Performing paattum naane on stage

This song will require a tremendous coordination to perform on stage. The entire song has 6 instruments

(1) veeNa
(2) flute
(3) mrudangam
(4) tabla
(5) morsing
(6) ghatam

It has two different types of vocals:

(1) lead vocals
(2) jathi vocals

Though the song is apparently complex in structure, it is not. When we look into it carefully we can understand the pattern that the composer has created. Towards the end there is a string of swaras, flute, mrudangam etc. The pattern is as follows:

(1) Lead vocals sings swaras (with mrudangam)
(2) VeeNa plays (with tabla)
(3) Mrudangam (solo)
(4) Flute (with tabla)
(5) Jathi vocals (with gatam / tabla)

For simplicity I will call each of them an "entity". This pattern continues till the point where the lead vocals starts singing non-stop (sagariri rimagaga..till the end)

Not only the above intruments are patterned to follow each in a clear cut fashion, there is also another pattern with respect to the thaaLam.

(a) Initially each of the above 5 entities play for TWO aadhi thaaLams EACH sequentially
(b) Followed by each playing for ONE aadhi thaaLam EACH sequentially
(c) Followed by each playing for HALF aadhi thaaLam EACH sequentially
(d) Followed by each playing for QUARTER aadhi thaaLam EACH sequentially
(e) Followed by each playing for ONE-EIGHTH aadhi thaaLam EACH sequentially
(f) Followed by each playing for ONE-EIGHTH (Note not one sixteenth) aadhi thaaLam EACH sequentially
(g) Major swara section starts

Thus we have 5*2 + 5*1 + 5*0.5 + 5*0.25 + 5*0.125 + 5*0.125 = 16 aadhi thaaLams

After this the major swara section starts. I have written the notes for veeNA interludes too.

=======================================================

Raga : Gowrimanohari
Scale : C ( originally it is in D..But for our convenience it is mapped to C)
Keys: s r2 g2 m1 p d2 n3 S
C D Eb F G A B C

Capital letters for swara means higher octave.

Prelude:
======

Sa Pa Sa is rendered in a distorted fashion

(aalaap)

paattum naanE baavamum naanE
paadum unai naan paadavaiththEnE

(paattum)

Interlude: (veeNa)
=======

SaSS SaSS SaSS RiSS dSdS nidp mamp dnSR
Ga,Ri,Sa RGMaGR MGRS SGR SRS nSn dnd SaGaRi

kooththum isaiyum kootrin muraiyum
kaattum ennidam kadhai solla vandhaayO

(paattum)

Interlude (veeNa)
=======

dnida,pa mpaga,ri sgari,sa ga,m pdan Sa

asaiyum....poruLil...isaiyum naanE
asaiyum poruLil isaiyum naanE
aadum kalaiyin naayagan naanE
edhilum iyangum iyakkam naanE (2)
ennisai ninRaal adangum ulagE...

naan asaindhaal asaiyum agilamellaamE (2)
arivaay manidhaa un aaNavam peridhaa
aalavaayanodu paadavandhavanin
paadum vaayai ini moodavandhadhoru

(paattum)

Swaras:
======

Each playing 2 aadhi thaaLams:
=======================

Lead vocals
=========
;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; SaRi ||
Ga, RGRGa RGRSndp Ri, SRiSRi dRSndpm ||
gris mgar pmag dpam grmgpmdp mpdnSa ||

VeeNa:
=====

nnsa rrsa nnsa rrsa dani Sa; ,SRSSndp
pada ni; ,nSn pmgr rgam gmap mpdn Sa; ||

Mrudangam:
=========

Plays 2 aadhi thaaLams

Flute:
====

papS ppma ,pSndpm ,GRS Snnd dppm mgrs
,nsr srg srgmp mpdn SaSndpgr saSada;

Jathi vocals:
==========

thin dharikidathaka thirikita thakatha dhin dha
jumaku jumaku jana jumaku jana jumaku jumaku
dhin dha dhin dha aa jumaku jumaku dhin dha dhin dha ||


Each playing 1 aadhi thaaLam:
======================

Lead vocals
=========

SGRG SRni, nSRnSda dRSndp ma pdnS Ri; ||

VeeNa:
=====

spmp ga; ,SnS da; dnSR GaRS SdRS Ri;

Mrudangam:
=========

Plays 1 aadhi thaaLams

Flute:
====

{GRGRGa; RSmgri; SRSSRi pmgrsa} dnsrSRi SSn pnRi;

Jathi vocals:
=========

thakathari thakita juNuthari dhimitha
thangidakidathaka thongidakidathaka
thongidakidathaka thaa ||

Each playing 1/2 aadhi thaaLam:
======================

Lead vocals
=========

GRMaGaR SaRGa;

VeeNa:
=====

srrg gmmpa dan sa;

Mrudangam:
=========

Plays 1/2 aadhi thaaLam

Flute:
====

sgrga mapa dan sa;

Jathi vocals:
=========

thajam thajjam tha thrikitathaka thaa

Each playing 1/4 aadhi thaaLam:
======================

Lead vocals
=========

nSRG Ma;

VeeNa:
=====

dnsr ga;

Mrudangam:
=========

1/4 thaaLam

Flute:
====

pdnS Ri;

Jathi vocals:
=========

thom thari kitathaka thaa

Each playing 1/8 aadhi thaaLam:
======================

Lead vocals
=========

GRSa

VeeNa:
=====

RSni

Mrudangam:
=========

1/8 thaaLam

Flute:
====

RSni

Jathi vocals:
=========

tharikitatha

Each playing 1/8 aadhi thaaLam:
======================

Lead vocals
=========

pdni

VeeNa:
=====

dpma

Mrudangam:
=========

1/8 thaaLam

Flute:
====

dnSa

Jathi vocals:
=========

thirikitathai

sgrr rmgg gpmm mdpp rmgp mdpn dSnR SGRM ||
GaRi GRSnSa, SGRSn| Ri SRSnda, GRSnd RS||npma, rigamdpmg ma|
papSndm daniSGRSR niSa RMGRGa, SMGRG||Sa GRSNRi, nRSnd Sn||dpma,
paSa Sndpm paRi RSndp paGa GRSnd ||
RiSa RGRGMa, GMGRS GaRGRSRi, dnSRS nR||Snda,
MaGaRSndp Sanidpmgr sarigmpdn

சில சமயங்களில் சில நிகழ்வுகள்

சில சமயங்களில் சில நிகழ்வுகள்இந்த உலகத்தில் நடக்கின்ற சில விஷயங்களைப் பார்த்தால் பிரமிப்பு உண்டாகிறது. நாம் வாழ்வில் சந்திக்கின்ற சில சராசரி மனிதர்களின் குணங்கள் அவர்களை மனிதத் தன்மையிலிருந்து மேலே உயர்த்திக் காட்டுகின்றன. என் வாழ்வில் அது போன்ற ஒரு சம்பவம் இதோ..

அமெரிக்காவில் தெற்கு கரோலினா மாவட்டத்தில் கொலம்பியாவில் நான் எனது முனைவர் பட்டத்திற்குப் பெரு முயற்சி செய்து கொண்டு இருக்கிறேன். எனது வழிகாட்டிக்கும் எனக்கும் சிறித்து மனஸ்தாபம் உண்டு ஆகையால், இந்தப் படிப்பு அவ்வளவு சீராக இல்லை. இந்தப் படிப்பிற்கு நடுவே எனது முதல் காதலான இசையின் மீது நிறைய நாட்டம் இருந்தும் பல இடங்களிலிருந்து வந்த வாய்ப்புகளை எடுத்துக்கொள்ளாமல் இருதலைக்கொள்ளி எறும்பு போன்ற வாழ்க்கையை வாழ்ந்து கொண்டு இருக்கின்றேன். (எனக்கு பாடவும், கீ-போர்டு, கிதார் மற்றும் தபேலா வாசிக்கவும் தெரியும்).

என் நண்பனோடு சேர்ந்து "ஆவர்தனா" என்ற இசைக்குழு ஒன்று ராலேயில் அமைத்தேன். இசையில் நிறைய நேரம் செலவாகிறது, படிப்பை முடிப்போம் என்று முடிவு கட்டிய நேரத்தில் எதிர்பாராவிதமாக அட்லாண்டாவில் "தென்றல்" என்ற சிறு குழுவின் தலைவரான கோபியை சந்திக்க நேர்ந்தது. அவர் குழ்வினர் எல்லோரும் பிரிந்து போய்க்கொண்டு இருந்தனர். என்னிடம் குழுவை சீரமைத்து நடத்தித் தர முடியுமா என்று கேட்டார். ஒத்துக்கொண்ட நான், இருப்பவர்களை எல்லாம் திரட்டி, பயிற்சி அளித்து மலையாளிகளின் சங்கத்தில் ஒரு நிகழ்ச்சியை வெற்றிகரமாக நடத்திக் காட்டினோம்.

கொலம்பியாவில் இருந்து அட்லாண்டா போய் வருவது என்பது சிரமமான காரியம் - 3 மணி நேரம் வண்டியை ஓட்டிக்கொண்டு லொங்கு லொங்கு என்று போய் வர வேண்டும் - அதுவும் என்னிடம் இருக்கும் வண்டியும் மிகவும் நம்பகமற்றது - ரோட்டில் எப்போது படுத்துக்கொள்ளும் என்று தெரியாது. நிகழ்ச்சியினால் மிகவும் ஆனன்ந்தப்பட்ட எங்கள் குழு டிரம்மர் அவர்கள் இதனைக் கவனித்துக்கொண்டே இருந்திருக்கிறார். தென்றலின் அடுத்த செயற்குழுக் கூட்டத்தில் (நான் அதில் கலந்து கொள்ள செல்லவிலை), பல விஷயங்கள் அலசப்பட்டன. எனது வண்டியில்லா பிரச்சனையும் பேசப்பட்டு இருக்கிறது. கோபி, "முரளிக்கு இங்கு வரும்போதெல்லாம் வாடகை வண்டி அமர்த்திக் கொடுப்பது தான் சரி" என்று சொல்ல, அதை கேட்டு அந்த டிரம்மர்,

"தேவை இல்லை. அவனுக்கு என்னுடைய 1987 BMW வைத் தருகிறேன்"

என்று சொல்ல வாயடைத்துபோனார்கள் எல்லோரும். மேலும் "இந்த வண்டி என் குடும்பத்தின் பெருமைகளில் ஒன்று. அதனை என் கண் போலே நான் காத்து வந்து இருக்கிறேன். எனவே இது அவனுக்கு போய் சேருவது நல்லதாகத்தான் இருக்கும். அது மட்டுமல்ல, அவன் அட்லாண்டாவை விட்டு விலகி மிகவும் தொலைவு சென்று வேலை பார்க்க வேண்டிய சூழ்நிலையும், அதனால் விமானம் பிடித்து வர வேண்டிய சூழ்நிலையும் வந்தால், அந்த விமான போக்குவரத்து செலவையும் நான் ஏற்கிறேன்."

சிறித்து நேரம் பேச்சு மூச்சு இல்லை. பின்னர் எல்லோரும் எழுந்து கை தட்டி இருக்கிறார்கள். செய்தியைக் கேட்டு நான் ஸ்தம்பித்து போனென். அவரை எனக்கு ஒருவார காலம் தான் தெரியும்..அதற்குள்ளாக இப்படி ஒரு இன்ப அதிர்ச்சியா ? இப்படிப்பட்ட மனிதர்களை என் வாழ்க்கையில் காட்டியதற்கு இறைவனுக்கு நன்றி சொன்னென்.

அவரைப் பின்பற்றி எனது பழைய வண்டியை என் நண்பனுக்கு பணம் வாங்காமல் கொடுக்கப் போகிறேன்.

A President who performs

Being the president of India is considered one of the most respectable and luxurious options for the retired diplomats. Most of Dr.Kalam's predecessors have been lacklustre, attending book release functions, standing stiff for a parade march, giving away medals and other acitivites which do not portray the president as "working" at all. But Dr.Kalam, the tireless worker and the brain behind India's defense earlier has made an exception in a distinguished fashion in his presidential years. Recently he has presented in front of NRIs, a concept urging them to create an Overseas Indian Foundation with a seed capital of $100 million. The most wonderful thing about his lecture, as rediff points out, is his ability to present things in a scientific perspective. He elaborated how bumblebee defies the established laws of avionics and flies, an attempt he likened to the foundation's effort to predict earthquakes.

I do remember presidents urging Indians in general to be patriotic and serve the motherland in an uninspiring fashion on Republic day and Independence day speeches. They pull out a sheet of paper, standing in a bullet proof podium and read out their message to the public. Frankly, in spite of my love for India, I do not sit for messages from Presidents because they are very uninspiring and in plain and simple words - boring. Republic and Independence day parades used to catch my attention on TV when I was in teens but later they became repetitive and did not make any impact. But after Dr.Kalam had assumed office, I had tried to read all his speeches (I live in USA now) and have read all reports raving about his unending enthusiasm to instill in young and mature minds (both indian and NRI) the rabid desire to pull India forward in the lane of progress. Every speech he has given, every effort he has put in this direction has been a interesting piece to watch and emulate. He has toured widely giving lectures and many presentations encouraging active minds and instigating dormant brilliant minds thus creating a sense of reasonable patriotism coupled with scientific spirit. Young and old alike are happy to listen to the president of India avidly for the first time to my knowledge. Or else every republic and independence day would be spent like a holiday where once savors the snacks and snores to the core.

I wish all the pesidents to come emulate Dr.Kalam in doing something actively for India.

Charity not a rarity

At the wake of this tsunami disaster, I stand proud as an Indian. This is the third time that the entire country has rushed to helped the victims in an unprecedented manner. Gujarat's earthquake and Kargil were the last two disasters that India had faced. People showed magnanimity and humaneness by contributing whatever they could do in both the cases. People were not apathetic towards the disaster and the love for fellow countrymen who lost lives and property is as bright as sun. Mata Amritanandamayi, a spiritual leader who I admire had gone to become more admirable through her 100 crore donation. Well, that is indeed a spiritual organization which is expected to do service, though the scale of service offered this time is beyond imagination.

But what really moved me is the efforts by the rickshaw pullers who contributed their petty savings for the cause of tsunami relief. This reminds me of the story of a poor tamil woman who donated the only piece of land she had to the king for building a temple. If magnanimity be measured as the fraction of income spent on charity, she was the most magnanimous. A person earning $1,00,000 per year and contributing $1000 for the relief effort clearly is giving just 1/100 of his income. $1000 is great money, but the ability of the person to contribute is much higher. I am not belittling anybody's contribution, but genuinely trying appreciate those who press the gas pedal to give away a higher fraction of their income for such efforts. It is indeed difficult to part with $1000 when you are earning $10,000/yr since the fraction becomes 1/10. The rickshaw pullers in my opinion have showed the world how one can expand at the bottom of the heart to embrace the fellow men even if they are/were unseen. May be it required a disaster to bring out the warmth in everybody's hearts (God forbid).

On the other hand what Mata has shown is a similar path but using big numbers. DMK contributed 1 crore for relief and so has every other political outfit. I am sure most of these political outfits are stinking rich and are capable of contributing more. A spiritual organization has overscored foreign aid and political organizations. Let us not worry about foreign aid since it is being refused by our PM for some reasons. But the political outfits which reap money by looting after they come to power must atleast contribute their services or money and lead the way rather than show off with the little that they give away.

It seems like the spiritual organizations are always the ones which come for rescue of aggrieved people in the times of disasters. Political outfits talk high and work low.

A slimy word for restroom in tamil

While chatting with my friends at home, I chanced to hear the word "kakkoos". Hailing from tamilnadu, I am sure any "thamizan" would know what it means. It is a word I have never used in any of my conversations as it 'sounded cheap'. I have this tendency to pursue etymological explorations (example kasmaalam came from kashmalam of sanskrit etc..) and I was convinced that this particular word cannot be a tamil word since it ended in "oos"(not referring the oozing after you get into the place), which is not permitted by tamil grammar. Apart from it not being a proper tamil word (or english I believe), I always burst into uncontrollable laughter whenever somebody used that word for expressing his egesting ideas. Somehow it is too funny to hear and cheap to say. A more decorous word is kazivaRai. Well, not that a better word changes the utility of the place intended, but just makes one 'feel better' before using the place. (Well, you will always feel better after using it.)

But this time when this word came up in convo, after reeling out a 2 minute non-stop laughter to the extent of getting spasms in stomach, I decided to get more info about this word. What else but google could provide info about anything and everything that God created ? I googled for that word and ended up getting minimal results of which most of them were had a scatological context. It was used many forums which traded 'good will' through such 'nice' words.

But one link caught my attention : This was somebody by the name of William David Rabindran from Nagercoil who had gone at length to describe how he shat in kakkoos. Though the writeup itself is a recap of of childhood memories, I was left wondering how a man could in this world be patient enough to describe in full detail right from the seating position through..you know what. You can find the link here:

http://www.geocities.com/jingi123/CHILDHOOD_MEMORIES.htm

The part pertaining to our word is as follows:

"Our KAKKOOS was outside in REDMONT. So if we want to go for no.2, we have to go outside the house….taking a PONI with full of water and go to the KAKKOOS open to atmosphere (with NO CEILING - ha ha ) It was having CUBICAL STONES kept in a row. We keep our legs on the TWO adjacent STONEs and go for 2…. What an experience … (THOTTI comes every morning and cleans the KAKKOOS ).. This Kakkoos was for everyone whether NIGHT or DAY any time . We HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE THE HOUSE . I think "

Profound indeed !