Thanks to my School management for great understanding and cooperation - August 29,2008

Yes if this concert was performed, its is due to the great gesture of my school management and teacher who had come specially for me to be a invigilator as i had to write my exam at 7:30 am on the 29th Aug'08 . The concert was at Aduthurai, around 7 hrs drive and as my school accepted to have my exam at 7:30am i could drive down with my team and performed this concert, which will be in my memory for ever. Thanks to the team of Violin Ananthakrishnan anna, Nadaswaram Bala anna, Tabla Rajagopal uncle, Bass guitar Suri uncle, Drums Sridhar anna and Ghatam Hari anna for making this a great success. Thanks also to the audio provided there in that small town and our sarathy of the vehicle Hari anna for an excellent driving experience.

Concert on the 27th Aug'08 was with Sherthalai Sivakumar uncle, on violin, Erode Nagaraj uncle on Mrudhangam, Nerkunam Sankar anna on Kanjeera and Hariharasubramanian on Ghatam. One of the best presentation in a small hall with the right ambience. We as team enjoyed and so did the audience. My mind is now wroking on the Maths exam on the 29th Aug'08 which i am write alone in Principal's room from 7:30 am as i need to go for a concert in aduthurai that evening. Hope Lord Rama will give me the mental strength and the memory as i am performing today i.e. 28th Aug'08 from 7 - 9 pm. Please view the following video link with few clipping of 26th and 27th Aug'08 concerts. http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=7A3B51F2D879D859

Concert on 26th was with a new team of Ananthakrishnan anna on Violin, Srikrishnan anna on Mrudhangam, Pradeep uncle on Tabla, Manian sir on Konnakol & Kanjeera, Bala anna on Nadaswaram and Sathya anna on Ghatam & Morsing. The concert also taught us how a team work can be hindered due to the sound quality / the ambience. Yes the hall was full of echo and so the artists could not either listen to what they play or what others played! Because of which in a krithi when i was playing the anupallavi the other was playing charanam and as i was signing him on this the other now caught on with anupallavi. Well it was not a good team work for teh song and later had to settle down with the sound and went on to show how the ambience and sound reproduction can make or break a concert!

"Eppadi Padinaro" concert of Sri Krishna Sweets at Sringeri Saratha Peedam - Bangalore.

This is one of the trips to Bangalore i will never forget as i really enjoyed playing cricket in Vivek's residence on the Motta Madi - top open floor. In fact the bal went many times to house nearby and Vivek was very smart in bringing it back. Rules and regulations were so strict that our Indian team will not be in a position to play with us for 5 overs also. It was also a good presentation of concert on the 24th Aug'08 with Venkat anna on Violin, Suri uncle on Mrudhangama and Hari anna on ghatam.

Interesting things on the trip was that after the concert was over we were served food at the Math and by the time we came back all over foot wear were missing. It took time for us to locate them and now we had a problem of no autos coming for us to the station. Appa saw a locked Alto car nearby and said that we will take help from the person when he comes to take the car. As appa was checking for the location were we can get the auto, Dr Ramesh the owner of the car, offered to take all of us to the Railway station. It was indeed a miracle and it looked as if we saw the God alive in his form! It was also so surprising for all of us because not only we five fitted in the car but also the entire instruments and our luggage! "Manamirundhal Margamundu" (where there is a will there is a way) proverb was proved here and if not for Dr Ramesh, the god for us, i do not think we could have reached the Railway station in time. Thank you sir!

Karur Concert on the 22nd Aug'08

A big team of Venkat anna on violin, Suri uncle on Mrudhangam, Hari anna on Ghatam, Vijay on Pad, Rajagopal uncle on Tabla, Suri uncle on Bass guitar and Bala anna on Nadamswaram presented a concert in Karur which was well received. We tried out Maestro Illayaraja sir's "Sundari kannalvarum Sedhi' from Thalapathi for the time and came out good. You can log on to http://videosonsathya.blogspot.com/2008/08/concert-of-success-for-teh-team-work-22.html for viewing some of the clippings which includes "Singara velane Deva" from Konjm alangai - an old classic movie.

Concert in Chennai on 20th Aug'08Back to back concert are always a challenging ones and when travel is involved it is really difficult. But i enjoy travel and concert presentation and so it was not a problem for me. We were dropped by a car at Madurai from Rajapalayam and traveled to Chennai by Vaigai chair car for a concert on the 20th Aug'08 in Chennai.While Venkat anna and Suri uncle had committed to perform for another concert, it was Rajeev anna and Swaminathan uncle who formed the team with Hari anna and self. It was big hall and we had a very appreciating audience who were encouraging us very well. It was tiring to go from our house to the concert venue which was in Arumbakkam, otherwise i had no problem for another 3 hour schedule which went well, thanks to all the team members.

Rajapalayam concert on the 19th Aug'08

It was a nice coincidence that we were there in Rajapalayam on the 19th of this month also (we had performed on 19th July'08 earlier) and this time it was with Venkat anna on violin, Suri uncle on Mrudhangam and Hari anna on Ghatam & Morsing. As usual we had great time visiting temples. This time we visited TiruvannaMalai Sri Venkatachalapathy Temple and Andal Temple in Srivilliputtur. H/ever no kili Josyam this time but bought lot of Pal-Gova for all in Chennai! The photo at the temple is with the person who was always with us right from the station till our departure. Except amma and myself, every one tasted pathaneer also. It was for a Royal family and we were in deed treated like guests of the Kings!

We had a good time playing cricket and also presented a good concert i the evening. The Nadaswaram realy gave a great performance before our concert which i enjoyed very muc. The highlight was that the Bridegroom Mr. Karthick sang a song - "En nenjil palli kondavan" and it was so nice to see his guru enjoying this. Karthick anna sang very well considering that it was on his reception day and he was almost pushed to sing! Great attempt indeed photo of his singing also given above). It was a learned audience and almost who's who of the area was present to greet the couple. It was also nice of Sri Bharath uncle for who's daughter's wedding we were there on the 19th July'08, to have come and seen us at the hotel. Sri Bharath also had made a thanks card for all the people who had come and it was so nice of him to have made my CD and present it to them along with a thanks card! So moving it was to see the card and i am really blessed with these gestures. I hope to live up to the expectations and i shall surely works to wards that as a goal!

Greatest day for India! 11th Aug'08

It is probably the greatest day for India! I thinks it is equal to a new baby born in a family, country getting the Independence, etc.. etc.. Abinav Bindra has made us all feel so proud and the family has been the best example for all of us to follow. Yes! do what you can and you will achieve what you deserve! Let us all believe in ourselves to have each one of us with our guru's in the first picture and our parents in the next, very soon! New India is born on 11th Aug'08 and let us all celebrate!

A great Sunday

Bhajans for my School on 10th Aug'08 at Sri PadmanabhaSwamy Temple, Adyar for TAMBRAS

It was one the proudest moments in my life! Yes being part of my school performing Bhajans and in the team receiving the "Pride of Honour Award" for the school team which has been winning 4 of the last years of competition of TAMBRAS Bhajan competition. Thanks to the management for having thought of me in the team.

Kudos to the teacher team of Smt Kalyani & Smt Srividhya from my school - Padma Seshadri - K.K. Nagar branch who were there yesterday and all other teachers and students who have worked to get this achievement.

Here are the video clipings of our Bhajan presentation and hope you all like the same. Fyi this year we were not competing and teh winner winner was Sankara Vidhyalaya, Adyar branch who made a great presentation in front of a jam packed audience in the hall.

Looking forward to more and more achievements for the school team.

Sri T.V.Gopalakrishnan of Sangeethamshare.org in our house - 6th Aug'08


I was happy today spending a good time with Sri T.V.G uncle and family. I am really blessed with their visit to our house.

My visit to Madhuramangalam Sri Embar Temple

It was one of the "Great Sundays" for me as i had the oppurtunity to visit Madhuramangalam - Sri Embar's birthplace. Worshipping / praying at Sri Embar's - Nephew of Udayavar Sri Ramanujar - Temple one can get rid of all problems concerning eyes. My grand parents has been telling me about this temple and this day i had the oppurtunity to go and it was a double bonanza with great dharshan of Sri Embar and also take blessings from the first Jeer of "Madhuramangalam Sri Emberumanar Jeer Math" 'Srimath Paramahasathyadhi Yathiraja Narayana Ramanuja Jeer Swamigal' who is on his Sathurmasa sangalpam from 18th Jul till 15th Sep'08.

If any of you (i suggest all) can spare time you can a part of this great celebration where in Sudharshana Homam, Sri Sukthi Homam, Thanvanthri homam, reciting Thivyaprapandhams are rendered on a day to day basis. The Math has started functioning in a new premises, planning to buy a place on their own, and have started a Patasala also under the name "Sri Ramannuja Sidhantha Vardhini" where in around 10 children are enrolled as on date. If possible you can also support this festival and the temple by contacting the Jeer at + 91 9245772289 or + 9445271545 or +91 9940646881. The temple of Sri Embar is in Madhuramangalam which is 25 km from Kanchipuram and 9 km from Sunkuvarchatram. After visiting this temple you can also got to Sriperumbudur and take the blessings of Udayavar Sri Ramanujar on your way back

My paternal grandparents have always been talking about this temple and my maternal grandfather is from this family jean of Sri Embar and it was like a home coming for me. I had taken my violin along with me and played few krithis in the sanadhi. We all had a pleasant day and returned home after having prasadam at the Math itself. Above are few pictures i was blessed to be with the Jeer and i also had the oppurtunity to perform before him and take the honour with his blessings.

Concert for the delegates of a NGO on 22nd Jul'08


I performed for the delegates of CCI on the 22nd July'08 which was enjoyed by the audience present. It was for the first time i was teaming up with Pkala Jayaprakash anna on violin with Suri uncle on Mrudhangam and Hari anna on Ghatam. Raghavan uncle of Balaji audios managed the PA system.

I understand Jayaprakash anna is actually a Sportsman - with State representation in Hockey, Cricket and Chess. However his family is full of violin artists and so he also decided to take up this art. Looking forward to outstation trips with this anna, as we will have great time playing off stage also!

Here is the link for the video clipings:


http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=068F52F134190EEE

I had the opportunity to perform a concert at Rajapalayam for the second time after almost 3 years. It was so nice that people remembered me and had lots of appreciation also at the end of the concert. Along with Venkat anna on violi, Arjun anna on mrudhangam and Hari anna on the Ghatam we had a good time on stage and also off-stage with activities of playing cricket and visiting Andal and Vaithyanadhaswamy temples.

Had fun time with the temple tank playing with the fishes by feeding pori. We also saw Kili Josyam for all of us and it was nice that we were cause for teh kili to eat 6 extra rice. Looking forward to another trip next month to Rajapalayam.

Met Sri Dasaradha Raja & family who were so nice and had invited us for a coffee in their house. We also went to my relatives house and had good lunch. Special mention was for the sweat they gave!

Public concert in Chrompet on 13th Jul'08

Nandhikeswarar Thala Vidhyalaya Concert 13Jul08

The concert during Thillaisthanam Suriyanarayanan uncle's Nandhikeshwarar Thala Vidhyalaya was one of the best of my concerts as said by my thatha who attended the same with us. In fact this is probably the biggest audience i have had putting thalam almost through out the concert and it gave us - the artists on stage a great feeling. Venkat anna on violin, Arjun Ganesh anna on Mrudhangam, Hari ana on Ghatam and Sathya on Morsing all gave an excellent performance which was appreciated by one and all. Please go thru' the photos taken during this concert. You can log on to the following link for the audio recording:

http://sangeethamshare.org/sathya/017_Chrompet-Nadhikeswarar-Thala-Vidhyalaya-13jul08/

Birthday celebration of my cousin Sowmyanarayanan

Here are the pictures taken and it was indeed a great evening for me.

Sowmya's Birthday celebration

July 03, 2008 - Private concert in Chennai

This was with a new combination of Sherthalai Sivakumar uncle on Silent violin, Arjun Ganesh anna on Mrudhangam, Nerkunam Shankar anna on Kanjeera and HariharaSubramanian anna on Ghatam and Morsing. The team really jelled well and had a great concert, thanks to Karthck uncle of Karthick audio who had to control the sound in a big way due to the large auditorium. The audience included many great present day musicians and almost every one was interested and had knowledge of our traditional music.

I understand it was for the first time Sherthalai Sivakumar uncle had seen his daughter Lalitha, she is around 3 years (my mother's name sake) sit through a full concert & also had her dinner. This is indeed a great recognition for this team of musicians and the Chef for the day and am sure we can pat ourselves at the back for a acceptable presentations.

Jun 25, 2008 - a private concert

It was one of the concert i would like to remember for a long time not only for the kind of performance we presented but the celebrity people who attended the function. Yes it was for a family of a leading Advertising agency and had who's who of Chennai to greet and bless the occasion. With Ananthakrishnan anna on violin, Thillaisthanam Suriyanarayanan uncle on Mrudhangam and Hari anna on Morsing we were only blessed with E.M. Subramaniam uncle performing with us on Ghatam. A satisfying presentation from our side and i am sure the people who attended were also happy as i got appreciation from many of them after the concert.

An article in The Hindu about my dear Paul Jacob uncle.

I am happy to give here tha link for the article published in The Hindu today - 17th Jun'08. I am sure you will also like for his modesty and the innovative ideas he has.

http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/06/17/stories/2008061750020100.htm

If you want to speak to him call him at his studios o44 - 2822 5967

A good trip of appa's to Sabarimala.

My appa was off to Sabarimala and was there last Saturday and Sunday 15, 16 Jun'08. As my school re-opened on the 13th and also had full working day on the 14th had to miss this trip. May be will try and make it next trip.

After having a good bath in the river in Chenganoor appa and his friends total 14 of them proceeded to Pamba enroute having good food arranged by member's families. We could not do any thing as my amma had recording on Friday the day they left. We managed to see them off at the Temple before they left to the station. Understand appa enjoyed the entire trip and had a good pilgrimage trip to Sabarimala.

I understand the crowd was very less and so they all could have close dharshan and also any number of times they wanted. Indeed a great trip!!

Appa called us on the 16th morning from the Mahasannidhanam and said any one can call Lord Iyyappa on mobile as he had one to answer. I just thought he was joking then later understood that he had lost his mobile. He was just worried only about the contact numbers stored in the phone and Sim card.

I just want to tell all my well wishers to please try and update your contacts if you have stored or else please get to the practice of storing and updating same in your computers. Appa had updated before 2 months but had made lot of changes and so could probably mange to get 75% of the contacts. I thought of putting this info so that it helps all who sees this message and get the useful habit of storing and updating contacts.

My grand parent's 50th Wedding Anniversary and my performance in AIR

10th June - a great day being my grand parent's (my father's parents) 50th Wedding Anniversary. We celebrated ina small way at home as both my Chithappa and one Athai are not in Chennai right now. It also was a great day for me as i got the oppurtunity to perform violin in AIR - All India Radio which will be on Air in Madras 'B' in Medium Way in Radio at around 615 pm on the 24th June'08. I played Vandhe Sadha - Navarasa Kanada and Deva Deva Kalayamithey - Mayamalavagowla

2008 Summer holiday tour!

My Holiday trip to - Sterling Swamimalai

It was once again a great holiday trip with my parents and grand parents (appa's parents) & this time it was suddenly decided and we went on a 3day trip to Swamimalai on the 5th June morning. We went straight to Sterling Swamimalai and had a swim in the pool which looked like a temple tank. A great property to stay which makes you feel as if you are in a village. The cottages / rooms are all like individual house in small streets and you find every thing you can see in a village in a great working condition. From a coffee powder making machine, bullock cart, boilers, old vessels, a two bladed fan, etc etc.. I have given here a set of photos of our trip which has many photos of the resort and am sure it will interest you to visit it too! It is really a worth visiting destination!

We also saw many temples and spent most of my time in the Swimming pool with appa and thatha. We enjoyed the trip with dharshans at various temples and as a dhristi had a minor accident on way back. Our car got hurt and god saved us! The photos of the driver and the bus which hit us while the driver was trying to reverse his vehicle without noticing our car, are also given in this link. This was the only mishap in the entire trip which otherwise was indeed a memorable experience!

IPL finals after my concewrt on 01 June, 2008

After the concert today at Marundheewarar Temple, Thiruvanmiyur, Balu uncle asked us to come to his house for watching the IPL finals in big screen. However he was not aware that his family was planning to give him a surprise with a nice get-together with a audio visual presentation of his family and also giving a surprise to hi with all his well wishers and family members joining to greet him. I believe it was really good and my parents enjoyed the whole evening with this celebration. I did not know as i thought it was just for the cricket, which any way i had planned to see with my Kanna mama in is residence. He preferred to stay out of this dinner due to medical reasons. H/ever had we known that it was a birthday party we also would have been there. These are pictures taken during the function.

A memorable concert tour to Trichy - 31st May'08




It was a memorable trip to Trichy for the concert on the 31st Mar'08 in three ways. The concert came out good, a good trip to visit Srirangam and Ucchipillayar Temples and one in which we celebrated Arjun Ganesh anna's birthday on stage!. This was also the first outstation trip with my new camera Casio - Exslim, thanks to Diwakar uncle for buying it for me from USA.

Amma, Arjun anna, Sowri uncle and self went to Srirangam Temple and Ucchi Pillaiar temple as appa had to wait for Vijayaraghavan uncle who was joining us from Bangalore. We had the oppurtunity to go into the Srirangam temple but could not have a good dharshan, may be we are blessed for a trip soon. Then on we went to Rockfort temple and had good time climbing the rocky mountain but with good steps.

In the evening appa gave us all a surprise with a small cake cutting ceremony to celebrate Arjun Ganesh anna's birthday! He also announced a prize for any one who guesses the age of Arjun Ganesh anna correctly! Almost the entire crowd could not guess it correctly with age being said from 18 - to 46 (this was toooooo much!) H/ever two 12 year old children Amaranth and Sanjana guessed his right and were given a audio cassette of my vol 1 & 2. They were so happy and here is the same quiz passed on to you.

If any one can guess his age right to spelt out and Arjun Ganesh anna will give you nice gifts if you do not say it correctly!!! after all he also wants to be young for ever!!

I was once again blessed to meet a spiritual person who is fondly referred as "Iyyah" and he blessed me with Viboodhi and Kunguma". I saw a sparkling eyes with great divinity and was happy to have got his blessings. Hope you like these pictures and for more get to the link:

My trip to Trichy for 31st May concert'08