ISAI CAFE- MUTHURAMAN/KARTHIK SPECIAL

This week's Isai Cafe brings you lovly most wanted classics of Father- son acting sensations Muthuraman of the Black White era and Karthik, the handsome and charming hero of colour celloloid era. Muthuraman was known to be a very gentlemanly non-fussy good looking hero who carved his own niche in the hearts of Tamil cinema fans. muthuraman's physique and good looks and features were unparalled despite the dominance of mega stars liek Sivaji and MGR. Muthuraman's forte was substantial feel-good cinema and rib-tickling comical flicks like Bama Vijayam, Server Sundaram, kasedhan Kadavulada.Muthuraman hit an all time high on popularity with Sridhar's Kadhalikka neramillai. he was any director's pick for jolly and happy-go-lucky roles. Muthuraman also paired opposite Jayalalitha in many unforgettable movies Suriyakanthi playing the quintessential husband filled with confusions and complexes ( the sella kaasu ) dialogue is very famous!

Karthik followed his father's well carved path. He was introduced by ace director Bharathiraja with the movie 'Alaigal Oivadhillai' that has become an ode to tamil cinema given the sensitive subject of inter-religion love, karthik-radha sizzling chemistry and mesmerising music by Isaignai Ilayaraja who always seemed to have a soft corner for karthik. He has crooned many of Karhtik's trademark songs like raja Rajadhi( agni natchathiram), Veetukku veetukku( Kizhakku vaasal). Like his father, Karthik later on moved to the comedy territory with blockbuster Ullathai alli thaa directed by Sundar C. His accent, innocent- ignorant- child like roles and comedy timing has won him several fans, accolades and unforgettable movies.

Filter kaapi- Sindhubhairavi
Feat. Karunai deivame, Katrinile varum geetam



Black Coffee- Muthuraman special

Feat. Raja raja sree, Mouname paarvayal, Enna Paarvai, Sedhi kettoo



Cappuccino- Karthik special

Feat. Ayiram thamarai, Oru poongavanam, Nenjukkulle (Ponnumani)



Filter kaapi- Sindhubhairavi
Feat. Shenbagame, Kaanthamam,Manappara maadu katti



Black Coffee- Muthuraman Special

Feat. poga poga theriyum,Jambulingame, Varavu ettana, Avalukkum thamizhendru





Cappuccino- Karthik Hits

feat. Raj rajadhi, Veetukku veetukkum,Vaavaa anbe

Bhakthi Sangeeth- Live concert on Janmashtami

Hey all, some great news here!! Now you can listen to all the songs from my latest devotional offering Bhakthi Sangeeth- A live recording of 14 classic Bhajans on lord Krishna by various conposers like Meera Bai , Saint Annamacharya, Saint Purandarasasa and Alwars. Tune in and soak into transcendental Krishna Bhakthi! Happy listening!

Mere tho Giridhar Gopal

Hey folks! Its been quite a while since i have blogged. I was pretty shaken by the death of one of the greatest singers of our times- Swarnalatha, Lady with a golden voice. Well , anyway this post is about my recent concert for Janmashtami at ISKCON Hare Krishna temple, Thiruvanmiyur on September 2nd. I am a devotee of lord Krishna and share a special bond with the lord. the connect that i feel when i render Bhajans on lord Krishna is not quite explainable in words. So when i was approached by ISKCON to do a 2 hour concert of Bhakthi Sangeeth on Lord Krishna, i jumped at it.
This was organised on Janmashtami, Krishna's birthday. So it gave me more joy and happiness to be blessed enough to perform for the lord's pleasure on this auspicious occassion. The Hare Krishna temple at first seaward road is located by the seashore. It is a very beautiful place surrounded by palm trees, pools, green lush lawns and the lord's temple to crown all this beauty.

a pretty pandhal was put up and on the stage the decorated idols of Krishna Balarama were placed amidst much paraphernelia. krishna Balarama looked really beautiful dressed in specially designed Pink and blue outfits that made them look really smart and attractive!!

I was accompanied by sunder on the tabla, Shri. Subbu on the keys and shri. Muthukumar on the flute. I planned this concert as an evening of Bhakthi sangeeth featuring an assortment of Krishna Bhajans by various composers who have glorified krishna Bhakthi through decaded like Meera Bhai, Purandaradasa,annamacharya and the Alwars , the noted , among many great composers.

I began the evening with the evergreen katrinile varum geetham from Meera, immortalised by Bharat Ratna Smt. MS Subbulakshmi. I felt this would be a fitting beginning to the concert. This piece in Sindhubhairavi Rag was the first song that i performed on Tv show sapthaswarangal way back in 1997 when i was a kid. This earned me world fame even as a child. i guess the power of the song is such.I have always loved performing this song .

Next came Hey hare dayala, a heart wrenching Bhajan in Rag Patdeep from Meera movie. The "jaya meera prabhu meera" chanting at the end never fails to take devotees to another world of transcendental bliss across the realm of Bhakthi.

I performed songs like Nanda Nandana the famous meera Bhajan, Mharo Pranam- made famous by Hindustani stalwart Kishori amonkar, Mera Shaam thu in pantuvarali, Brundavanathil, Thane Kayi Kayi, Baro Krishnayya, Dolayam and Bhavayami Gopala balam after this.

I also included " Ayarpadi maligayil" , the cute lullaby song for Baby Krishna tuned by MSV and written by Kavignar Kannadasa who was a devotee himself. this garnered much applause and i totally enjoyed every moment of this song.

This live concert will soon be released as a live concert CD. so watch out and grab your copy!! i hope to do many such bhakthi sangeeth concerts in future. Bhakthi refines, enriches and revitalises the soul.

Here is a picture from Mere to Giridhar Gopal