music season II

Yes, I forgot to mention about vyjayantimala bali's programme. No, it was not a concert, by any stretch of imagination. For the first half hour that i managed to sit through, she came, she stood, and she walked slowly around the stage!But this was not dance, no.She did effortlessly sit down and did 'ara mandi' and i do grant that at age 73, it calls for a lot of celebration to be able to do that. But then my expectation from the concert was to see her dance!Not be satisfied with a well dressed vyjayantimala bali appearing on stage.This is cheating the public. No, it was not vyjayanti mala of 'vanji kottai valibam' fame.
Mandolin srinivas was my aunt's most favourite artiste and she managed to listen to the entire concert. I joined her at 6 pm and except for a few flashes of brilliance, it was not melody but speed and a supersonic speed at that; it was like a japanese train going at unbelievable speed; yes it is a technological marvel, but then it was not melody.Again, wanting to promote his brother who was accompanying him, made him do some compromises which were not what concert goers who came to hear him expected.
Aside!

Car parking is a real issue there and one has to make two pradakshanams of ttk road while coming to the concert and for parking in one of the streets behind the hall.Thank god for mobiles!
There were more senior citizens per square inch of space.So much so, my gaze would invariably settle on a shining pate, a tiny bunch of grey hair or sometime a luscious hair with streks of dull colour where a hair dye had been!I found a good number of rasikas walking along the aisle while the concert was in progress.I was concerned at their lack of sensitivity, till i realised they were invariably senior citizens.
Mobile phones with camera and digital cameras were causing quite a flutter among the organisers with some heated exchanges. While i respect the organisers to frame their rules, i feel such prohibitory orders are no longer relevant. Technology will enter unobtrusively where normal beings fear to tread!And many a time such entry have opened up more opportunities for growth of the art than otherwise.
The stalls outside the auditorium do brisk business;bought a sujatha venkataraghavan's book with a storyline based on karnatic music.Krishna sweets and the canteen were doing roaring business. By some queer logic senior citizens who are usually fussy about eating out, label these canteen as 'as good as home food' and enjoy the keerai vadai and vazhapoo vadai without any reservations.
December season in Narada gana sabha has been a unique experience and enough to tell a tale!

Music season dec 2006

Music season dec 2006

I was quite definite that I wanted to listen to some concerts and some lec dems during the festival season. But I was not able to make up my mind;so I chose the season pass for the entire duration of concerts in Narada gana sabha; the choice of venue due to logistical convenience.

This time in Narada Gana sabha, the kutchery timings were slightly skewed. Regular music concerts were at 4.30 in the evening!Obviouly only pre school and primary school kids and their teachers could attend these concerts!Of course it obviously is targetted at full time kutchery rasikas, who take these concerts quite seriously and make it to their annual calender.You definitely cannot combine a full time job and a kutchery visit for these late afternoon slots!

So I improvised. I would manage to reach the kutchery hall by 6 pm and invariably that will be the cue for tani avartanam and there will be a general relaxation and mild commotions among the rasikas. I will slide into my seat and relax and be ready for the ‘tukkada’s. Was able to do this for a few kutcheris; jesudoss; priya sisters;sudha raghunathan, ramachandran and family and sanjay subramaniam.
Jesudoss’s kutchery was a pale image of his earlier rendition that I had heard more than a decade back in Krishna gana sabha. While his music has faded, he had a gleaming laptop sitting pretty in front of him to aid him in organizing his songs and lyrics, I guess.
Priya sisters gave an adequate recital, but sincerity and bhava were very apparent.
Ramanathan and family affair was a washout, as the daughter and parents combination was mismatched and all of them wanted to sing together, which did not gel.Carnatic music is best sung solo, as it gives lots of room for manodharma; if you want to sing together, then like in a choir music, needs painstaking practice. Here it was apparent, that they came to the concert casually(had to step in for sowmya ), and thought anything will do.It lmade me feel cheated and kept me away from the kutcherys circuit for a few days!
Sanjay subramaniam was a real treat!There were a few occasions even in the 45 minutes tail end kutchery that I could listen into , I felt like saying ‘wah!’The ragamalika in the pallavi was very melodious and enjoyable. It was obvious that the musician has the talent and also enjoys singing both for the pleasure that it gives him and the happiness that it gives to its rasikas.
Bombay jayashree was the first vocalist whose kutchery I could listen in for the entire stretch of two and a half hours.And they were very memorable two and half hours that I have spent.It is the first time I am listening to her live performance and it made a deep impression. Her demeanour is humble and almost like a supplicant asking god (or the lord of music) to grant her the pleasure of singing those ragas.She obviously derives great pleasure in that ‘tapas’ and her talent and ‘sadhana’ come through effortlessly.Her voice is melodious in a very soothing way and her singing touches your soul.During raga alapana and chitta swarams, I never had occasion to feel nauseated with the semantics and mumbo jumbo in top speed that is practised by musicians these days.Her swaras were beautifully rolling out like marbles, each time a different pattern.There were quite a number of occasions during her recital that I felt my heart literally brims with happiness and eyes fill up and a few teardrops roll down.
Embar Kannan was very good on the violin and there were several occasions when jayashree’s singing used to mimic his violin and the violin notes used to resemble her voice.A perfect matching of ‘dhwanis’.
I had very involved senior citizens sitting behind me and were enjoying the music.They were all of them quite knowledgeable too and with a note book in hand, were writing down the various compositions and the ragas.When jayashree used to sing just a few swaras of a new raga, immediately they will identify the raga with great enthusiasm.I remember my father used to say that of Ariyakudi, that he would insisit that musicians should sing in such a way that the first phrase of raga alapana, helps the rasika identify the song.Which means the most notable swara combination and the differentiating notes have to be sung first.
Sahana, dhanyasi and reeti gowla were beautifully rendered and i felt satiated. If carnatic music can elevate you and feel light and happy,it was jayashree's music that day in narada gana sabha.
God bless her and musicians like her.



And a full length kutchery of Bombay jayashree(wonder why she was not pressurized to go for image makeover as mumbai jayashree)

mahabalipuram revisited

When you are in Chennai, you easily get jaded when you listen to a request from a friend/relative who is visiting, to take them to mahabalipuram.It is the one tourist spot you wish you need not go 'yet again'.

But then I rediscovered mahabalipuram recently with friends. Leela and Doraiswamy have been living in chennai for a number of years, but never got around to going there. Now they were on a short visit, and mahabalipuram figured prominently in their 'tight schedule'.

She and her husband are discerning tourists and i learnt a few interesting things about the place. Some of the rocks had interesting patterns on them.She said that these holes are made with the primitive instruments that they had, and would pour boiling water and that would help split the rock. No, dont get me wrong, it is not an instantaneous response; the water treatment would go on for a number of days and slowly the rock will ease a bit, for the sculptor to make a slight headway in chiselling the rock into some sculpture that he was planning to make.

Once i heard this, I was surprised to see quite a few rocks with these patterns on them. Her theory was that the entire area was something like a school for imparting sculpting knowledge to interested persons. She showed me the headgear of every man different in the outer wall of one of the panch rathas.Possibly a workshop to try out and teach different patterns.

The holiday crowd was heavy and not a soul in sight, anywhere near parking areas directing traffic. Predictably we had heavy snarls and thankfully just managed to ease out in the nick of time with deft handling by Doraiswamy. Garbage being littered everywhere did cause a lot of concern.How are we going to promote tourism when during the peak and predictable holiday season in the one important tourist spot in chennai, we do not see any sign of tourist friendliness?

The weather was very mild and helped us have the energy to climb up all those rocks.We heard every Indian language there; well almost .The Indian is on a holiday mood and is travelling like never before, both inside India and beyond.

I remembered the last time that i came here accompanying two Japanese business visitors.They showed absolutely no interest in the sculptures and were more interested in the dinner that was to follow in a Japanese restaurant in the city!So the entire tour of mahabalipuram got wound up in less than half an hour.

But this time it took us over 3 hours and we felt we have not seen and enjoyed all that was there!

Carpenter on an electronic leash!

India is really witnessing a booming market for many goods, mobile phones could easily be the front runner in this race for a share of the consumer's wallet. I remember when a journalist had visited Australia and shared in a meeting about the new mobile connections in a month to be in the region of 30 lakhs, it left the audience dumbstruck with disbelief.They did want to clarify politely if he was not mistaking annual figure for a monthly figure.The businessmen among them immediately showed such a keen interest to do business with India, that many of them mentally tuned off from the meeting, and busy planning their visit to 'the happening place'.
It is an old joke, that the paan wallah and the doodh wallah are sporting mobiles and talking animatedly.It is also said that India uses the maximum voice content in a mobile connection, compared to any other country in the world; nobody can blame us for keeping silent when we need to say a word; or stop with a word when we need to complete a sentence.The spread of mobile has been so rapid and so dizzy and so widespread, that prices of the instrument and cost of calls has fallen drastically. My driver tells me that he fills in a prepaid card for 200 rupees at the beginning of the month and he is able to manage with that for a month and a half; i should know because in the half an hour drive to work he manages to get atleast two to three calls, though he does not make any while driving.It is believed that a simple model is being contemplated which will be available for a ridiculously low price;you can programme it to be able to make calls to only select 10 numbers; it has been established that a majority of customers use the connection to talk to a select few, not exceeding 8!
I was surprised when i saw a mobile instrument in the house the other day which was not ours.Athai said the maid has brought it.Her brother who works in a pharmacy has been provided with that facility by his owner.But then i did not see her using it.
So I had a double surprise in store for me last night, when the carpenter came with his workmen to deliver some furniture. While they were busy fitting it in, one of the workmen got a call on his mobile. It was not a business call, but from his wife who was enquiring when he will come home!I thought it was a typical middle class anxiety!It also showed that she has access to a phone, might be their own, or a public telephone.He was telling her not to worry, he will be getting back in less than half an hour!
I was reminded of the time many years back when kumar was provided a mobile by his office. He used to not carry it with him many a time, or while in office, leave it in his desk and move around.He would not look periodically for missed calls, not to talk of messages received.So when i used to tell him that i was trying to reach him, he used to say he feels like he is on an 'electronic leash' and feels constrained!
The electronic leash it appears over the years has travelled across the social spectrum!!

service quality in hotels and resorts

Hospitality industry in India is witnessing unprecedented boom these days.It is almost impossible to get a hotel accomodation in Delhi and recently Kumar's mumbai office really had to come back to him and say they are not able to do hotel bookings.It is that tight.The charges that the hotels levy in prime locations like Bangalore is sometimes even more than best locations abroad.
Be that as it may, have we really got our act together to receive and care for guests that is expected? I have to say a big NO; and i have had some experience in the last few months that i have been in and out of hotels across the country.Be it a single room accomodation when i am travelling alone, or the company arranges for a business meet, the quality of service is far from adequate.
I have to say that the hotels are well maintained and are pleasing to the eye; there are fresh flowers in hotel lobby, tastefully arranged, yes. When a big contingent from the company arrive, invariably the red carpet is spread out, with a welcome bouquet by a charming hostess; welcome drink and the check in formalities are usually quite smooth.The host appears to heave a sigh of relief at the flawless reception and go into immediate hibernation.In one location when we arrived rather late into the night, I had to wait for my luggage to be brought to my room for more than an hour!There appeared to be no earthly reason, the six of us who arrived then had only one piece of luggage each and our rooms were in the same wing and same floor of the hotel. There were no other guests who were either arriving or checking out!There could be slip ups in service or delay, but there should be a reason and as a customer i am entitled to the same. But here I asked the same question repeatedly to the bell boy and the reception and also the guest manager. All of them had the same answer, 'sorry maam' it wont happen again!Yes, i wont be checking in to the hotel again in the near future, so what earthly use is that assurance to me?They could have given any of these replies which would have reassured me; for eg, we had a mix up in the baggages to various rooms and hence delay; the bellboy broke his leg, hauling up the luggage and we had to drag a substitute from his sleep; the lift was malfunctioning and did not stop at this particular floor;we were busy finishing our dinner and forgot all about taking the luggage to your room; or, we always take this much time and no customer has complained till now.
Look at this experience in the coffee country. One thought of having freshly brewed good coffee in Coorg.So when the manager came up with a beatific smile and asked me 'how is the service maam', i said service is very good thank you. He persisted and wanted to know if he could be of any further assistance, and i asked him for good coffee during the afternoon tea break. He assured me that he will arrange for it.I was dreaming of steaming fresh coffee all through the post lunch session. But then i felt quite disappointed and stupid, that the same old insipid tasteless coffee was served and the manager was nowhere in sight.I fondly hoped that the time was inadequate to get his act together, and the next day breakfast will have good brewed coffee. No, it was not to be and by then i had lost all hope of any response from the hotel staff. By then, our friendly neighbourhood branch manager looking at my crestfallen face asked me if there is anything he could do for me. I said yes, good coffee; he told me the natives of coorg do not know to brew good coffee!It came as a shock to me.But then i would have definitely liked the hotel management to get back to me on this; they could have even asked me if i could teach their 'coffee team' a step by step hand holding exercise to give a 'designer coffee' as it were.
I think atleast they should not go around troubling the guests and raising their hopes by asking them what they would like them to do and then vamoose.
Should i blame the training that they received where the instructor told them to ask these questions but did not tell them 'what if ' scenario if the management cannot handle that request?
I was reminded of a 'sound' piece of advice by a colleague sometime back. Usually friends try to influence you during promotion time to put in a word to the promotion committee; his strategy was to collect all these details from friends and safely put them away; yes, do nothing about it.When the results come out, there is a good chance some of them would have made it in the normal course; accept credit if given; and for those who did not make it, plead that you tried your best!
A similar thought process is perhaps working here in these hotels; if we are able to offer the service requested in the normal course, then take brownie points for the same. If not, bad luck for the guest.
It is usually the attitude of the person and not the actual service which leaves a lasting impression. Here i am stuck thinking the entire hospitality industry is indifferent to customer needs, notwithstanding the overwhelming attention to detail in the decor of the hotel and their staff!

coffee country- kodagu land

Coffee country - Kodagu land
Just back from Coorg, an offsite as it is referred to these days.Five or six hours by road from Bangalooru and you reach the famous coffee land. If you think that aroma of coffee beans will be wafting and you will be dragged into the lap of pristine coffeeland, you will be wrong. These people have no clue how to brew coffee!Long long ago, some migrant countryman brought coffee seeds to this land and the climate and topography was ideal for its cultivation. And cultivate very good and quality coffee beans, they did; they stopped there, perhaps thinking this far and no further.So the kannadigas from the plains, took it upon themselves to churn out aromatic coffee out of these coffeebeans.MTRs still serve the finest coffee that i have ever tasted, of course, the kumbakonam degree coffee comes a close second(highly recommend the first dicoction coffee from the hotels immediately off kumbakonam station at 4.30 am!)
Orange county resorts is some 30 kilometres before Madikeri and set in the most idyllic spot. The entire resort is planned beautifully with period coorg villas.For the really keen nature lovers, there were a series of tent houses.Some of my colleagues were not too sold on being 'so close' to the wasps and insects;some leeches it seems appeared and we were told that a curious snake peeped in and finding nothing interesting slithered out. When this story was narrated, he was told that he is lucky to be in the 'ultimate luxury accomodation' that the resort could offer. He generously offered to exchange 'ultimate luxury' with something far less exotic!But there were no takers there.
The weather was extremely balmy and light woolens made one very comfy.The independent villas were very very spacious and built in typical coorg style.Had 'tinnais' in the drawing room corner, with a awning opening out into the sky and greenery seeping in.Even the bathroom had an opening into the secluded courtyard which again had plants with rich green foliage.Had an equivalent experience to bathing by the well, with lots of mango and banana trees for company!The villa had a private swimming pool and jacuzzi in its backyard.All sorts of birds were chirping and talking in the early morning that i woke up; absolutely no other sound.The mist was overhanging the swimming pool and the tall pine trees were just dimly visible.I was sitting in the most cozy grandfather easy chairs that one could think of in the spacious verandah and it was bliss.Slowly the sun was peeping out and i was changing my posture to suit the sunlight warming my feet. I reluctantly came out of the magic spell.