Well, one of those days when something strikes you and stirs you up so much that you can't not make note of it.
Years ago, one of my gurus was teaching me a raga called 'Todi'. The most remarkable thing that he told me then was that people can do an alaap in this raga for days. I was, by then singing light music and couldn't have thanked my carnatic roots enough for helping me time and again. I mean, with that kind of a maturity level, you understand what it meant to work over a raga, its nuances and essence over days. I was astonished, I still am. It can be done is alright, but how the hell do you do it!
Today, nothing much has changed. Although, it was a different raga. Madhuvanthi. Its a brilliant composition by St. Purandaradaasa, set in this raga that is mostly responsible for this writing. The thing with art is, the more you discover, the more humbling it is.
The kruthi itself, karuniso krishna is a cry to lord Krishna, coaxing him to shower a little of his blessings to his staunch devotee. I'm not a strong believer of God as a mud idol. I go to temples when there is a concert arranged, or when I need peace of mind. God, for me has always been some entity that reflects in truthfulness and honesty.
What this particular raga did today was something that happens to everyone, sometime or the other in life. You practice religiously the previous day of class, not being scared that the guru would reprimand you, but because you want to be in a fairly relatively comfortable position when trying out different sangathis in front of the guru, which never really works. Despite being fairly satiated with efforts, you start singing, and suddenly, you realise the essence you left un-captured in your rendition. It would either be the bhaava, or sadly, the shruthi itself.
Then it occurs that music is an ocean. Its not as easy as making 50 lakh today and buying a Range Rover. You feel like getting more inspired and listen to more works. Feel orgasmically drawn to something magical. Sit down to practice. Realise that so much potential is hidden to be tapped. In terms of understanding, in terms of exploring. That humbling experience is something that only art can provide. I feel its more like the passionate folk pursuing their PhD. I know for a fact that research, as it is, is an art and those passionate don't pursue it for money.
On the materialistic side, you have all, if I may adulterated versions of it. Most done for TRP (Target Rating Point) [I swear I had to google to see what it meant], or for pride and glory. But honestly, in today's competitive world, and the short term attention span public has, you get the acclaim and name. It stays for months at the most. Then? You are lost in the imbroglio. Oh, and you don't even make enough to get the damned Rover.
As art lovers in abundance, its the responsibility of artists to stay true to themselves and yearn for the humbling experience atleast once in a while. You don't have to walk barefoot for it.
As for gurus. They are simply not called so. When people say, you can pick it up on your own, don't learn professionally, trust me, they are wrong. A spiritual connect can't be offered by 'learning on your own'.
Well, so much for now. Somehow after bouts of such thoughts, I wanna do so much in life. But the day ends, gotta travel 58 km in the morning to work. This is life. Its all about striking a balance.
Years ago, one of my gurus was teaching me a raga called 'Todi'. The most remarkable thing that he told me then was that people can do an alaap in this raga for days. I was, by then singing light music and couldn't have thanked my carnatic roots enough for helping me time and again. I mean, with that kind of a maturity level, you understand what it meant to work over a raga, its nuances and essence over days. I was astonished, I still am. It can be done is alright, but how the hell do you do it!
Today, nothing much has changed. Although, it was a different raga. Madhuvanthi. Its a brilliant composition by St. Purandaradaasa, set in this raga that is mostly responsible for this writing. The thing with art is, the more you discover, the more humbling it is.
The kruthi itself, karuniso krishna is a cry to lord Krishna, coaxing him to shower a little of his blessings to his staunch devotee. I'm not a strong believer of God as a mud idol. I go to temples when there is a concert arranged, or when I need peace of mind. God, for me has always been some entity that reflects in truthfulness and honesty.
What this particular raga did today was something that happens to everyone, sometime or the other in life. You practice religiously the previous day of class, not being scared that the guru would reprimand you, but because you want to be in a fairly relatively comfortable position when trying out different sangathis in front of the guru, which never really works. Despite being fairly satiated with efforts, you start singing, and suddenly, you realise the essence you left un-captured in your rendition. It would either be the bhaava, or sadly, the shruthi itself.
Then it occurs that music is an ocean. Its not as easy as making 50 lakh today and buying a Range Rover. You feel like getting more inspired and listen to more works. Feel orgasmically drawn to something magical. Sit down to practice. Realise that so much potential is hidden to be tapped. In terms of understanding, in terms of exploring. That humbling experience is something that only art can provide. I feel its more like the passionate folk pursuing their PhD. I know for a fact that research, as it is, is an art and those passionate don't pursue it for money.
On the materialistic side, you have all, if I may adulterated versions of it. Most done for TRP (Target Rating Point) [I swear I had to google to see what it meant], or for pride and glory. But honestly, in today's competitive world, and the short term attention span public has, you get the acclaim and name. It stays for months at the most. Then? You are lost in the imbroglio. Oh, and you don't even make enough to get the damned Rover.
As art lovers in abundance, its the responsibility of artists to stay true to themselves and yearn for the humbling experience atleast once in a while. You don't have to walk barefoot for it.
As for gurus. They are simply not called so. When people say, you can pick it up on your own, don't learn professionally, trust me, they are wrong. A spiritual connect can't be offered by 'learning on your own'.
Well, so much for now. Somehow after bouts of such thoughts, I wanna do so much in life. But the day ends, gotta travel 58 km in the morning to work. This is life. Its all about striking a balance.
