Tirupur trip for a Concert on August 22, 2010

It was after long weeks i was traveling by train and i really enjoyed it! God was kind with good weather around and once again we, Vankat anna (Violin), Sankaranarayanan anna (Mrudhangam) and appa were busy playing UNO game. It was also ncie of the coordinators from Shanmugananda Sabha to have provided us breakfast & lunch in the room which made us sit relax and play watching some TV programs in between. This concert was after my concert in Chennai on 20th August'10 in heArtbeat Ensemble i performed with Sri U.P.Raju uncle. 

The concert was in Lord Easwaran Temple and it ws organised jointly by Sri Krishna Sweets & Shanmugananda Sabha, Tirupur nder "Eppadi Padinaro". The attendance was indeed good and stayed back till the end and if we have to take a clew from this then i think we did justice on teh positive side for the question under which the series is being held - Eppadi apdinaro". we did not get return ticket by train and thanks to Sri Dhananjayan, Auditor for having got us ticket by bus and we reached Chennai today. 

Thanks also to Sri Sengottaiyan, a rasika who had recorded the concert on video and also has uploaded a song in his YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/sengottaiyang A great rasika who inspires people like me to keep our efforts to make it better always!

Here is the audio link:

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Concert on August 15, 2010 with a new COMBO - Nadaswaram!

It is a great day for all Indians being Independence Day and more so for me as I was teaming up first time with a Nadaswaram Vidwan for a full classical concert!. Yes Nadaswaram considered as a Raja Vadhyam {King of Instruments} and probably accepted widely as a instrument taken for guidance in producing the best nuances of Carnatic music. Many senior past and present day artists has referred to this aspect. When asked by my parents on this combo, I was happy to take this challenge as I needed to produce the best to even bring a percentage or two of its ability. Thanks to Mr Subramaniam & Mr Balasubramaniam of “Hamsavinodhini” for giving up this chance to perform at Sri Kasi Viswanathar Temple, West Mambalam.

Audio link: 

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Video Link:

Thanks to my mom and dad for taking few video clippings and the audio upload respectively, I request you all to view / listen and forward your opinion which will help be fine tune more on many aspects. While I do not know if I did justice to this combo experiment, I am so thankful to Nadaswaram Adyar Balasubramani anna for his determination and value of commitment in coming and performing that day. Yes I am saying this because he met with an accident while traveling on a two wheeler on the 14^th August, 2010. He literally was looking like how the great Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan was in the song sequence “Nalandhana” in the film Thillana Moganambal. After the concert when we saw his right fore arm it was oozing out with blood and puss. All of us really were moved with his commitment and I understand he is better now. I pray the Almighty for the best to him and it is indeed a great learning experience. It also made me think how realistic Nadigar thilagam has acted in that movie and also made me look at that song many a times in Youtube!

An oppurtunity I did not imagine!

One of my dream is to be on stage with my gurus and on 14th Aug’10 something I did not expect happened! Yes sharing a stage with the living Music Legend Sri Nedunuri Krishnamurthi Garu leading a group of stars and future stars of Carnatic music with vidwans Sri Malladi Suri Babu, Malladi Brothers, Sri Abhisek Raghuram, Sri Pattabiram Pandit, Vidhushis Smt Nithyashree Mahadevan, Smt. M.S. Sheela, Smt Tirupathi K. Vandana, Smt. Ranjani Hebbar, Sow. Nisha Rajagopal, Sow. K. Gayathri, Violin Vidwans Sri Perri Sriramulu, Sri Embar S. Kannan, Veena vidhushi Smt. Jayalakshmi Sekar, Sri Palghat Sriram on Flute, Mrudhanga vidwans in Sri M.L.N. Raju, Sri Arun Prakash, Sri Udipi Sridhar on Ghatam, Sri Ganapathy on Tabla and Sri A.S. Krishnan on the Morsing for Nada Neerajanam 1st Anniversary celebration special concert. Here is the link for teh photos taken during this concert happening - at the rehearsal venue and on concert stage. Also few pictures were taken while we traveled in a Tempo Traveler from Tirupathi to Tirumala for the concert in the evening.

It was indeed a total team effort and no one had any problems in terms of their sound not being projected etc and were all focused to present the concept at its best. Well accepting me in this group itself was a pleasant shock to me and my family and we thank each one of the artists, TTD and Sri Nedunuri Krishnamurthi Garu & Malladi Brothers in particular. It was Maladi Brothers who were coordinating this concept and kudos to them for this.

I should surely make a great reference on the PA team which did a wonderful job considering the fact that they were given very short duration to do needful. It would be a point that in some places few mikes / instrument might have been dominating. The fact remains that it is one of the impossible thing to control around 25 mikes & 5 leads with very little time. Congrats to that team as they managed to do their best as it was a live programme. I thought of leaving this note as I felt they deserve the best compliments

Reiview in Dinamalar!

I am happy today as i had a very good review in Dinamalar Tamil daily. Thank the Almighty for this and hope to continue my best in the coming days & years!

PSBB K.K. Nagar made it! No. 1 again at TAMBRAS Bhajan Competition - 08 August, 2010

Hard work pays is a statement and it is really true in our case!. Yes after getting the second position at Aambattur last Sunday (memonto in my right hand) during the "Nama Sangerthana Samrakshana Trust competition, we as team decided to put our best today and we really came out with grand success with a Golden Trophy (this is a miniature you are seeing in my left had - the original Rolling trophy is really huge). This photo taken at my house around 1030pm on 8th Aug'10. So fresh you seeeee!!!!!!!!!!

We dedicate this to our teachers who has been our strength of success guiding us all the way and also for having kept their faith on us. The instrument team of Adithya Narayanan, Aravind and myself had comfortable understanding with  vocal performers and it was indeed a grand performance which was rewarded with 1st Prize! I am also happy to inform that PSBB Nungambakkam also had a podium finish with 3rd position and the 2nd position taken by Hindu Vidhyalaya. Thanks to our Mrudhangam vidwan Adhithya's mom for forwarding me the above pictures which you see in the slide show.

Last and this Sunday has been good and i hope i have the fortune of god Sunday following me next week i.e. 15th August'10 while i perform with Adyar Balasubramani anna on Nadaswaram for "Hamsavinodhini" at Sri Kasi Viswanathar Temple, near Madley Sbway, West Mambalam from 5 - 7pm

Concert at TTD on 4th Aug'10

It was indeed a specail concert as i took some efforts to learn around 6 new Annamaya krithis as it was Lor Balajai Temple premises on Venkatnarayanan Road, T. Nagar, Chennai. Thanks to my Kannan mama known famously as Embar Kannan, for having taught me few of those krithis in the last minute. ere is the audio link and video link and hope you enjoy it.

Audio link http://www.esnips.com/playlist/a48d325f-100e-4923-9ccd-c8cdd0f70d4d

Video link:

Sincere thanks to Kakraikal Venkat anna on Violin, Sankaranarayanan anna on Mrudhangam and Hariharasubramanian anna for teh excellent enhancement they made for teh concert. All was well because of teh nice audio sett up handled that day by Sri Srinivasan uncle who was also the person who should be thanked in particular for this concert oppurtunity. 

Kadhal Anukkal - from Enthiran by ARR

It was indeed a great oppurtunity for me and my team to have got a public concert to perform the above emntioned song - which audio was released only yeatday. We thought we will attempt it and also linked it up with Vandhey Matharam as a tribute to ARRahman ji. Thanks to Sridhara anna and Suri uncle for teh excellent enhancement provided for this song - playing it live !!!

Lions Club International meet concert will always be remembered by all of us in the team as we not only had a good concert performed but also had good reception from the audience. We look forward to more and more concerts like this in future.

Thanks to Thirunavukarasu anna for the excellent audio provided as usual this time at teh Chennai Trade Centre. With less time at disposal for the rehearsal, it was indeed a nice presentation by all of us as a team including gthe audio team of Karthick Audios. actual and the Chennai Trade Centre was indeed a good.

Deala - No dealla famous Sridhar anna was full of happiness through out the concert after having won a good sum in the Sun TV show on the 31st July'10.

Watch the other clippings performed by our team of Nadaswaram Bala anna, Violin Venkat anna Pradeep uncle on Tabla, Swami anna on Mrudhangam, Suri uncle on Bass Guitar and Rajagopal uncle on Percussion & timing. Thanks to Sridhar Anna for this great quality video and audio treat!

Concert on 25th July, 2010 - Guru Poornima Day

It was indeed a divine experience for me to have performed at Mata Amritanandamayi Math, Virugambakkam yesterday. The audience were well learned and also encouraged me throughout our concert. Thanks to Raghu anna and Deepu anna for having given this oppurtunity. My pranams to Swamiji for this thought of having my concert on an auspicious day. All of us i.e. Ananthakrishnan anna on violin Swaminathan anna on Mrudhangam & self were very happy to have got a great PA system, thanks to the Math. Here is the link for the photos and videos taken during this concert, thanks to my amma for this great work!

Photos:



Video clippings:

UNO - trip!!!

Well this is not United Nation Organization tour i am talking about!!!!!!!!! This is all about a trip to Coimbatore and Kumbakonam in which i have been playing the great UNO - card game. My dad has already branded me as a representative of this game widely played in USA which i learnt during my trip in 2009. This actually took care of most part of my leisure time there and i continue to do same here. However as i am travelling with many artists, i make it a point to teach artists who do not know this game. That way i spend my leisure time in travel & in the hotels i stay playing this great  UNO card game.

Coming to this trip on Coimbatore and Kumbakonam on the 1st and 2nd July, 2010, it was fun all through with Sankarnarayanan anna (Mrudhangam) and Trichy Krishna anna (Ghatam) at Coimbatore and my mamoos Embar Kannan uncle & KVG anna (kanjeera) at Kumbakonam. Myself and appa started playing on the morning of 1st Jul'10 in our room in Coimbatore and asked Sankaranarayanan anna if he would join. When he said he did not know to play i readily taught him and it was fun from that minute. Yes! after B'fast  we were playing for hours only to be joined by Trichy Krishna anna, who also learnt and started playing. We almost forgot lunch, thankfully got ourselves remainded that we have a concert same evening and so brought the game to close. It was great fun and i am happy i have taught this to two more people known to me!

On reaching Kumbakonam on teh 2nd afternoon,  while appa and myself started playing UNO around 330pm, we heard our room door being knocked and were happy to see my mamoos Emabr Kannan and KVG anna. As soon they came in they also expressed their wish to join and it went on for 90 mts until we were making ourselves ready to leave the room for the concert venue.

This 2 day trip only remained me of the time we stayed in Seattle with two gurukkal learning this game from Poongi uncle and played till they dropped us at the airport - literally we were playing in the car while going to the airport!!!

I also had the oppurtunity to meet A  Icon of India Sri Naren karthikeyan - F! formuala car racer and was happy to take few photos with him. He was so cool, calm and composed! A great person to move with indeed!! Thanks to Sankaranarayanan an's mobile for these wonderful, memorable pictures.

Great memories!!! and great time we had in this two day trip - reason for naming UNO trip.

Update on AIR - MAB Recording

Continuing from where i left , it was indeed a great to have been to AIR - All India Radio again on the 15th June, 2010 for the MAB - Recording. I have performed my best for the day and i now look forward to the result. I hope with the grace of The Almighty, wishes from all my well wishers and also my performance level will give a good result. My friend Sri Ravisankar has also done well and we sincerely hope for the best.

Keyboard in AIR - All India Radio

I am happy to inform  that at last Keyboard has been given its due status as a lead instrument in All India Radio - "AIR" effective this May'10. Yes! thanks to The Almighty's grace, Guru's blessings & wishes of my well wishers I & B Ministry as included Keyboard in the mainstream of classical music as a lead instrument and now any one over 16 years of age can appear for the grade audition in AIR for qualifying themselves as a graded artist of "AIR". I am also thankful to the Ministry for giving me special permission to appear for teh locval audition which was conducted on the 19th May'10. 

I had the fortune to be one among the first few to have taken up the Local Audition on the 19^th May’10 along with my friend a good keyboard artiste, a good Vocalist, Mrudhangist and Composer in RaviShankar, who is also grandson of Sri Ramanathan of NSTSS, Nanganallur. Both of us have cleared this audition and now are looking forward to the ‘MAB’ audition on the 15^th June’10 which will decide our status in the gradation for performing in “AIR”. With all the best wishes of my well wishers, blessings of my gurus and the grace of The Almighty, i hope to do will and come out with success.   

My summer Holiday'10.

It was indeed a great holiday in Kodai this time for the summer holidays and this followed with a hectic back to back concert in the 3rd and fourth week of May'10. While enjoyed my summer holidays with the concert tour of USA & Canada last year, i enjoyed this time with the same activity of playing "UNO" here in India. Yes i made sure that my enhancement artists in Drums Sridhar anna, Mrudhangam Arjun Ganesh anna, Swaminathan anna and Gatam Hari anna learn this game and we enjoyed playing to our hearts content during our outstation concert trips and Kodai trip in particular. 

Just managed to do my Holiday Homework in time as the school has re-opened on the 2nd June and now i am back to normal routine. I also have already taken two days leave one for appearing to renew my Passport and other to attend Akylesh anna's - A great well wisher of mine - wedding on the 7th June'10. Enjoying my days in school and hope to do good in this academic year, thanks to Sri Kapil Sibel, i should be doing without much pressure as he has made 10th std no public exam curriculum from this academic year.  

A great Holiday trip to Kodaikannal.

It was indeed a gala time for me and my family from the 2nd to 7th May'10 with the Kodakannal trip which was rejuvenating and interesting. Here is the link for the photos taken during the trip and i shall detail more in a couple of days.



My sincere thanks to Balu uncle for making this trip ahppen.

Varuna Baghwan answers our Prayers!


Miracles happen rarely and it happened today to us!

Yes. During a wedding concert today evening my father recollected incidents which happened before about rain god answering to Amruthavarsini Ragam. He then announced that, "the team of Sathya on keyboard, Ananthapadmanabha on violin, Thillaisthanam Suriyanarayanan on MrudhangamHariharasubramanian on Ghtam & Morsing, Rhythm Pad Padmanabhan, Bass Guitar Suri and Pradeep on Tabla with audio by Karthicck audio Sangeetha Raja will be presenting a Dikshidar krithi - Anandamruthavarshini in Amruthavarshini. I request all of you to join in praying to Rain God - Varuna to show mercy and reduce the effect of Sun god - the heat. I am sure if all of us pray Varuna will heed to our prayers and shower rain or at least bring down the heat with cool breeze".

We played outline ragam, thanam followed by krithi, kalpanaswaram and Thani avarthanam and ended the cocnert with a long medley. As soon as we got out of the stage and walking towards the dinner hall, people started coming to us with the message that Varuna has answered the prayers with Rain! Miracle indeed and that shows the effect of joint prayers. Any one who reads this, please pass on the effect of Group Prayers and let us use this to all the good cause.

I shall ask my father to upload this concert in esnips or sangeethamshare and i hope you all also like it. It was  concert with a mixed set of songs with few carnatic & devotional numbers.

I am now going to sleep with a great feeling and hope our group prayers will be coming true always.

Great trip to Thiruvarur for the Sangeetha Mummurthigal Festival concert

It was indeed one of the great trips i have been on. Yes! the trip to Thiruvarur for the concert at the birth place of Sri Shyama Sastri on the 21st April'10 was indeed a memorable both in terms of travel and concert presentation. 

We, Karaikal Venkat anna, Trivandrum Balaji anna, my father and self left Chenai around 630 am in our car drove by my appa for 70% and the balance 30% by Balaji anna. We had our breakfast at Surguru which was little disappointing in view of the service provided. Normally they are very good and after the breakfast we were playing Maestro Illayaraja's songs throughout. It was very refreshing to listen to the songs and believe me! No one was tired and the fact that the music was really great which inspired all of us which was showing up in our concert also. The lunch organised at teh birthplace of Saint Tyagaraja by the committee was excellent and so as the dinner. In the evening we went to the temple and had "molaga bajji" on return. In the night enkat anna and self had a long walk and visited Kamalalayam and also Dikshidar's birthplace. This way i had the oppurtunity to havevisited the Trinity's birth places on the same day! A great experience indeed!.

Yes the silence in the music of Maestro, thakka thalli edupu of Sri Yesudoss in few songs were all flwing in our concert also and it went very well. The hotel room looked good in the day time, how ever it was really bad in the night and none of us slept . Thanks to my appa who was good and going strong in spite of lack of sleep we drove back after taking soodana Pongal in a small cafe in Mayavaram around 630am. I tried and kept myself awake throughout the return journey and Venkat anna was going off for every 15 - 30 mts and Balaji anna was at his best sleep until we travelled almost 250 kms.

Appa will be uploading the concert may in a few days time in sangeethamshare.org under the folder "Sathya' and you all can listen to it and give your feedback.

Wishing you all a Very Happy Tamizh New Year's day - Chithirai Thirunal Vazhthukkal.


It has been almost a month i have communicated in the blog. I am very happy to inform you all that i have passed my 9th Std and now i am into 10th Std. Yes the classes have also started for the 10th Std.

I am happy to share the news that i went on a excursion trip to Kallar near Mettupalayam organised in my school. It was full of fun with lots of packed activities during the 3 days trip which was from the10th to 13th April'10. We left Chennai on the 10th at 1030pm by train to Yercaud and transferred to Kallar by coaches on the 11th morning. It was full of activities right from the moment we reached and it was real fun. I reached today early morning at 445am. 

Last year same time i was on USA tour and this year enjoying the heat wave of Chennai already. I have lots of out station concert in the month of May and hope also to have some good holiday in between.  

There are two public concerts come up in April one on the 19th at Thiruvarur and on the 21st at Villiwakkam. Hope to see you all in the concert which you can try and make it. 

Mr Veeran Koomaren visit to Chennai.

Mr Veeran Kumaran, President,  Tamil Cultural Center, Mauritius is in Chennai on a official tour from last Tuesday. He was interviewing many artist and priests for teaching the arts and culture of ours in Mauritius. Parvai Natarajan uncle, Parvai Optical s, Rgmore, Chennai had organaised a celebration / get together for students from amuritius in Chennai to celebrate the 42nd Mauritious Independence day for which Mr Veeran was the chief guest. Here is the video link for the playlist and hope you like these. I also performed few songs with my uncle Embar Kannan for thsi celebrations.

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=F712482DBA3063B2

My amma's great concert tour to Mauritius.

Thanks to Mr Kumar who had the camera with him during my amma's Mauritius Concert tour from Jan 19 - Feb 01'10. It is indeed a collection of good photos and kudos to whoever has taken them. I am sure you all will also like these photos.

My photos during the Mauritius Concert tour from 19th - 1st Feb10 with my fatheer Sangeetha Bhushanam Embar Sri S. Sadagopan, Sri Muthukumar - Singer (younger in age), Sri Kumar Singer with beard, Sri Pradeep - Tabla Artiste & Sri Prassana - Keyboard Artiste. Photos taken during our various concerts at temple and the places we had visited in Mauritius. We sincerely thank Tamil Cultural Center for the excellent arrangements and in particular, Sri. Gopal our Sarathy( driver) during our stay and Mrs & Mr Veeran for all the help extended. Looking forward to go back soon!

அண்ணாகண்ணனுக்குப் பாரதிதாசன் விருது

I am happy to share this good news thaqt one of my well wisher and a good media person has been honoured by a trust in Malaysia. We as family wish him all the very best and for more info please log on to the link http://annakannan.blogspot.com/2010/02/blog-post.html and to follow his blog in good Thamizh log on to http://annakannan.blogspot.com/

A great News -  Uncle Dr. TP Naidoo Indian Academy, SA being Honoured by Indian Government

I sincerely owe my life to Indian Academy, South Africa as it was  under this academy who identified me in 2003 Smt. Vasantha Naidoo through Mr Paneerselvam uncle - my well wisher  and offered me a concert tour to South Africa & Mauritius when i was just 8 years old!

Today i am really proud to inform that Dr. T. P. Naidoo uncle - Founder / Director of Indian Acadmey, Durban, South Africa was presented with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award in New Delhi in Jan 2010. I just got the news and here is the details as received from SA:

SA Cultural Icon Honoured in India

SA’s top Indian cultural icon and founder/director, Indian Academy of SA, Dr TP Naidoo was presented with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award in New Delhi in Jan 2010. The Samman Award is the highest accolade and Indian can receive. It is presented to Indians who have made a distinguished contribution to the image and promotion of Indian values in the Indian Diaspora. Presently there are 26million Indians living outside India in some 122 countries. The award was presented to 14 outstanding luminaries form the Indian Diaspora. The moving ceremony was presented at the culmination of the 8^th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Conference presented in New Delhi on 7-9 Jan 20010 under the auspices of the Union Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs. The award is the highest honour conferred on overseas Indians. It is conferred on a non resident Indian, persons of Indian origin or persons of Indian origin who has made a significant contribution towards better understanding abroad of India and support to India’s causes and concerns in a tangible way, significant contribution for the welfare of Diaspora, notable contribution in philanthropic and charitable work and for social and humanitarian causes in India and abroad, significant contribution in building closer links between India and its Diaspora in the economic, cultural and scientific fields, eminence in one’s field for outstanding work which has enhanced India’s prestige in the country of resident or has achieved outstanding eminence in his skills which has enhanced India’s prestige in that country (for non professional workers).

This year there were 14 recipients:

1. Mr Mohinder Singh Bhullar – Brunei Darussalam
2. Mr Yanktesh Permal Reddy – Fiji
3. Mr Ryuko Hira – Japan
4. Dr Ruby Umesh Pawankar (Mrs) – Japan
5. Mr Suresh Kumar Virmani – Oman & UAE
6. Mr Pravin Jamnadas Gordhan – South Africa
7. Dr Tholisiah Perumal Naidoo – South Africa
8. Dr Rajni Kanabar – Tanzania
9. Mr Deepak Mittal – Thailand
10. Dr Lenny Krishendath Saith – Trinidad & Tobago
11. Dr Azad Moopen – GCC countries & India
12. Dr Mani Lal Bhaumik – New York
13. Mr Asok Kumar Mago – Dallas
14. Mr Upendra J Chivakula – New Jersey

Nithia Naidoo of the Rising Sun who covered the event took the pictures in this feature. The conference was attended by a large contingent of S. Africans including Mr Pravin Gordhan, minister of finance SA Govt.

In an interview Dr TP Naidoo said “The presentation of the Award was truly a breath taking event. Some 4000 guests backed the huge auditorium including 1500 delegates from 122 countries, chief ministers and ministers in foreign governments of Indian origin who took part in the conference were present to watch the presentation. The conference was inaugurated by Mr Manmohan Singh, Prime minister of India on 8^th January 2010 and Lord Khalid Hameed of England, CBE was the chief guest. Hon'ble President Smt Prathiba Patil, President of India delivered the address and presented the awards on 9^th Jan 2010. “It was an awe inspiring experience to receive this award from the head of the largest democracy in the world. The award is held in great esteem and wherever I went after receiving the award people treated me with dignity and congratulated me. The media had splashed the news overall major networks on radio and TV. I dedicate this award to the South African Indian community who despite tremendous trials and tribulations continued to triumph against all odds to hold their own on the world stage.”

Congratulations uncle and my sincere pranams to you and your entire team. I along with my parents pray the Almighty to give you 100 yeasrs of more years to continue your great service.