Likhati » Rama Varma http://www.likhati.com Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:41:31 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.likhati.com http://www.likhati.com/wp-content/cbnet-favicon/182.JPG Likhati Deshakshi http://www.likhati.com/2008/10/10/deshakshi/ http://www.likhati.com/2008/10/10/deshakshi/#comments Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:20:33 +0000 u http://mumbaigirl.wordpress.com/?p=870 I came across the Raga Deshakshi for the first time today. It reminded me of the sound of the music that accompanies Odissi. I looked it up and apparently it is a rare raga and used in Kathakali. It is outrageously beautiful, reflective of any activity that can be slow and sensuous, prayer, dancing, making love, bathing. Indeed, for me it is remniscent of one of Renoir’s “After Bathing” Paintings.

In this video Rama Varma, Rajashree and Ratnaprabha sing a rare composition by Swati Tirunal Saraseeruhanabha in Deshakshi.


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]]> http://www.likhati.com/2008/10/10/deshakshi/feed/ 3 Mallus with good voices make my day, Salutations to them http://www.likhati.com/2008/06/13/mallus-with-good-voices-make-my-day-salutations-to-them/ http://www.likhati.com/2008/06/13/mallus-with-good-voices-make-my-day-salutations-to-them/#comments Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:40:49 +0000 u http://mumbaigirl.wordpress.com/?p=477 Each day brings a surprise, if yesterday’s wasn’t too pleasant, today’s more than made up for it. A little while ago I had written about Rama Varma and linked to a video of him singing, rather irreverently referring to “Mallus” “with good voices.” I live with one such Mallu, who sings so rarely it’s like watching a comet appear in the sky when he does.

Imagine my delight and surprise when I checked my mail this morning before reluctantly dragging myself off to work and I saw a mail from a Rama Varma titled “Mallu with a good voice :-) ”

The mail began:

Namaste Ji :-) This is just a little of appreciation for the fact that you seem to have enjoyed the sounds made by this “Mallu with a good voice.”

proceeding to ask me about my music classes in London etc

Rama Varma made my day, not because he’s a “Prince,” but because he’s a great musician, bothering to enquire about my musical education with great warmth, concern and interest.

So thank you, Prince, for cheering up a really grumpy person today.

Here is a great video of him singing Endaro Mahanubhavulu (Salutations to the Great Souls of this world), a Thyagaraja Pancharatna kriti, in MDR style.


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]]> http://www.likhati.com/2008/06/13/mallus-with-good-voices-make-my-day-salutations-to-them/feed/ 4 The Singing Prince http://www.likhati.com/2008/05/26/the-singing-prince/ http://www.likhati.com/2008/05/26/the-singing-prince/#comments Mon, 26 May 2008 21:27:00 +0000 u http://www.mumbaigirl.net/?p=245 The world is full of Mallu men with good voices. A being one of them, Yesudas and Rama Varma being others. I recently discovered “Prince” Rama Varma from the erstwhile royal family of Travancore, a descendant of Swati Thirunal on youtube.

Rama Varma learns from Dr. M. Balamurali Krishna and is a big fan of the late MD Ramanathan (the first person I heard singing Carnatic music on some ancient tapes of my parents, and one of the reasons I developed a love for this form of music).

Here he is singing Sri Rama Namam, rightly described as “jaunty” by the poster.

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