Chennaiyil Thiruvaiyaaru

Its music season in Chennai and margazhi maasam (Tamil month of Dec) is the most happening month for Indian dance and music lovers all over the world. During my school days, I use to wonder how can one sit for more than 2 hours in a concert and listen to alabanai and thanniavarthanams with mostly non-tamil based carnatic songs. But, over the years, I have developed some liking towards carnatic music(thanks to my amma for inculcating that) . This year got an oppurtunity to listen to Dr. Nithyashree Mahadevan (Grand daughter of legendary carnatic vocalist D.K.Pattammal) in "kamaraj memorial hall" in Chennai. It was a mesmerizing performance from Dr.Nithyashree. I like her for also singing tamil renditions while most carnatic singers sing mostly sanskrit/telugu/kannada keerthanai's(which i dont understand the meaning!).

Another myth I had about "kathakalakshepam" (art of story telling weaving together music in concert-discourse format) was,its meant for elderly people and the people who render would also be in late 40's or 50's was broken by Smt.VishakaHari . Got a chance to listen to her "Rama Nama Prabhavam) along with my husband, inlaws and father. "She is a CA gold medalist ,young , beautiful lady ,in 9-yards silk saree and gives a splendid performance", these are some of the info myself and my husband got to know about her. It made us more inquisitive to give a try for her kathakalakshepam(for my husband, its same profession feeling i suppose!! ;))
We were very much happy to have got a chance to listen to her discourse(Thanks to my appa for gettin tickets for both the conerts). She has done lot of reading to obtain this profound knowledge on the chosen topic. She explains the meaning of the songs soo well that I have become a big fan of her(My perception is to appreciate the song one should understand the meaning of the song). There is no doubt that she is taking this art form of story telling to our young generation as well with her enthralling voice and dramatic narration. The crux of the "RamaNama Prabhavam" kathakalakshepam was to keep chanting your favourite GOD's name(namam) wherever/whenever practically possible. It would have a profound impact on your way of life. We younger generation always requires proof to believe or accept anything. She quoted examples of certain great people's lives like "Valmiki" etc to prove the same. She did mention that its scientificially proved that "Aura" of a person was different after chanting "GOD's" name. Though the discourse title was "RamaNama" , she says depending on the religion/belief of an individual, he/she can chant any name which they believe and see the impact.