T. Kalaimagan, grandson of Sri Subbu Arumugam, disciple of the star guru Sri P S Narayanaswamy (PSN).
Whether they emerge as stars after learning from Sri PSN or claim to learn from Sri PSN after turning stars, today's fad in Chennai music learning arena is to say that they are Sri PSN's disciples!!
Coming to Kalaimagan, grandson of Sri Subbu Arumugam. For those of you who don't know who Sri Subbu Arumugam is, read this para, others pl. go to the next para. Sri Subbu Arumugam is the only surviving member of the extinct species - villu pAttu kalaignar. Villu pAttu is a traditional finearts form of ancient tamizh nAdu. This integrates the art of story telling with subtle music with the help of a bow shaped instrument. Sri Subbu Arumugam is a devout Gandhian in the true sense of the word. A great human being, who relentlessly practises the traditional artform in its original character. As an aside, he is also an accomplished carnatic musician who never got on stage as one. His son Sri Gandhi and daughter Smt Bharati accompany him on the villu pAttu stage. Kalaimagan is Smt Bharathi's son. He should be around 20 years old.
I'm not going to list down what all Kalaimagan sang at NKT Muthu Hall, Triplicane, Chennai. Just want to share with you my views on his performance that day. If it is different from his other performances am not responsible. Kalaimagan has imbibed the art of singing from his grandfather, uncle and mother. He has the natural flair for singing and singing with emotions. Kalaimagan's choice of ragas, kritis were commendable. A fast paced composition rendered after a very slow paced one and balanced the audience expectation well. Kalaimagan showed a lot of promise while singing the raga alapana. He has got good ideas and the young blood rushes up fast at times. He tried some acrobatics here and there which is expected from a youth of his age. Unless someone tries at this age, he/she wont learn. But what is required is the sense of proportion.
Kalaimagan overdid the kalpanaswaras couple of times. He exhibited his lean on 'kaNakku' while singing kalpanaswaras. It is good to have an understanding of the mathematics (rhythm) but it should not be executed at the cost of melody, read as raga bhAvam. Fortunately when he was about to fall from the cliff, Kalaimagan managed to maintain the equilibrium and stayed on top. He lived up to the expectations and sang couple of patriotic and other bharathiar songs (enthanai kOti inbam vaiththAi) keeping his family tradition alive.
Coming to Kalaimagan, grandson of Sri Subbu Arumugam. For those of you who don't know who Sri Subbu Arumugam is, read this para, others pl. go to the next para. Sri Subbu Arumugam is the only surviving member of the extinct species - villu pAttu kalaignar. Villu pAttu is a traditional finearts form of ancient tamizh nAdu. This integrates the art of story telling with subtle music with the help of a bow shaped instrument. Sri Subbu Arumugam is a devout Gandhian in the true sense of the word. A great human being, who relentlessly practises the traditional artform in its original character. As an aside, he is also an accomplished carnatic musician who never got on stage as one. His son Sri Gandhi and daughter Smt Bharati accompany him on the villu pAttu stage. Kalaimagan is Smt Bharathi's son. He should be around 20 years old.
I'm not going to list down what all Kalaimagan sang at NKT Muthu Hall, Triplicane, Chennai. Just want to share with you my views on his performance that day. If it is different from his other performances am not responsible. Kalaimagan has imbibed the art of singing from his grandfather, uncle and mother. He has the natural flair for singing and singing with emotions. Kalaimagan's choice of ragas, kritis were commendable. A fast paced composition rendered after a very slow paced one and balanced the audience expectation well. Kalaimagan showed a lot of promise while singing the raga alapana. He has got good ideas and the young blood rushes up fast at times. He tried some acrobatics here and there which is expected from a youth of his age. Unless someone tries at this age, he/she wont learn. But what is required is the sense of proportion.
Kalaimagan overdid the kalpanaswaras couple of times. He exhibited his lean on 'kaNakku' while singing kalpanaswaras. It is good to have an understanding of the mathematics (rhythm) but it should not be executed at the cost of melody, read as raga bhAvam. Fortunately when he was about to fall from the cliff, Kalaimagan managed to maintain the equilibrium and stayed on top. He lived up to the expectations and sang couple of patriotic and other bharathiar songs (enthanai kOti inbam vaiththAi) keeping his family tradition alive.
After the concert, I called Kalaimagan and told him to be careful in exhibiting his skills. When his mother spoke to me after the concert, I expressed my views as an average listener. I made it very loud and clear that the responsibility of the performer is to tread the razor edge carefully balancing the exhibition of his skills to impress the so-called 'purists' and also satisfy laymen like me who only listen to music and doesn't want to know the grammar.
Kalaimagan will certainly emerge as a performer of excellence if he manages his act carefully. He has got a good guide in Sri PSN. I wish he practices the guidance given.
all the best Kalaimagan.
