1 z SRUTI August 2011 south indian classical music and dance magazine Issue 1 October 1983 Welcome to the brand new pages of SRUTI. In the tradition of a sutradhara, I have the pleasant task of telling you what lies in store for you. The lead group of articles on the phenomenon of Mandolin Srinivas shows that ours is a new kind of magazine. Not only do we bring you a fact-filled report on the musical prodigy (Are of Triumph: A Prodigy at Play, p.3) but we place his advent and achievement in perspective through three related articles: What Makes or Unmakes a Prodigy (p.4): The Twain Meet Again (p.7) and A Sextet of Sensations (p.12). Rounding out this lead group is a column by guest writer K.S. Mahadevan (p. 1 1) and a critique of Srinivas as a musician which appears elsewhere (p.42). In this inaugural issue, we also offer the first in a series of in-depth profiles of personalities of the world of South Indian classical music and dance – profiles of a kind you would not have encountered in any other magazine in India. The profile of D.K. Pattammal, under the caption Trailblazing Traditionalist (p.20) will be concluded in the November issue. Along with the profile . we offer this time a critical appreciation written by Contributing Editor K.S. Muthu- raman (p.36) and also an interview with Pattammal by another singer, Sita Rajan (On Pallavi Singing, p.38). Other music-related items are critiques with the unique SRUTI angle. Besides the review of Srinivas as a musician which I already mentioned, you will also find a comprehensive piece on T.M. Thiagarajan. These appear in the section entitled Sounds of Music (p.41) which will be a regular feature. The corresponding feature on dance, Images of Dance (p.45) this time focusses on the art of Lakshmi Viswanathan. This dancer appears again in another aspect, as an interpreter of a Kshetragna padam, which she says is one of her favourites. For this lovely picture-spread, see the centrefold. Don’t miss, too, an interview with Sonal Mansingh, the Delhi based exponent of Bharatanatyam and Odissi (p.18). M. Krishnan, a man of letters and lenses whose name is commonly linked with wildlife, has made two contributions to this flying starter of an issue. As part of the DKP/50 package, we present an amusing story in which he recalls an incident involving Semmangudi and Pattammal (p.37) while we bring you an outstanding photo image of Nataraja which this outstanding lensman rcorded in the Pudukottai museum under trying circumstances. By of way news, we bring a report on a Dance Festival With A Difference (p.14) and another on the migration, albeit seasonal, of high-flying musicians and dancers to the greener pastures of Europe and America (News and Notes, p.2). And don’t miss Anami’s scoops (p.47). The cover photo of DKP is by the Waran Bros. The Last Page this time belongs to the Publisher who tells us how this issue was put together, while the chief takes a leaf out of his brother’s book to explain why the magazine has been started (inside back cover). Oh yes, I almost forgot to introduce myself. Well, call me “Alapana” Narasimhan Avenue Madras 600 01S India Lalgudi Jayaraman and G.J.R. The Sikkil Sisters, Kunjumani Krishnan (violin) gone to the and Neela (flute) off in the other U.S. and Canada at the invitation direction to Malaysia and Singa- of Carnatic Music Association pore, accompanied by V.V. Ravi of North America. About ten (violin), Percussion support by to fifteen performances slated. mridangist Karaikudi Krishna- Mridangam accompaniment by murthi who lives and teaches in Tiruchi Sankaran, who teaches Singapore. During two-week in Canada or by T. Rangana- visit, four public recitals in Globetrotters than who is at the Wesleyan Malaysia, four in Singapore and Arangetram University in Middletown, a radio as well as a television Alarmel Valli (bharatanatyam Connecticut. Lalgudi Senior performance in the island state. Usha Rani, daughter of made it a point to call Assistant andodissi) off to the U.K., The Bombay Sisters, Saroja and mridangist Guruvayur Dorai, Editor Ganapathi before Europe, the United States and Lalitha (vocal) tripping to the disciple of Indira Rajan, in leaving for the U.S. to convey Canada, returning first week of Middle East (Dubai and Madras on 3 September. ' his best wishes for SRUTI's December. Indira Rajan, Bahrain) Saroja's daughter Rama, daughter of R. Thyaga- success. nattuvanar, in the accompany- Jayantasri Rajaram, disciple of rajan, disciple of Pushkala ing party. Royal Tropical K.V. Narayanaswamy and Vazhuvoor Sam Raj, giving Gopal, in New Delhi on 25 Institute, Amsterdam; Padma Narayanaswamy (vocal) bharatanatyam performnces in September. Mandapa, an organization also to the U.S. for a string of both places. which features Indian arts, and Aparna, daughter of K. ' performances. Accompanists: Sivasubramanian. and Saranya. the Indian Embassy in Paris; and Parur M.S. Anantharaman for various ethnic Indian organi- progeny of C,R. Jagannathan, (violin) and Tiruehur Narendran disciples of K.J. Sarasa, in zations in the U.S. and Canada. (mridangam). Some 30 to 35 recitals in all, Coimbatore on 27 September. N. Ramani and son R. Thyaga- plus some television appea- T.\. Krishnan. accompanied rajan (flute) also to the U.S.. rances. by daughter Viji Narayan and with R. Ramesh providing son Sriram (all violins), leaving Chitra Visweswaran (bharata- rhythmic escort. for Kuala Lumpur on 19 natyam) off on a three-and-a- Rajeswari Padmanabhan October, The trio performs at half month tour of Europe, the (veena) touring the U.S. with the diamond jubilee celebra- U.S. and Canada, returning Ramnad Raghavan. resident tions of KL's Sangita Abhivrutti third week of December. Kev First Subscriber . mridangist. Sabha. then elsewhere in performance at the International T.R. Subrahmanyam. vocalist Malaysia and also in Singapore. Fair in Lausanne. Switzerland, Recitals of these musicians in and university teacher resident Karaikiuli Krishnamurthi again followed by recitals in other Swiss; America organized mostly bv in New Delhi, first to write out provide-- percussion support. cities and in West Germany i ndian associations or sabhas and a cheque in favour of SRUTI Duration of trip: about ten days. France, the IJ S. and Canada. attended mostlv bv South even before we had opened a Tiruehur V. Ramachandran also About 45 recitals in all. inclu- Indians. An important excep- bank account. Thank you ding some 25 in the Americas. tion this time the Navaratn participates in the celebra- TRS: (.. ciebration (19-23 September) tions of (he Sangita Abhivrutti organized bv the ( enter for the Sabha in KL. with TNK and Arts of the Wesle\an Universiu. Krishiiamurthi providing instru- Kev person at the Center none ment;!! support Other recitals other than Jon Higgins Bhaga- being planned to coincide with vathar. Sukanya, a bharata visit i'or this purpose. natvarn dancer and Prabha Atre. well-known Hindustani classical mijs>,. sinaer featured in the 'Celeh-i'ion, in addition to the vocalist-., the violinists, the I'. Srinivas {mandolin) performs flautist- .in«.l the veena plaver at a World Music Festival in from the south. Berlin on 29 October. Arc of Triumph: A Prodigy At Play i play all the time 1 am busy with the stuff of enchantment and the materials of fairyland my works transcend utility i am the artist a creator and a demi god From a spider and a fly by Don Marquis aster Srinivas. as the prefix implies, Mis just a young lad: his mandolin is toy-like. But place the lute in his hands and what we have is really not a child at play, though it is that in one sense, but a little master making marvellous music as if it is child's play. A child at play, making it seem that top-class music is child's play: a prodigy at play. Fver since last December when he burst into limelight. Srinivas has been on a conquering trail, tracing an arc of triumph on a goldleaf map. His concert on 28 December 1982 at the Indian Fine Arts Society was not really his first public solo recital — he had appeared a year earlier at a festival organized in memory of Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar in Madras — but it was this that catapulted him on the path of fame and fortune. Since then he has given numerous recitals, criss-crossing South India and once venturing even as far as Rourkela in the north. The scuttlebutt in the music community is that the young lad gives more than twenty recitals a month and that he is "solidly" booked for three to four months ahead. Legends quickly grow around such phenomena as Srinivas. but his father who manages the young prodigy's career says that Srinivas gives only about ten performances in a month. Watch young Srinivas at play and it is at )nce evident why he is the most popular performer today, out-drawing such In the world of objective who asserted at a recital the night before s a musical prodigy, Mandolin Janmashtami, as if it were a commonplace ASrinivas belongs to an elite group of reality, he is playing a fact, that Srinivas is Krishna the Child individuals with extraordinary musical diminutive foreign instrument God himself playing, recalling the adula- ability who began to compose or give called mandolin, but what tion piled on Flute Mali in his youth when public performances before the age of he is really doing is playing he was described as Kaliyuga Bala- twelve.