Sixth Sense

SixthSense is a wearable gestural interface device that augments the physical world with digital information and lets people use natural hand gestures to interact with that information. It was developed by Pranav Mistry, a PhD student in the Fluid Interfaces Group at the MIT Media Lab.
The SixthSense prototype is comprised of a pocket projector, a mirror and a camera. The hardware components are coupled in a pendant-like mobile wearable device. Both the projector and the camera are connected to the mobile computing device in the user’s pocket. The device projects visual information, enabling surfaces, walls and physical objects around the wearer to be used as interfaces; while the camera recognizes and tracks the user's hand gestures and physical objects using computer-vision based techniques. The software program processes the video stream data captured by the camera and tracks the locations of the colored markers (visual tracking fiducials) at the tip of the user’s fingers using simple computer-vision techniques. The movements and arrangements of these fiducials are interpreted into gestures that act as interaction instructions for the projected application interfaces. The maximum number of tracked fingers is only constrained by the number of unique fiducials, thus SixthSense also supports multi-touch and multi-user interaction.

LataMangeshkar turns 80 - A Great Legend

On September 28, 2009 India's Great Legend Lata Mangeshkar turned 80. A wonderful singer, Lataji is the second vocalist ever to have received the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour.

I am posting a wonderful moment of lataji sharing with Javed Akhtar on CNN-IBN for a special interview telecast on her birthday. Lataji was referring to the old system of recording and how difficult was in those days to record one song. Her first hit was perhaps the song sang for Madhubala in 1949 in the film Mahal called Ayega Aanewala. At the time of recording lataji was told that the first part should sound as though the voice was coming from far away. At that time, recording techniques were not as advanced as they are now. lataji was made to stand a good distance away from the microphone and while singing she came closer and closer to it. Finally when the Ayega bit came she was supposed to stand next to the microphone to get the right effect. She had to do the entire process some 25 times to get it right.

Saraswati stotram

This is a beautiful musical prayer for Goddess Saraswathi, the goddess of Knowledge Science and Arts. The reference of Saraswati is as old as RIG VEDA.
According to Vedas, Maha Saraswati is the presiding "Goddess of the Final episode of Devi Mahatmya". Here she is believed to be a part of the trinity of Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Saraswati.

Golu2009EventonSept20th2009

On Sept 20th Golu invitation was given to all our freinds. My sishyas rendered keertanams on diff dieites. Highlight was keerthanam on Guru by Rangasree and SreeRangaPrasad.

Navarathri 2009 BommaGolu

Navarathri 2009 Bommagolu was prepared by Sept 17th Thu and Sept 18th Fri being Amavasi day. Srutimma was the designer for the golu stand and she prepared the banner in her computer.

dorakalyanam

Presenting the highlights of DORAI's Kalyanam held at Madurai on Sept 2nd (THIRUONAM NAAL) 2009. Event covered by Deepa thru Apple IPHONE 3GS.

Onam Ponnonam 2009

Wishing all of you Happy Onam !

PaadasmaranaSukham in Lathaangi ragam

Recorded this song as I got lot of spare time. First of all it's ramadan and moreover, deepa and sruti left for a short vacation to attend marriage in Madurai. Lathaangi is a rare ragam used in films.

A Great Classic song composed in rare ragam (in filmworld) lathaangi. Please excuse the quality of the track I got in analog is not at all clear but still wanted to do this as this is one of my favourite songs.

In my limited knowledge, in mal film only dakshinamoorthyswami has composed in lathangi for an unreleased movie sung by (who else) ganagandharvan yesudas staring ‘swarangale sapthaswarangale’ not so popular as the film was not released.

Other than this, in Tamil Maestro ilayaraj composed a super hit song ‘chinna raasave chitterumbu…’ in lathangi. He has presented an incredibly pure Lathangi in a “tappaanguthu kind of format” in this song. It was a mega-hit song reverbrating throughout the Thamizhnadu, from the slums to the elite! Prabhu Deva (became famous thru this song) and Sukhanya danced for this song in the film ‘Walter Vetrivel’. Classic example of maestro’s intelligent use of a hardcore classical raagam and becomes wonder-struck! Ilayaraja has tuned another Lathangi in eeramaana rojavE (adhO mEga oorvalam).

Film : Sallapam
Lyrics : Kaithapram
Music : Johnson
Singer : K J Yesudas
Karoake track by: MohanKumarIyyer (as offering to great ganagandharvan who's done a marvellousjob (as usual)).

Apple iPhone 3GS

Getting Apple iPhone 3GS is like dream come true. Apple released this only in Hongkong as SIM FREE and thanks to Apple, finally got a SIM Free official Apple iPhone on Aug 16th. The phone is real SMART Phone. The interface is stylish and very easy. Attractive features are Voice command, Video , and video editing and sending to Youtube or facebook directly.

Now using Apple iPhone 3GS as Mobile Broadband device with Nokia E90 Communicator.

Thiranurayum in Nattakurinji

When I heard this song for the first time itself, it was registered and became crazy on this. Recently when I checked my ipod it showed this song played more than 500 times. Our great ganagandharvan's rendered this song so beautifully that no one can do full justice to the song. The song is composed in Nattarkurinji which is rarely used.

Tried to sing to the best of my abilities, but found the magic touch given by wizard KJY is missing.

Film : AnandaBhadram (2005)
Music : M.G. Radhakrishnan
Lyrics:GireeshPuthancheri
Singer:K.J.Yesudas
Karoke sung by : MohanKumarIyyer

NakshatraDeepangal

NakshatraDeepangal | Online recorder

This song is from the 1978 film 'Nirakudam' starring Kamalahaasan and Sridevi (B/W movie directed by bhimsingh). It had music by Jayavijaya (disciples of Chembai vaidyanatha bagawatahar). The song was so popular and even today no body dares to sing this song on stage and even if they attempt the singer and the performers are seen struggling in the charanam as it is quite difficult. A great composition. It has got the Double swarams of chembai in the charanam, which yesudas has handled in his own inimitable style. It's quite difficult to sing that portion.

Interesting fact is although this song mentions chembai singing in Navarathri mandapam, he never performed in the navarathri mandapam concerts and also yesudas hasn't performed in the mandapam till date.

Blip

A nice animation by Irish students of Animation. 

Blip from Sean Mullen on Vimeo.

Paying Tribute to RafiSaab

Mohammed Rafi, that name will never be erased from the music world. He's a true genius personified. Rafi's association with Naushad helped the former establish himself as one of the most prominent playback singers in Bollywood. Songs from Baiju Bawra (1952) like "O duniya ke rakhwale" and "Man tarpat Hari darshan ko aaj" furthered Rafi's credentials. Naushad, began favoring Rafi as the male voice in almost every song composed by him. Rafi would sing a total of 149 songs (81 of them solo) for Naushad. 

One of my favourites by Rafi saab, which was not featured in any movies, is this song 'Jis Khwaab ke raat ..'. The tune is really haunting and has got an emotional touch. The original track is much slower. I have used the track of malaylam song (which Naushadji composed in 1989 and became superhit duet of that time sung by Yesudas and PSusheela). 

Presenting this song to the memory of Rafisaab who lives and will always live in our hearts and soul. 

D K Pattammal passes away

Another carnatic music doyen passes away. Heard the news in the evening. She passed away on July 16th Thursday noon.

Hailed as one of the “women trinity” – M.S. Subbulakshmi and M.L. Vasanthakumari were the other two — of Carnatic music, Smt. Pattammal carved a niche for herself, which was marked by an uncompromising adherence to tradition, deep engagement with technical nuances and emphasis on bhava and rakthi.

In the unique timbre of her voice and unmistakably clear diction, compositions of Subramanya Bharati and Papanasam Sivan reached the masses. She had the honour of performing at the foundation-laying ceremony of the Bharati Memorial at Ettayapuram.

Smt. Pattammal’s background that was steeped in orthodoxy, but her contributions were progressive — from being one of the earliest women to give vocal recitals on a concert platform, to becoming one of the first women artists to handle the ‘Ragam-Thanam-Pallavi,’ traditionally considered a male bastion.

Smt. Pattammal was also one of the earliest Carnatic musicians to sing in films, beginning with ‘Thyaga Bhoomi’ and later, for others, including ‘Naam Iruvar.’ As someone who popularised patriotic songs, she was invited by the All India Radio to sing on the eve of Independence. She was a recipient of several awards including the ‘Padma Vibhushan’ and the ‘Sangeeta Kalanidhi,’ which she received from The Music Academy in 1970.

Srutimma's Trophies

On July 12th Sunday 2009, BPS Cultural Fiesta winners were awarded the prizes. Sruti got first prize in Classical and Light music. Also she was awarded as Best performer among Junior Boys and Girls. 

 

Lal 's excellent Performance in BHRAMARAM

Was waiting for the movie release as this was blessy's 5th installment and after Tanmaatra, blessy-mohanlal film. Went to Gulf cinema on Sat evening with deepa and sruti with much expectation and it was well maintained. 

Bhramaram is a genre breaking movie. A new kind of thriller genre to malayalam cinema. Shot on eight locations within 54 days, most of the story takes place between Coimbatore and Munnar.Blessy the director  has successfully managed to build in the necessary tension and suspense around the lead character, which pushes the movie till the interval. And the second half is a real splendour with one of the best performances from the versatile star in Lal. He, with the help of fabulous frames and interesting dialogues, propel the movie toward the climax, which is a real stunner. 

Historic Match

What a match it's ! Its a great fight between gladiators. Gladiator Russel crowe was also there to watch the fight. If someone missed yesterday's wimbledon final, sorry guys you've missed the match of the century, for the HIstoric Last set.

Noopura - Annual Day Celebration of CEC-Doha

Rushed to Doha cinema by 5:15 pm after picking deepa and sruti from the makeup camp of CEC. by 6 pm sharp the programme started. Sruti was performing today in 3 items of bharatanatyam.

It's a colorful evening of Classical Dance, Music and Martial arts presented by students of Children Education Centre Doha. Started with Rangapooja to the tune of Vaishnavajanatho which morphed later to mahaganapathim in nattai and leading to grandfinale of vishnusahasranamam verses 'shuklambaradaram' and saanthaakaram. It's hearttouching to view all the dancers in rhythmic synchronization and in the end they formed a beautiful lotus. It's followed by several items in bharatanatyam. later martial art karate was demonstrated followed by keyboard recitals by some students. Carnatic music students performed Swathitirunal's version of Ramayanam in raagamalika set to roopaka taalam. The programe ended with dance drama 'Maanishaada' which was innovative in its presentation aptly using the projection systems for creating the background of forest. few highlights below is not clear as I was shooting with my nokia E90 communicator. later will get some beautiful coverage when official video is released.

   Newspaper report published in Gulf Times about this programme. 

Anjali Kalyanam Highlights

It's memorable function indeed. I was attending our traditional marriage after around 5 years. And this was 3 days marriage with joy, tears and tradition all mixed in one package. Well done, Rajumama, for your great endeavour and prayers, god has given a wonderful gift to cherish for ever. Visiting Chennai and met all our relatives after more than 8 years. 

Watch the highlilghts of the marriage function of 2 days cut into less than 5 mts. 

Wait after pressing play button for buffering and reduce the volume of your speaker or player as the sound in the hall is not edited.

UP - Animation Movie

Up is a computer-animated film produced by Pixar Animation Studios about a cranky old man and an overeager scout who fly to South America in a floating house suspended from helium balloons. It is distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, and premiered by opening the 2009 Cannes Film Festival as the first animated film ever to do so. The film was released on May 29, 2009 in North America and scheduled for release on October 16, 2009 in the United Kingdom. 

On its opening day, Up is estimated to have earned $21,400,000. It went on to be at #1 at the box office with an estimated $68.2 million.

production designer Lou Romano has posted a massive post on his blog, chock-full of production artwork and tests from his work on Pixar’s newest film, “Up”.

Visit http://louromano.blogspot.com/