Letters
Where is the message?
Sir, — This is with reference to the article, `For that touch of innovation' (Friday Review, October 13). The author has handled the subject splendidly which serves as guidance to the vocalists desirous of becoming Harikatha performers and are already presenting thematic concerts. As rightly pointed out in the article, music gets more preference in the Harikathas performed by vocalists-turned Harikatha performers.
A close observation of the Harikathas performed by such artistes reveals that they are unable to maintain the cogency in the main subject, especially when they are narrating upa-kathas and the incidents they came across to create a humorous atmosphere to take the audience with them throughout.
Harikatha doyens from Mangudi Chidambara Bhagavathar to Tiruvidaimarudhur T.S.Balakrishna Sastrigal were able to maintain the glory of the art in view of their deep knowledge in Sanskrit, Tamil and other languages connected with epics, literature as well as music, both in theory and practice. Most of these exponents were honoured by the Music Academy and other sabhas in Chennai, and other capital cities in India.
Devotees/rasikas who attended the Harikathas of these expertises used to carry with them a holy and moral message to be followed which is lacking these days.
It should also be noted that discourses (upanyasams) are more popular than Harikathas as the latter is not quite attractive to be taken as the exclusive profession. Therefore, the practice of the presentation of thematic concerts and lecture-demonstrations not only during annual music festivals but also in the monthly programmes conducted by the sabhas are gaining importance and to a certain extent, private TV channels also play a notable role in this direction.
N. Srinivasan,
Chennai.
Pleasant surprise
Sir, — I read with much interest the article, `Strikes a balance' (Friday Review, Oct. 13).
Sri Umayalpuram Sivaraman, in addition to the talents on playing the instrument and the respect he commands in the field, has a very good relationship with the organisers of the sabhas.
On December 24, 2005, at the music concert of Malladi Brothers held under the auspices of the Indian Fine Arts Society, T. Nagar, Sivaraman played mridangam. Prior to the conclusion of the programme, the Honorary Secretary of the institution spoke in praise of the concert with special reference to the mridangam artiste. When he made a request to the vocalists to sing the javali composed by Tirupathy Narayanaswamy, the secretary himself sung the first line of the javali, `Vahaladi' (Behag), repeating it twice. To the surprise of the audience and the vidwans present on the dais, Sivaraman played mridangam for the secretary's rendition of the line, which made all of them cheer and clap.
Sivaraman's jealousy-free nature deserves appreciation.
S. Narayanaswamy,
Chennai.
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