tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-336100232024-03-14T06:18:59.681-07:00OCTAVESKnow thy voiceSindhuja Bhakthavatsalamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072177727246756351noreply@blogger.comBlogger157125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33610023.post-35113609238385382742021-07-04T20:00:00.000-07:002021-07-04T20:00:00.227-07:00Remembering Raghu Mama<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWq05rqVCPqVcGKipau55DOrd3XqiR5EuZgub2_zJD5rxuQOB8i9PeEYpeDByn-BjweJ494-glVA_ISzKREDdoHYpjkM5AMaHptdjRBKN0qD3KQl6vKr3-XNO_ey0Q8ZoG_vXu0g/s1103/WhatsApp+Image+2021-07-03+at+2.55.32+AM+%25281%2529.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1103" data-original-width="891" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWq05rqVCPqVcGKipau55DOrd3XqiR5EuZgub2_zJD5rxuQOB8i9PeEYpeDByn-BjweJ494-glVA_ISzKREDdoHYpjkM5AMaHptdjRBKN0qD3KQl6vKr3-XNO_ey0Q8ZoG_vXu0g/w258-h320/WhatsApp+Image+2021-07-03+at+2.55.32+AM+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="258" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Yet another dear Mama has been taken away from us. Raghu Mama, the eldest of my mother's siblings was a pioneer of magnetic resonance research in India. After returning to India with a PhD from the University of British Columbia in the 70s, he was a professor of Chemistry at IIT Kanpur and then went on to be a founding head of the NMR department at AIIMS, New Delhi. Besides being a brilliant academician, he was passionate about cricket and Indian classical music. He had a keen musical mind and I've had some beautiful musical exchanges with him especially over the last one year. He had a vast knowledge of ragas in both Hindustani and Carnatic music and loved analyzing raga-based film songs. He also had a penchant for the English language (he was in fact married to a linguistics and English literature professor, our dear Vaija manni who passed away about five years ago) and loved indulging in word games and puzzles. Raghu Mama passed away on May 16th 2021 and has left behind an unfillable void. <div><br /></div><div>Amma had wanted to share with him this composition that she wrote and tuned 7-8 years ago. I kept putting off recording it thanks to work. Little did we expect that Mama wouldn't be with us for much longer. I'm sad I couldn't do it in time for him to hear it. Nevertheless, we'd like to share it today and dedicate it to him on his birthday (July 5th). He would have been 83.</div><div><br /></div><div>Miss you Raghu Mama. Miss your brilliant mind. Miss your wit. Miss your music. Miss your affection and your towering presence as a role model to the entire extended family. Your memories will continue to inspire us. We hope you're in a better place.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ayqQZvbTfg" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div></div><div><br /></div><div>This is a Tamil composition on Arjuna. Themed on the Mahabharata, it focuses on Arjuna's relationship with Lord Krishna. It was composed several years ago and Amma and I recently revamped it.<br /><div><br /></div></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ragam: Nalinakanthi
Talam: Adi</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Composer: Viji Bhakthavatsalam
Lyrics and translation -</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
Pallavi:
puNNiyam seidhanai nee pArtha
kaNmaNi kaNNanin karuNaiyai peravE
Partha (Arjuna), blessed are you to receive the grace of Krishna (kaNNan)
Anupallavi:
purandhidum paramanai un uravinanaai utra
naNbanAi sArathiyAi AsAnAi pera
To have the Lord who protects us as your kin, friend, charioteer, and guru
(Blessed are you...)
Charanam 1:
pOrkaLatthil nee sOrndirundAi andru
thErOtta vandhavan AchAryanAi nindrAn
thannirakkam mElittu thavitthu nee nirkkayile
unnidam dhayay koorndhu thanjam avan aLikkavE
When you stood wearily in the battlefield
The one who came to drive your chariot guided you as your guru
As you stood consumed by self-pity
He compassionately took you under his wing
Charanam 2:
pAdhai puriyAdhu bEdhitthu nee nindrAi
kOdhaiyin kAdhalan bOdhaganAi vandhAn
mEdhaiyin pin nindru mEdhiniyil uyarndhAi
pEdhai nee teLivutru Athmanai uNarndhAi
As you stood confused about the way ahead
Kodai's beloved came to you as your preacher
Following the master, you rose on this earth
With newfound clarity you realized the Atman
Charanam 3:
pAdhagar nAm inRu bOdhanaiyai uNara - yem
vAdhanaigaL neenga sAdhagam AnAi
mAthavam yAm seidhOm mAdhavanai uNarvOm
kAdhai nee AnAi nAyakanAi nindrAi
You were a means for us all to realize his teachings
And for our troubles to abate
We did a great penance; let us realize Madhava
You became a legend and stood tall as a hero
——</span></span></div>Sindhuja Bhakthavatsalamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072177727246756351noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33610023.post-1491920566058163722020-09-27T16:50:00.020-07:002020-09-28T11:22:31.197-07:00Kiccha Mama<p>The fondness and affection you share with a loved one is beautiful in itself. Going beyond that to a shared love and passion for an art form is to me, even more beautiful and enriching. I feel extremely fortunate to have been born into a family so steeped in music, as a result of which, such has been the relationship I've shared not only with my immediate family, but with several folks in my extended family. One person in particular, who has been a hugely significant musical force is my uncle, my dear Kiccha Mama (Devanathan Parthsarathy). I write this with an unbearably heavy heart, on the fifth day since his passing. As our family is grappling with this profound loss, I attempt to put some words down in memory, honor, and celebration of Kiccha Mama.</p><p>Always gentle, soft-spoken, and affectionate, Kiccha Mama was a much-adored and respected figure. Humor was a big part of who he was. He loved joking around and amusing children. I distinctly remember this "magic" trick he'd show us kids, where he'd make it look like he was breaking off his thumb :) An electrical engineer by day, Mama was musically brilliant. He was a master accordionist and to us, his family, he was synonymous with the accordion. What a unique choice of instrument, and what a mastery he had over it! (He had imbibed harmonium skills from his father, and later learned some left hand playing and Western music from one Mr. Vaseegaran.) Many a summer vacation trip to Madras would be spent watching him play in awe. Mama was an ace keyboardist as well. His accordion and keyboard covers of Hindi and Tamil hits from the 60s through the 2000s are a testament to his perspicaciousness and tenacity. The kind of passion and obsession with which he would dissect a composition of say, Naushad, R.D. Burman, or Ilaiyaraja, is truly inspiring. Over the years, he has painstakingly recorded (many with authentic karaoke tracks) numerous songs. </p><p>Sometime in middle school I attempted to learn keyboard fingering from him, but alas, I didn't really keep up and it is my regret to this day. Recently he shared with us a keyboard playing guide he had started writing - I hope to be able to learn something from that at least now. Mama was also a fine singer and composer and has composed a number of classical-based songs in ragas like Kalavati/ Valaji and Hamsanadam. I have had the good fortune of performing film songs on stage with him on two occasions - once in Chennai, and another time in San Jose. It is a pleasure watching him multitask on stage - switching from the keyboard to the accordion to vocals, with such ease. Mama was not just a musician, he was a true performer - he loved people, and he loved entertaining people, be it with music or humor.</p><p>Mama was ever so encouraging of my music and always had honest and constructive feedback on my singing. For the Chennai show some thirteen years ago (with his light music troupe "Supremes"), he pushed my boundaries by making me attempt an incredibly difficult song in Telugu, E Shwasalo. (I had written about the show and posted a recording <a href="https://octaves.blogspot.com/search?q=e+shwasalo" target="_blank">here</a>.) Moreover, he infused in me a greater love for Indian film music, especially for Ilaiyaraja's music - listening to him play covers of film songs would often bring about in me a much deeper appreciation for the melodies. More than anything, I am ever so grateful for the insightful conversations I have had with him on music. Through his experiences in the light music scene in Madras over several decades, he had amassed a wealth of information and would keep sharing anecdotes about some of the great masters' recording sessions, composing styles, orchestral nuances in various compositions, and more. A few months ago Mama was having some health issues and was in the hospital, but that didn't stop him from having a spirited discussion with me on video chat, on the Gruhabhedam relationship between the ragas Chalanattai and Shubhapantuvarali. I had just put out a video essay on this and Mama had some kind and insightful words to say about it.</p><p>Mama's life was inextricably tied to Tamil film music. He adored MSV and Ilaiyaraja - speaking of whom, of course, the name SPB is inseparable. Mama has played a large number of covers of SPB songs. Being from the MSV-Ilaiyaraja era, he obviously had a stronger connection to their music, but he particularly liked ARR's Anjali Anjali a lot and went on to cover that on the keyboard as well. Indians, particularly South Indians all over the world are struggling to come to terms with the tragic loss of the legendary SPB. Ever since SPB got hospitalized in August, Mama was worrying about him and praying for his recovery. But as things would have it, Mama turned out to be the first to go. In my mother's words, "Our dear Krishnan vanished to book a seat there next to him for his hero so that they can sing deva ganam together there depriving us of that boon." Normally, SPB's demise would have felt like a punch in my gut and ripped me apart. But after my dear Mama's passing, I think I'm either too numb and maxed out on grief, or just a little better prepared to deal with this other enormous loss. Whichever it is, it's ironical how one passing makes another somewhat more bearable. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWfZuUb5aX829rViRfmeDsG1Fa9TVDmsWLWsHoqOnv1UhszDQPUbYk-oq81pKm357T9owT8OWe5CT0T9RX-d-kUQhCsueA2qtQRU63Th2g-mCig-AkYL_zgfzAPY1iN12o9bxhw/s783/41734956_228282188037253_3574071221643378688_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWfZuUb5aX829rViRfmeDsG1Fa9TVDmsWLWsHoqOnv1UhszDQPUbYk-oq81pKm357T9owT8OWe5CT0T9RX-d-kUQhCsueA2qtQRU63Th2g-mCig-AkYL_zgfzAPY1iN12o9bxhw/s783/41734956_228282188037253_3574071221643378688_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl969YplloVgOAAVN072TudJ0mDaYKGwttWipc5e10-3vZi54LtZuYqjA6iVglvQWcPhnFzkJUJgaHF6ewtfl-sC1F4SComQOIWtgNInPnGL_jmE_eN0oyuT9lxe0rMTXLwOJurg/s2048/Desktop1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl969YplloVgOAAVN072TudJ0mDaYKGwttWipc5e10-3vZi54LtZuYqjA6iVglvQWcPhnFzkJUJgaHF6ewtfl-sC1F4SComQOIWtgNInPnGL_jmE_eN0oyuT9lxe0rMTXLwOJurg/w640-h360/Desktop1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Although they both had so much more to give us, I just feel fortunate for all the musical wealth they have left behind. I'll leave you with two of Mama's recordings here. One is a beautiful cover of an Ilaiyaraja song originally sung by none other than the unparalleled SPB. This is an absolute favorite of mine. I find the tune incredibly haunting and meditative - and how SPB - and here, Mama - make it come alive! In the second, Mama talks about the great MSV's approach to SPB and other singers.</span></div></div></div><p style="text-align: justify;">We miss you dearly, Kiccha Mama. At the same time, we are immensely grateful for all the love, light, and laughter you brought us. Rest in peace.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Cover of "kaeladi kanmani paadagan sangathi" - Ilaiyaraja/ SPB:</b></p><p>
<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/900690175%3Fsecret_token%3Ds-NrK5SXvU6mt&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe></p><div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Interstate, "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Sans", Garuda, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: 100; line-break: anywhere; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; word-break: normal;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/sindhujab" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Sindhuja Bhakthavatsalam">Sindhuja Bhakthavatsalam</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/sindhujab/accordion-cover/s-NrK5SXvU6mt" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Accordion Cover of Kaeladi Kanmani - Devanathan Parthasarathy">Accordion Cover of Kaeladi Kanmani - Devanathan Parthasarathy</a></div>
<p></p><p><b>On MSV's approach to SPB and other singers (in Tamil):</b></p><p>
<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/900686290%3Fsecret_token%3Ds-7A29543JHRV&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe></p><div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Interstate, "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Sans", Garuda, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: 100; line-break: anywhere; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; word-break: normal;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/sindhujab" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Sindhuja Bhakthavatsalam">Sindhuja Bhakthavatsalam</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/sindhujab/kiccha-mama-on-msv/s-7A29543JHRV" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Kiccha Mama On MSV">Kiccha Mama On MSV</a></div><div><br /></div>And here is <b>Mama's Facebook page</b> with lots of video recordings: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Unofficial-Devas-Accordion-1726191840951105 " target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/Unofficial-Devas-Accordion-1726191840951105</a>Sindhuja Bhakthavatsalamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072177727246756351noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33610023.post-77228265683632235012020-08-23T20:00:00.013-07:002020-09-26T20:50:11.021-07:00Sahana - Atana Here's a wedding anniversary collaboration with the husband - meant to capture our typical arguments :)<div><br /></div><div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2rfSZUVRwrs" width="560"></iframe></div>Sindhuja Bhakthavatsalamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072177727246756351noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33610023.post-57314022055634916142020-08-16T10:35:00.006-07:002020-08-16T10:35:38.301-07:00Two songsOne for dad - his favorite:<div><br /></div><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Kr3lFSBkgiQ" width="560"></iframe> </div><div><div><div><br /></div><div> The other by and for mom:</div><div><br /></div><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TwYrXJvqVkY" width="560"></iframe></div></div></div>Sindhuja Bhakthavatsalamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072177727246756351noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33610023.post-48048940953173053142020-08-10T09:30:00.012-07:002020-08-10T09:32:42.047-07:00Cover of Shreya Ghoshal's chalo tumko lekarI've always been a big fan of this song. Shreya who had just entered the
industry was (and still is!) all the craze and sounded ethereal. My first take
was on a casette with a karaoke track, back in the early 2000s soon after the
film (Jism) had released. After all these years I got on Smule and this was one
of the first songs I wanted to sing. Here goes - hope you like it.<div><br /></div><div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nij5kyzo9g4" width="560"></iframe></div>Sindhuja Bhakthavatsalamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072177727246756351noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33610023.post-52789068704551687942020-07-24T15:11:00.000-07:002020-07-24T15:11:23.017-07:00Matthappoovu from Michael Madana Kamarajan- CoverHere's a cover of a lesser known song composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraja and sung by Chitraji. I recorded this two years ago but didn't get around to posting it here.<br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GjwNo33EyPE" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Sindhuja Bhakthavatsalamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072177727246756351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33610023.post-83178969257692321172020-06-10T11:39:00.000-07:002020-06-10T11:39:20.483-07:00Vedanta Desika SuprabhatamHere's the Desika Suprabhatam tuned as a ragamalika:<br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p_I4pEbF32I" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Sindhuja Bhakthavatsalamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072177727246756351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33610023.post-23546276286468473072020-05-16T13:50:00.000-07:002020-05-16T13:50:32.415-07:00Lesser Known Gruhabhedams: 2X4: A Typology of Gruhabhedams| Rasikapriya, Dharmavati, and moreHere's the last video in the Lesser Known Gruhabhedam series:<br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KIE-v9K8XHI" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Sindhuja Bhakthavatsalamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072177727246756351noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33610023.post-25169860302216259742020-05-12T22:54:00.003-07:002020-05-12T22:54:55.029-07:00Lesser Known Gruhabhedams: 2X3: Hindolam vs. Hamsanandi<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jzUQ-k3NDgo" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Sindhuja Bhakthavatsalamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072177727246756351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33610023.post-81523274375829972292020-05-08T15:02:00.000-07:002020-05-08T15:02:32.950-07:00Meghame Meghame - Cover<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/maZo9-iQE5k" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Sindhuja Bhakthavatsalamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072177727246756351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33610023.post-51124964476095397372020-05-05T22:59:00.001-07:002020-05-12T22:51:22.192-07:00Two Carnatic pieces<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uDhmldq2QIU" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DlLKep3IyjA" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Sindhuja Bhakthavatsalamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072177727246756351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33610023.post-45568411177187867562020-04-26T18:05:00.000-07:002020-05-12T22:56:02.222-07:00Lesser Known Gruhabhedams: 2X2: Charukesi vs. Gowrimanohari<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kJRHPy3SWyI" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Sindhuja Bhakthavatsalamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072177727246756351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33610023.post-31850021054090124432020-04-16T17:25:00.000-07:002020-05-14T10:58:30.887-07:00Lesser Known Gruhabhedams: Season 2Decided to make a second round on Lesser Known Gruhabhedam. Here's the first one in this second set:<br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xj-8bX0cO_8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Sindhuja Bhakthavatsalamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072177727246756351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33610023.post-83470268758655200422020-02-01T15:16:00.003-08:002020-02-01T15:16:44.490-08:00Concert in ChennaiI recently sang a short concert for the very first time during the Chennai Margazhi music season. It was for the organization Hamsadhwani and part of the NRI music and dance festival. Here's a recording of the concert:<br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aKQX00cIrkc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Sindhuja Bhakthavatsalamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072177727246756351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33610023.post-20471163915018911362019-10-24T13:15:00.002-07:002019-10-24T13:16:18.937-07:00Dil dhadakne ka sabab - once againGhazal is a genre I love, but am generally apprehensive about singing since I'm always worried I'm going to make it 'sound Carnatic'. This particular one has been a longtime favorite and after many attempts through the years (one of which featured on this blog about a decade ago!), I couldn't resist recording and sharing this version. Asha, the one and only QUEEN - and Ghulam Ali, the maestro of ghazals - are the stuff that beauty and brilliance are made of. I wish some day my voice would roll with that kind of ease :/ Please compare this version to the original at your own risk.<br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J21MXNblyHc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Sindhuja Bhakthavatsalamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072177727246756351noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33610023.post-34235823207835779862019-10-07T01:43:00.000-07:002019-10-07T01:43:45.139-07:00Happy Saraswati PujaMay the force of learning be with you!<br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Jwob7c_dwIk" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Sindhuja Bhakthavatsalamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072177727246756351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33610023.post-43662506874317170172019-09-02T18:19:00.000-07:002019-09-05T15:27:58.886-07:00Jaya jaya gokula bala - Narayana TeerthaI learned this Narayana Teertha Tarangam about quarter a century ago along with my mom and sister from our then guru Smt. Ranganayaki Sridharan - resurrected it now thanks to my mom. Enjoyed recording this with the husband!<br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4-9xygWWfQo" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Sindhuja Bhakthavatsalamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072177727246756351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33610023.post-67362031323324059122019-08-18T02:27:00.002-07:002019-09-02T18:22:26.809-07:00Brovavamma Bangaru Bomma - NilambariThanks to motivation from the husband, I learned this gem of a song recently - the epitome of the tenderness of Nilambari.<br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EBhX3dFjPuA" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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Sindhuja Bhakthavatsalamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072177727246756351noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33610023.post-10510528822861025302019-08-14T10:08:00.001-07:002019-09-02T18:21:43.663-07:00Lesser Known Gruhabhedams: Lalitha and moreHere's the fourth and the last one in the Lesser known Gruhabhedam series.<br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AoPHwdmB7q8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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Sindhuja Bhakthavatsalamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072177727246756351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33610023.post-29771413217093509712019-08-04T05:14:00.001-07:002019-09-02T21:11:57.072-07:00Live concert at Bhairavi, PondicherryAbout a month ago, thanks to my father-in-law I sang a live concert at Bhairavi Carnatic Music Sabha in Pondichery. As always I was extremely nervous given that I don't do live concerts very frequently. While I think overall it turned out okay, there's a long list of things I'd do differently if I were to do it again, from the small fixes to the more long term changes: start the varnam at a slightly higher pace; practice a whole lot more so voice and shruthi remain stable throughout; try to reach a state where I can be more relaxed and enjoy the process more and be less tense. Anyway, here it is for you to appraise:<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLywv8st08uvQyagIT8NOQ4DP2wxSTVjcr"target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLywv8st08uvQyagIT8NOQ4DP2wxSTVjcr</a>Sindhuja Bhakthavatsalamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072177727246756351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33610023.post-3302064478290011472019-07-12T08:45:00.000-07:002019-07-12T08:47:58.238-07:00Lesser Known Gruhabhedams: LalithaHere's the third in the Lesser known Gruhabhedam series.<br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OBQ-V-eNQ40" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Sindhuja Bhakthavatsalamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072177727246756351noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33610023.post-42314237828051208332019-06-09T09:16:00.002-07:002019-06-09T09:21:07.074-07:00Lesser known Gruhabhedams: NattakurinjiHere's the second in the Lesser known Gruhabhedam series.<br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-e0Zi2ib7OY" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Sindhuja Bhakthavatsalamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072177727246756351noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33610023.post-31754799254308817312019-05-24T03:30:00.003-07:002019-05-29T03:57:18.256-07:00Medley of Evergreen Hits - IndianRagaRaga Behag has always been a personal favorite and I absolutely loved working on this with these fabulous musicians - check it out!<br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mwbwwHYpVgA" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Sindhuja Bhakthavatsalamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072177727246756351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33610023.post-24253665383138583212019-05-16T16:13:00.001-07:002019-06-09T09:22:03.870-07:00Lesser known Gruhabhedams: RageshriFirst of a series of videos on relatively lesser known gruhabhedams in classical/ film music.<br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CbQuOvRcb-E" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Sindhuja Bhakthavatsalamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072177727246756351noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33610023.post-90366673506800605422019-03-16T20:27:00.000-07:002019-05-29T03:53:58.881-07:00Shades of Kalyani - IndianRagaHere's another one for IndianRaga. I enjoyed doing this out-and-out classical piece focused on improvs, with these awesome co-musicians. I hope you like it!<br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/grjwdLYkX0c" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Sindhuja Bhakthavatsalamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072177727246756351noreply@blogger.com0