Archives: January, 2010

If told that there is to be a screening of a film on GNB, one might ask, and with justification, if there is anything new to add, considering all the articles that have been written about GNB. That's precisely how this writer felt when asked to attend the screening and release of review the film ‘Isai Vaseekaran,' DVD, written and directed by S.B. Khanthan, the DVD of which was released on January 4 at the German Hall, as part of the ongoing GNB centenary celebrations.

However, the film was not a rehash of facts already known about GNB. It documents the thoughts of senior vidwans such as Lalgudi on GNB's music as well as those of younger ones including like T.M. Krishna and Sanjay. Sanjay mention how GNB showed that ragas could be developed using little phrases, instead of only through akharas. While GNB made this seem easy, it isn't.

The Hindu News

Dr.M.Balamuralikrishna was born in Sankaraguptam, Andhra Pradesh. His father was a well known musician and could play the flute, violin and the veena and his mother was an excellent veena player. He lost his mother when he was just a baby and since then, he was taken care by his father. Observing his inner penchant towards music, his father put him under the tutelage of Sri Parumpalli Ramakrishna Pantulu. Sri Pantulu was a direct descendant of the sisya parampara of Saint Thyagaraja. Under the guidance of this great man, the gifted child had no difficulty in learning the divine music.

Narasimhachari and Vasanthalakshmi are often acclaimed by the press as the 'Made for each other' couple. Narasimhachari is a reputed music composer, choreographer, concert musician, Nattuvanar, Mridangam player, performing artiste (Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi) and a guru of outstanding capacity. His equally talented wife Vasanthalakshmu, is a Lyricist, composer, choreographer and excellent Nattuvanar.

KV Narayanaswamy was born in Palghat, Kerala, India, in a family of continuing music tradition. His father Fiddle Viswanatha Bhagavatar was a violinist of repute, his grandfather Narayana Bhagavatar and his great-grandfather Viswam Bhagavatar were also musicians. His first guru was mridangam vidwan Palghat Mani Iyer. He had further training, first under C.S. Krishna Iyer,