when you meet your favorites...

What happens when you meet some of the people you admire a lot? Dearth of words? That's what happened when we met two of our favorites in a plane from Trichy to Chennai during our last visit to India.

I have met Yesudas couple of times before in Srirangam, San Jose & Raleigh and even have gone closer to see him but never wanted to talk or take pictures or get autograph. Not sure why but I recall what write Sujatha mentioned once. His true fans never reach out to him - meet him or call him or write him. We appreciate their work a lot but we want to stop their by looking them at distance? I wanted to talk so much to them and praise about several of their work and ask questions but I did not even feel that. Perhaps I felt so little compared to them and do not even want to ask something stupid and show my ignorance? Perhaps my personality too? Not sure why. My wife only went for this picture with them that Yesudas' wife took.

The other favorite is Vidyasagar. He looked very simple for the great music he gives. Songs like "Kaadhal Vandhal Solli Anuppu" or "Sudum Nilavu" are classics. All songs in Anbe Sivam are amazing. Really a great musician.

Swathi Tirunal Remembered

While I was searching for the great song Devanu ke Pade Indra of Swathi Tirunal, came across this website. Could never believe that the government of Kerala has created this website. What an honor and pride to do this! I still remember seeing this movie in Doordharshan Delhi on a Sunday when they telecast regional movies and heard the songs for the first time. I still enjoy listening to the cassette bought 15 years ago. Almost all songs are wonderful and a treasure to have. Few of the bests are Panna Kendra, Chaliye, Mamavasadha, Devanu ke and Parama purusha. I was under the impression that one of my favorite songs Gopalaka Paahimam Anisham is a traditional song but its also by this great Maharaja. Yep, Swathi Tirunal was a King.

Interesting details are the complete listing of songs displayed alphabetically and through raaga. Must bookmark for Carnatic fans. Some of the links seemed to have broken but on a whole, wonderful website.

Enjoy here: http://www.swathithirunal.in/index.htm

Wish there are similar ones for the trinity and other great lyricists like Subramanya Bharathy, Arunagiri Nadhar, Oothukkaadu Venkata Subbayyar, Papanasam Sivan et al.