reading it gives
us a feeling of being there at least in spirit during this great event: How
I wish we were there in person to enjoy the moment. I hope that the entire
program was recorded for the listening pleasure of all those that are far far
away and could not be there and I hope you took many pictures which would be
great if posted on your blog as well. With a big hearty CONGRATULATIONS for a
successful event.
(I am planning to add the pictures once I receive them
from friends. My computer was down all this while as well.)
Ram:( USA.) Sounds amazing... is there a
video??
Sethu: Hi Nidhi, You have really
brought that evening to life in your blog. Any encores for the evening
in the offing? ( Hope so Sethu, will keep you posted!)
Satyavathi, Kittu: Tara , you are doing a
wonderful job. I'm am sure we will be able to see the video script of the
entire programme. Thanks for the blog. With regards, yours, .
Meera/Avinash: CONGRATULATIONS: we feel
that programe must be filmed, must be shown as documentary on indian
cinemas. GOD bless you with many more achievements
Sriram :(Chicago USA.) Good to hear that the Indian
society at Bangkok is pretty well integrated.
Shipra: thanks for writing about the
concert, uncle. i enjoyed reading about it and i wish i could've been there.
congratulations, aunty! sounds like an amazing event that you organized. i hope
i too get to hear you sing someday! love,
Raghunath: Read about yr pgme. Sounded
great. Tara must have worked hard to put it together. Have you recorded it?
If so get the CD along when you are here next. Congrats
Dhanu: Dear Tara aunty, Congrats!!! I read
about it and i feel very happy for all my friends in Bkk. U
r all very dedicated and my best wishes for future programmes.
Prakash & Neema: Heartiest
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. You are doing a great job in BKK. regards.
.........................................................................................................................................................
8.
A week before!
It has been raining in Bangkok. Simultaneously, the
normally arid Indian cultural scenario in Bangkok
was drenched in music last week. No matter it was all
Bollywood!
It was a special concert Viji and Khalid had
sponsored. Roshan and Ritvik from Bangalore are visually
challenged artists. It was arranged in style. Viji's sister
Rajani, who helps artists through an organisation called 'Good Deeds' was the
compere. Satish Govindan and Smriti added variety with some nice Bollywood
style dancing.
Our very popular Indian ambassador H.E. Latha Reddy graced
the event and was there for the whole evening. We had excellent snacks
and dinner at the Novotel, courtesy, the hosts. The music began almost
on time with some nostalgic old classics and a few modern songs.
The older brother Roshan sang very well and his smile was
radiant and with genuine pleasure. His brother, even more challenged,
his mother held the mike for him, sang well and was innovative. To us a
significant part of the whole evening was their admirable mother of the
challenged brothers. Her smile exuded positive energy. Her attitude
touched our hearts and also gave us a lesson about facing life squarely in
spite of adversity. Understand they are learning classical music as well. We
did feel worried about their future. But surely with mother around, the
boys would do well. They released a CD of their music at the concert, and we
wish them well.
Roshan Rajan, a postgraduate student from Bangalore said:
"Both my brother and I have been singing right from childhood. I have
learnt Hindustani classical music and can play the violin and the organ. My
brother and I perform at many concerts together"
Viji said: Dear Nidhi, thanks for the very balanced
review of the evening by Roshan and Ritvik. Pleased with the mention about the
food, Ramesh (Khendry) would be pleased with the compliments his
catering staff have received.
9.
Varsha Nair: Her art... she calls it
her 'Experimental Endeavours'.
I thought, here I am rambling about art and how is it that I
have not written about Varsha? It is indeed totally
inconceivable that you are writing about Indian art in Bangkok and Varsha is
not featured in it in a big way. In fact, I did think about a blog about her earlier
but did not get round to it.
'Varsha' is a beautiful sanskrit word which creates an image of gentle
drops of rain or flowers (Pushpa varsha). It can also be an unrestrained
outpouring: an extravagant and sometimes excessive. (Varsha Dhaara).
I think her parents were prescient in choosing this name for
her. It is really difficult to capture the essence of her persona. Varsha
gushes, rushes, expresses, declares, proclaims depending on what she is
passionate about at the moment and all this is encompassed in her name itself.
We met Varsha at an exhibition of paintings, which Samhita
Arni had made for her book 'Mahabharata'. I liked the natural way she spoke
English, and not surprising as she went to school in England. Since then, she
and Tara have kept in touch with each other. In fact, Varsha used to
attend Balvihar classes which Tara ran for the Indian
children, whenever she could.
While I admire Varsha for her art (She is a graduate in
Fine Arts from the well-known art school in Baroda.) and her ways of
exploring art, it was for very different reasons that I was impressed, the
first time I saw her work. As I walked in to see her 'Installation' I
saw a number of clear rectangular acrylic sheets, around 12" by 24"
in size, with Thai words engraved, suspended from the ceiling. In the
background were paintings, which depicted a war scene. Honestly, I lost
interest in the message she was trying to convey. Being still
new to Bangkok, the fact that she found a machine to engrave Thai letters so
well and without blemish impressed the mechanical engineer in me and Art took
a back seat! In addition, I found it tough to take a decent picture of this and
found it frustrating. I am sure I had more questions about how she managed to
get the engravings done than about her art.
A little later, we were invited by Varsha and Bobby to their
home. I saw many of her paintings which I liked and being an old conservative,
I thought, 'Why is she wasting her time and talent doing those
installations'. After dinner we saw her studio and her art in process. She
was in the midst of another installation which she was trying out in the
studio. As I saw the installation, I started wondering 'whether she was
confused' as an artist and I realised the thought had actually come
out loud as a question, when she said 'I even wonder about it
sometimes'. (I am this way sometimes, probably more often now, thanks to my
advancing years.) Luckily she did not take offense and went on to explain how
it was not in her to keep painting in the same way, when art actually becomes a
craft, and was seeking new ways to express herself.
It is not in my capacity to write about all the things she
is involved in, as there are so many ! She keeps travelling to many countries
all across the world, organising workshops, installations and is invited as a
speaker and so on. I know that for her, women's issues are
paramount, apart from other things.
She has also integrated well with the local art scene, and I
feel that in itself is a remarkable achievement. She also sends us e-mails,
nudging us to react and protest. The latest one is about crack down on the
Buddhist monks in Myanmar.
We are grateful that
she takes us along with her whenever she can. Tara was invited by her to sing
for a very modern dance, held of all places at the Democracy monument and
in the middle of the night. The dance, depicting war and peace, was by the
well-known Japanese Butoh dancer Katsura Kan along with Thai sword dancers. The
dance with Shrinivas Rao on the tabla and Tara singing Sanskrit chants from the
chapter twelve of Bhagvadgita, remains in our memory.
She as the co-organiser of 'Womenifesto' 2003 invited me to
contribute to a book they were creating. The book actually was a box in which
all the articles and sketches were placed. Very symbolic as the subject was '
Procreation/Postcreation'.
In the year 2006, she handed me a disposable camera with the
instructions to take pictures in Bangkok as I liked. The end result was a very
well-made publication of photos 'Urban culture in focus' comparing
two cities, Bangkok and Vienna. To quote from the book: It is long term
project 'individual city culture'; a method developed of making visible the
very city culture in different cities through the perspective of the
individual. Many universities and organisations are involved in this
project, and I was thrilled to see three of my pictures selected.
(She says) Ensconced inside these
corrugated cartons is a solitary image of a home, a once intimate space that is
now out of bounds to the artist but one that contains its potent memories of
past gatherings and exchanges. One can simply think of these cartons as being
empty boxes or that they contain both a physical and a psychological space.
In an other project she had invited people to participate.
They were encouraged to create a shape or an image by taking out the plaster
from the wall. A test of their imagination and patience! It took a while but,
interesting shapes were created. I remember a few months later there was news
coverage of how people of Surat saw the image of Saibaba on the wall of a
building and did Arathi. (The image was the result of weathering; however, it
illustrates how people read into things!
I am including below a picture she sent me, about the first
one I spoke about: Here is a photo of the installation
"he....is..." (the first work you saw), which talks about the tit to
tat reaction of nuclear testing between India and Pakistan. I also talk about
the karmic cycle of things in this work, such as "he attacks, is
attacked" and so on, until the final line of the text which is - "he
destroys, is destroyed.
With these examples you can barely catch a glimpse of the
variety of subjects that she becomes involved in. May I suggest, to those who
are desirous to know more about her work, just to search the web for 'Varsha
Nair' and read all that is said about her and her work.
As I covered the exhibition of 'Images of India' and was feeling happy that
many Indian painters were now able to sell their paintings calculated and
priced at per square foot, (They could soon be in square inches!) I thought
about Varsha and her choice to take a different route in expressing herself.
While she could be making this kind of money, if she chose to, I am happy that
she is content to follow her heart and also takes us along in her efforts to
fulfill her vision.
For her 'experimenting is the most exciting thing about art and close
to my heart'. For us it is a privilege to be a part of that experiment. I
read a book 'Painter's Eye' ( Author ?) when I wanted to learn more about
painting and painters years ago. It was all about how a painter looks at a
painting, the technique, the way he deals with color, light and so on. I feel
now privileged to know an artist who lets us know what is in an 'artist's
heart'.
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Labels: Art
5 comments:
Anonymous said...
It felt much nicer to read about 'art' than about the
(commercial) 'value' of art, which was largely the focus of the article I sent.
I remember seeing photographs of 'in between places' almost exactly a year ago,
but this has been a much more thorough introduction to the artist. I hope I get
a chance to meet her when I visit Bangkok next.
Anonymous said...
Very well written! It does take a lot of conviction, passion
and courage to keep experimenting and the last sentence really says it all.
ps: I remember the book "Painter's eye" from your book which got me
into drawing.
Anonymous said...
Enjoyed reading your blog about Varsha and also the article
about Indian art market for the 21st century.
I especially liked her comment about "art actually becomes craft." We
usually don't consider craft as highbrow as paintings and sculpture. But craft
requires mastery of technique along with creativity, making it a tougher field.
In recent months we have had amazing craft shows at the Bellevue Arts Museum.
Furniture, Jewelry and tapestry to name a few. Usually there is at least one
installation piece at each of these shows. The interesting thing is lot of
these artists make a social ands cultural statements using this media. So more
power to Varsha. I will definitely checkout her website. Thank you for your
interesting blog.
Dear Nidhi
Yes, now I remember. They too had moved and talked about how significant it was
that one’s belongings were contained in boxes.
You sending that article about the Indian art market after having written this
blog is quite timely, in the sense of presenting 2 sides so to speak. Not many
think about these angles, most just are struck by the fact that some painting
fetches such and such prices. It seems, in people's minds the high price of an
artists work adds "greater value" to the work, they are awe struck by
this rather than the contents of the work itself.
Of course, I am not saying that there aren't any good paintings out there,
there are but mostly its just artists cashing in and their art part collapses
into the muddle of per sq foot/ meter pricing quagmire.
Re the comment on art becoming craft. I mean 'craft' in its most banal sense,
some kind of mass-produced thing to sell to tourists. But what Rama writes
about the show on crafts is very relevant. CRAFT is an ART form, and many
traditional crafts also have socially relevant messages. You see, they are made
in context to the community and as an expression of local concerns, not for
sale at a tourist emporium and so....
I want to tell about an incredible experience I had when I was in Taiwan
recently. I was artist-in-residence for a month in a small town called
HsinKang. 2 weeks into my residency, one night I had a terrible toothache. This
was a tooth that I knew had to be extracted when I returned to BKK but
obviously I could not wait to do so. My host took me to the local dentist, Dr
Hong - both he and his wife who are in their 60s are dentists and have set up a
clinic together. The clinic looks like it was set up in the 1970s and nothing
has been upgraded since! So, i was glad that my treatment simply required an
injection and extraction, and no more that might require a complicated
procedure. After much curiosity about me, where I was coming from, what i was
doing there etc. the tooth was removed and Mrs Hong sent me home with a local milk-based
drink to soothe me and a small pair of traditional ceramic lions to protect me!
All offers of money for the treatment were vehemently rejected. 3 days later I
again woke up with shooting pains in my mouth and knew that this time it was a
root-canal job in a lower tooth! So, back I went to Dr Hong. To cut a long
story short, he immediately found time for me (I was sent away to continue my
workshop and he would call when there was a free slot so I could go in for
treatment, rather than wait in the surgery and waste my "precious"
time) over a period of 4 days. I insisted on paying for this expensive
procedure and he finally turned around and told me, as I was pinned to the
chair with my mouth wide open, "I do not like money, I love art" and,
"artists must be looked after by society"...
as you can imagine, I was in tears and even when i think about this now, I feel
all weepy!
To me, Dr and Mrs Hong are like the best artists - they nurture people with
their talent, in a subtle way they teach us more about life; much more than
money can do.
They told me that for them, the workshop I had done with the community in
HsinKang, what I have "given" to the place and its people, the way of
thinking I introduced, is far greater and cannot be calculated in terms of bits
of paper called "money".
I cannot think of a better tribute - coming from them, and now in what you
write about my work. This is far more significant than being talked about or
written about in art or other books, winning awards from institutions, and
"selling/exhibiting" at big art shows. At least to me, these human
connections are paramount.
A very good morning to you!
Varsha
Dear Srinidhi and dear Varsha,
thanks a lot for both your text and the letter! Knowing Varsha's work so well
it is a great pleasure for me to read about it here so full of cordial
understanding. Love Karla
10. 'Images of India'
We were treated to more Indian culture the last few weeks.
They were two very high-profile events and both enjoyable. First was an event,
showcasing Anuradha Pal and a group of women artists at the Thai cultural
centre's larger auditorium. It was an important occasion, Bangkok’s 9th
International Festival of Dance and Music, celebrating the 80th Birthday of His
Majesty the King. The occasion was graced by the presence of HRH Princess of
Thailand, Mahachakri Sirindon. Anuradha Pal is one of India’s leading and most
innovative percussionists. Stree Shakti is an all-female Indian percussion ensemble.
They performed using traditional percussion instruments like tabla, ghatam,
mourching and mridangam. The percussionists and the accompanying sitar artist
performed with enthusiasm and extremely well. It was enjoyable for its vigorous
energy and its uniqueness as it was all women. Mourching was specially
enjoyable and a surprise as some of the sounds created were really different
and a first time for me.
This was followed by Khatak dances presented by Pallabi De and her group, nice
and innocent. One usually expects Khatak to be a little more sensuous. The
dresses were modest and would have earned a praise from my grandmother. In
addition, the large auditorium made them look really small. Gudia, I
think is the word that described the girls who performed.
It became nicer with a reception hosted by her H.E. Latha Reddy, the very
gracious Indian Ambassador to Thailand, on behalf of the Indian Embassy, before
the program started. Some excellent snacks and beverages set the right mood for
the ensuing program.
The other was an exhibition of paintings, Images of
India, Modern and contemporary art by Indian artists. The occasion,
organised by the Embassy of India, was to celebrate the 60th anniversary of
India's independence and the 60th Anniversary of Establishment of
India-Thailand diplomatic relations. This was at the Amari Atrium hotel and was
inaugurated by Hon. Pranab Kumar Mukherjee, External Affairs Minister of India.
It felt nearer home as Viji (Mrs. Vijayalakshmi Hashim) organised
the whole exhibition as its curator. A lot of thought had gone into the
exhibition.
It was a sequel to the exhibition 'Art Beyond Words' held last year in May
2006. We can see it was a lot of work. The very well-made brochure given to us
says it all. She had paintings from as many as 47 painters on display.
Viewing a painting is very different from listening to music
or watching a dance. For me painting is associated with the books I read and
the movies I saw as a young man. Vincent Van Gogh, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
and Paul Gauguin, come to my mind.
We had our exposure to Ravi Verma and his handsome gods and comely goddesses. I
don't think we even thought of it as art! It was all part of our puja
room. I remember straying into Jehangir
art gallery in Mumbai whenever there was an hour or so before I caught the
train back to Pune. The gallery was invariably deserted, especially if it was
paintings by an unknown artist. I remember a lady artist sitting all alone
waiting for a prospective buyer and not really a straggler like me. But she was
gracious enough to come and talk to me as I looked around. Her paintings were
all about Ganapathi and were actually good. I am sure she would have made a
name for herself and sold some of her paintings by now. Would have been a good
investment if I had the money!
Coming back to the exhibition, as I walked in behind the
VIP's, I noticed that there were the usual familiar and famous artists whose
paintings one would automatically recognise. There were also many new (at least
for me!) paintings which I enjoyed viewing. The best part was to meet
an artist physically present there. It was nice talking to Aelay
Laxman and getting to know him and his views. I liked his work and
was glad to know that he is doing well. He looked a total opposite to the
picture of artists who had engaged our mind and excited our imagination as
kids. We all wanted to be painters and live on the left bank of the river Seine
in Paris!
It is nicer if artists and their paintings do well during
their life time and not later. It is indeed nice that Viji had invited
an artist to attend this high profile function. It is surely an honor for an
artist to be introduced to a very senior minister of the Indian Cabinet, The
Ambassador and other dignitaries who were present on the occasion.
I had a chat later with Viji about her work as a curator and 'Veda Arts'. She
says sourcing is difficult for an exhibition of this type, to be able to
display paintings from the various known schools, and lesser-known schools of
painting. While some were on consignment, many she had to buy them outright.
Most of the artists are young, born post-Independence. Many study in art
schools, the list of schools is impressive in that it covers so many cities
across India. It is heartening to see students from art schools in Goa,
Guruvayoor, Indore and Thiruvananthapuram adding to list from others in
Bangalore, Baroda, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune. There was a
sprinkling of self-taught painters and those with international education and
exposure.
She succeeded in her effort to show us a mix of traditional
cultural themes and of abstract paintings. She likes to do more with southern
painters at the moment and introduce them to the collectors and art lovers. She
feels that people here are not aware of the interest Indian art has created
recently. She started as a collector and now enjoys the role of a curator and
organising exhibitions. She likes the challenge, the selection of painters,
their work and putting them all together in an exhibition including how it is
displayed.
I am sure she is having fun, as a lover of art, by promoting
the known and the not so well known through her 'Veda Arts'. http://www.vedaarts.com/
She says that there is money to be made by the buyer. Indian
paintings are doing well and we could see it proven from the exhibition. Modern
Indian paintings have gained attention and have a place of its own in the world
of art. Art has definitely flourished in our Independent India and it does make
us feel happy and proud.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
11. Recollecting memories of Bangkok: Jai Ho
Viji-Khalid!
It was a Memorable evening for us on May
16, 2009 in Bangkok.
There has a been a delay in publishing this blog! I learnt how to give an
excuse in Bangalore! The trick is to say that 'There
was a technical problem!' and that is it! The way it is said implies: We do not know when it will be fixed, and you
won't understand if I explain the problem! Real reason is we
moved to Bangalore.
In a way I am happy with the delay. It takes me back to Bangkok and I am feeling nostalgic as I upload all
the wonderful pictures Viji has sent me. I could not resist posting so many
pictures, in fact there are many more which I reluctantly decided not to. It is
a wonderful album for us to keep as Viji and Khalid had invited many of our friends
for the event and happily they were there for the evening.
When I asked Viji 'What is it about? She replied 'The invitation tells it all'. A
number of reasons to celebrate!
It was specially designed amongst other things as a farewell to Tara. To acknowledge
the contribution she has made, with the help of others, especially Viji and
Gayathri to the music scene in Bangkok. Idea of inviting Satish, Nachiket and
Asit Tripathi from Bangalore to participate and sing along with our own Local Talent was
brilliant. Tara, Viji, Ravinder and Aruna really had a great time singing with
such accomplished artists and to their credit it went very well. It was also
wonderful to hear Chattarbir and Bobby Rishi.
The party also celebrated many landmark birthdays.
Dipa, Gayathri, Maya and Varsha all celebrated theirs and It is also a landmark
year for Atul, Gopi and Augie, the birthday boy in waiting! Finally, it was
also for Tara, 14 May 16th May is my birthday.
We had a great time, and Tara adds that it was a mother of all farewells! Our thanks to
Viji and Khalid for making it so unforgettable. After such a farewell we felt
like cancelling our move back to India! We were blessed with such a great group
of friends and well-wishers in Bangkok and they are etched in our memories
forever.
Our very close friends Raji and Lakshminarayan who had specially
flown in from Bangalore said it was one of the best events they had attended
anywhere. They said 'It started on time, excellent food, great music and a lot
of positive energy and comradeship'.
I have not mentioned the names of the guests as most do not need
any introduction! But I will mention a few: Dolly for untiring efforts behind
the scene to keep the program running smoothly! Ambassador Latha Reddy who
joined the fun on the floor and was serenaded with a Kannada song by the
Bangalore singers! Bobby Rishi who added variety and color to the program with
his singing, a grand finale.
I also wonder what is in store for next year, it is expected of
Viji and Khalid to keep up the tradition they have created.
As the theme proclaims, Jai Ho to Viji and Khalid and the rest of our
wonderful group friends.
 |
The music was vibrant and lots of fun. It was peppered with some very nice humor by Ajay Bhat as a compere.
Including the one who
will reach the landmark by October!
The guests I am sure
had a great evening!
comments:
1.
Rohini, That
looks like some party! Too bad we couldn't be there! Love all the
pictures...good times were had by all it seems :-)
2.
Hey
great to see all the pictures. Hope all is well Anita
12.Tara had some unique experiences thanks to her love for music
Singing prayers at a
felicitation function for Dr. Satyavrat Sastry
In Tara’s words: It
was a wonderful opportunity when the Sanskrit scholar Dr Satyavrat Shastri,
Prof Emeritus Delhi Univ was felicitated by the Princess of Thailand,
Mahachakri Sirinthorn. It was for his composition of the epic Thai Ramayana,
Ramakein, in Sanskrit, all of 2000 verses! And the release of the book.
Shastriji asked me to
sing the invocation prayer. It was the princess who suggested that the
Invocation be in Sanskrit. It was a grand royal function! The princess spoke to
me after the function. She asked me about the Tanpura. In fact, the princess was
taught Sanskrit by Dr. Shastri
Thanks
to Dr Shrinivas Rao for getting me to participate in two very unique programs....
once in a lifetime experiences.
The musical score from Gandhi was selected
along with music from Braveheart,
Benhur etc. Shahdard Rohani, conductor from the New York Philharmonic conducted.
Aruni and I sang Vaishnava Jana Tho and Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram with the
75-piece orchestra. Shrinivas was on the Tabla and Akhilesh from Bhopal was on
the Sitar. The experience was just unbelievable.
A program in the middle of the night at Democracy Monument
Chulalongkorn
University requested Katsura Kan, a renowned Butoh dancer from Japan to stage a
show to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of Thailand’s prime
minister Pridi Banomyong. Interestingly, Katsura Kan titled the program, 'War
and Peace'. He selected the 12th chapter of Bhagawad Gita to be sung. Kan was
Krishna, Ambika Arjuna, She also danced Bhartanatyam and 12 Thai sword dancers
participated. I sang the 12th chapter with Thai musicians in ragas that were
pentatonic. Shrinivas was on the Tabla with other Thai percussionists.
This was staged in the
open at 12.00 am midnight in the space in front of the democracy monument. While
cars were moving around, no one honked. 
There is a lot to talk
about Shrinivas and Mukti, who have moved back to Hyderabad from London. More
about them in another blog! Interestingly Mukti and group are performing in
Bangkok for memories sake! Tara is joining them!
12.network for the
Indian Diaspora. Tara and Bobby Rishi were the judges for the audition held in
Bangkok and Aruna was selected from out of 55 participants.
Her performance was well received by the judges and the
audience at the show. She has promised to write about her experiences in Mumbai
for my blog along with pictures. While we wait for this here are a few pictures
from the evening at Peter Mansion, organised by Viji, Gayathri and Tara to
felicitate Aruna.
Gayathri is not singing here, while she could, she chooses
to compere!
Aruni sings some livley songs in which her son joins. Tara renders a song
Aruni sings the song and the audience were so moved they wanted an encore.
A good job done. We were also treated to an excellent dinner after the
program.
12. Aruni
speaks about her 'Real' experience in the Voice of India reality show
Watching musical reality shows has always been my passion.
I have dreamt of standing and performing on such a stage and have visualized
the thunderous applause of the audience for my performance. Little did I know
that one day my dreams would come true. After sweating it out during the
audition, the lengthy delay for the result was most killing! Finally, I did get
selected and left for India with my husband with high hopes and dreams of
Bollywood dazzle.
.
However, even though I knew that it was not going to be all
smooth sailing, I did not envision so many obstacles. We arrived in
Mumbai late in the evening and were scheduled to go for the rehearsal the next
day around 11am. Shooting for the episode was supposed to take place on the
following day. We, the Singapore, Hong Kong participants and I, arrived at the
audition studio on time only to find no one there except
for the studio boy. Luckily we had two STAR TV personnel, Mr. Sanjeet Saha and
Ms. Rashmi Sawhney, co-ordinating our program and they were most helpful
throughout our stay there.
We waited and waited till late in the evening
and finally we were able to rehearse. Due to poor co-ordination between the
parties involved, we were not informed beforehand the title of the song they
had chosen for us to sing. As the shooting was scheduled for "A Tribute to
R.D.Burman " episode; all of us had to sing one of his songs. Much to our
shocked surprise, the three of us had to squeeze two lines each into one medley
song due to time constraints. Furthermore, we were informed that
there would not be enough time to shoot our solo songs. All my
dreams and aspirations came crashing down to earth.
I had to fight my way into being given a
chance to do our solo performances and thanks to our STAR TV friends, after a
lot of hassle and warfare; we did finally get approval for shooting
our solo songs. Even then, we were all given hardly any time to practice with
the musicians; all the time was allotted to VOI contestants who sang every
week. We were just the supporting cast for the main people.
On the day of the shooting, we arrived at the studio by noon
and had to wait till late in the evening because the afternoon session was
reserved for the shooting of the Friday episode. By God's grace, we finally got
on stage by 9 pm {only because the Singapore participant had to catch her
return flight around after midnight } After a brief practice, we recorded our
medley followed by our individual performances. I was the last of the
individual performers.
Before going to India, my nephews and nieces had challenged me to get a
standing ovation from Sukhwinder Singh. I put my whole effort and concentration
into my performance, oblivious of everyone around me. Finally, when I opened my
eyes, I saw Sukhwinder Singh standing and applauding. I HAD DONE IT!!!
It felt good as there was a lot of interaction between me
and the judges. Sukhwinder Singh commented that living overseas and
being able to sing a classical based song was in itself worthy of a
tribute. He even asked me to say a few words in Thai. Ismail Darbar and
Monty Sharma also gave positive comments about my performance. Their
appreciation was sincere, and I stood there proud... I was on a high and was
delighted that I could make Bangkok 's name stand out. I felt that I had
justified the judges' choice, and I had lived up to the expectation of my
family and friends.
Unfortunately, everything that was recorded could not be included for the
general program due to time constraints; so they made a special promo out
of our singing. The recording finished quite late in the night but the high
that I experienced from my participation and singing stayed with me for a
number of days. Eventually, after all the hard work was done, it was now time
for sleepless nights eagerly waiting to be actually seen on Voice of
India show on TV.
As I had mentioned earlier, I was not expecting my trip to be a bed of roses.
However, I was not expecting such a tough task. I would not have been able to
finally sing surmounting all these obstacles without my
husband's great support. His physical presence and his motivation kept
me fighting through the whole saga and I truly appreciate his constant
support. Watching myself on TV; I would not have imagined it, even in my
wildest dreams, was like being on seventh heaven and my family was ecstatic.
Finally, my dream had come true!!! .
Happy also were many of her friends and well wishers and
the trio; Tara, Viji and Gayathri had organised a tribute to Aruni.
You can read about it at this link.
http://taranidhi.blogspot.com/2009/03/collecting-memories-felicitating-aruna.html
Thanks Aruni for a very well written story about your VOI
experience and also thanks to VOI for the wonderful pictures.
We are also very proud of Aruni for her gutsy and determined
performance in persuading the VOI organisation to keep up to their promises and
to have given a thrilling performance in spite of all the hardship. She
deserves a standing ovation from us as well! We also applaud her husband Rajpal
Singh to have given her such a tremendous support in what a testing time for
was really an young artist.
Thanks for your patience and reading through this
compilation of many blogs written over many years!
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