+6Being not a regular in Chennai, makes me think aloud of quite a lot of Madras things. Indeed, I would prefer Madras over Chennai. And the debate shall continue and being called a British afficando and other regional names, I don’t care.
The Kutcheri season in December and some kutcheris in Mylapore during off season ones. The Music appreciation group are things which I really miss. Among the recent Kutcheris , I have noticed quite a lot of changes.
The Themed Kutcheri: How did this evolve ? Answer would be Jaya TV ‘s Utsavam. Not that they are bad, but steal the beauty for the TRP ratings. Which leads to some observations . What happened to some instruments and kutcheris which we miss so much . But some of them are good. Some of them are pathetic. Some are like remixes of earlier concerts.
What happened to……Some of the kutcheris like Jalatharangam by one of my brother’s batchmate’s patti in Adayar and the nimble and beautiful instrument called as Morsing which has almost disappeared from the “Pakkavadiyam” list is a cause of concern. A sample of this amazing instrument can be heard here
A Morsing sounds different and considered a tala instrument than a sruthi instrument. How it is played ? really a mystery to people. Is it played through the mouth? Or is it played through the hand? Point to be investigated.
Another major instrument called Ghatam is getting rarer day by day. Why don’t we see more of thala instruments. Electronic Sruti box killed the sruthi holding junior singer.The Junior singers have started singing without an idea of what sruti is. Thinking aloud , will the thalam instruments completely disappear from the Kutcheris soon? Then what will happen to Kutcheris?
Food for a kutcheri……Ashoka Halwa which I remember eating during the Tyagaraja Aradana was very much available in the Sabhas here, which have gone missing. So are peerkanga Bajjis and some really wonderful chutneys made with the skin and the eponymous Thavalai Adai are some of them which are missing for some years now.
Why can’t people start a Food Appreciation and Protection group? After all, not everybody relishes Paneer Butter masala in a Dosa !
