BONDING MOMENTS…..

 

Sri T. M. Thyagarajan Centenary Year

Dr. G. Baby Sreeram is an authentic disciple of Sangita Kalanidhi late Sri. T. M. Thyagarajan. Highly traditional, extremely talented and 'sampradaya' oriented, Dr. G. Baby Sreeram's presentation runs strictly along the lines of Guru Sri. TMT's unique tradition. 

Dr. G. Baby Sreeram, a well-known and reputed vocal vidushi is renowned within and outside the field of Carnatic music.

(TMT Centenary year- birth date of TMT Sir-28th May, 1923)

Sri. T. M. Thyagarajan Centenary Year

TMT CENTENARY YEAR (28TH MAY 1923-27TH JUNE-2007)

NARAYANA THEERTHA THARANGAM, RAGAM-BRINDAVANI, ADI THALAM.

PALLAVI- RE RE MAANASA GOPAALAM BHAJA DOORE PARIHARA BHOOPAALAM

ANUPALLAVI-AARAADANTARAM AKHILAATHMAKA BODHAANANDA GHANAM BAALAM

CHARANAM-BRINDAAVANA HITHA GOBRUNDHAM DHRUTHA MANDHARAM AKHILA NIGAMA KHANDAM

NANDHA SUNANDHAADHI VANDHYAM ANANYAKA NAARAAYANA THEERTHA YATHI

"I simply love Brindavani ragam. Something about the ragam, takes me instantly to Vrindavan..." My voice trailed off.

TMT Sir lifted his head from the notation book he was scrutinizing. He always carefully chose every krithi, varnam, pallavi or anything for the day's session.

He looked at me for a brief second and went back to looking at the book in his hand.

Clearing my throat and working up some guts I ventured hesitantly, "Can you... could you please compose something for me in Brindavani?!"

My heart beat fast as I waited for his answer.

He once again lifted his head, this time I saw a twinkle in his eyes. He did not reply, he did not nod even as acknowledgement, nothing... there was just this hint of a smile on his face. Bending his head, he went back to searching for the krithi in the book he was holding.

I did not repeat my request. Feeling downcast and embarrassed I finished my class.

On the way back home I consoled myself, "He's a man of few words, he's such a legend, I shouldn't have asked. That probably would have put him in an uneasy position. Probably he thinks I am taking too many liberties....". I decided to apologize to him in my next class for asking him to compose.

I counted every minute for my next class. The day arrived finally. As I sat in front of TMT Sir, my Veena tuned to perfection to Sir's sruthi, I mentally tried to frame my words on how to start the conversation.

 Before I could say anything Sir announced, "Narayana Theertha Tharangam, Brindavani ragam, Adi thalam."

My eyes widened in delight and surprise. I exclaimed, "Brindavani!!"

TMT Sir nodded matter-of-factly. 

I asked hesitantly, "Sir, your composition?"

He looked at me directly, " Yes. You wanted me to compose in Brindavani isn't it? I have composed this for you." He added, "I've even composed a pallavi which I will teach you after this krithi. You can play it in music season."

I was overwhelmed by joy. Sir composed for me, for my sake!!

TMT Sir smiled widely, watching my evident joy.

"Thank you Sir, thank you so much Sir..."

He once again bent his head to look at the notation of the Brindavani krithi which he composed just for me!!

Sri. T. M. Thyagarajan Centenary Year

RE RE MANASA GOPALAM (RAGAM BRINDAVANI, ADI THALAM, NARAYANA THEERTHA THARANGAM- MUSIC SET BY TMT SIR)

 ARCOT MUDALI STREET- (April 1986)

The gate creaked open and I stepped inside the compound. It was a small compound space in front of an old independent house. A small boy of 5 or 6 was running around, naked. He ran to evade his mother who was holding a bowl of food. She ran screaming behind the boy, admonishing him and trying to feed him. Oblivious to the chaos, an old woman sat on the door-step, her head bent over a large plate of some grains on her lap which she was cleaning.

I wondered if Sri. T.M.Thyagarajan lived there.

Clearing my voice I started to ask, "T.M.Thyaga..."

My words stuck in my throat as the harrassed looking mother without even looking in my direction raised a hand to point upwards. Her entire focus was on the boy. Following the direction of her raised hand I looked up to the first floor. There was a house there, but where were the stairs to go upstairs?!

Afraid to ask her one more time I decided to look around for the staircase. I self consciously walked towards the left side of the front yard and to my utter relief found a tiny staircase in the corner.

My heart raced excitedly as I climbed the staircase slowly. Reaching the house on the first floor I glanced at my watch.

It was 4 pm, exact time of appointment fixed by Narendran  for meeting TMT Sir. I was glad that I was on dot. 

The main door was wide open. I stood uncertainly in the doorway as my eyes adjusted to the dull sunlight in the front room.

I found myself staring directly at the figure of the legendary composer/ singer, Sri.T.M.Thyagarajan seated on the floor. He wore a white colour veshti without a shirt. A white towel was casually thrown around his shoulders.

He lifted his head and glanced at me. The first thing that struck me was his eyes, the twinkle in them. The twinkle spoke volumes of his characteristic aloofness born out of tremendous amount of wisdom, self-assurance, extraordinary willpower and his awareness of his own genius mind. That was my first glimpse of the man who was about to change my life through his brand of music.

I folded my hands in Namasthey. He gestured towards the wall opposite to him. Entering nervously I noticed that the room was bare of furniture. I sank to sit down on the floor in front of TMT Sir.

He didn't talk anything and looked at me expectantly.

I started hesitatingly, "Narendran told me..."

He cut me short, "Yes Narendran met me and told me."

Not knowing how to open the topic I said, "I am Gayathri, a veena player..."

"I know. You are well known as Veenai Gayathri", he said with a touch of amusement.

I smiled nervously, "Yes, but of late I am not happy with what I am playing.  I took a break from music for almost 5, 6 years for personal reasons. I  got married, went sailing with my husband who works in ships, I had 2 daughters who are 5 and 2 years old now.'

He nodded, watching me keenly, the twinkle in his eyes brightening by the minute.

I continued with effort, "Now I want to start playing Veena again. I am also getting many offers to perform. But I don't know what to play.....I mean, I feel kind of stuck here." I pointed to my head. 

I continued, "Actually I am unable to create. I am feeling rusted without music for nearly 6 years. I need your guidance, please help me...." my voice trailed off.

Nodding in understanding he bent his head, absently reaching for his snuff box. Opening the box he took out the snuff powder and inhaled it deeply into his nostrils.

Slowly raising his head he said tentatively, "You mean you want to learn from me."

I nodded fervently, "Yes."

"Is there any specific area of music you want to learn?"

I shook my head, "I want to get to the bottom of music, I want to be able to create. I want to graduate to great levels in my musical knowledge."

He nodded. "Are you in touch with your instrument?"

"Yes Sir. In fact my hands can play anything, problem is that I don't know what to play. My mind is kind of stuck."

"So you want to start your regular classes with me. How will you learn? Do you sing?'

My eyes widened in horror, "No no I can't sing. I will repeat whatever you sing on Veena."

"But then, will you bring your Veena for every class?" 

I asked hesitatingly, "Please can I keep a Veena in your house? It is difficult for me to carry it for every class".

He agreed immediately indicating a corner of the small room. "You can keep it here."

"Thank you so much!!" I said fervently.

Glancing at me directly TMT Sir said, "You must learn and abide by my method of teaching, you are already well known. Will you be able to do that?"

I replied emphatically, "I will follow your teachings most loyally Sir. I will learn whatever you feel is right to open up my creative channels."

He smiled and nodded.

"What is your Sruthi?" I asked hesitatingly. "I need to change my Veena strings to your Sruthi for my classes."

He replied, "C."

I mentally zeroed in on Veena string gauge number 29 for the main string.

Fixing up 9 am on April 18th for my first class I rose to leave.

Prostrating to him I took leave of him.

Sri. T. M. Thyagarajan Centenary Year

NARENDRAN AND MYSELF-CONCERT TOUR, US IN 1985, FIRST PHOTO- WITH SRI.TMT

 1985, US TOUR-

I was relieved to see my good friend Narendran (Trichur Narendran) walk into the house with his luggage and mridangam. The concert had to begin in an hour's time and we had to rush to the venue.

I asked him anxiously, "What happened? Why so much delay?!"

He replied tiredly, "As you know this concert was a last minute inclusion and all flights are full, being weekend. At least I managed to get a ticket by a late morning flight. Pittsburg to L.A is a long flight too."

I nodded sympathetically. We rushed to the venue and finished our concert.

Post concert buffet was a nice spread of home cooked South Indian vegetarian food. Caught up with tuning my Veena and preparing for the concert I could not eat anything after an early brunch. My stomach growled midway of the lengthy 3-hours concert. I was ravenous and glanced eagerly at the tempting spread.

The organisers led Narendran and me to the buffet table. I helped myself generously and was about to taste my first mouthful of aromatic avial, my favourite dish.

"At which age did you start learning Veena?" A lady standing next to me asked me eagerly, her eyes shining with adoration.

Trying to swallow quickly I answered, "At 5 or 6. I don't remember."

I eagerly lifted the second spoonful.

"Who are your Gurus?"

I answered patiently, trying to ignore my protesting stomach, "My parents."

Her eyes widened in delight, "How nice!!"

"Gayathri!! Can you remember me? Tell me who I am?"

A voice asked from behind me.

Placing the spoon on the plate I turned around to see an old man. He looked familiar and I looked at him puzzled.

"What was the song you played after Kalyani?" Plate in hand one lady from the other side was asking me ardently.

Next to her was another lady who held my right hand tightly, "Do you remember Uma, your mother's student? I am her Aunt. I live here in L.A." She said, beaming.

I spotted another group of people approaching me, plates in their hands. Gazing longingly at my plate I heaved a sigh of despair.

Narendran was next to me, "I want you to meet somebody."

He led me to a far corner which had 2 chairs and we sat down with our plates.

I asked curiously, "Who did you want me to meet?"

"Nobody! I lied just to make you escape from that group, so that you could have your dinner in peace. Even I am too tired and hungry."

I laughed in relief. "Thanks so much! Really, I'll tell you,  I was about to faint with hunger. Last thing I needed was to be bombarded by questions. My goodness!!" I rolled my eyes.

We ate in silence. We started our conversation after the initial hunger pangs started to subside.

"Narendran, I feel very stagnated. Feeling stuck in my mind musically. You know I was away from music for nearly 5 years. I went sailing with my husband for 2 years and after that my daughters were born. I became too busy with my personal life. I somehow feel my link has been cut off from music. I am feeling inadequate, I am unable to feel fully satisfied with what I am playing."

Narendran listened attentively. He ate a few spoonfuls in silence.

Lifting his head he said, "I think you must go to TMT."

My brows knit in puzzlement. "TMT?"

"T.M.Thyagarajan." He added, "I feel TMT is the only musician who can tap your creativity and release you from the stagnation."

My eyes grew big, "You mean learn from him?!"

"Ya, that's what I meant." He nodded .

My mind worked on the idea, and it began to grow in my thoughts. Even before the end of my concert tour I found myself impatient to reach India to meet the great legend-TMT.

In All Dignity...........

ELECTRIFYING SCENE FROM THE MOVIE BEN-HUR (1959).

Just this scene is enough. It speaks volumes of the spiritual grasp of the Director of American epic religious film Ben-Hur (1959) William Wyler. God in the above scene is aptly portrayed as Supreme Power beyond human comprehension. The countenance of God is not free-for-all. Only the karmically chosen few are awarded a glimpse of His countenance. The layman who's fortunate is awestruck by the glow in the devotee's eyes lighting up at the sight of God. Brilliantly enacted by Charlton Heston, this is a goosebumps scene......

Incredible Cello......

CELLIST SHEKHAR

My good friend and colleague in the film industry, Cellist, Shekhar (son of legendary Kunnakudi Sri. Vaidyanathan) is one of the senior most, topranking and highly sought after Cellists in the cine field. We both recorded our respective instruments together as part of many orchestras for innumerable film recordings and re-recordings for many years. While I branched out into the field of Carnatic music Shekhar continues to play the Cello for leading music directors in the South Indian film industry even today.

In the above clipping he has rendered 'Manasa Sancharare' on the Cello. It's an unheard of feat. Performing the main melody, and that too a Carnatic piece and so aesthetically!!!  I am baffled and speechless to say the least. Mind-blowing!!

CELLO

 

In The Capital - Memories from 2010

Late Ghatam Vidwan, Sri. T.V.Vasan passed away in New Delhi on the 29th of September. He had accompanied me on the mridangam and ghatam for several concerts and I have known him since my Baby Gayathri days. An extremely knowledgeable and versatile musician, he was also a great human being. Destiny brought us together for an official assignment during the last two days of his life. The conference that lasted for nearly 8 hours on both days had many unforgettable moments. Excerpts from our conversation:-

SEPTEMBER 27TH, 2010. 9.50A.M Walking out of the lift I stared at the long, dark corridor which reminded me of a scene in a Japanese horror movie. Not a soul! Was it the wrong floor? Puzzled, I walked slowly past a row of rooms. I was unable to find the name board of the official I was scheduled to meet. Deciding to call the officer I reached for the mobile in my handbag.
"Gaay! Gaay! We are here!!" There was only one musician who called me by that name. Instantly recognising the voice I turned to look behind.TV Vasan was waving at me from the end of the corridor, a broad grin on his face. Feeling relieved I quickened my pace towards him, my footsteps echoing in the hallway.
"Hello! How come I didn't see this room?!"
Preceding me into the room, T.V.Vasan said, "We are the first ones to arrive here!"
Nadaswaram vidwan, Seshampatti Sivalingam was seated in a sofa. Raising his hand in greeting Sivalingam asked me in chaste tamil, "Sowkyama Amma?"
Amidst exchange of pleasantries I learnt that T.V.Vasan and Seshampatti Sivalingam were sharing a hotel room in Karol Bagh.
"If not for Vasan Sir I would never have agreed to come to Delhi. I cannot manage here alone without any knowledge of English or Hindi." Sivalingam said with an innocent smile.
"You know Gaay, I told his wife that I would be his bodyguard in Delhi. I promised to take care  of her husband's safety."  T.V.Vasan laughed, shaking Seshampatti Sivalingam's hand playfully. Seshampatti Sivalingam nodded his head in innocent fervour.
I watched their exchange in amusement, marvelling at the naivette of the veteran Nadaswaram Vidwan.
Turning towards T.V.Vasan I asked,"Oh, so your wife is staying with her brother and family?"
"Ya!"
Wondering about the others who were going to join us I asked,"Who are the others?" The other artistes arrived one by one and we were all shown our assigned seats.T.V.Vasan bent to touch Sri.G.S.Mani's feet,"Namsthey Guruji!"
T.V.Vasan was shown the seat right opposite to me and typically he became the life of the meeting. His anecdotes about musicians, his experiences in the music field and his mimicry of artistes had us in splits.
"Gaay, have you heard Pantula Rama? Her music is superb."
I looked up from my file,"Yeah, I saw her perform on SVBC. Real neat!"
"You know how the announcer in AIR struggled to pronounce her surname?! You Andhra artistes sure have surnames like tongue-twisters. Thank God you call yourself E.Gayathri. What does "E" stand for anyway?" T.V.Vasan asked with a wide grin.
"Echampati".
"Better don't use it! They will call you E Chapathi Gayathri" which drew laughter from everybody including myself.
"Sir, madam, can we see this?" The official smilingly drew our attention to the job on hand.
TV Vasan remarked, "R.K.Srikanthan Mama is out of the world! What a voice he has at his age!" 
I countered, " Kalpagam Swaminathan is like him in veena."
Laying down the pen on his papers, T.V.Vasan stood up and joined his hands, prostrating in respectful acceptance of Smt.Kalpagam Swaminathan's vidwat.
Picking at his lunch, T.V.Vasan asked in general,"Did you know, they spotted a snake at the CWG village?"
"Ya, I read about it in today's paper." I replied.
Evening by 5 p.m. I waved bye to T.V.Vasan, he replied in turn,"Come a little late by 10.15, why hang around here? I will come only by 10.30!"
SEPTEMBER 28TH, 2010. 10.15 A.M
The next day as I walked in by 10.15 in the morning I was surprised to find T.V.Vasan and Seshampatti Sivalingam already seated in the room. Raising my eyebrows I asked, "I thought you said you would be coming only by 10.30!"
Laughing sheepishly T.V.Vasan replied, "No Gaay, I found transportation immediately after breakfast. Instead of waiting in the hotel we both decided to come here and do the waiting."
Sivalingam nodded in agreement.
The work proceeded smoothly, punctuated by T.V.Vasan's jokes and anecdotes, with G.S.Mani contributing his share to the conversation.
Lunch was ordered from Saravana Bhavan and not from the canteen like the previous day.
"What a relief! I am starved." I opened my parcel. Watching T.V.Vasan pick at his food, I told him assuringly, "It is from Saravana Bhavan. You will like it."
"I know, but don't know why, no appetite."
After lunch I proudly showed my grand daughter Shreeya's photo which was on my mobile to T.V.Vasan.
He looked at the photo with a smile, "Looks a lot like your daughter Deepthi."
"Deeptha", I corrected.
"Ya, I remember Deeptha used to come to office with your mother. Your grand daughter looks cute. What's her name?"
"What?! Gayathri has a grand daughter?!" G.S.Mani asked in surprise. I passed my mobile to Sri.Mani with a smile.
Post lunch dragged on. Narendran's heart surgery was brought up in discussion.
"I saw him just 4 days back, before leaving for Delhi. He is recovering well." T.V.Vasan said.
"Gaay, I heard your mother's student! What an expert your mother is in training students to concert level!"
I raised an eyebrow, "Even after she has switched loyalties and changed her style?!"
T.V.Vasan looked at me sharply, "However hard she may try, she cannot conceal all the benefits she has derived from your mother over the years!"
I smiled resignedly. G.S.Mani was telling the group about the power of affirmations.
"I am in my perfect health! I am in my perfect weight! Keep repeating this to yourselves and just watch how your health improves. You will not even put on weight."
"Oh wow!" I said.
The conversation shifted to the untimely demise of Trivandrum Sri.Venkataraman, the great veena vidwan.
"I always used to tell him to get himself a Santro. But he was loyal to his fiat. He used to chide me,'Arre what do you know about my car, just get inside and let me drive you around. You will then know about the greatness of a fiat car!' " T.V.Vasan imitated late Sri.Venkataraman and went on to describe the fatal car accident of Sri.Venkataraman.
"Ya,his accident was horrible! What a loss for the field of veena!"I said and T.V.Vasan nodded fiercely.
Glancing at my watch I saw that it was nearing 5.pm. I was impatient for a long walk to exercise my limbs and to breathe in fresh air.
Shivering, I asked, "Isn't it freezing in here?"
"Wait, let me adjust the temperature." T.V.Vasan went to the window a/c, shutting off the cooler and allowing the fan to run. Looking at me he asked,"Is it better?"
"Ya, now it is better, thank you" I said gratefully.
We signed the register and got up to leave. I told the official, "Please drop me at Khan Market. I want to walk."
The officer looked at me doubtfully,"Do you know your way from there to India International Centre (the place of my stay)?"
"Ya, I know." I assured him.
T.V.Vasan got up and stretched, looking at Seshampatti Sivalingam he asked, " what shall we do today? Even I feel like walking."
"You want to join me for the walk?" I asked T.V.Vasan.
"No, I have a slight catch here (indicating the right side of his lower back), I can't walk too much."
"Oh is it?" my brows knit in concern, I added "Please take it easy. I will see you tomorrow, bye!" I walked along with the official, waving at T.V.Vasan.
I opened the door,"Gaay" T.V.Vasan's voice stopped me in my tracks.
I turned behind to look at him.
"Want me to pick you up tomorrow?"
I thought about it before asking tentatively,"Won't it be difficult for you? You are in Karol Bagh and I am this side in Lodhi Garden."
T.V. Vasan looked thoughful. I assured him,"Please don't worry, I will hail a cab. There are plenty near IIC."
"Ok." As an after thought he added, "Call me if you change your mind."
"Sure". Not knowing that it would be my last glimpse of him, I smiled at him, "Bye!"

SEPTEMBER 29TH, 2010. 10.10 A.M Almost expecting to find T.V.Vasan and Seshampatti Sivalingam, I was surprised to find only two vidushis seated in the room.
"How come T. V.Vasan has still not arrived?!" I asked them.
They nodded in agreement, "Ya even we were saying the same..."
""Did you hear what happened??!!" An anxious voice cut into our conversation. We turned to look at the official who rushed into the room. His face was ashen and his eyes bore the expression of shock and sadness.
We asked in unison, "Yenna, what happened?!!"
"Vasan has had a massive heart attack and is admitted to a hospital!"
"Where?"..... "When?"..... "How?"...... our voices collided with each other in our anxiety.
"This morning, even I haven't got the exact picture. Seshampatti is with him in the hospital. Doctors are giving only 1% guarantee, God.......... I can't believe this!" The official sank into his seat, a look of acute pain across his face.
Trying to digest the news I spoke automatically,"I want to go to the hospital, where is it?"
The officer stopped me,"No point, he is in ICU and we will not be allowed to go inside to see him."
G.S.Mani spoke assuringly, "He will be fine and they will bring him to the ward. Let us all go to see him as soon as he is brought to the ward."
A second official voiced his support,"Nowadays everything is diagnosed as heart attack. A heartburn is interpreted as a heart attack for commercial gains. Vasan was so lively and vibrant! Nothing will happen to him. He will be fine, it must be a case of acidity."
A pall of gloom descended on us and we sat in silence, deeply absorbed in our thoughts about T.V.Vasan and the two days we had spent in his company. The silence was punctuated by phone calls from the hospital and enquiries from well wishers.
Time seemed to drag on indefinitely and at a point I saw the official seated next to me rushing out of the room, the mobile ringing in his hand.
He returned and collapsed in his seat next to me. His attitude and body language confirmed our worst fears.
Holding his head in his hands he whispered,"Vasan passed away."
All of us stared at each other in utter disbelief. Turning my head, I looked at the seat right opposite to me. It seemed to echo with T.V.Vasan's laughter and chatter, his smiling countenance flashing before my eyes.
T.V.Vasan's offer to pick me up on his way to office still ringing in my ears, I prepared to go to the hospital with the group of officials and artistes. The bumpy ride to the hospital in an old car with all the men squeezed together in the back seat seemed to stretch endlessly. I glimpsed at my raw silk saree, which looked glaringly incongruous in the given situation."Ek Do Teen............" the song playing on the sound system blared loudly, scraping on my nerves. Something snapped within me and I turned sharply towards the car driver. Sensitive to my gaze he explained, "Wo gaana bahar se hain, gaadi ke andar nahin."
Walking like a zombie along with the group through the hateful hospital corridors, I reached the ICU where T.V.Vasan had been struggling for his life for the past few hours. I could not believe the sight of his lifeless face, slightly darkened by the pain and struggle of the past few hours.
Aware of his soul hovering near the body, I tried to communicate, "You are with God."
I found his dazed wife, leaning against a wall in the far end of the hospital corridor.Tongue-tied and speechless with grief I managed to press her hand silently as she gazed at me, her eyes vacant.
Back in the office, at 5 pm after signing the register I eagerly turned the pages backwards.
The official tried to take the book from my hands, explaining "No need Madam, those are yesterday's papers."
Taking the register back from his hand I said, "I know that, I just wanted to look at T.V.Vasan's signature."
The official nodded sadly as he handed me back the register.
(Sri.T.V.Vasan told us conversationally that he would wake up at 2.30 in the morning in his hotel room to do abhishekam for "saligramam" , sandhyaavandanam and other pooja routine. He had obviously completed his pooja routine even on the day of his demise. Soul departing from the northern region of human body attains "Urdhva Lokas" [residence of the Devas] according to our Upanishads.Sri T.V.Vasan passing away in the northern region of our country and so close to the "Deva Bhoomis" [Haridwar, Rishikesh etc.,]is a sure indicator of his soul's after-life journey.)

Blissful Seva

This blessed couple and their sweet baby Aindra lead a blissful life of 'seva' in my most favourite place in the whole world-Vrindavan. This Russian gentleman and his wife, previously a Ukrainian model lead a life filled with golden moments of service to Krishna devotees and cows and other animals. Watching their 'seva' is absolutely blissful...... (courtesy- Krishna's Food&Travel).