Sitback and Relax.....

Last 10 days it's hectic travelling in India (Starting from Mumbai) and enjoyed each and every moment to the maximum. A rarity in today’s times. Where do we have the time to sit back and watch and listen to the world. To discuss and flow with the essence of life. To have opportunity to ponder, to wonder, and go back to the nostalgic memories. As I was born in mumbai (Malad) and always visited this city every year when i had annual vacation,I do have a special bonding with mumbai. But mumbai is totally changed. The traffic has become horrendous ! And so has the environment in and around. But still enjoyed the crowd in juhu beach, where we stayed this time. Visited Elephant Caves, a long time goal I had and only this time it got fulfilled. Paid homage to the martyrs of 26/11, as coincidentailly we landed on the same day. Also, had the golden oppurtunity finally to get darshan at shirdi and sanisinganapur. enjoyed the sugarcane juice made by bull ! it's a diff experience of life altogether! Mumbai, the city of dreams and ambitions ! Long may it live ! Eagerly waiting for the next time to visit Mumbai, my dream city, again.

Happy Diwali 2010

Presenting a DIWALI Greetings with Enthiran and DIWALI short film mocking film DEEWAR.

Diwali Message from American President

U.S. President Barack Obama wished all who are celebrating a happy Diwali! In a video message recorded at the White House and posted on its Web site. This version is last year message from the whitehouse. At that time no one knew that the next year president will land in India with his family on a Diwali Day (Nov 5th). Ofcourse with Forty aircraft - including the Air Force One military plane - and six heavily armoured cars will follow the president around the country.This will be the biggest ever visit to india by an american president as US will be spending around $200mn a day.

Doha Tribecca Film Festival - Filmy Weekend

Enjoyed a lot to the visit to DTFF 2010 at Doha Cultural Village. It's a different world altogether. Felt like visiting hollywood. Hollywood actor Robert DNero was the chief guest at the Red carpet function. Other famous personalities included Mira Nair, Ramgopal verma from bollywood, famous writer director Randall Wallace. One of the highlights was the premeiere of 'Raktha charithra'. Couldn't watch that movie as we had to cover a lot of activites area. Thoroughly enjoyed the spots and the gigantic open air theatre built specially for the festival.

Navarathri Bommagolu 2010

By God's grace Navarathri Bommagolu 2010 was celebrated with blessings of almighty. As usual, it's a grand gala setting and this time variety was Harrypotter theme and magic pipe; goblet of fire. Vishnulokam projection using my pocket projector.

Highlights from our golu with background music by me and my students in chorus.

CNA-Q Convocation

A Great day of achievement ! Graduation ceremony at College of North Atlantic. It's a canadian college campus in Qatar. I did my postgraduation in Human resources and it's a professional certificate. It's a part time course in the evening hours from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. for almost one year. It's a return to the college life. Enjoyed a lot studying again.....





On Oct 13th Wed 2010, was the Graduation Ceremony. The president and dean of College of North Atlantic Qatar presided and I was the guest speaker representing the graduates to explain about the experience of learning in CNA-Q. Thanks to the almighty for giving me a chance again to become a student and enjoy college life in the busy office life !

SPB CHITRA Concert at Doha Cinema

SPB-Chitra Concert during navarathri time was a gift for Doha indians. On thursday we rushed to Doha cinema in great joy and excitement to listen to SPB after around 10 years. (last 2001 SPB came with SJanaki to Doha). SPB voice has not changed a bit and in the higher octaves it was more powerful. Started with Muthu Song, chitra followed by ovvoru pookkalume. for malayalam numbers kerala singer biju narayanan was providing melodious tunes. All in all, it's a great programme and highlights of the songs were 'anjali', Enthiran, Kehna hi kyaa, sankaraa, Eekadalum (first mal song by SPB), pular kaala sundara and final climax ninaithaale inikkum song. SPB anna vaazhga. Chitra chechi vaazhga.

ENDHIRAN - a Trend Setter for Indian Film World

Enjoyed the movie on very first day of release in Doha cinema. A great leap for indian film world for special effects and technical perfection. Really the full team of ENDHIRAN has done tremendous work. All the shots are 100 percent perfect although some of the shots in the climax is not on par with hollywood. But considering the attempt it's a great achievement. Rajni no doubt, is at his best; his style or mannerisms are missing. but 'meaaah..' will be a hit with masses, llike 'laka laka laka'. liked the villain rajni rather than hero.

Music is Life

That is the name I gave to my wireless network. Infact, given by my friend prakash when he set up the router. But last week has got a 'notice' for the musicclass I have been practising for more than 6 years. Yes, 6 years of teaching carnatic music in qatar has come to an end. Now I realise, for every start there's an end. I am totally touched and moved by reaction and response my students and parents gave me. Most of them don't know the real reason as I am not in a situation to reveal. We all know that in this hard world, only music can give solace. Even a desperate terrorist would soften up (at least temporarily) when he listen to some kind of music.
However, thanks to technology, no one can stop singing in the net.........

Raavan A Big Dissappointment

Much awaited film is a big disappointment. Watched both the versions just to compare the performance of actors. Vikram has done more justice than abhishek in hindi. The real hero of the movie is kerala's prestigious Athirappilly vaazhachaal location and santosh sivan's cinematography. ARR is another wasted talent in this movie and couldn't pick any one of the songs as memorable.

Sooryanaaytazhugi-Father'sDay Gift | Upload Music

It’s very rare to find songs dedicated to father rather than mother. There are plenty of songs praising mother ! This gem is from malayalam film ‘Sathyam Sivam Sundaram’ composed by Vidyasagar , lyrics by kaithapram and rendered with full emotion and touching our soul by Chitra is the best dedication to a father.

My best friend Balamurali has programmed the entire orchestration in his KORG and this is one of my old recordings. Bear with the jarring vocals because of some problem in mixing.

Film : Sathyam Sivam Sundaram (Malayalam-year 2000)
Original Singer : K S Chitra
Track by : MohanKumarIyyer
Music : Vidya Sagar
Lyrics : Kaithapram Damodaran Namboodiri

Orchestration and keyboard programming by Balamurali