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The Hindu
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Mridangist AV Anand to be honoured for contributions to music
With eight decades of a musical career to his credit, mridanga Vidwan AV Anand has not only accompanied star musicians, but has also led solo percussion sessions on global music platforms. 'I have had the privilege of accompanying five generations of star artistes on my mridanga,' says Anand, whose his first concert was with Violin Chowdiah when he was barely 11 years old. After that concert, Anand says, he was mentored by Chowdiah in more than just musical finesse. Alankar Venkobachar Anand, a recipient of the Karnataka Rajya Sangeeta Vidwan, also credits his guru, Ghata vidwan KS Manjunath, for his foundation in rhythm and laya (tempo), and adds he was also inspired by mridangists Palghat Mani Iyer and Palani Subramanya Pillai. AV Anand, who just turned 90, is being felicitated on June 28 by senior musicians and percussionists at Layananda, a musical event, that will celebrate his life and achievements. 'With no dramatic walloping on his instrument, Vidwan Anand has demonstrated how his aesthetic-thumping hardly ever overwhelms the main artiste. He has passed on his signature Arai Chapu and fingering techniques to hundreds of students who are successful percussionists today,' says senior musician Ramakanth Srikantan, who has been observing Anand's talent from the 1960s. The maestro's innovative percussion compositions are now available as online lessons free of cost on his website. 'Creating the site was a two-year intellectual exercise,' says Kalashree, Anand's daughter, talking about the Herculean task undertaken by two of her father's senior students — Abhijit S and Puranika V Bhatta. The duo recorded nearly 1,000 lessons in audio and video formats and curated the content for the site. Apart from the official launch of the website at Layananda, the event will see musical tributes to AV Anand. 'One has to follow a disciplined lifestyle to become a complete musician, and AV Anand did so,' says vainika D Balakrishna, recalling his father Veena Doreswamy Iyengar's impression of Anand. 'Anand embellishes compositions to add to their melodic value, but what youngsters need to observe are his solo pieces where he packs in curious combos and technicalities,' says Balakrishna, who also plays the mridanga. Early start Hailing from Holenarsipura in Hassan District, Anand, born to Venkobachar and Nagamma, completed his BSc from Mysore University and went on to retire as senior chemist from Amco Batteries. 'I started learning the mridanga from KS Manjunath as a six year old. His teaching techniques were methodical and systematic, with complex laya patterns made easy due to his friendly formatting,' says Anand. He adds, 'At the time, I never thought I would hold on to them for decades. I not only enjoyed what came my way but also worked towards enhancing my art so I could nurture a refined subtlety to my presentations. I don't believe in dramatic makeovers, aural pleasantry is what I've always aimed at.' As a young musician, every class was an eye-opener and every concert he heard on the radio or in person opened another window of understanding. 'Laya is not just rhythm to support melody. One has to understand how to make the stream of beats flow in a manner that synchronises with the presentation. Basic lessons can take you only to a certain level, but improvisations based on your foundation and observations lead to a signature style,' says the maestro. 'When my guru had me play informally for ace performers who visited his home for practice sessions, I grabbed every opportunity to widen my repertoire. Every student has to practice, and his homework must include listening to concerts.' Within a decade of his first concert, Anand had earned the praise of musicians such as Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar, TR Mahalingam, ML Vasanthakumari, Semmangudi, Dr.M Balamuralikrishna, DK Pattammal, RK Srikantan and many others for bringing a soothing quality on to the dais. He has been invited for concerts and lecture-demonstrations in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Malaysia and Singapore. Anand is also a recipient of prestigious honours such as the Sangeeta Kalarathna by the Bangalore Gayana Samaja and the TTK Memorial Award by the Madras Music Academy amongst others. According to star vocalist MS Sheela, 'Anand's restrained touch on the mridanga, with a clarity of strokes to embellish each style of presentation, aptly mirrors his soft persona earning him accolades from all generations of artistes.' Layananda, felicitation of mridangist AV Anand, will take place at Pathi Sabhangana, NR Colony Rama Mandira on June 28, from 9.30am. Entry free. Log in to for more information
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
M.L. Vasanthakumari's melodious voice and innovative approach made her music unforgettable
She came, she sang, she conquered. July 3 marks M.L. Vasanthakumari's (MLV) 97th birth anniversary. It's a good time to look back at my guru and an extraordinary vocalist's life and art — a combination of melody, vidwat and dynamic stage presence. MLV was not only adept at singing both shudha Carnatic ragas such as Thodi and Bhairavi but also desya ragas like Behag or Sindhubhairavi. She may have imbibed this talent from her father vidwan Koothanoor Aiyaswamy Iyer, who was trained in both Carnatic and Hindustani music. Along with her mother Lalithangi, he also specialised in Purandaradasa kritis. MLV followed suit. MLV expanded the repertoire she inherited by adding compositions by Kanaka Dasa (disciple of Purandaradasa) and other Dasa Koota composers. It could be said that the family brought Dasarapadas to the concert stage. Mysore University acknowledged MLV's efforts in this regard by bestowing upon her an honorary doctorate. A versatile vocalist, MLV was trained early on by none other than G.N. Balasubramaniam, who was also a close friend of her father. It was GNB who boldly ushered in a new voice-culture based on Hindustani akaaras and nagaswaram glides (jaarus), and lightning-fast swara clusters (brighas). She carried forward his innovative approach. She was one of the first Carnatic vocalists to sing abhangs. Her kutcheris often felt wholesome with the inclusion of padams, javalis, Tevarams, Tiruppugazh and complex RTPs. She was well known for introducing rare kritis in each and every concert. Rasikas waited with bated breath to hear a new song, alapanas of rare ragas such as Sekarachandrika, Gamansrama, Revathi and Natabhairav, a pallavi in a difficult setting or a Purandaradasa ragamalika. They also enjoyed the tukkadas she presented. MLV was adventurous as a singer. For instance, at the Sangita Kalanidhi concert in 1977 at the Music Academy, she courageously took up a tricky pancha nadai (five varieties of rhythm) pallavi and executed it beautifully. Her singing drew lavish praise even from one of the sharpest critics of the time — Subbudu (P.V. Subramaniam). I began learning from MLV in 1963 at the age of 12. My mother Alamelu Viswanathan took me to her house. The singer was then getting ready for a concert. I was awestruck by akka's (as I used to call her) personality. She was wearing a beautiful silk saree, diamond ear studs and stone-embedded gold bangles. Her long well-oiled hair was neatly braided and adorned with fragrant jasmines. She heard me sing a short kriti, paused for a moment and accepted me as her disciple. My mother was overjoyed. She had a cheerful-casual disposition as a teacher. It was a 27-year-long association between the guru and the sishya. MLV's music was different from that of her contemporaries — D.K. Pattammal and M.S. Subbulakshmi. Though MLV was younger than the other two legends, she rose to great heights and the three were referred to as the 'female trinity of Carnatic music'. They began their career as gramophone-record sensations and gained unprecedented popularity in the early 20th Century. MLV was just 12 when she cut her first vinyl with 'Sarasija nabha murare' (Charukesi , Swathi Tirunal). Later, the trio forayed into singing for the cinema, with M.S. even acting in a few. As for MLV, she sang for the top heroines of the time, including Padmini, who was also her neighbour. Both shared a warm relationship. MLV divided her time among kutcheris, travel and studio recordings. One often saw her practising during her commute or in the little free time she got. Despite her hectic schedule, she was always available for her sishyas, willingly sharing her knowledge and guiding them. MLV's music was three dimensional — she had a great voice, a creative mind and a generous heart. The writer is a well-known Carnatic vocalist.
India.com
23-05-2025
- India.com
10 Fascinating Facts That Make Mysuru City A Must-Visit Destination
Located in the southern state of Karnataka, Mysuru, previously known as Mysore, is rich in history and culture. The city is known for its traditions, beauty and innovation. Aside from its royal palaces, it is home to many vibrant festivals. Here are some mind-blowing facts about this city that you probably didn't know. 1. Also Known As The City Of Palaces A lot of people refer to Mysuru as the City of Palaces and for good reason. The reason being the numerous architectural structures constructed when the Wadiyar dynasty was ruling there. Out of all these structures, myself and many others consider the Mysore Palace to be the most remarkable one. The location is praised for attracting millions of tourists on an annual basis. This grand structure not transforms into a symbol of opulence and heritage due to the fact that it contains a mix of Hindu, Muslim, Rajput, and Gothic styles, but also due to the astonishing architecture present there. 2. Historical Capital Of Karnataka The Wadiyar dynasty ruled over this place from 1399 untill India gained independence in 1947. Even though Bengaluru is the capital contended to be 'India's Start-up city', Mysuru still remains one of the most important educational and cultural places. One can't deny the reality that this historical city is famous for its grace. 3. Birthplace of the Dasara festival Mysuru is famous for celebrating Dasara (Dussehra) all over the world. In Mysuru, both Navratri and Dussehra are celebrated as the Nada Habba or state festival. It is celebrated for ten days with joy and excitement in commemoration of Goddess Chamundeshwari defeating Mahishasura demon. The highlight of the festival includes the majestic decorated elephants, musical floats, traditional music, and much more. This is a once in a lifetime event you do not want to miss! 4. Chamundi Hill and Its Legends The Chamundeshwari Temple can be found atop the Chamundi Hill, approximately 12 kilometers outside of the city center. The temple is of great divine legacy because it is dedicated to Goddess Chamundeshwari. The temple of the goddess who slaughtered the buffalo demon Mahishasura is said to be the origin of the hill's name ('Mahishur'). 5. A Pioneer in Urban Planning Mysuru was one of the first ever cities in India to adopt modern urban planning with the help of Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV. With futuristic ideas, he founded the Mysore University, the Oriental Research Institute, and the KRS Dam, all while ensuring the city's development in the early 20th century. 6. Home to India's First Private Radio Station In 1935, Akashvani Mysore, India's first private radio station, opened in Mysuru. It was started as a small broadcasting unit and later became known as All India Radio (AIR) Mysuru. Today, Akashvani still runs programs on classical music and Kannada culture. 7. Rich Wildlife Heritage People who love the outdoors are sure to visit Mysuru due to the presence of some of the finest wildlife sanctuaries in South India. Bandipur National Park and Nagarhole National Park are just a few hours drive and they provide sightings of tigers, elephants, leopards, and other exotic species. These parks are part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 8. Sandalwood and Silk Hub Mysuru is renowned for sandalwood carvings as well as silk sarees, both of which are famous around the world. The fragrant wood is carved into idols, boxes, and other decorative items while the sarees are made of silk woven with zari in a myriad of vivid colors. These products capture the city's craftsmanship and are popular treasures for tourists. 9. Educational Excellence Myusru has several premier educational institutions, such as the University of Mysore, established in 1916. It is often referred to as 'Oxford of The East,' because of its crucial contribution to higher education in pre-independent India. The city also hosts eminent institutions like the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). 10. Cycle Rickshaws and Eco-Friendly Initiatives Mysuru is one of India's cleanest cities as per the Swachh Survekshan survey. The district has promoted the use of public transport along with waste segregation and solar energy use. Cycle rickshaws are a common means of transport in the city, which helps bolster this sustainable reputation. Final Thoughts Mysuru is more than a tourist site; it is a living resource of history, art, and culture of India. Exploring the breathtaking palaces, attending the splendid Dasara events, or simply soaking in the tranquility of nature have their own charm. Mysuru never fails to captivate people by seamlessly blending tradition with modernity, making it a must visit for travelers around the world.
