A great gift from my Guru on the 27th Dec'09

I should simply say that yesterday was a great day for the year. Yes! Guruji Dr. Balamuralikrishna ji called us around 1030pm and blessed me on the performance as he had got a good report. He blessed me and that is indeed a great gift for the New Year.

I sincerely did not feel the absence ofGuruji at the hall and that is what my parents also felt. We did express that to Raja uncle - coordinator of Vipanchee. aja uncle told me that it was like a channel music performed in a hall and like a 1 hour concert of All India Radio. In fact appa said that this concert was like a trailor for teh recognition from "AIR" and we managed to finish in time. The team of Paur Ananthakrishnan on Violin, Calcutta Karthick anna on Mrudhangam and Hariharasubramanian annaon the Ghatam enhanced the concert so nicely, the audience went with great satisfaction.

Mr. Sathyendra - 12 National and International award winner for acting, gave appreciation apart from few keyboard students who came up to me and applauded our effort. His views are in this link: http://www.esnips.com/doc/d1d79e10-a255-450f-bf15-1b19184e5a53/Views-of-Sathyaendra-a-rasika

"My friend, Guru & Sishya" Achuth was also there with his family and presented me with a soft case for my Korg X50 which i will photograph and detail it in my nest post. Looking forward to his concert as well tmrw evening in my school premises PSBB K.K. Nagar from 5 - 7pm.

Concert on the day of an important Cricket Match 24th Dec'09

While i always enjoy concerts with my uncle Embar S. Kannan i do it more when it is heArtbeat as i am happy to meet Poongi & Karthcik uncles. It is always serious work as well as great fun both on & off stage when the team meets. I am lucky to be part of this ensemble and hope to be there for a longer period.

24th dec'09 was indeed a great day with a cocnert for one my great well wisher's son's reception concert in Chennai. Mr & Mrs Ganesan who had got 300 copies of my new Bhajan's album were hapy with our team of Rajeev on violin, Trivandrum balaji anna on the Mrudhagam & his sishya Sri. K. Dakshinamurthy on Morsing with HariharaSubramanian anna on the ghatam. It was indeed a great task for Thirunavukarasu anna of Kartick Audios to proivide PA system in that small hall & thanks mainly to his efforts it was indeed pleasant evening.

The crucial 4th match between India & Srilanka was and when we sat for the concert it looked India would be easily defeated what with score reading 23/2, both Sewag and Sachin back to pavilion. However it turned out different thanks to the efforts of Gambhir and Kohli India won this with ease and there by the series. A day to cherish indeed!

My friend,  guru (!!) and sishya(!!)  Achuth from US was also there with me almost the major part of the day and will detail about him in my next session. For your info he is going to perform a concert for Sri  Rama Bakthi Sabha, K. K. Nagar in my school premises from 5 - 7 on the 29th Dec'09. Please try to come, if you can spare your time.

eswar recognises our efforts with their electronic Thambura

with the eswar team.

It was a great day for me as i got  eswar - a electronic Thambura from Thoughtworks India (P) Ltd. I just saw the banner of this product outside Sivagami Pethachi auditorium on 15th Dec'09. It was rainning and so may be i thought they had not opened their sales counter. However i told appa that i would like to buy one for my use. On 17th Dec when my appa had met Mr Ramji - advisor music content of Thoughtworks India (P) Ltd and had asked if we can get discount. Mr Ramji replied saying, "if it is for Sathya, it will be our gift and you may please come to our office with Sathya tomorrow and we will be happy to present one to Sathya". 

When appa told me this i did not believe but it is indeed thoughtful of the company - they really are thier  names worth - Thoughtworks - to have really presented me with not only eswar but also a big Saint Thyagaraja and a cute little Vinayaga. I sincerely thank the team and pray the Almighty to give me the knowledge with endurance to live up to the recognition they have given the instrument keyboard and myself. Yellam Kadavul Seyal. When i heard the sound for the first time i was actually surprised on the quality and looking forward to using it tomorrow in our heArtbeat ensemble at Rani Seethai Hall, Mount Road for Kalarasana. 
Ps. The eswar team of Mr Raj - The technical Incharge, Mr S. Ramji - advisor Music Content, Mr M.K. Chandrasekar - Director and Mr Shyam - Designer. more information can be had on the product in www.eswaronline.com 

My Guru's concert i attended on 17th

Yesterday i was there at Meenakshi college for my guru's concert and was happy to see Thillaisthanam Suriyanarayanan uncle performing with Kalaimamani Kanyakumari amma. Rajeev was on support violin and Sri Vaikkom Gopalakrishnan on the main Mrudhangam. with Sri Ganesh Rao on Tabla. It was a nioce concert but i could not stay full length due to exam i had today. Hope to catch up next concert in full. Here are few photos from Sri Villiwakkam Raghuraman uncle's camera as pictures in mine did not come good.

The concert for Panjamuka Anjeneya Temple on 15th Dec'09 was special in a way because K. Dakshanamurthy anna (Ghatam & Morsing) was performing in Chennai stage for the first time. What a great place to start with! Appa remembered my first 90 mts concert way back in 2003 which blessing has brought me to whatever small level i am now in. He has been performing in Mumbai for several years and now has settled down to Chennai getting trained under Trivandrum Balaji anna. Playing a concert with a guru itself is great and to have that in this auspicious place is real blessing. With Rajeev, we all had a concert to be blessed with Lord Anjeneya and few of ardent carnatic rasikas and mainly devotees who had turned up inspite of rain. Thanks to Ramaswamy mama and his son & family for giving this oppurtunity. After the concert i went to Pethachi auditorium and listened to Sri Ashok Ramani. Enjoyed the music and also rava dosa in the canteen.

Thanks Pradeep Uncle for bringing hom Sakshi Article
It was so nice of Pradeep uncle, a great Tabla artiste ,who called up in the morning today on seeing an article in Sakshi - a Telugu daily. As i have an interview in Chennai Live 104.8 FM Radio, i did not go to school today. Pradeep uncle came home and handed over the paper and was so nice of him to read and tell the meaning. You can see the article in the link

http://reviewsonsathya.blogspot.com/

A great blessing from a rasika with a review i will merit for ever.

The concert at Sri Obul Reddy Hall - Vani Mahal, on December 14, 2009 for Sri Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha was indeed special for many reasons. It was a great team presentation once again which drew applause all through the concert with SP Ananthapadmanabha uncle on violin, Sankaranarayanan anna on Mrudhangam and Hariharasharma anna on Kanjeera. The energy level was at its best and so was the presentation.

We had blessings of almost a full house audience who stayed through out with few media persons & near full strength of the Office bearers of the sabha. I spent almost 10 -15 mts with the audience after the concert and enjoyed every moment of the same. Appa had asked a senior citizen couple if they would like to say a few words on the concert to be uploaded in You tube, they did express their view and later sent me an email which is as follows. I rate this as one my most precious mails and my sincere namaskarams to mami and mama. I understand Smt. Sukanya ex Bangalore now settled in Chennai was speaking to my mom for a long time and i understand she has been following from my first concert attending all concerts which ever she could. A great blessing!

----- Original Message -----

From: Desikan(at)gmail.com

To: keyboardsathya(at)gmail.com

Sent: Monday, December 14, 2009 9:49 PM

Subject: today's concert

My dear Chi. Sathyanarayanan:

Let me introduce myself as K.Desikan, who met your family this

evening at the car stand at Vani Mahal to congratulate your father

on his excellent compering of today's concert.

While talking to him, he asked me to say a few words in YouTube.

As it was a sudden request, I could not marshal my thoughts

properly and spoke generally about your performance. On my way back home,

I realised that I should have spoken specifically about today's concert and the songs

I enjoyed most. Then only it occurred to me that i can do so through

email, since the programme sheet given to us by your mother contained

your email id. Though the concert was uniformly of a high standard,

my wife and I very much appreciated your delineation of the

raga 'Hamsanandi." Only stalwarts like Shri Seshagopalan do such elaborate

delineation of these ragas in their vocal concerts. This part of the

concert was therefore most enthralling. Also, the selection of songs,

and the appropriate comments by your father, and the accomplished

accompanying artists added lustre to the concert.

May God be with you in all your endeavours.

Yours affly,

K.Desikan

desikank(at)gmail.com

"Chitrakoodam"

Flat No.8, II Floor

New No.25, Subramania Nagar 1st St.,

Kodambakkam, Chennai-600024

Ph: 24812823

Thanks to Hariharasharma anna for taking me in his bike to Sri Mandolin U Shrinivas sir's concert at Bharat Kalachar and it was indeed a min blowing concert. A real treat i had and wonderful moments seeking his blessing.

Nice feeling on TOI and in the concert on 12th December'09

It is always nice feeling when you see your photo in any media and that too on Super star's birthday in the same page! A real fluke or good luck you can call it as! Yes i got it yesterday when my small photo appeared in the same page as that of Super Star Rajinikanth "Thalaivaaaaaaaaaa" as we call him (myself and my cousin Vikky used to shout while watching his movies). Thanks to Times of India for this great treat on a great man's birthday and thanks to Pyarilal uncle for sending these files. My thanks also to Sri Prakash uncle, who had scanned the page in TOI and sent to my father as early as 10am in the morning.

While i enjoyed playing at NGS mini Hall for Karthik fine Arts on teh 11th Dec'09, i equally enjoyed the private concert performed the following day i.e. 12th Dec'09 with SP Ananthapadmanabha anna(Silent Violin) , Sri Kumbakonam Saravanan uncle (Mrudhangam) and Sri EM Subramaniam uncle (Ghatam). The reason was that i got appreciation for many things i attempted from SAravanan and EMS uncles as they kept on encouraging and boosted my confidence throughout the concert. Well thats was others also do but getting appreciation from Saravanan uncle and EMS uncle is indeed of great value as they are great people in this field with lots of experience. Also i was very happy to hear Saravanan uncle say that, " I am happy to play my first concert with Sathya after receiving a prestigious award from Guru Karaikudi Mani Sir's organisation and this concert will really test me as Sathya is a great artist to perform with". With this he has given a great Award to me. Thank you uncle.

A grand treat with multiple delight

It is indeed a great day for me with a rare opportunity to see myself in a Newspaper along with a class mate - Supraja, a friend Visweshwar, my mentor Shri Mandolin Shrinivas sir's words, my guru Kum. A. Kanyakumari madam and my uncle Embar S. Kannan along with my well wisher who also has enhanced an album Sri Pathri Sathishkumar uncle! I am unable to express my feeling and so teh only thing i can say is "Yellam Iraivan Seyal". Thanks to the almighty for this great moment and thanks to Times Of India for this great treat to me just at the start of the Music season 2009.

I am asking appa to type this as i have a project to be submitted but wanted this to be in my blog as early as possible.Thanks also to Pyarilal uncle for getting this article/page in one frame for me.

Concert at Pozhichallur - a dear venue became memorable too!

Thirumoorthy Sangeetha Sabha in Pozhichallur, is one of the venues i really enjoy performing as we can be listening to the sound of aircraft coming and going very clearly as they will be flying almost on the top of the venue with thatched roofing. This year too when i was entering the street of the venue i saw a huge Emirates flight coming in for landing and as i was about to go on stage looked outside to see a huge Helicopter (must be belonging to Air force). As we were performing also there were many flts coming in or going out and the sound was so good to me as i always enjoy it. Another venue is Infosys Hall, Ramakrishna School in T. Nagar where "Mudra" conducts its programmes. However i ahve just performed once and hope i will get more oppurtunities with them.

The concert with Ananthapadmanabha anna on violin, Thillaisthanam Suriyanarayanan uncle on Mrudhangam and Hariharasubramanian anna on ghatam went well and became very memorable not only because of on stage but pre-concert happening. As we were drving in to the street, just infornt of the venue our car's front left wheel got into a pit and thank God, it had just stopped raining. However it was full of slush and water and the wheel for freely rotating but not coming out. When appa tried to take the car Hari anna tried to push it behind and in teh process as the wheel of freely rotating it splashed water all round.

Hari anna's veshti became yellow in colour - he was on a pure white dhoti and we all started laughing and later felt sorry. Well the immediate reaction from all of us was laughing including Hari anna. Then appa asked a neighbour to take on the steering and with the help of Suri uncle, Hari anna, Ananthapadmanabha anna and self tok the car out from the pit with no major damage done!. As it happened in front of teh venue there was no delay in the process and hari anna was helped with a clean Veshti by Krishnamoorthy uncle - the Secretary of the sabha.

Start of December Music festival

A great start for this year's music festival concert with a oppurtunity to perform thematic concert on the life history of Guru "Yogi Ramsurathkumar" Jayanthi festival conducted by Om Bhavatharini amma of Sakthipeetam, Chennai at Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan - Mini Hall. For the first time appa narrated the story and i performed songs which were describing the instances in Yogi's life.

This script was done by Smt. Padma under the advice of On Bhavatharini amma and a new experience indeed for us, the team of Karaikal Venkatasubramanian anna on Violin & Thillaisthanam Suriyanarayanan uncle on Mrudhangam. In fact Suri uncle played with Smt Padma & team last year for the same songs. I was blessed to get appreciation from all present especially Om Bavatharini amma and Smt Padma as i had just taken these songs in a span of two days. Blessing of Yogi Ramsurathkumar indeed! It was nice to see young children from the school run by Sakthipeetam, Sengee, turning for this event. Having performed for Guru's birthday i am blessed and with the Almighty's greace hope to do well during this season. Looking forward to all your blessings and wishes with presence, wherever possible.

Trip to Kumarapalayam



After the launch of Bhajan album i went to Kumarapalayam for a concert which went well. It was fun time once again as we, Arjun Ganesh anna on Mrudhangam, Karaikal Venkatasubramanian anna on Violi, saw a movie in the morning. Great time with me and Sridhar anna (Drummer) playing Cricket for some time. Here again we had blessings of many people coming around us during the medley and it was a great scene. We got lots of appreciation. Sowri uncle joined us for this concert from Cudalore.

My greatest Day - release of my Album by Legendary guruji Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna ji





A great blessing indeed for me with my Guruji entering the hall as we started playing the bhajan "Sri Guru Partivasa". A moment i will never forget as it was any way not planned and that means it is just the great blessing of my guru and Almighty. I am now in Erode for a concert in kumarapalayam today and have been talking about this launch funtion to Venkat anna and Arjun Ganesh anna all this while. I also saw a movie "Kanden Kadhalai" here in Erode.

Coming to the function, all of us Suri uncle, Nadas Bala anna, Sridhar anna, Pradeep uncle, Rajagopal uncle and my parents were very excited to perofrm in front of my guruji and it was a performance which he later in his speech praised! Guruji was also emphasasing the point regarding the Ban of keyboard in All India Radio and went on to say that "it is not right to ban an instrument but one can ban artists who do not perform to the true effects on an instrument" With his blessing i am sure the ban will be lifted soon and many people like will get greater recognition soon!

The boon he gave me as a gift for this album launch was the words of encouragement to me by saying that, " i enjoyed singing with Sri Chakrobarthy on Harmonium, Sri Ramani & Sri Chaurasia on flute and Sri Zakeer Hussain on Tabla. Let me tell you all that in my future concerts i will also be singing alongwith Keybaord Sathyanarayana". A blessings i never thought of and it is indeed the greatest gift on this day.

I also thank Mr & Mrs Ganesan family, Mr Rangarajan and Mr & Mrs Raman family for having bought 300, 100 and 50 cds respectively of this album. I also thank one and all who made it to the funtion and others who wished me as they could not make it. Looking forward to a greater future and will surely work towards my best.

A great trip to Bangalore and Coimbatore.

It was indeed a nice trip with back to back concert at Bangalore on 22nd for a private concert and at Coimbatore for a public concert at Kanavai Sai Temple. Our team of Sherthalai Sivakumar uncle, Trivandrum balaji anna, Hariharasubramanian anna with my apa on thalam gave a presentation which was liked very much at the function in Bangalore. in fact it was one of the rare scene when almost aroudn 100 or more people standing in a semi circle and dancing and singng along when we were playing the last medley. The final Raghupathi was indeed great with almost every one chanting or clapping. A very memorable concert.

We left early morning on 23rd Nov'09 to Coimbatore and reached around pm. We went to a hotel and had lunch and rest. Around 530pm we went to Smt Jayanthi's residence where we saw Putaparthi Saibaba's divine powers with sandal sprinkled all over the pooja room as a mark of his visit being his Birthday! Yes a great scene and then we proceeded to the Temple premises for the concert. The temple Swagatham Sai Mandir, Thiruvalluvar Nagar Bus stop, Somayanur, Thadagam Road, (Kanuval-Anaikatty) - Coimbatore, is indeed a great place of worship just at teh foot of a small hill.and is managed by Smt Jayanthi, Sai Krupa Temple -45 A Arunachalam St, K.K. Pudur, Coimbatore 641 038. t was a divine experience when we performed 8 Sai bhajans apart from aghuvamsa and Jagadhodharana. We finished the concert with traditional Sai aarthi song.

Then came the surprise that i was called upon to cut the cake placed for Saibaba's birthday and i was pleasantly shocked and did the act of cutting the cake with full of devotion. What a great blessing for me! - coming just before 2 days of my album launch titled "Bhajans on Keybaord". A concert i will never forget in my life time!

New album on the making - details in http://albums-of-sathya.blogspot.com/

It was always in our mind that we wanted to do a "Bhajan" album with my attempts on background music score. I did not think it will happen so soon as we just casually started discussin on this on 3rd Nov and by 6th we had completed teh recording! Yes it is a beleive it or not kind of story only! My sincere thanks to Jagdeesh uncle of Kothandapani Studios to have extended the same on a short notice and to the team sound engineer Gopi uncle who had given us great support for this project. Our thanks goes withot saying to the artist Nadaswaram Balasubramani anna, Trivandrum ballaji anna, Thillaisthanam Suriyanarayanan uncle (one of the mentor for this project) Tabla Pradeep uncle, Drums Sridhar anna and Effects Rajagopalan uncle - who incidently helped me when i started composing first time when i was 6 years old for a project tilted "Avar Parvai Avar Poonagai" which is yet to be released on Mother Pondy.

The recording was done from 10 - 11 pm on 6th and today as i am reproting this it is all done and the master has been sent for making glass master. Things are happening so fast and the surprise elementis the launch function to be held on the 25th Nov'09. Casually appa was informing on this project to Dinesh uncle n South Africa and he immediatly asked him to arrange for a release function which we could not say no. I am thankful to god that all whom we approached to be Guest of honours namely my gurji Dr. balamuralikrishna sir, Dr Nalli sir and Sri Natarajan sir are all available on that day and now i am looking forward to a great day - to release an album in the presence of my guruji!

Details of this album can be had in http://albums-of-sathya.blogspot.com/

samples here you go...

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Thrilling trip to Madurai on 7th Nov'09

November month started off well with a heArtbeat concert for Apollo Hospitals stamp release function on their 25th anniversary on the 2nd Nov'09. This was followed by a back to back concert on 7th and 8th November in Chennai and Madurai respectively. After the concert in Nanganallur, Chennai on the 7t we were dropped by a volunteer at the Pazhavanthangal Rail Station to enable us reach Tambaram to take Pandyan Express. t was indeed a day of heavy rain and we were very scared if we could take up this trip.

All went well with Ghatam Hari anna helping us get the ticket for suburban train travel and we got into the train at 935pm at Pazhavanthangal jsut 4 or 5 stations from Tambaram. However the train after leaving Sanitorium station halted for almost 15 mts and both our trains - the one we were in into Paltaform 1 and the one we were to take to Pandyan Express to Madurai in Platform 8.

It was all heroics from then on. Yes both appa and self started running to climb the staircase and got down the same on the other end. By the time appa was in the last few steps Pandyan Express just started! Appa called me and by luck i heard it and understood his sign language of asking me to get in to the unreserved compartment. Appa was still to come down and he decided to stay near the steps for the train to come by!

I was two coaches ahead and so had to run back and got into the unreserved coach with the help of a unknown friend holding me. Appa just through the luggage he held in is hands and got himself in to the moving train! At last we were in the train to Madurai! Traveled in that coach till Chengelpet and we got down at Chengelpet to change coach we realised we were in the first coach and our reserved coach B1 was probably the 20th coach.

The train had stopped outside the platform and so it was just slushy & thank God the S1 coach was open and we just squeezed thru in to it while the trainstarted moving again. It took us almost 20 25 mts to go to B1 coach and that was the time i was thanking and appreciating the vestibule system available in the trains. It was great adventure indeed and the deed followed with a mike system as old as may be 30 years provided at the hall for the concert! Thanks to almighty that system also worked and we had a great concert performance appreciated by all who had come for the reception function. A memorable trip indeed!!!!!!

This is the blessings for me after the Thanjavur concert performed for Sadhya Vizha on the 29th October, 2009. A great review in The Hindu, Trichy edition dated 01 November, 2009



Full review can be read in the link

http://www.hindu.com/2009/11/01/stories/2009110157830600.htm

I sincerely thank the almighty and all my well wishers especially Hon. Sri Ubayadullah, Minister for commercial taxes, Govt. of Tamilnadu and the Festival Committee for giving me tis oppurtunity.

Concert in Thanjavr brahadheeswarar temple on 29th October, 2009

Soon after this Deepavali i had a concert on the 20th Oct'09 which went well with good audience and also was a kind of crtain raiser for the concerts to come next month.




I was so happy that i got the oppurtunity to perform for the great Emperor Raja Raja Cholan's 1024th birthday celebrations in Thanjavur which was celerated as sadhaya Vizha. Our team performed at the Big temple - Brahadheeswarar Temple and got the chance to see the deity at almost 2 feet distance. A huge Lingam was indeed great and hope to receive all the blesings of the Lord Siva. Thanks to TN Minister or Commerce and Trade Sri bayadullah and the Festival committee which had extended this opptunity.

We had a great concert and also wonderful time at the Hotel Sangam where we stayed. We were playing cricket in the swimming pool and all of us were very energetic dring the concert prresentation later in the day from 830 - 1115 pm. A memorable trip which all of cherished it and ill be in or minds for a long time.

Diwali Celebrations 2009

Wishing you all a Very Happy Diwali

Diwali Celebrations 2009

It was indeed a great Deepavali celebration i have had in the last few years! Yes I just had my Raman uncle (Athimber) coming to India from Singapore after receiving a Global award for his invention of a Tanker - I had already reported earlier, from JEC, Singapore this morning only. Also it was a long day of bursting crackers purchased from Sivakasi. It was great fun all through the day with my uncle Embar Kannan and i also had fun with my nephew Vikram Sarathy and cousins Suriya and Sowmya at my paternal grandparent's house in Santhome. We had a good family get together and in the evening it was fun with all our neighbours joining and bursting crackers. Looking forward to more such celebrations!

A great Week of travel & concerts.

It was indeed a great Pooja week for me after my performance as accompanying artists for my amma on the 21st Sep'09 followed by the concert on 27th Sep'09 - Saraswathi Pooja day at Koothanur Saraswathi Temple. Thanks to Jayaraman mama and the temple authorities for giving this oppurtunity for the 3rd consecutive year - this time on this very auspicious day to be at the Temple of Music God! I was happy to see the Nadaswara vidwan putting thalam for the entire concert and my sincere thanks on behalf of our team to Sri Kathikeyan for the same. The ambience was so wonderful i attempted to elaborate Dwajavanthi for the first time and i request you all to listen to the audio track and forward your opinion. It was a great drive from Chennai to Koothanur with Appa driving and with Karaikal Venkat anna and Keerthivasan we had a wonderful trip. Hope we are blessed to continue performing in this temple premises year after year. It was also so nice of a well wisher from Mayavaram to have stayed back for the entire concert with his family and also take photos and videos in our camera.

Following this trip i had been to Sivakasi for Ghatam Dr. S. Karthick's heArtbeat ensemble concert at Kaakivaadapatti Sri Krishnan Temple with my uncle Embar Kannan. Right from teh train journey from Egmore till return to Mambalam station i enjoyed the entire trip with me blessed to be win the team of Sri Prapancham Ravindran uncle on Mrudhangam, Sri Raman uncle on Morsing, Sri Srisundarkumar uncle on Kanjeera and Sri Arunkumar on Rhythm pad who joined us at Sivakasi. The concert was on the 1st Oct'09 from 830 pm and went on till 1230 am. It was a huge audience and a different atmosphere in a remote village and we all enjoyed the show and so was the lovely audience. We went to Srivilliputtur temple and also to a factory outlet of Sony Fireworks and ordered for our Deepavalli crackers which i am expecting to receive in a day or two. Looking forward to more trips like this!

September, 2009 - A great month - Dreams coming True!

It has been great month of musical efforts combined with Quarterly exams for me this September. I was so thrilled when our school authorities gave me permission to go to Tirumala for performing during my quarterly exam and my sincere thanks for the same without which i could not have performed at Tirumala. This was one of my great dreams and so was an oppurtunity that came my way with the performance at Sringeri Bharathi Vidhyashram on the 14th and 20th September, 2009 respectively. It was also a great blessing when Sri Umayalpuram Sir was coming into the hall on the 20th September'09 and i was so moved when he staed back for the entire concert. I hope to get good advice from him when i meet him personally soon.

Another great thing happened in my life on the 21st Sep'09 when i had the oppurtunity to accompany my mom on vocal appa on kanjeera with Kumbakonam Swaminathan anna on Mrudhangam at Agatheewarar Temple, Villiwakkam. The term Sruthi Matha - Layam Pitha came true in my life with my mom on Vocal as Srtuhi and appa on Kanjeera - Layam with self on Keyboard! What a great day it turned out to be! Congrats to my father who constantly was working towards performing on kanjeera and he did justice to his thoughts by giving a performance that was well appreciated by his immediate boss of the day Sri Swaminathan anna on Mrudhangam. I hope he continues his efforts and i am sure he will make a mark in the years to come.

Just going to school to write the exam i skipped to got to Tirumala and i am sure Lord Balaji will bring all that i have studied to my mind to do Well!. I also had some great private concert performance this month and i am now looking forward to the concert at Koothanoor - Temple of Goddess Saraswathi - on the 28th September - Saraswathi Pooja day and i am indeed blessed to have this oppurtunity. As mentioned by my dad in our other blog, this September has really been of "Dreams coming True" month!!

I had been to Madurai thanks to Mr. Jagannathan - cousin of Sri Srinivasan, Nadopasana - who was the first person to give an oppurtunity in his forum on the 9th December 2001. It was very new set of enhancement artists i performed, with Sri Govindarajan - Violin, Sri Palladam Ravi - mrudhangam and Sri Krishnan - Ghatam and this presentation also was well received. I am planning to ask my father to upload this and you can access same in teh link www.sangeethamshare.org/sathya under the serial number 028 after two days.

September month has started with a concert for our old neighbour's family. Interestingly when i was around 7 years, this bridegroom along with her domestic help, my amma and self used to play 4 corners - a play using four points or corners in our house. So nice of the family to have remembered me to give me an oppurtunity to be part of thel celebration during her wedding. The concert came out with all the artists giving their best , especially after knowing the above story!

August Concerts

I had few private concerts in August and also accompanied Smt Radha Parthasarathy for a lec-dem which was a different experience. It was with three differentteams i performed the private concerts in August and the audience for all the concerts did express their satisfaction on our presentation. On the 29th Aug'09, i performed the three major songs from Thiruvlayadal namely - Orunal Podhuma, Isaithamizh NeeSeidha arum Sadhanai and Pattum Nane Bhavamum Naane. This set received lots of appreciation. Looking forward to a good September ahead with many concerts and also Quarterly exam coming up.

Congratulations Jackie for this achievement - We are Proud of You.

Badminton: Karnataka State ChampionshipAditya, Jacqueline triumphDavanagere, Aug 31, DHNS:

Badminton: State Championship

Aditya, Jacqueline triumph

Davanagere, Aug 31, DHNS:

Aditya R Prakash warded off a first-game deficit to overpower SDS Krishna in the final of the men’s section in the State badminton championship here on Monday.

Aditya secured a hard fought 15-21, 21-7, 21-12 victory over a gritty Krishna to clinch the title. Aditya, who lost the first game at 15-21, bagged the second pretty easily. He gave away just seven points while taking the match to the decider. Aditya gave no chance to Krishna in the deciding third game as he wrapped the game at 21-12 for the crown. Aditya had taken a similar route to the final, edging past Mohit Kamath 18-21, 21-14, 21-9 in the semis, while Krishna crushed Rohan Castellino 21-10, 21-11. Jacqueline Rose Kunnath outclassed G M Nischitha 21-12, 21-16 to pocket the women’s title. There was some consolation for Krishna when he teamed up with Ajit Wiketilekk to clinch the doubles crown with a come from behind 15-21, 21-17, 21-12 victory over D Guruprasad and Vineeth Manuel.

article courtesy http://www.deccanherald.com/content/22627/

Jacqueline is my father's friend's daughter and i was sure that she will bring India great laurels when i saw her game 18 months before. She is just on the path to greater glory and this is just another step towards same.

All my well wishers who would like to greet her can send message to her father's email id thomaskunnath at hotmail.com

New assignment as accompanying artist - Aug 23, 2009.



It was indeed a nice experience to accompany for the first time on my keyboard for Mrs Radha Parthasarathy for a session held for Sahithyapriya to make one understand the meaning of 06 Dikshidar krtihis. The effort was to reach a new set of learned audience and i think i was to an extent successful on this effort. Thanks to the organizers for this oppurtunity extended. It was held at Raga Sudha Hall, Mylapore Chennai

Wishing you all a Very Happy Independence day. While being proud to be Indians, we at this point of our lives, I think should think of being Proud of being a Human! Yes lets shed all our inhibitions towards caste, creed and Nationality and join together to save the Mother Earth!

Kudos to my friend Pranav Diwakar & team

When things happen it happens in bulk and that is what is happening around me! Yes as mentioned in my earlier blog about her dance performance of Ms Vinidhra in TOI Yesterday she has been featured in Hindu Friday review link: http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/07/31/stories/2009073151480400.htm

I also have a happy news that my friend Mstr. Pranav Diwakar studying in 8th std of Bala Vidhya Mandir, Adyar & his team has won the : "Cadbury Bournvita Confident Minds" held recently in Chennai. Even though this team beat our T. Nagar branch PSBB school branch, i am one way happy that my friend is featured in the winning team! Congrats to the team and wishing them all the very best for the National finals.

I am also happy to inform that my uncle company Modern Engineering Plastics Pvt. Ltd. (MEPPL) Metturdam has won the JEC ASIA 2009 Innovation Awards in Process technology, held recently in Singapore.

Great news on Mrudhangam Suri uncle

Great news on Suri uncle and his Mrudhangam school in Dinamalar today. This article is indeed a great recognition for his efforts. We all are very happy on same.

Happy to have known Ms Vinidhra Mani - a good dancer from SanJose - USA

Here is an article which appeared in Deccan Chronicle, Chennai edition on the 20th July'09 which speaks very high of this dancer from USA. I attended this performance and we were so happy to have made it for that performance. For more details you can contact her father on email mmani at yahoo.com

qte:

VINIDHRA COMES FROM THE USA AND HAS LEARNT DANCE THERE.

The art form of he art form of Bharatnatyam is such that unless there is precision combined with grace, one is likely to be bored while watching the same. Which is why one was pleasantly surprised to see the performance of Vinidhra Mani at the Narada Gana Sabha Mini Hall on July 18. It not just brought out the beautiful geometrical precision of Bharatnatyam, but was also laced with so much grace that all the angularities came across as aesthetic.

This comes with sound training and dedication. Vinidhra comes from the USA and has been learning dance there. She had her arengetram and has been placed in the `Top Five' at the First Cleveland Aradhana Dance competition in April 2007.

Now into her second year of undergrad at UC Berkeley, California, the artiste gave an account of herself and the margam she chose to display. Beginning with the Mallari -- one of the most traditional pieces in the Bharatnatyam repertoire, the Gambheera Nattai piece was a prelude to a recital that was filled with some very memorable moments. The stances, the positioning of the hands, the manner of being firmly in control over the nritta, and the easy mobility of expressions that came in smooth transitions -- all of these and more were evident in all the pieces chosen.

The Sadashivan Maindane in Hamsadhwani, a Maharajapuram Santhanam composition brought back nostalgic memories of this musical maestro and Vinidhra Mani gave this item a unique empathy while describing Shiva. The ode to Shiva continued into the Varnam, Konjum Salangai in Lathangi, a Madurai Muralidharan, composition, which had several beautiful jathi por tions with a wealth of devo tion attached to it. tion attached to it.

It was particularly in this that her stances bore the strength of training and practise, as she appeared light foot ed and yet firm when it came to footwork. In praise of Goddess Lakshmi, Ranjanimala in Ragamalika, was eloquently done also thanks to the sensitive vocal by Hariprasad. In fact the entire ecital felt uplifted also thanks to this element.

The Theruvil Vaaraano in Kamas, and the Thillana in Kadanakuthoohalam, concluded the recital that reiterated that for a good Bharatnatyam recital there needs to be more than just years and mere knowledge of the dance form. Guru Vidhya Subramanian must also be credited for this -and on the nattuvangam conducted the recital with quiet grace. Sigamani on the violin, Nellai D Kannan on the mridangam and Sashidharan on the flute provided good orchestral support despite the indifferent acoustics at the hall.

article link is:

http://dc-epaper.com/DC/DCC/2009/07/20/ArticleHtmls/20_07_2009_104_001.shtml?Mode=0

Pallavi of Carnatic Muisc will live in our minds for ever!

I just used part of the caption from today's (Friday, July 17, 2009) edition of The Times of India Chennai and i am sure every one will accept to my view. I still remember the day i had the blessings of this great Legendary Musician, Dr. D. K. Pattammal on the 25th April, 2008, when i visited her house along with my parents and Pyarilal uncle. She was so nice to me and listened to my playing on my Yamaha PSR 640 keyboard. She asked me to perform Konjum Purave and when i did she hugged me and blessed me for a bright and successful future. I a sure it is all the blessings like this which has made me come thus far and i am sure will take me to where ever i am destined to! I was blessed when she offered and wrote her blessings with her own had in my well wishers register and it is now indeed a greatest treasure for me and our family!

Dream come true! under the tutelage of The Musical Genius.

I Just cannot forget the oppurtunity i got through Raja uncle who is friend of Abaswaram Ramjhi uncle which was for performing for Vipanchee on the 25th December'08! Yes! that day i had the great blessing of PadmaVibhusan Dr. Balamuralikrishna sir seeing me perform and asked me to come to his house for learning. What a great varam i got that day! It was just a dream for me then and now it has become true!

Yes i am blessed to be under the tutelage this great musician, living God of Music - Dr. Balamuralikrishna uncle, from the 9th July'09, another d-day in my life! Have already attented two classes and i just still cannot believe that he has accepted me as his sishya.It will take some time for me to realise this great reality and i pray and hope to live up & become a good sishya for him. Thanks Raja uncle for that oppurtunity at the "Vipanchee".

Jackie - we are proud of you! People do talk about achieving and i think this is one of the best one can think of - representing your country at teh age of 16! Wow! Jacqueline - my appa's friend - Mr. Thomas Kunnath's daughter has achieved this and hats off to her and to her family for the support they have given. We wish her all the very best for the tournament and beyond for greater achievements India call for Jacqueline

The 16-year-old earned her first international call for the Badminton Asia Youth U19 championships next month in Kuala Lumpur

Dev S Sukumar. Bangalore

Bangalore girl Jacqueline Kunnath, a trainee at the Tata Padukone Badminton Academy, has made it to the Indian team for the Badminton Asia Youth U19 championships. The tournament will be held in Malaysia from July 12 to 19. Although Jacqueline – 'Jackie' to everybody – is primarily a singles player, she was selected for the doubles based on her performance at the three All India junior tournaments in Chennai, Kochi and Bangalore this month. Jackie and Prajakta Sawant made the (U-19) semifinal at Chennai and the final at Kochi and Bangalore. "I'm not too happy, because I got selected for the doubles," said the 16-year-old. "But I plan to try and play the singles at the ABC. I can get to know how the others play. I didn't do well in the singles at Kochi and Bangalore because I'd stubbed my toe and it was hurting." Jackie is a product of East Cultural Association's badminton programme. Her early lessons were under senior coaches ND Murali, Biju Prasad and Suresh Kumar. It was with the arrival of former doubles international Vinod Kumar at ECA in 2002 that the programme took on a different level – two of his trainees from those days, Prakash Jolly and Jackie – are junior internationals. Jackie's primary assets are her speed and power, but there are some creases that need to be ironed out. "She needs to improve in many technical aspects," says Vimal Kumar, coach at the Padukone Academy. "She's very quick, but skill-wise, she needs to improve. She has a problem with the grip – she's unable to change grip quickly from the forehand to the backhand." That's something Jackie is aware of. "I need to work on my patience and precision," she says. "I need to play an opponent twice to get used to her style. My game is a more attacking style. I like it when I'm up against rally players, because they push me and there's a lot more going in their game." Her natural athleticism is derived from her parents, Thomas and Sarah. While Thomas was a university badminton player, Sarah was a sprinter at the school level. Senior athletics coach VR Beedu was impressed with Jackie's athletic ability and persuaded her to focus on athletics, but Jackie was keener on badminton. "She had the qualities to become a good athlete," Beedu said. "Jackie could've made a mark in national athletics. She has primarily done well in badminton because of her speed. Some of our sprinters would even find it difficult to beat badminton players like Jackie and (senior international) Ashwini Ponnappa in the 800m."

Publish Post

Article courtesy DNA, Bangalore and click on page 17 on the web link: http://epaper.dnaindia.com/dnabangalore/epapermain.aspx?queryed=9&username=&useremailid=&parenteditioncode=9&eddate=6%2f26%2f2009

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Reporting from Toronto airport

Hi all,

The two months long tour of USA Canada is now completed and i am on the verge of taking a flight to Chennai by Lufthansa. It has been great time and thanks to everyone who made it a grand success.

I am excited to write as i just saw a huge Emirates aircraft with 700 person capacity airbus 380-800 series, probably first of it kind in the world! I had the privelage to just see this aircraft on its maiden visit to Toronto. What a way to sign off from Toronto! Here is a video clipping of this flights arrival into Toronto airport parking bay!

Ellam iraiva Seyal. Avan indri oru anuvm asaiyadhu!

Will report details later.

Memorable trip into Toronto & Niagara, 31 May, 2009



What a way to complete my 1st concert tour of USA & Canada with a presentation applauded by the learned audience of Toronto and visiting Niagara by Night, thanks to NewYork Raja uncle for having driven us to Niagara and back, apart from having a greal aerial view of the same when coming from Washington to Toronto from the aircraft!

I shall detail all news later but could not resist sharing the photos!. Thanks to New York RAja uncle who took us to this great drive to Niagara and back for making this a lifetime unforgettable tour!.

Trip to the capital of USA Washington DC 29-30 May, 2009

It was indeed a great experience in Washington which i shall detail tmrw. Enjoy the photo taken here on way and during the cocnert.

In Tampa from 26 - 28 May'09

It was a great new experience at Chicago in term of concert reception and also experienced heavy rain for the first time in USA. I am sure if it was same in Chennai, the city would have paralysed for at least 4 days. Well this was just for a shower of rain for just few hour! Mr & Mrs Usha Ravi were so nice and so was their children Hariharan and Akshy. I had good time and also made some shopping here for my family, thanks to Usha Ravi anty to have taken us to Best By store.  The milk shakes bought by Ravi uncle on both the days of our stay was indeed great. We had a great get together dinner at Mr Raghavan uncle's hose were almost all the artist who performed at CTU were there and i had the opportunity to mingle with all of them very freely. 

Coming to Tampa, the photos displayed - its a city with climate as good or bad as Chennai and on arrival we were met by Mr Latha Kumar and her son & Smt Geetha Saharsanam. The hoe of Lathakumar aunty where we are staying i huge and Target store is just rght behind! We went ot to look for more shopping but the price i bit higher than Best Buy (it has to be!) store and so had a long walk inside this huge store. All rehearsed ith mr Patrick Hernly, who perform steel drum (in the photo) and Ms Katerine Ocampo who plays Saxophone. We are jamming in on the concert stage today evening and hope it come out good!