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Vishnu Vasudev
Vishnu Vasudev

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7 Thyagaraja compositions that I miss

What do we have here? — One of the ways in which listening to Carnatic music is rewarding is its constant ability to surprise, no matter how long you’ve been at it. For instance, discovering a song while listening to a recording that is at least 50 years old. …

Thyagaraja

6 min read

Thyagaraja

6 min read


Sep 6, 2021

Keshav Desiraju

I first started hearing of Keshav Desiraju in 2015, soon after I joined my first job in public health. He had in the previous year been transferred out of his position as Union Health Secretary. He was always referred to in tones of awe and loss - a wistfulness for…

Keshav Desiraju

4 min read

Keshav Desiraju

4 min read


Aug 11, 2021

Maestro Doraiswamy’s Fine Balance

Today (August 11) is the birth anniversary of vainika Doraiswamy Iyengar. Here is a short note of appreciation from back in 2008. When I left for Middlebury, I took along with me a Meltrack tape which had Veena Doraiswamy Iyengar’s “Maestro’s Choice” recorded on it. It was one of my…

Veena

1 min read

Maestro Doraiswamy’s Fine Balance
Maestro Doraiswamy’s Fine Balance
Veena

1 min read


Jul 21, 2021

The Emergence of Women’s Grand Slam Champions in the Open Era

Interestingly, in the 54 years in the Grand Slam era, 20 have seen new new women’s Grand Slam champions emerge (vs. 18 such years in men’s…

Womens Tennis

1 min read

The Emergence of Women’s Grand Slam Champions in the Open Era
The Emergence of Women’s Grand Slam Champions in the Open Era
Womens Tennis

1 min read

The Emergence of Women’s Grand Slam Champions in the Open Era

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Jul 18, 2021

The Emergence of Men’s Grand Slam Champions in the Open Era

1974 was the single biggest year for men’s tennis in the open era up until the emergence of modern troika of greats. Both Borg and Connors…

Tennis

2 min read

The Emergence of Men’s Grand Slam Champions in the Open Era
The Emergence of Men’s Grand Slam Champions in the Open Era
Tennis

2 min read


Jun 30, 2021

Vinata Suta Ra Ra

On Garuda, Thyagaraja and the Prahlada Bhakti Vijayam — The only Carnatic song I know on Garuda is Vinata Suta Ra Ra in the raga Huseini. The song is part of Thyagaraja’s ‘opera’ Prahlada Bhakti Vijayam. Hiranyakashipu has bound his son in snakes (or in a ‘serpent spell’) and thrown him into the ocean. The Lord of the Sea…

Garuda

3 min read

Vinata Suta Ra Ra
Vinata Suta Ra Ra
Garuda

3 min read


May 16, 2021

Cheerful advice or desperate warning?

Sumiran kar le mere mana — This is the third in a series on non-obvious raga choices. One of my favourite among the Rishi Valley School assembly ‘set’ songs is a verse of Guru Nanak — Sumiran Kar Le. We sang it in a fairly joyous, mildly chiding manner in what I think is raag Yaman…

Sumiran Kar Le

4 min read

Sumiran Kar Le

4 min read


Apr 7, 2021

A minor example of Muthuswami Dikshitar’s major lyrical cache

Vishnu as the father of Kama — There are many identities of Vishnu. Not only does he have ten official avatars, he even has a thousand official names (Sahasranamam). He manifests as numerous deities, and being who he is, has many wonderous attributes. Given all of this, it is fair to say that his identity as the…

Muthusvami Dikshitar

3 min read

A minor example of Muthuswami Dikshitar’s major lyrical cache
A minor example of Muthuswami Dikshitar’s major lyrical cache
Muthusvami Dikshitar

3 min read


Mar 21, 2021

The marketing of two planets by Muthuswami Dikshitar

Series: The Counterintuitive Raga Choice. 2 — This is the second in a series in which I discuss compositions that seem (to me) to have counterintuitive choices of ragas given their subjects. Muthuswami Dikshitar’s Navagraha kritis on the nine ‘planets’ are well known. These are Suryamurte Namostute (Sun), Chandram Bhaja Manasa (Moon), Angarakam Ashryamyaham (Mars), Budham Ashryami…

Navagraha

10 min read

The marketing of two planets by Muthuswami Dikshitar
The marketing of two planets by Muthuswami Dikshitar
Navagraha

10 min read


Mar 6, 2021

Lost at sea

Series: The Counterintuitive Raga Choice. 1 — This is the first in a series in which I discuss compositions that have what seem like very counterintuitive choices of ragas. Consider the following lyrics (translated): I was drowned in the ocean of family life; an ocean whose vastness and depth can never be measured. I used to make…

Thiruppugazh

6 min read

Lost at sea
Lost at sea
Thiruppugazh

6 min read

Vishnu Vasudev

Vishnu Vasudev

234 Followers

I write mainly about my experience as a listener of Carnatic music.

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