Monday, September 26, 2011

Eternity visits Los Angeles….Rendezvous with Dr. BalaMuraliKrishna..Living legend of Carnatic Music…

There can be no words to describe the enthralling performance of a great legend of our times….I have been watching him from the first Mile Sur Mera Thumara days in 80’s and watching him live is nothing but a great blessing.

 
A multifaceted personality, a gifted soul, a rendition that is equivalent to the supreme souls of Indian Classical Music and he joins the connoisseurs of Carnatic world including Annamaya, Thyagabhrama, and so many other legends. The simplicity of the man in his smile, the beautiful artistic interaction with his fans…and the competitions he brings in with his accompanists is a visual treat, a divine grace and above all a soul stirring dive into the music of Carnatic songs….the bhavas, the ragas and the samskruthi….. there can be no par!....I am so glad I was able to show this great legend to my child, a budding artist and she would realize what an opportunity it was to see him singing sitting in the first few rows… an awakening experience


His first opening song of ‘Endaro Mahanubhavulu….’ ,. I felt amongst all, he was the biggest Mahan!. ‘Samajavaragamana…’ made the crowd sway in an eternal ecstacy..and ‘Akilandeswari’ evoked goddess Durga just before the duga puja celebrations week to begin..and people were waiting for him to continue…when he smiled and said ‘over’….’Muruga…. ‘was an wonderful performance having B.U.Ganesh Prasad on Violin and Tanjavur K Murugaboopathy on Mridangam…what a great percussionists he had..young talents and wonderful. Saraswathi who gave the introduction of his songs and anecdotes was not only perfect…but very gifted. His song in Hindi calling Bala Gopala…was taking us all into the world of Bridhavanam…just can feel lord krishna dancing in the corners of the fully packed high school auditorium in Norwalk, Los Angeles, CA here in USA.

The one mystical minute was when he explained his love of travelling in train between ‘Bejawada’ to ‘Madras’ now called Vijayawada and Chennai…. And the way he recited all the stations in a musical way…as a child who took this route for several years, I could be nothing but overwhelmed..shouting my town, my city, my route,…my maestro! He ended the recitation like a child who finished his first poem recitation and smiled in fact giggled with blushes….it was such a treat to watch him like a little child feeling pride and happy after every song…such a humility and happiness in an artist of his caliber is a rare phenomenon. His ‘Tilana’ was the last song in the concert and it made us feel like wanting to dance…and I could see all people around tapping their feet in a happiness….the real happiness and success of an artist is when he can get his audience spell bound and rejoice in the presence forgetting everything else around and stay glued to the seat and eyes on him all the moments.

At the age of 81 his ardent dedication and physical strength, is only possible when the soul is truly submerged in the endeavor he is doing…and it is his inner enormous love for music that is giving him that ability to manage the pressure of concerts and sitting down for 3 hours continuously ….In all ways…for us who are blessed to be alive during his times, who are privileged to get to see him and enjoy his life….it gives a greater meaning of what we called is eternity of Indian Music….a lasting memory of happiness for rest of our lives. Long live Sir,…and hope you would bless many more children around you to see this mystical performances….To me, you are an eternal bliss

And for those who were were wondering, what are the stations he mentioned between Vijaywada and Chennai , here is the list:

Vijayawada Junction

Krishna Canal Junction

Kolanukonda

Peddavadiapudi

Chiluvur

Duggirala

Kolakalur

Tenali Junction

Tsunduru

Modukuru

Nidubrolu

Machavaram

Appikatla

Bapatla

Stuartpuram

Ipurupalem

Ipurupalem Halt

Chirala

Jandrapeta

Vetapalemu

Kotta Pandilla Palli

Kadavakuduru

Chinna Ganjam

Uppugunduru

Raparla Halt

Ammanabrolu

Karavadi

Ongole

Surareddipalem

Tanguturu

Singarayakonda

Ulavapadu

Tettu

Kavali

Sri Venkateswarpalem

Bitragunta

Alluru Road

Talamanchi

Kodavaluru

Padugupadu

Nellore

Nellore South

Vedayapalem

Venkatachalam

Manubolu

Gudur Junction

Odur

Pedapariya

Nayadupeta

Doravari Chatram

Polireddipalem

Sullurupeta

Akkampet

Tada

Arambakkam

Elavur

Gummidipundi

Kavaraippettai

Ponneri

Anuppambattu

Minjur

Nandiyampakkam

Attippattu

Ennore

Kathivakkam

Wimco Nagar

Tiruvottiyur

V.0.C. Nagar

Tondiarpettai

Korukkupettai Junction

Basin Bridge Junction

Chennai Central•


It took me around 7 hours always to travel this distance but surely would take more than that to get these names byheart .....and doubt it if I can ever can :-) 

Friday, September 2, 2011

A Wave of Friendship

They came into our lives so simply, just like any other friends
like a big wave of real and close friendship,  possibly with no ends
Just like the flocking birds on the tree, whispering sweet nothings
they came in our lives like the bleaming winds and friendship waves...

Like all friends did and do, we spent time giggling for everything
Eating together, sleeping under the same roof, and cheering Indian Cricket....
Movies, Games and Fun, and times sat on the terrace to cry together tooo....
Sometimes just sitting together and doing just nothing....

The day came when we made others feel jealous of us by all means
and so did some wicked minds that slowly came closer in between
Ofcourse, thats what made us think what we mean really to each other
as we overcame all obstacles to an real good friendship....

As I said, flocking birds...as they found a new tree away from our shore
and it was time for them to fly, and make us search for them tommorrow
We realize how much they were part of us unknowingly everyday
And just with all thoughts, and sinciere prayers that they would just do ok

Where ever they go, what ever they would endeavor
who ever their new friends are going to be
We would cherish every day and every moment spent
for friendship is far beyond the test of time or distance

Gonna Miss you Vasudha and Ram...But for sure you would live in our hearts ever!  Thank you for the wonderful time we spent together.....will wait for such a time again.