ಕ್ಷಣಪ್ರಭಾ - Kshanaprabhaa

Having watched every teaser and trailer that the talented crew of Katyar Kaljat Ghusali  (KKG, meaning: a dagger through the heart) released over the last couple of months, and having read about the time-tested and much respected Marathi play of the same name that premiered 58 years ago, I was all set to soak in its movie adaptation, knowing that you can only expect the best from Subodh Bhave , even if he was making his directorial debut with this. My knowledge of Marathi is only limited to the recent movies I have watched, the Abhangs I listen to, and a few trips I have made to Pune. But the Marathi movies have made a huge mark on me of late, through their artistic quality and sheer acting brilliance of actors like Atul Kulkarni and Subodh Bhave. It looks like the strong theater background has its impact. Period dramas are the kind of movies that have come out exceptionally well over the years, and I expected KKG to be no less artistic than Balgandharva (2011) or  Lokm...

Thousands of Indians led from the front in the long and hard freedom struggle of the country against the British, but unfortunately, in the present day India, very few of them remain on top of the minds of an average Indian. There were those who dedicated their lives and sacrificed their families, there were people who withstood immense hardship, and then there were those who took the cause to the average Indian and created a revolution by generating awareness amongst the masses by "connecting" with them and speaking their language - thus inspiring millions to plunge into the battle and take up the cause. A visionary like Bal Gangadhar Tilak was a leader who was in the forefront in all of these, yet, the country somehow manages to forget him in the hustles and bustles of the "free" and self ruled India he had imagined. When a work of art is made about such extraordinary gentlemen to whom the country owes a lot, it is very important that it portrays them in the...

I first found his voice three years ago through the mobile phone ringtone of a colleague and friend of mine, and I have become a huge fan ever since. It was a wait of three years to see him perform live, and the wish was fulfilled yesterday, as Anand Bhate delighted the hearts of music lovers of Bangalore with his soul stirring singing at the Chowdaiah Memorial Hall , as part of " Sangeet Sambhram ", on the occasion of 8th anniversary of founding " Sapthak ". Shree Bhate, a disciple of Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi , is continuing the Kirana Gharana tradition, and is dedicating time to his divine music even as he juggles with his profession in Technology (he holds a Masters degree in Computer Science). Yesterday's concert was a dream come true for me personally, as this was my first time listening to him live, and also my first time attending any live Hindustani concert, being a more staunch follower of Carnatic music for long. Acco...

I have been listening to a lot of Anand Bhate these days, the Hindustani exponent who is a disciple of none other than Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, and thought of putting together some of his performances that I have enjoyed a lot in a blog post, after first getting to know about him through the Marathi movie "Balgandharva" (2011). Here are some of his songs I keep listening to regularly: 1. The song Indrayani Kathi , in praise of Sant Jnyaneshwar , performed by Shri Anand Gandharva at Mangalore, in Raga Bhimpalasi: That song reminds me of my trip last year to Alandi , the samadhi place of Sant Jnyaneshwar. Here are a couple of pictures from Alandi and the river Indrayani that I captured back then: 2. Panchtund Nararundmaladhara : Naandi song from the movie Balgandharva in raga Khamach: 3. The Abhang Aga Vaikunthichya Raya , sung by Anand Bhate for the Balgandharva sound track but not used in the movie: 4. Chinmaya Sak...

I was introduced to a mesmerizing  piece of music last year when my colleague Aniruddha's mobile phone rang when we were on call discussing some work in the most serious mindset possible. I was dumbstruck by the calmness that little piece of music could bring to my mind while in the middle of a critical design discussion, even as Aniruddha went on to recieve the call thus cutting short my opportunity to listen to that heavenly sound. On asking him about the details later, I got to know that it was the beginning part of a song from a Marathi movie named " Balgandharva ", released in 2011 - portraying the life and times of a famous Marathi singer and actor. I then went on to listen to that song myself, and ever since, it has been delivering a daily morning dose of cheering up, as I feel that it brings in a great deal of calming influence - " Panchtund Nararundamaladhara ", a Naandi song of the play " Shakuntal " as portrayed in the movie Balgandharva, ...