April has been a good month for the Perth Tamil community playing host to three South Indian entertainers from Chennai. Perth is the capital city of Western Australia which inhabits approximately 1.9 million people. Due to the lower number of Tamil population in relation to the Eastern state counterparts, Sydney & Melbourne and the distance between the states discourage the entertainers who come to the Eastern states to visit Perth.
The month of April was exceptional in that the Tamil fans were first pleased to see Dr Padmashree Manorama, and Nahaisuvai Thendral Dindukkal I. Leonie at the Rixon Theatre, Penrhos College. It was the first visit to Australia for both of them and they were on their last lap of appearances on stage after visiting Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
Dr. Padmashree Manorama
Perth fans of Ms Manorama were delighted to see their comical actor in person. Knee surgery on her legs prior to the Australian tour did not deter the comedienne from visiting the four major capital cities.
According to Ms. Manorama, she has appeared in the silver screens for the last 52 years. She was introduced to the Tamil cinema via “maalaiyitta mangai” in 1958; however her debut was somewhat in a Sinhala film. The acclaimed actor is also proud of her achievement in acting with five South Indian Chief Ministers namely C.N Annadurai, NT Rama Rao, M. Karunanithi, MG Ramachandran and Ms Jayalalitha. This incredible accomplishment by Ms Manorama will be remembered forever. The comedienne commented that she never let her age to grow and instead she let her mind and heart to mature. Her tongue-in-cheek claim was that she is still twenty six!
The luminary actor’s talents were evident on stage as a vocalist, an eloquent speaker of Tamil literature and an outstanding mimic of the colloquial Jaffna Tamil and the diverse Chennai Tamil. One of her songs “dillikku rajahnalum paatti sollai thattathae.” was well received by the audience. Ms.Manorama’s roles in the cinema songs were re-enacted by the local dancers of Perth.
Dindukkal I. Leoni
Nahaichuvai Thendral I. Leoni also shared the stage with Dr. Padmashreee Manorama. I.Leoni chaired the patti-manram (debate) with two of his mates Mathukkoor Ramalingam and Piragatheesh as the debaters. The title chosen for the debate was “a family’s happiness is decided by a man’s mother or his wife? (Oru kudumbathin mahilchiyai theermaanipavar Annaiya aallathu manaiviya?)
Traditional patti-manram is enriched with Tamil literature and usually targets the educated. The beauty of Leoni’s patti-manram is that the audience do not have to be Tamil pundits to understand the verbal jousts, instead the lingo was simple and the puns and clichés were usually from the cinema and cinema songs. The late Kaviyarasu Kannathasan’s songs were liberally used to argue the points and were very much appreciated by the audience. The spectators’ laughter and rounds of applause were prominent from the start to the end. The winner of the debate was Ramalingam who argued for the wife.
Classical fusion with Rajhesh Vaidhya on Veena
Kim Beazley Theatre at the Murdoch University was packed with fans on the 16th of April to receive the Electric Veena maestro Rajhesh Vaidhya. RV was accompanied by the acclaimed musicians Karaikuruchi Mohan Raman on Mridangam, N Subramanian on Ghatam and the local artistes R. Vickneswaran of the Temple of Fine Arts on Tabla and Tal Cohen from Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) on the keyboard.
Rajhesh has been to Perth a few times and he is most admired for his classical fusion music. Rajhesh’s performance attracts fans of carnatic music, western, classical fusion and movie melodies across all ages and cultures. Electro waves opened the evening with the classical varnam and then moved on to maestro’s own compositions. One of his lively compositions named “that was something” had a touch of James Bond music theme and was equally matched with the fingers of talented key board player Tal Cohen. Tal Cohen was very much new to the Indian carnatic music scene but he indeed executed it beautifully.
The musical genes running in the family was evident when Rajhesh’s young daughter Malavika charmed the audience with her vocals performing a bhajan. A percussion solo (thani aavarthanam) led by Mohan Raman on miridangam followed by tabla and Ghatam respectively was indeed a feast for the ears which concluded with the rhythmic clapping of the audience.
[Kakkai Siraginile by Rajhesh Vaidhya]
After the intermission Rajhesh played one of his favourites from the movie Titanic, sung by Celine Dion “my heart will go on” which was well received by the audience. He also fulfilled the requests from the audience and the most popular request, according to the master, was from KS Balachandar’s “manmathaleelai” movie called “manaivi amaivathellam..”
He also executed movie melodies as medleys from old Tamil songs, Hindi, AR Rahman’s compositions and new film songs. The audience were spellbound and thoroughly enjoyed the whole performance. There was something for everyone that night and once again he did satisfy the expectations of his Perth audience.
Appreciation
At this juncture, the Perth Tamil community appreciated the hard work of Ms Shaantha Jeyaraj of Palkalaikkalanjiyem in her endeavours to bring Dr. Padmashree Manorama and I.Leoni group to Australia and Ms Yasotha Ponnuthurai of Indian Eye in bringing Rajhesh Vaidya and his team to Perth.
March 12, 2010 at 11:50 pm
· Filed under Arts, Video
Paaventhar Bharathithaasan’s poetic works dealt with socio-political issues that are true and relevant to this day.
Many of his works have been featured in Tamil movies as well. His song “Siththira Solaikale” was included in the film “Naan ean piranthen” – Why was I born?, starring Makkal Thilakam M.G. Ramachandran.
Universal Hero Kamal Hasaan stated in an event that Puradchi Thalaivar MGR insisted on including this song in “Naan ean piranthen?” against the wishes of the producer of the movie.
Bharathithaasan was born on April 29, 1891 in Pondicherry, French India and passed away on April 21, 1964 in Chennai (Madras), India. His original name was Subburathinam. In 1909, he was introduced to Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar, and his interactions with the Mahakavi had a major impact on him.
Bharathithaasan was greatly influenced by Periyar and and his writings were encouraged by political leaders C.N. Annadurai and M.G. Ramachandran. And his works stand true to contemporary issues, as a true poet’s ‘poetic justice’ comes to life at all junctures in history.
The poem “Siththira Solaikale” parallels nature, labor and machines that are bettering life on earth for humanity wherein beneath it lies numerous sacrifices. This poem, a tribute to the hard working labor is compiled in the following video with paintings from another time.
This video features paintings by Shan Sundaram of Pennsylvania, USA. Many of his paintings are featured in www.free-tamil.com
Together with Bharathithaasan’s poem, the paintings bring a message to the Tamil diaspora – recalling of sacrifices and the plight while calling now to set course in charity to help those in dire need. It reminds against becoming forgetful along with complacency that sets in as time goes on.
Translation of “Siththira Solaikale”
Picturesque groves
Nurture you on this earth – how many
Comrades shredded
Blood on your roots!
Lotus blooming ponds
In those days you set in – Of our
Holiest comrades buried extinct
Shall I recite of it in this world!
Machine clusters that mill
Your first and finale – shall I recite
Laboring our villager’s toil
Didn’t it give rise to truth?
World that’s witnessing labors’ toil
Purging hunger plunders life – telling
Wealthy you are
Is this justice just? – Paaventhar Bharathithaasan’s poem, Translated by K.T. Kumaranhttp://sundaramartgallery.blogspot.com/
A.M. Rajah rendered melodious songs in Tamil,Telugu,Kannada and Malayala movies.
Here is ‘Thendral Urangiya Pothum’, by poet A. Maruthakaasi, in the 1958 Tamil film ‘Petra Maganai Vitra Annai’, with music by M. S. Viswanathan and T. K. Ramamoorthy; A.M. Rajah is joined by P.Susheela in this popular song:
The song begins as “the breeze and moon may slumber, will love shut-eye ?”
The song rendered in a TV show by R Radhakrishnan of Mumbai, hosted by Sri Lanka’s eminent arts presenter B.H. Abdul Hameed:
February 7, 2010 at 7:12 pm
· Filed under Arts, Heritage
by K.T. Kumaran
Song written by Poet Vaali, for the 1966 blockbuster Nadodi starring Makkal Thilagam M.G.R – M.G. Ramachandran speaks of a true spirit of the world, for the betterment of humanity everywhere:
A translation from Tamil
One Language all over the World
Language spoken by hearts in love..
Language spoken without sound..
Language of sphere-less divine….
A bird in varied colors
One lyric many ragas
Nights are alike but seasons differ
Delight is same for the many souls
When separated by sea and sky
Love unites faster than the speed of wind
Souls may be separated into two
But love is just one – named divinity
One sky – one and only moonlight
Years those gone by are in millions
Imparted by love, reciting poetry and delving in arts
The united were in millions
Mass in the millions spoke it yet
Love sprouts swiftly
Be globe trotting, still
Love Google’s to unite
One language all over the world..
Language spoken by hearts in love..
Language spoken without sound..
Language of sphereless divine…. – By Kavignar Vaali – The evergreen lyricist
December 31, 2009 at 9:31 pm
· Filed under Arts, Heritage
by K.T. Kumaran
Arise and awake to serve all people and to bring goodness to all is what all humanity could resonate, at this time of beginning of a new year – 2010.
Sri Ramakrishna said, cultivating higher life is denouncing discrimination and recognition of divinity in everyone and in everything, compassion for the downtrodden and spirituality is final solution to worldly miseries and universal love.
According to The Vedanta Kesari, A monthly issue published by The Ramakrishna Order, several parallels can be drawn between Ramakrishna-Vivekananda ideology and twentieth century Tamil literature.
Swami Ramakrishna’s deep humanism has cast its influence on many literary compositions including in the works of Mahakavi Subramania Bharathi.
Drawing by a child who wants to be Bharathiyar. The drawing is hanging high in an office in Kalmunai, Sri Lanka – pic courtesy: Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai
Just as Bhagwan Sri Ramakasrishna called upon the youth of the country to arise and awake, Bharathiyar also wrote to Ilaya Bharatham (Young India).
Song by Mahakavi Subramania Bharathi, “Oli Padaitha Kanninai” (Thou with sparkling eyes), called upon the youth of the country to arise and awake to rejuvenate the land.
Here is the song ~ rendered by M.S. Subbulakshmi and a translation of the song:
Thou with sparkling eyes come, come, come
Strong hearted thou come, come, come
Thou with sweet words come, come, come
And with firm shoulders come, come, come.
Thou with serene mind come, come, come
Seeing smallness thou rage come, come, come
Thou with compassion for poverty come, come, come
And with mounting pace come, come, come
Young Bharatha come, come, come
Unmatched vigor thou hold come, come, come
Thou waiting to rise in rayless land
And like the rising sun come, come, come
Razed heartland to spruce afore
Restore splendor thou come, come, come
Thou as having seen all illustriousness
And come illustrate with your eyes come, come, come
