Benjamin Zander's passion for music is truly contagious.
When the speaker is passionate about his talk, it shows!
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The Royal Lake
25 November 2008 @ 02:24 pm
Benjamin Zander's passion for music is truly contagious.
When the speaker is passionate about his talk, it shows!
23 November 2008 @ 09:32 pm
05 October 2008 @ 12:02 am
"Asha for Education is a secular organization dedicated to change India by focusing on basic education in the belief that education is a critical requisite for socio-economic change. Asha has supported more than 800 different child education projects allover India."
I've signed up to participate in the half marathon with the Asha Foundation. One of the few useful things I've done in the past few months.
Do contribute here if you believe in the cause.
I've signed up to participate in the half marathon with the Asha Foundation. One of the few useful things I've done in the past few months.
Do contribute here if you believe in the cause.
Current Music: Dhamar - Gundecha Brothers
11 May 2008 @ 10:34 pm
For the last few months that I've been in this city, the striking thing to notice is the thriving indian population here. Atlanta, like many other US cities has a steady inflow of indians every year. They have regular Kutcheris (thankfully) and elaborate temple rituals. The hindu temple here is very beautiful and frequently visited.
You can call the temple to receive an automated recording that says "Press 1 for inquires. Press 2 to talk to the priest..". The prasad can be purchased using your credit card. Apart from other minor attempts at modernisation, I've seen things like mp3s of slokas that can be downloaded from temple websites etc. It felt strange when I first saw these things, but it works well here.
Managed to get a snapshot of the place. The weather these days is very pleasant. Sitting at the main entrance is a great way to unwind and feel at home.
You can call the temple to receive an automated recording that says "Press 1 for inquires. Press 2 to talk to the priest..". The prasad can be purchased using your credit card. Apart from other minor attempts at modernisation, I've seen things like mp3s of slokas that can be downloaded from temple websites etc. It felt strange when I first saw these things, but it works well here.
Managed to get a snapshot of the place. The weather these days is very pleasant. Sitting at the main entrance is a great way to unwind and feel at home.
10 May 2008 @ 03:43 pm
13 April 2008 @ 04:33 am
Listening to this brilliant piece of work by Priya Ganapathy as Lingo Leela on Radio City. Hilarious, I tell you!
06 April 2008 @ 05:14 pm
Listening to a carnatic concert over the phone was one of the most pleasant things that happened this semester. Thanks ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
romaamor !
romaamor !16 March 2008 @ 03:54 am
Enjoyable watch. When animation is used in "non-animation films", it either stands out or dilutes some aspect of the movie.
Found the animation used in this film interesting.
27 November 2007 @ 02:20 pm
Was looking at some old Saregama videos and realized that the talent this show used to attract was just unbelievable. Its saddening to see the state of the show today (influenced by American idol and audience votes).
25 November 2007 @ 10:42 pm
After Cadbury's Dairy Milk, Caribou Coffee comes close to receiving this title. PS: It tastes very much like our own Coffee Bite and evokes a sense of nostalgia
Current Music: Chingari koi bhadke
03 November 2007 @ 08:49 pm
23 March 2007 @ 02:19 pm
14 March 2007 @ 04:30 pm
A walk through the ancient city of Hampi reminds you of two things: The opulence and wealth of ancient India and the the loot and plunder that destroyed that wealth.
Krishnadevaraya's Hampi is a beautiful city filled with monuments and temples. One should plan to visit this city at leisure and definitely appoint a tourist guide. The Tungabhadra divides ancient Hampi from the modern part and is very beautiful to look at during sunset. The Lotus Mahal is a monument built for the queen so that she could relax during the evenings. The river was made to flow through the walls of this building to produce one of the earliest air-conditioning effects. Thanks to the king's love for his queen, we have many monuments of immense beauty. The city is beginning to get commercialised. Do plan a trip to this place before you have to fight for a place to stand in the Vitthala Temple which by the way is the most beautiful structure there.
If I could have things my way, I would make the Vitthala temple my home and live amidst the rocks of Hampi. Alas!
<Click on the images for more pictures>
Krishnadevaraya's Hampi is a beautiful city filled with monuments and temples. One should plan to visit this city at leisure and definitely appoint a tourist guide. The Tungabhadra divides ancient Hampi from the modern part and is very beautiful to look at during sunset. The Lotus Mahal is a monument built for the queen so that she could relax during the evenings. The river was made to flow through the walls of this building to produce one of the earliest air-conditioning effects. Thanks to the king's love for his queen, we have many monuments of immense beauty. The city is beginning to get commercialised. Do plan a trip to this place before you have to fight for a place to stand in the Vitthala Temple which by the way is the most beautiful structure there.
If I could have things my way, I would make the Vitthala temple my home and live amidst the rocks of Hampi. Alas!
<Click on the images for more pictures>
08 March 2007 @ 11:23 am
If whistling meant producing harsh discordant sounds at a frequency that only dogs can detect, I'm the best in the business.
Damn the guy who said a happy man is one who can take a pleasure stroll along the river with his hands in his pockets, whistling his favourite tune. I've been practising the above mentioned *art-form* for a few days now (much to the dismay and annoyance of my friends and family). My mom confused my whistle for a pressure cooker sound and came running down to turn the stove off.
Anyway, the point of this post was to remind people who thought whistling was a casual "Open your mouth and blow" that there is more to this. Listen to Sivaprasad K's whistling which can be easily mistaken for a flute.
I tell you, some people have all the talent.
Damn the guy who said a happy man is one who can take a pleasure stroll along the river with his hands in his pockets, whistling his favourite tune. I've been practising the above mentioned *art-form* for a few days now (much to the dismay and annoyance of my friends and family). My mom confused my whistle for a pressure cooker sound and came running down to turn the stove off.
Anyway, the point of this post was to remind people who thought whistling was a casual "Open your mouth and blow" that there is more to this. Listen to Sivaprasad K's whistling which can be easily mistaken for a flute.
I tell you, some people have all the talent.
Current Music: Vathapi - Sivaprasad's whistling
20 February 2007 @ 12:40 am
Was browsing through Peter Colaco's "Bangalore - A century of tales from City and Cantonment" and instantly fell in love with the sketches in the book. A collage of images come to mind: Malleswaram, Malgudi Days, R K Lakshman and so many more.
I just love the cartoon on the face of this album and can relate to every detail in the picture.
I just love the cartoon on the face of this album and can relate to every detail in the picture.
15 February 2007 @ 03:14 pm
Some very resourceful colleagues have exposed me to some very good Kannada and Tamil music. I personally had a bias against Kannada music and trashed it based on opinions formed after listening to the blaring "MTV Subbalakshmi" type numbers during Rajyotsava celebrations. I stand humbly corrected. Will post some of the good music I chanced upon in due course.
I somehow got involved in an argument between an ardent Ilayaraja fan and a die-hard Rahman fan on who was better. A futile attempt as each has a sizeable collection of good songs in his repertoire.
Vellai Pookal from Kannathil Muthamittal, is undoubtedly one of the most soothing songs I've heard in the recent past. The lyrics (thanks to google for the translation) are beautiful and the song is picturized very well in the movie.
04 February 2007 @ 12:07 pm
Attended a book-reading session on "Voices Within", a book written by B Jayashree and TM Krishna. The book highlights the struggles and triumphs of legends in Carnatic music such as MSS, Mani Iyer, Flutist "Mali" etc. A short documentary film by Rajiv Menon describing the life of each legend was screened. This was a refreshing replacement to verbose speeches that usually eat into the concert time. This was followed by a short concert by TM Krishna and B Jayashree. They performed seven pieces each highlighting the characteristic style and virtuosity of the legends described in the book. Rangapura Vihara was the song chosen for MSS. A fabulous rendition, I must say. And for T R Mahalingam, they chose an elaborate rendition of ragam thodi.
A concert of this nature was a welcome break. I managed to capture a few moments of the concert on video.
A concert of this nature was a welcome break. I managed to capture a few moments of the concert on video.
31 December 2006 @ 10:43 am
With age one tends to become less creative, more cynical and definitely more stupid. I started 2006 with a drive to Yercaud in a horribly stuffed car. 2006 has been a memorable year. It was during this time that I took my first flight, visited three countries, had a 2-month old nephew trying to say hello on the phone. I'm looking forward to becoming an abysmal fool in the year to come.
Before the networks get choked with new-year-wishes, let me grab this moment to wish all of you a great year ahead.