WHY THIS KOLAVERI DA- ANGEL SONG

Hey folks!! This new year 2012 has begun with our latest single Why this kolaveri da- Angel Song composed, written and performed by myself and my sister/singer Charulatha Mani. This is angel song for Angel girls and has already created massive tsunamis on youtube! We have to say one thing. This song is fun so boys and girls laugh with it! I got to premiere it on live shows in my latest tour of Europe (Switzerland, France and Germany). I am happy to tell that Angel song is a huge hit among tamils and other language speaking people ! So here is the video for those who havent seen it yet.. :)) Ensooooiii

KAATRINILE VARUM GEETHAM with Srimathumitha

Hello my lovely fans, friends and well-wishers, its really been a blessed, humbling and successful November so far with my KAATRINILE VARUM GEETHAM with Srimathumitha- An evening of evergreen Bhajans and Film hits on Lord Krishna opening to a full house at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, MYlapore on November 13th. This concept has been brewing, concocting and filtering in my mind for very longtime now and i am so happy it turned out like the perfect Filter Kaapi!! (Pun intended. Jagadodharana in Kaapi was the highlight of the evening:))With my Lord Krishna's blessings the evening was an entertaining one and was presented by our trust ISAI PAYANAM TRUST which aims at serving society and Music in whatever best and beautiful way we can. The trust gave a donation to Chennai Vision Charitable Trust to sponsor cataract eye surgery of needy people. The cheque was presented to them on behalf of ISAI PAYANAM TRUST by renowned Film Maker Sri. Vasanth (Keladi Kanmani, Aasai, Nerukku Ner, Rhythm, Satham podadhe and much more) who shares special passion for indian classical and Bhajan music and has weaved beautiful songs and soundtracks (many of which are raga based) in his projects. So we thought no one could be more apt than him to be our guest for the evening!

Over the centuries, many great saints and souls have glorified krishna Bhakthi through music and their great compositions. Katrinile Varum Geetham is a journey through the many beautiful bhajans and songs of great devotee composers like Meerabai, Purandaradasa, Annamacharya, Oothukadu Venkatasubbier, Bhanudas and other contemporary composers who have described and glorified the many pastimes and leelas of the supreme lord , ocean of mercy Lord Krishna.

I commenced the evening with an ode of prayer and vandanams to Vigna Vinashak Lord Mahaganapathi with a beautiful Abhang in Durbari Kaanada (Baje Mrudang tala veena) and later went on to present beautiful bhajans like Mharare giridhar gopal, Kaatrinile VArum Geetham (Meera Movie), Maninupura dhaari (Oothukadu Venkatasubbier), Pachai maamalai pol meni( Thondaradipodi Alwar Pasuram), Kobi Rahini (Madhuvanthi- Meera Bhajan), Jagadodharana (Purandaradasa), Bhavayami Gopala Balam..

The highlight of the evening was however Brundavanathil Kannan Valarandha. These days movies are made as bi-linguals, tri-linguals with non tamil heroines being featured for a 5 scene and 3 song and dance routine, struggling to get the words right with multi take dubbing facilities and all other technological advancements. But in 1948, MS Subbulakshmi amma has etched the role of Meera becoming one with the character and charisma of the great saint Rajput princess and ardent Krishna Vratha in tamil and Hindi. Yaad aavey is the hindi version of Brundavanthil kannan valarndha. I presented Brindavanathil and transcended to yaad avey right through the middle. This was indeed a surprise thriller chillar party for the chennai music lovers. I myself enjoyed the thrill and frills(!!) in Sindhu Bhairavi so so much.

Another great news is that this show has been shot by HMV Saregama India Pvt Ltd. and will soon be available as live DVDs with CG and voice overs explaining the bhakthi bhava of each composer across centuries of glorifying Krishna as spoken by me during the show for that complete effect and mood much needed to transport each and everyone of you to His Lord's own abode!!

Hari Bol..love is God!

Some pictures. I was beautifully supported and the concert was lifted to a beautiful level by my accompanists !!

DINAKARAN DEEPAVALI MALAR SPECIAL FEATURE

Hello lovely folks and my dear fans and well wishers! Deepavali is round the corner and my bout of shopping is not just getting finished! The mood and atmosphere around me is so festive and feverish with excitement, splendour, colour, fun, happiness and joy wherever i go. It is very lovely to see such delight in everyone's face and it can just mean one thing! Diwali time!

Dinakaran Deepavalai Malar special issue is out in stands now and is filled with lovely articles, features, recipes and shopping tips and interviews of your favorite stars with cool pictures! There is also a really special musical feature about a musical instrument conservatory at Vedal, a village about 6 Km from kanchipuram. Beautiful instruments that speak volumes about the rich cultural heritage of India are preserved and displayed in a nice manner here and it is a delight to see so many interesting instruments all at one place from Thundana to veena to sitar, sarod, Sarangi to percussion instruments like Dol, Khol, Mridangam and very rare ones like Nagra, Thappai, Salangai, Jalatharangam, Gethu Vadhyam among others. I was taken on a visit to this place by the Dinakaran Team and i have researched and explained about each instrument's origin, where it is used and some film songs in which you can actually identify them!. It is a very informative yet interesting feature with my pictures! Here it is. Grab your issue of the Deepavali Malar now! Wish you all a very Happy and Safe Diwali and god bless everyone with tons of happiness and prosperity!!!

ISKCON Janmashtami concert 2011

Music is the perfect harmony of mind, heart and soul.. Music conveys every emotion, every feeling and the higher most perfection of music or its very purpose is becoming one with the supersoul, Antaratma or the divine. I consider myself extremely blessed in this aspect as Lord Krishna gives me an opportunity to please him and sing for his pleasure on his birthday, Janmashtami every year for the past two years. Without this concert, my musical journey for a particular year is never complete. Last year's concert was a selection of beautiful Bhajans of Meera bai, Annamacharya, Saint Purandaradasa. This year, when i went to discuss a theme for my concert with the head of ISKCON chennai, i was waiting outside his office. The KRISHNA VOICE monthly published by ISKCON kept on the table,caught my attention. The pages flicked by themselves due to the fan air and stopped at a particular page containing highlights of Oothukadu Venkatakavi festival that happened at Bangaore ISKCON recently. after reading that i had a desire within myself to present an OOthukadu Venkatakavi Thematic concert that year for Janmashtami.

Oothukadu Venkatakavi is a 17th century Tamil poet who was born in the village of Oothukadu.Kalinga Nardhana thillana is a master piece by the 17th century composer Sri Oothukadu Venkata subbier. His compositions are a blend of a high degree of Bhakthi towards Lord Krishna combined with highest lyrical, rhythmic and melodic sense that seems to associate itself automatically to his love for Krishna. It is said that he received his initiation in composing songs at the Kalinga Narthana temple in Oothukadu. He did not find a suitable Guru to initiate and grow his initial spark to compose. He was distraught and he pleaded and prayed to Lord Krishna himself, the master of all arts to help him. Lord krishna showered his grace upon oothukadu Venkatakavi by becoming his Guru and initiating him into music. Probably because the lord himself became Oothukadu's guru, Oothukadu's compositions can never be split into music, technique , expertise of structure and soul. It is all blended into one and the amount of bliss that the performer or the listener receives and the measure of ecstasy felt when these compositions are sung or listened to is unimaginable.. It is purely transcendental and belongs in the Vaikuntha plane.All oothukadu's compositions are written in coloquial tamil that is very simple and easy to understand and sway to even by the lay listener. It is even said that Lord Krishna himself was so drawn by Oothukadus love that he came as a little boy and sat on his lap whenever he sang Krishna's praise, pastimes and beauty. The message brought forth by his work is very simple and the absolute truth, Bhakthi and love towards Krishna.. Love for Krishna. It is pure and unadulterated by any other extravagance or pronounced purposeful technicality but at the same time, the inherent woven intricacies can be a big puzzle even to a most knowledgable musician.

I have had the good fortune of learning and singing his compositions like alaipayuthe kanna, Pal vadiyum mugam ( Natakurinji), Enna punniyam seidheno ( ritigowla), Maninupura Dhari ( Neelambari), kuzhaloothi manamellam ( Kamboji) right from a very young age and have won prizes in Oothukadu venkatakavi compositions from various sabhas for many consecutive years when i was 8, 9 , 10 , 11 years old!. I have always felt like these compositions attract me in some way, i have always connected with the soul of these compositions in the right way, they have always seemed to flow through me. Everytime i sing them, its like im only an instrument. An interior force sings them through me. I think it is the Bhakthi that runs through them that does the magic each time.

Coming back to my concert, Prabhuji surprised me.. I was Stunned when he suggested that i could do an Oothukadu Thematic concert for Krishna Jayanthi. I was very happy and surprised as i had gone in to meet him with the very same idea in my head! It was probably what Lord Krishna wanted and willed.

The concert happened at Hare Krishna tenple lawns on Krishna Jayanthi. The atmosphere was blissful, ecstatic and brimmed with love for Krishna. I could see pure devotees sitting everywhere around me. The pandhal was jam packed. Right in front of me were The heroes of the evening, Krishna and his brother Lord Balaram dressed so handsome and looking so beautiful in an apt copper sulphate blue sequined outfits that matched. Our lord had his peacock feather, flute in place. I could see baby krishna in front of me as the idol. The causes of all causes, the ocean of mercy.. the all compassionate lord who had descended on earth only to protect his true devotees and righteous souls from the hands of asura Kamsa and who finished the purpose of his avatara by taking sides with pandavas and vanquishing the evil kauravas at Kurukshetra, who blessed mankind by speaking the Bhagvad gita, the ultimate essence of all vedas, all shastras was born that day. It was special . It was beautiful. I started the evening with Krishnashtakam sloka and sang many beautiful songs of Oothukadu venkatakavi. The highlight of the evening was kalinga Nardhana Thillana.This Kalinga Narthana thillana describes the cosmic dance of the original master of all fine arts, Lord krishna atop the thousand headed deadly serpent Kaliya in River Yamuna. It is evident that the composer has envisioned this dance in a high state of bliss. It is simply awe inspiring with its complex jathi patterns and dramatic pauses. Every listener is sure to be transported to the very banks of River Yamuna where Krishna controlled the serpent Kaliya from polluting the river and at the same time gave pleasure to his devotees by exhibiting this heavenly dance.

I could feel the oneness of energy of everyone single person in the audience, we could all feel and see the dance right in front of us. Many of them cried. I was feeling blessed because Krishna gave them and me transendental ecstasy by transporting us all to vrindavan and showing us his dance. This moment was extraordinary.

The Kalinga Nardhana thillana and other slokas on Lord Krishna with contenporary back ups will soon feature in My upcoming album.

Hari Bol
Hare krishna

ITS VELAYUTHAM TIME!!

Hello my lovely people!
Its been so long since i blogged so first let me apologise for that. But im coming back here only to give some great news to all of you! this time its BIG! yeah, i am talking about the biggest movie and the most sensational songs thats on everybodys lips, Vijays Velayutham. I have sung Rathathin rathame song in the movie in hit maker Vijay Antonys music. Its a lovely song with very energising lyrics by Annamalai and pulsating Rhythms.

The audio of Velayutham was launched in a very innovative way at CSI grounds, Madurai amidst lakhs of enthusiastic and devoted Ilayathalapathy fans. unlike the used up and beaten way of launching audios at a theatre in chennai by VVIPS, Vijay himself went amidst the crowd and picked two fans, a little girl and a boy to launch unveil the velayutham audio. It was a really cute gesture given the fact the stars are stars because of fans and people who love them!

Music composer Vijay Antony sang 'Naa adicha thangamaata' from vettaikaran and the finale was a live performance of Velayutham songs. It was party time when Chillax, Sonna puriyadhu and Rathathin Rathame were performed. Really, the welcoming and the vibes that we all recd from the crowd cant be described in words..if at all, it may be then there is just one word to describe it, feverish!

Here are some pictures that i want to share with all of you.. thanks again for your love and support!

Interview for DEVI Magazine ( Tamil)

Posted above, is my most recent interview for Tamil weekly DEVI. Here, i share with all music lovers and my fans, my humble journey as a playback singer for the past 10 years and my music journey from my childhood. So read on, and know more about me!

YUVAN YUVATHI

Mayakka Oosi undhan paarvai aachu, adhu thaaki thaaki moorchai aanene~~
Come, drown in love with my new song from Yuvan Yuvathi in Vijay Antony's music. This marks my first song in his music and i am really thrilled and happy that mayakka oosi is my first release in Vijay Antony's music. I have been waiting for a fine song in his music for very long and mayakka oosi is THE song. Its a very soothing romantic ballad with Hosanna fame Vijay Prakash. The lyrics are noteworthy and menned by Kalaikumar. Yuvan Yuvathi is touted to be a romantic caper with Bharath and Reema kallingal playing Yuvan and Yuvathi respectively!! Let Mistletoe grow around you as you listen to this romantic song, think of THE special person in your life and lose yourself in LOVE!!