Thiruppavai- Day2- Vayyatthu VaazhveergaaL

Raagam: GowLai

Go here to get the lyrics and meaning of each Paasuram.

Thiruppavai 2 | Music Upload

Thiruppavai- Day 1- Maargazhi thingaL

Raagam: Naattai

This is a very nice website showing the lyrics and meaning of each Paasuram.

Thiruppavai 1 | Upload Music

Thiruppavai Series- Preamble

Marghazhi is my favourite Tamizh month! Where I grew up, winter wasn't as bitter as where I live now but compared with places like Chennai and other unfortunate cities, Hosur is a very cool town.

I still remember those foggy mornings when I would pay a hurried visit to my grandma's place near our house before scurrying off to school. I would enter shouting,"Paatti innikku enna(Thiruppavai)?". My grandma, also my Guru in music, would be very busy with some household chore but would stop for a second and say, "Thodi" or "Kalyani". She remembered the day's Thiruppavai by the Ragam rather than by the words. One of her Gods in this birth was MLV whom she wanted to do a concert with before breathing her last. She had listened to almost every single keerthanai of MLV's and learnt them all with nonchalant ease. It was from her that I had listened to all the 30 verses for the very first time in my life.

Ever since, Maarghazhi Maasa Thiruppavai has become a ritual to me. Although I have never woken up as early as is instructed in the songs themselves, I would see to it that the day's Thiruppavai was sung at some point during the day. Only recently, I happened to buy the original CD of MLV's rendition and started learning it more religiously.

This year, I have been at the height of musical activity and am now motivated to start this series. Each day, I hope to sing and post the relevant Thiruppavai, giving a brief information on the Ragam and lyrics where possible.

It is a daunting task as I look at it suddenly. What if I had to go out of station suddenty or what if I caught a cold....! But I am going to try my best and complete it to the best of my singing ability and ensure to post everyday.

This is the best I can do to get people interested in the forgotten treasures of Tamil literature or think of the Lord for a brief couple of minutes everyday or revel in the abundant nectar of Classical music. To me it a special combination of all of the above tied with the silken thread of fond memories from childhood of my beloved Paatti!!!

Sandhana Kaatre

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RAJINI! :)

Although I am a hardcore Kamal fan, I felt like doing a Rajini song for his birthday. I am huge fan of his style, humility and commitment to quality. Some movies like “Aarilirundu Aruvadu varai”, “Engeyo kaetta kural” are perhaps the best of the lot to show what a fantastic actor he is. For a brief period in my life, I used to watch Rajini movies like crazy!!!!

Sukumar and I picked a different song for the occasion but in the last minute, it didn’t materialise due to an irreparably poor track. This song has always been in my list and ended up getting finished in less than 24 hours, with the huge World time difference constraint.Thanks Suku, for working under high pressure to deliver this song :D. The initial version had a technical flaw which only Vishnu could correct. This version has been beautifully mixed by Vishnu! Thanks a lot, Vicchu!

The track isn’t great. But wanted to do this song so desparately……

Movie: Thani Kaattu Raaja

Music: IR(Who else!!!)
Originally sung by: SPB, S.Janaki

Sandhana Kaatre- With Sukumar(Reuploaded) | Music Upload

Remembering the Mahaakavi- Chinnanchiru Kiliye

December 11th marks the birth of Subramania Bharathi. I wanted to sing a song to commemorate the birth of this amazing man who took the entire Tamizh state by storm.

Born in a conservative Tamil Brahmin family in Tirunelveli in 1882, this man believed in freedom of the human kind! Freedom to live a life free from fears and inhibitions. He was probably born a hundred years too early. Such were his revolutionary and radical thoughts on subjects ranging from Romance to Patriotism.

I cannot think of one modern Tamizh poet or activist who does not admire or is influenced by the works of Bharathi. After seeing this post, even if a handful of you start looking for more info on Bharathi, I will consider it a success! :)

This song is from his famous “KaNNan PaadalgaL” which is a compilation of various songs and poems written, imagining Lord Krishna in various forms- as a lover, teacher, mother, son, daughter….the list goes on. The song is about Kannan as a little daughter….

With the month of Maargazhi approaching fast, my mind starts getting tuned to the exciting early mornings that begin with Thiruppaavai recitals in praise of Krishna. I consider this song a good preamble to the same! :)

The music for this song (Movie:MaNamagaL released in 1951)was originally scored by C.R.Subbaraman whom MSV was an assitant to. He has said in an interview how he enjoyed(and at the same time, feared in respect)teaching the tune to M.L.Vasanthakumari. My rendition is nowhere near hers but it is a sincere attempt to remind myself of the greatness of people like her whom I have had the good fortune of knowing about from my own grandparents.

My throat has suddenly dried up perhaps due to the onset of harsh winter but I have done my best to do justice to this song.

Remembering Bharathi... | Music Upload

En Kanmani

It is a pleasure to bring to you another duet with Kumaran

His is probably one of the most expressive voices in the blogworld. Apart from being a perfectionist and a diligent singer, he is a fantastic human being! I have learnt so many things from him since our very first duet more than a year ago.

Movie: Chittukuruvi

Composer: Ilayaraja

Lyricist: Vaali

Singers: SPB, P Susheela.

En Kanmani - Chittukuruvi Cover - with Adithi Upload Music

Ambalapuzhe

Another Malayalam song and a very nice duet too....

Kumar Srinivasan suggested this song long ago but I didn't get the time to do it. During my exam prep, I badly needed to relax after the long hours of study so I sat down and did loads of songs in the nights. This is one such song.

It was Kumar's idea to do the sloka before the song as it appears in the song sequence. I particularly liked the humming before Charanam 1!

Movie: Adwaitham

Music: M.G.Radhakrishnan

Originally sung by: M.G.Shreekumar and K.S.Chithra

Ambalapuzhe - Adwaitham Music Upload