Though most composers of Indian Classical Music have historically identified their works with a recognisable watermark, nowadays, the act of claiming credit in this art form is frequently construed as mercenary and disrespectful to hallowed tradition. Given the highly commercial nature of music dissemination now, performers’ rights is a topic…
A good friend sent me this yesterday. The timing was appropriate. Later in the day, my son called me, feeling most down. “I have been working on a written summary,” he said. “When I look at what others have done, I realise mine is awful.” I reacted calmly but was…
If one has to be recognised in Carnatic music, one just HAS to relocate to Chennai, it is said. There can be no substitute for listening to live concerts is also oft-heard. This respected violinist, however, has put paid to both the above statements. Charulatha Ramanujam is appreciated not only…
On Tuesday last week, my daughter and I decided to look at returning to India at the earliest. An intended six-week sojourn had extended to almost six months. It was a really tough decision to split up the family back again at this time of a pandemic – and frankly,…
A consummate performer rarely makes a good teacher, each requiring different skill sets. Imparting knowledge to those far less conversant requires assessing and customizing instruction for each student, simultaneously motivating and pushing and, above all, zero insecurity to demystify what seems opaque and frequently shrouded. Lalgudi Jayaraman, whose 90th birth…
Warm chocolate chip cookies – crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside with the chocolate chips warm and melty on the tongue! Few can resist this decadence, be it plain or dressed up (ideas below). It has been a favourite with literally every single person who has ever tasted…
Recently, a classmate posted the following: “Would you rather deal with someone who tells you exactly what they mean (even if it hurts sometimes) … or someone who…. never confronts you directly? Just curious what people think.” Well, it definitely got me thinking. Developing the appropriate filters in communication is…
Simple and unassuming, Kala Ramnath exudes a gentle, innocent vulnerability that betrays the titan that she is in Hindustani music. One of the youngest recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar, she has put her distinctive stamp on Hindustani violin, made it a force to reckon with, and put it…
As a faculty spouse, I have continuous and regular interaction with 20 and 30 something graduate students – moving from being on first name basis then to being Ma’am-ed and Aunty-ed now (which I embrace happily). Pickled in this age group for 25 years, I can unequivocally say it is…
Giridhar Udupa literally grew up surrounded by percussion as his father Ullur Nagendra Udupa was a mridangist who taught extensively. At age 4, he started learning mridangam and learned that exclusively until the age of 9. Then, at a concert organized by his father, Giridhar was roped in to play…