Celebrating Shankar Mahadevan

I was listening to Shankar melt my heart yet another time with his Maa (Taare Zameen Par), when I decided to dedicate a blog post to him.
Shankar Mahadevan is my all time favorite singer along with Srinivas. I respect and worship SPB, Ilayaraja and ARR but, this is a personal favorite list, I hope the greats will forgive me.
Why do I celebrate rather than worship/ respect/ adore/ admire Shankar?
He is simply my musical best man. He is Mr. Versatile in my opinion. He is a man for my every mood. He is the painkiller, he is my tranquiliser, he is my rejuvenator. Why do I value his company more than the great SPB? Shankar also wears a composer's hat, and given his strongest classical and hindustani music roots, he churns out the numbers just the way I want when he is composing them and when he is adding value to another composer's number, he infuses so much more into the song that it is impossible not to fall for his honest rendition . It is almost like liking variants of filter coffee. Everyone knows that filter coffee of the top draw is fantastic, yet people have their own variants they swear by.
Anyway, enough of the coffee break, back to why I so celebrate Shankar -
He is the best emoter when you think of singing as a art form. The brihas and gamakas are so delightful coming out of him, and I just cannot stop smiling at his variations in so many of his songs.
He is a man for every type of song, versatility is such an obvious asset of his - I don't need to stress on this.
He has provided so many of my musical highs -let me start doing what I like to do, list my favorite Shankar Mahadevan songs (Sung by Shankar, composed by his trio/ other music directors) by flavor!

Peppy, Uplifting Shankar!
1. Varaaha Nadhikaraiyoram - This along with Breathless were my first doses of the magic drug that comes in king size! Its almost like starting a document with a pillaiyaar suzhi. Lets move on.

2. Uppu karuvaadu - Harish was a college kid in his first year in 2000, needless to say he liked songs energized him. Shankar is like the neighborhood power station which charged Harish in 3 minutes flat.

3. AaL thotta boopathy - When I was raving about Shankar's ability to elevate an ordinary composition to another level with his energy, acumen and abundant talent - this was one of the songs on the top of my mind. Unbelievable singing when he goes "Kaadhal Kalyaanatha, andha saami senjaaradaa." Whoelse could match Simran's uplifting (:p) beauty in that song? Shankar's rendition. What else!

Fast Romance numbers with a classical flavor
My favorite Shankar Mahadevan category - I do not know what else to call these. Shankar is simply unmatched in this type of songs. Songs where Shankar blends his creativity with precision and unabashed bold singing. Let me just list these songs to give you a better idea.
1. Manasa Gelupu - This song from the Telugu movie Godavari is a must listen. Bringing Classical music and pop together couldn't be done better. Shankar's ability to go to fifth gear from second gear is evident in the charanams, and the kalpana swaras are so energetic and beautiful.
2. Tumne Aaj meine jo dekha - I discovered this song from Kuch naa kaho years after its release, and I was impressed by how honest and genuine the song was. If you want to convey your love to a girl, play this song! Dipak Krishnamani - if you ever read this, thanks for taking me in that now defunct Hyundai Santro of yours (in 2005 sometime) and playing this song!
3. Jhoom Baraabar Jhoom - There are six versions (ok seven) of this song in the movie, one just has to listen to all the other versions before coming to Shankar's rendition to realize how much more value he adds! Fantastic stuff.
4. Manmadha Maasam (Paarthale Paravasam) - ARR meets Shankar Mahadevan. Period.

Slow, sad, pathos, beautiful etc.
Why does he melt hearts better? Surely it's a god given gift. Or is it his complete mastery of Bhaava? whatever it is - God bless Shankar!
1. Maa - Taare Zameen Par. Shankar matches ARR and his phenomenal Luka Chupi with this innocent, child like confession.
2. Taare Zameen par title track - The song playing in a big screen with those out of the world end credits will make even the stoniest hearted among us cry. It taught me a few lessons on the beauty of life, on the importance of being alive etc. To live is a boon. To live with Shankar's music playing in the room makes you realize it!
3. Enge Enge - This unbelievable song is a little known chupa rustum. "Iraiva nee thotru vittaai, Kaadhal idam nee thottru vittaai" - BRILLIANT!
4. Uruguthe maruguthey - When Shankar and the incredibly gifted Shreya Ghoshal team up for a beautiful duet, the romantic in you is reborn. As BK said - "Kadavul kitta karuvarai kaetten, unna sumakkavaa?" has to be a legendary line.


I guess this listing exercise is just the tip of the iceberg. It will be good if you all could add to this. Even I need to dig deeper than the top of the mind to pay a complete tribute to Shankar Mahadevan.

Blogging service resumes

A good morning to all the readers from Melbourne. It has been close to two weeks since I landed here and busy work schedules coupled with Melbourne's unreasonably expensive internet conections at home have contributed to this delay in my first blog. Thankfully - a dull Friday at work has given me the license to blog.
Life has been pretty peaceful out here - but something from within tells me, India and Chennai are the places to be.
Things that I miss -
1. Makki and the other Gang guys who light up each and every day of my life in Chennai / India
2. The movies - Satyam cinemas is more important to me than I could ever realize.
3. The long phone conversations, Lulu snacks and all those other little things that make my 'Unbearable Tamness of Being' inevitable.
4. Mom's food. More than anything. Face it - living at home is a boon. It makes up for most other things.
Music update -
I tried to re-live IIMB life by listening to songs that defined my IIMB existence. Some of these songs are very close to my heart (I figured out now)- and there was immense joy on listening to them -
1. Kandisa, Indian Ocean. Ah! what a song, singalongability is a huge strength of this song. It made me very nostalgic of IIMB and E-Top.
2. Sandhippoma, ARR - 2003 was recreated before my eyes. Trivandrum memories flooded me almost immediately. There was NO IIMB connection to this song, but still - a digression is fair enough for this song.
3. Scarborough fair, Simon n Garfunkel - The ethereal bliss I get on listening to this song has to be experienced to believe.
4. Allah ke bande, Kailash Kher - The earthy voice and the genuineness in the song reminded me of my naivette on entering IIMB and how the place was a rude shock to me.
5. Thanimai Iravu, Navneeth - Girish is a god. Period.

Other activities -
I have been watching a lot of Friends on TV and it is a boon that I have missed it so far in my life. I have also been watching Ford Ranger Cup (Australian ListA ODI matches).
Movies - Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN is a good addition to my list of worthy watches.

Cya soon with more updates.

Most memorable ARR Songs - Vol 1.

Baradwaj Rangan has celebrated fifteen years of AR Rahman. Now, I belong to a generation that really grew up with A R Rahman. I was a sprightly young kid of 10 when ARR released Roja, and my four years of Engineering college would best be described as two years of ARR and two years of Ilayaraja (I wouldn’t be accused of blasphemy now, God’s name has been mentioned in this post celebrating music!) Indeed, I spent my fifteen opinion building years with ARR’s music and hence the motivation for a blog that promises to look at how the man actually was an ideal foil to many of my happy, sad, defining, coming-of-age, nostalgic, memorable moments. I am sure the next fifteen years of ARR and similar exalted souls’ music will warrant another blog entry in 2022. But that’s some time away. To cut a long first para short with a summary line –

“I am going to attempt listing my most memorable ARR Songs with wordy explanations that are wordy to convey emotion and not for any other reason. Here is Part 1 of the list. In no particular order – here we go.

1. Kadhal Rojave (Roja)– Sometime in my quarterly holidays of my sixth standard, my parents took me to Bangalore. A trip I still remember for two reasons – firstly that was my first flight journey and the second – AR Rahman. It was a car journey from Hosur to Bangalore and one of our “well-to-do” uncles was flaunting his car stereo to us. Being the inquisitive, impressionable kid, I asked him to play Roja, which was a chart buster at that time. Sujata’s humming in that dark road and those deep beats still resonate in my mind. It was a song best heard in that kind of situation. Fifteen years on, whenever I see the music video – I replace the poignant and emotional Mani Ratnam shot visuals with Harish, his dad, mom and uncle driving on that traffic-less Bangalore (!) road.
2. Haira Haira – Thanks to Ganesh Natarajan for reinventing this song. This song symbolizes the joys of being a sixteen year old adolescent. Aishwarya Rai dressed up so tastefully by Shankar, and described by all the finest poetry of Vairamuthu. It makes ARRs job of setting it on tune easy isn’t it? For lines like “50 kg tajmahal” “Pocket sizeil vennilavu” “Ottrai kaalile pookkal nirpadhu un koondhalil ninraadatthaan”, Vairamuthu is the hero of this ARR creation!
3. Sonnaalum Ketpadhillai (Kaadhal Virus) – This is one song I so associated myself as I grew out of college crushes. For the 20 year old Harish, Harini singing “Kadaisiyil kalandhen kadale” was her complicity to accept my proposal! I so seemed to think that Harini was the voice of my college crush. Such were the days. The flute in the beginning of the song played to my twenty year old tunes. Ah! What bliss.
4. Azhage Sugama (Paarthale Paravasam) – I think Mr. KB had the song in mind when he named the film. It is completely “Kettaale Paravasam”. Paravasam on hearing those Ganesh Kumaresh violin interludes. Paravasam on Srinivas’ effortless innovation during the song. Paravasam on seeing Simran’s suggestive beauty on screen in an otherwise pointless movie. Paravasam on hearing my favorite Sahana given such amazing treatment by the real hero. ARR. My third and fourth year of Engineering would have been incomplete without this song.
5. “Vellai Pookkal” (Kannathil Muthamittaal) – Mr. Girish, my parents and I had just played Side A of the just released Kannathil sound track on my 70W PMPO BPL Tape recorder circa 2002. And for 5 minutes no one spoke. The dour walls of my house seemed to accentuate the effect. It was a deathly silence. All of us at the end were looking at each other and grinning in bliss. ARR’s voice set to the beautiful Hamsadwani aided by some powerfully simple guitars is all it takes to elevate mundane lives. Ofcourse – lines like “Malare sombal muritthu ezhugave” add to the pleasure. I used to laugh at people who glorified cute kids. No more.
6. Dating – Boys. 2003. My ARR godfather, Mr. Girish had just left for Singapore. And what a tonic to help me cope with his absence! I was completely bowled over by the brilliant juxtaposition of English and Tamil lyrics. And what wordplay. Shankar is the king of extracting wordplay! Muga naga natpadhu natpalla nenjin thaga naga natpadhu natpaagum. Karka kasadara karpavai kattrapin marakka cheivadhu Love aagum. Thiruvalluvar needs to learn from these guys! Blaaze was Rahman’s greatest contribution to India after Vande Mataram I used to think!
   
7. Varaaga Nadhikaraiyoram – Sangamam 1999. The energy in the song got me addicted instantly. I cant remember the number of times I rewinded and replayed the song the day it got released. This I must say was my discovery of the love I had for Qawwali and Shankar "Breathless" Mahadevan.
8. Zikr – Bose (2005) – This is when I died a million deaths over two months. The song I have shut doors, windows, switched off lights in the room for. To focus on the divine rendition. I experienced my first high in life over this song – Before I ever got high on Alcohol. Maafi Qalbi Ghairullah indeed.
9. Mellisaye – Mr. Romeo (2001-2002). The years indicate my addiction to the song. Mr. BK and I got hooked to this flowing composition mainly for Srinivas’ shining performance and the Ilayarajaesque flavor to this ARR song. This song was Srini’s debut for ARR on a lead role. And what a start.
10. Anbenra Mazhaiyile – Minsara Kanavu (1996). I was in Raipur visiting cousins on a summer vacation. Young Vasudha (an aspiring singer) was singing this unbelievably divine song on Bajaj Sapthaswarangal. Fervent shopping later, I listened with my cousin to this outstanding piece of rendition by Anuradha “Under utilized” Sriram. I had to include this on my ARR tribute. ARR has that divine streak in him. This song seems to vindicate it.

To be continued.

Self Rant

Readers who came in for humor, to feel good about life can give this a miss.
"Please don't read this blog!"
"Please don't read this blog!"
"Please don't read this blog!"

Ok, having said that, I am hazaar pained in life. This is due to a complete NED (No Enthu Da for those who still are reading this) that hits me as soon as I enter the workplace. So?
"Please don't read this blog!"
Now, having filtered those who still want to close the blog window, I do not really know how to counter this. Hate has been exhausted. Frustration limits have been continually (At this moment, Makki calls me - 2.20 mins of pointless conversation later, I resume)
"Please don't read this blog!"
for those who thought this live update was totally unnecessary and breaks whatever little flow this post has. That said, Self tried to overcome NED in life by putting Bangalore trip for half of the 4 day long weekend. And NED was extinguished for a cupla days. But, come office day - and he shows his nasty face with a smug grin, thats soon assuming irritating proportions. Nasty NED promises to enter my life at 7.30 am tomorrow and day after, and wants to invade life this saturday contrary to popular (the 4 of them who might have survived to reach to this sentence in the blog) opinion. Those who seem to think working on a Saturday is OK -
"Please don't read this blog!"
NED now seems to accentuate a neck-pain that used to trouble me back when I was in campus. Ok NED, how do I kill you?
Those who don't have an answer to this question -
"Please don't read this blog!"

Pray for me Brother!

This is not some eulogy for ARR's single.
This is a request to all of you readers who believe in God or some force that rules us all. Pray for me. I need a miracle to help me in my quest for something that readers of this blog might know about. I was an agnostic and then even an atheist. But I have now conceded defeat to all those beliefs. Maybe, I need to pray afterall. Ok. Here goes. Join me and pray to God or that force to "Give me that one thing I want!"
Please.

The Arbitest life update ever

1. My TVS Victor, purchased in August 2004 finally crossed 10000 - today somewhere in Perungudi - near that Grundfos junction.
2. The Shatabdi express evening train that leaves Chennai for Bangalore at 17.30 hrs on all days except Tuesdays is value for money. Infact it is the ultimate joy ride. The food served there is excellent - and that it is sumptuous is an understatement. It starts with a Frooty equivalent. Then some fresh sandwiches and samosas served with sauce. And then some good hot tea/ coffee. And if you were starting to get disappointed you were going to not be served dinner, this is Indian Railways afterall, At 8 p.m you get served a very filling dinner which has decent variety as well. (Rice, Channa, Cabbage poriyal, Chapathis, Salad, Curd, Paneer Butter Masala. Wow!). And I only had to spend 550 odd bucks against the possible 1500 + bucks if I had decided to fly. Makki missed travelling with me on 22.08.07 from Chennai to Bangalore.
3. I am now one of those unfortunate souls who have watched 28 Weeks Later on a rainy night in a deserted Pseud Multiplex. KKKKK
4. I have re-started Bowling in the alley, and averaged a healthy 137. That an alarming loss of form caused the 3 week hiatus makes the return to form even more delightful.
5. Vasu-Seth movies must be banned from occupying all screens of a multi-theater complex, Even if the theatreplex is bang in the heart of a Vasu-seth-max area. Mukka and I raced through the traffic from the edge of TTK Road to Ega theatre to find "Partner" and "Heyy Baby" greeting us. KKKK again. We decided to drive back home and watch Chennai - 600028 instead. That I decided to say "I could do with one" to an imaginary voice over asking "Drinks" ala Daniel Balaji in Kaaka Kaaka was the clincher.

Such is Life. Arbit. And as a throwback to the days when we used to write proofs for geometrical axioms/ theorems, I finish this post with a - Hence the post.

Pertinent observation

I was going through my archives the other day - when I was taking a breather from work, and I was both amazed and curiously worried about the totally different way of writing, presentation and attitude conveyed in the blogs. I seemed to have been another guy altogether. I completely seem to have lost that part/ face/ existence - depending on the severity of this so called change. I can't even associate myself with some of the posts I had made back then! Let alone blog that way. Totally mixed emotions on reading all those posts and the recent ones. Baffled and puzzled! Guys, what say?