Tribute to my Guru-Part II

As i said in my previous post i shall continue my journey here. I am sorry for procrastinating it. Some how i didn't have the courage. But mami when i went to your flat two days back i could hear the strings strumming and the words tanam anamtha being played.... I still remember my first krithi. As it is believed it is important to invoke the blessings of Lord ganesha for a smooth sailing, I learnt the wonderful Maha Ganaptim krithi in nattai set to eka thalam. I had listened to this krithi million times before this, but when she taught it i lost myself. From then on the journey was completely different.

Different in the aspect of my approach to music. How can i forget you mami for helping me come out of crucial problems and illness. I remember you teaching me sahana so that i forget all my problems. The sahana krithi vandanamu became a part of my life. Even today when i listen to sahana tears starts trickling down my cheeks.... As days passed i started learning chauka kala krithis in bhairavi and hemavathi and few other ragas...

Many in the field of carnatic music would opine that neraval and kalpana swaram cananot be taught but mamai disapproved with this school of thought....... She believed unless you don't teach them them how put them how will they inculcate the manodhrama aspect....Probably once they get hold of the knack it is their creativity to put it.....Will my mami come back to teach how to put neraval in the krithi upacharamu or kuzhaludi manamellam......Uh....What if we had rewind button in our life and go back to those wonderful days...

I should mention this experience....When i gave my first major concert for one and half hours mami ensured that i attended class everyday and during the last fifteen days the practice session used to last for hours together....I never realised how time flew...At the end of the concert mami seemed more happier than eany one else....I could see it on her face...in her eyes... What more can i ask for....

I think this blog space isn't enough for me to share all our experiences...Even today as i write I am listening to an amazing simmhendra madhyamam tanam played by her...May in the future when i talk more about music, I will mention how i learnt the nuances from her... When i visited her place few days back, my voice choked...I could feel her walking in the house...welcoming with a warm smile and asking what was the plan of action for the day....After having learnt so many years I am unable to play today...Mami will come and hit me on my fingers...The way you did when i didn't play a gamakam correctly during a kalyani alapana or when i was repeatedly not pulling the string enough to bring the essence of kamboji...I want you to do it...Are you hearing...I hope you are....