Oct 24th 2009- At Greater Toronto Telugu Association

Last weekend, I was across the border- at the Greater Toronto Telugu Association Deepavali celebrations to be exact. Krishna and I decided to use this opportunity to take a brief vacation and sort of mix business with pleasure. We drove the seven hour stretch and our first stop was at Niagara Falls on the other side of the border. The diminishing dollar did little to vindicate our decision but the spectacular view of the Falls from the 17th floor of the Marriot certainly did.

The next morning we headed to Toronto - an hour’s drive away. The hall was pretty packed and the audience very enthusiastic. There was no orchestra for we had a bunch of karaoke tracks loaded into our Ipods – (The Apple orchestra from California). I still have mixed feelings on singing with karaoke-on one hand it limits the singer, the stage may seem devoid of life and you are at the mercy of the electronic bytes- one missed beat can leave you stranded. On the other hand, it works with limited budgets, you don't have to deal with the hassle of incessant phone calls of coordination and logistics planning. Most of the newer breed of songs require some sort of pre- progammed loading anyway, as is evident in most professional groups including that of the maestro A.R.Rahman. I guess I may have touched a raw nerve but would like to know what folks think to this never ending debate among the musical fraternity.

Irrespective of the consensus, the show was well appreciated and many thanks to Ravi Gudipati, Surya Bezawada garu and his team!

To view photos click http://picasaweb.google.com/kri.anitha/20091026Oct24th_CanadaTrip?authkey=Gv1sRgCOvD9bjXtdySaQ#

Delaware Hindu Temple- Oct 17th 2009

It was a hat-trick. For the third consecutive year Viswamohan Ammula and I were at the Mahalakshmi temple at Delaware organized by the Delaware Telugu Association. It was one of the best audiences that I have performed for- musically inclined, patient and responsive. The show began at 8:30 and ended at 12:40 more than four hours of nonstop music. At one point, Viswamohan and I deviated from the script and went extempore with a slokam followed by a Purandaradasa krithi- Viswa followed with a Hindi ghazal and Krishna Nee Begane. That was one of the most enjoyable segment of the event. Nagaraj garu did a great job managing the sound system at the temple – He seemed to be very well versed with the equipment since the last time we were there. I would like to thank the committee members of the Delaware Telugu Association and the Hindu temple, special thanks to Shri Bala Reddy garu and Shri Sarma garu for the honor of being invited for the third consecutive time.

View more photos at http://picasaweb.google.com/kri.anitha/Oct17th_2009_DelwareTeluguAssociation#

Gurubhyo Namaha

On the eve of Vijayadashami, I organized a gathering of all my music students, past and present and keeping with the tradition of the auspicious event, they all sang different krithis. It made me reminisce my own childhood and my guru, Shri Ochira Balakrishnan, who was a major influence in shaping my music

Balakrishnan sir taught at the Trivandrum Music College and retired as its Principal. He himself was a disciple of the renowned Late Shri Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer. He had a home at Tripunithara, a suburb in Cochin. He traveled the 4 hour journey back and forth once or twice a week and taught students privately in Ernakulam. I was one of them and I guess one of his favorites too. I remember the days when I had to get up at 4 am in the morning and get ready for a 5 AM class. There were times when I was frustrated and did not want to continue but his perseverance and my mother’s adamance won over my indolence.

He introduced me to various raagas both simple and complex, He led me through the intricacies of Thodi and Bharavi and infused into me the habit of constant practice to achieve perfection. One of his masterpieces which helped me bag a number of awards in competitions in Kerala,Tamil Nadu and AP, was the Thyagaraja Krithi "Emi Chesithe Sri Rama" and Swathi Thirunal's "Janani Maamava".I must have practiced each krithi more than 500 times before presenting it on stage. He pushed me to participate in all competitions and was visibly pleased each time I came back triumphant. I believe that he used to sneak in unannounced and watch me perform. I used to get calls from well known light music groups in Cochin like CAC but Balakrishnan sir discouraged me from performing light music concerts and wanted me to focus on carnatic music.. and focus I did for almost 15 years.

He is no more-he succumbed to a heart attack last year. He left behind his wife and two daughters .He has also left behind a lasting legacy that will forever be an imprint and guiding light in my musical journey. I hope I can impart at least some his legacy to my own students.
May his soul rest in peace!