That was a good one

I feel that carnatic music is fast becoming a fading art form and the primary reason for that has been the inability of carnatic music to appeal to the common man. To appreciate a carnatic music concert, you necessarily need to know a few basic things, which makes it less appealing to many. It is for this reason that I like A.R. Rahman and Ilayaraja, who have popularized Raagas and they have, on multiple occasions, acknowledged the versatility of carnatic music.

Popular carnatic raagams in cinema music are kalyani, mohanam, reethigowlai and perhaps a few hundred others. Very good adaptations which have bowled over the common people are:

1. Reethigowlai Raagam - Azhagaana Ratchasiye from Mudhalvan, Kadhal Neruppu from Veyyil, Sudum Nilavu from Thambi and Chinna Kannan Azhaikiran from Kavikuyil ( a really old movie)

2. Abheri - Kannodu Kanbathellam from jeans.

3. Sahana -Azhage Sugama from Parthale Paravasam

4. Sri Raagam - Theendai from En Swasa Katre ( a very tough raaga adapted brilliantly)

5. Revathi - Kaaka song from Naan Avan Illai (Thanks to a knowledgable friend of mine who told me this)

6. Yaman Kalyani - Varaagha Nadhikarai Oram from Sangamam

7. Mohanam - Paakadhey Paakadhey in Gentleman

8. Naatakurinji - Kannampoochi yenada from Kandukondein Kandukondein (it has some traces of Sahana in some places in between)

9. Ananda Bairavi - Mettu Podu from Duet

10. Sindu Bharaivi - Enge Enadhu Kavidhai from Kandukondein Kandukondein.

This list is just an arbitrary one. If you want to know more, click here. (Thanks to Hawkeye)

Now coming to my main theme, I always felt that carnatic music singers themselves did not do much to make it appealing to the common man. For all the carnatically-challenged souls like me, the raaga alapanais and other such intricacies are lost in the quest for Vadai and badam halwa being served outside.

In this scenario, I heard the Maadu Meikkum Kanne song in Youtube and was really felt that songs like these will definitely go a long way in helping common people get attracted to carnatic music. For all those who want to give it a try, I have added the esnips link (courtesy: Blogeswari).

Madu Meikum Aruna ...

If you really want to know how it could change the atmosphere in a concert, look at this video and the violin vidwan's bit too!




I loved this song and incidentally when I spoke to my carnatically - challenging sister, she told that this song was written for the younger lot - especially the 5 - 7 year olds who are learning music. Perhaps I have one strong claim to being young! :p