The Akkarai Sisters, Kum. Subhalakshmi and Kum. Sornalatha, perform duets in both vocal and violin, besides individually accompanying many artistes on the violin. While anxious about the present situation, they are utilizing the time for more practice and enjoying simple pleasures that eluded them earlier. They sing a snippet of…
“If there was something certain in life, I would definitely cling on to it.” -Palghat R Ramaprasad Palghat Dr. R. Ramaprasad, grandson of the mridangam icon, Palghat Sri. Mani Iyer, looks back on his childhood and his practice under his father’s iron hand, even as he is enjoying teaching his…
“The minuteness of whatever it is that I do is reinforced. And I like that.” -Anantha R. Krishnan The grandson and disciple of Sangita Kalanidhi Palghat Sri. R. Raghu, Sri. Anantha R. Krishnan began performing at age 7, and has won several awards for his mridangam skills. Don’t miss the…
This first episode in the Quarantunes series features well-known senior vocalist and playback singer, Smt. Sudha Ragunathan. Smt. Sudha begins with a song and then shares her thoughts, including her concern as a mom (her children are in the United States currently) and the many activities she has been engaging…
As I drove through Kotturpuram, the pillion rider on the whizzing motorbike gesticulated wildly. I looked him in the eye and drove on. Now, a car sidled up, the driver miming. He brought his vehicle to a complete stop beside mine, opened his windows and gestured. His lane was free.…
My husband, who was about to head out for his several month long trip to the US, said he wanted to purchase dOsa MiLagAi poDi (for non Indians – dOsa is a traditional savoury vegan South Indian crepe, miLagAi refers to dried red chillies and poDi means powder). I told…
B Shree Sundarkumar, aka The KanjiraMan, is acknowledged as a wizard on the kanjira by artistes young and old, prolific and niche, Carnatic and other genres. An “artiste of eminence” says Sangita Kalanidhi Umayalpuram K Sivaraman. “Incomparable,” says kanjira artiste BS Purushotham. “Rare calibre,” says vocalist Abhishek Raghuram, who himself…
One evening late December, after I recovered my car from the Music Academy parking lot where the valets had left it (conveniently facing forward, of course), I realised, much to my chagrin, that the AC had stopped functioning. It had been just fine when I had driven it in. The…
Of this artiste who had over 60 concerts in ~40 days this past music season, Sangita Kalanidhi Aruna Sairam says, “He is an excellent violinist on whom the music world has great expectations. His command over rAga bhAva and dexterity of playing are qualities that make him a very sought-after…
Cardamom is generally associated with Indian desserts. What would it taste like in a cake? This is the result of my attempt to answer this question. Popular opinion indicates it is a raving hit – die hard believers that cakes without egg are not cakes at all have changed their…