The five CDs/cassettes pack was released on 31 October, observed as M. L. Vasanthakumari Remembrance Day, at a function at Narada Gana Sabha, Chennai.

The occasion was two-fold: the 10th death anniversary of MLV and the 5th anniversary of another Chennai-based music organization, Sri Thyagaraja Seva Samithi.

The cassettes and CDs were released by T.T. Vasu, President, Music Academy. R. Krishnaswami, Secretary, Narada Gana Sabha, received the first copy of the cassette and Sudha Raghunathan, a popular disciple of MLV, received the first CD copy. There was also a vocal concert by Sudha on this occasion.

'Legends' has a fine compilation of some of the rare and unheard numbers of the veteran, apart from her popular hits. The music has been digitally processed to enhance the quality of early recordings.

Commenting on the songs featured, Sudha Raghunathan says, "It is a treasured collection of some of her best and outstanding numbers like 'Baliyanamanage', 'Karanam Kettu Vaadi', 'Araro Ni Yararo' among many others

Even some of her film songs had a classical flavour." Sudha told KutcheriBuzz, "The uniqueness is that unlike today when 'punching' is possible in studios, facilitating correction of our mistakes with ease, the recordings of those days were possible only after repeated rehearsals."

When asked if there was anything special about the songs that might relate to any personal experience of MLV, Sudha says, "I was her disciple only during the last decade of her musical career, and so I'm not able to comment much on that."

The cassettes and CDs are available only as a pack. The 5-cassette pack is priced at Rs.325- and the 5 CD pack, at Rs.1375.

(If you would like KutcheriBuzz to facilitate your purchase of the Legend cassette/CD pack, please e-mail to us at editor@kutcheribuzz.com Deliveries can be made in India and abroad)

Thyagaraja Seva Samithi which celebrated its 5th anniversary on the same occasion, was founded in June 1995 and has been conducting music concerts, featuring one musician every month on the day of Bahulapanchami. The concerts are held either at Narada Gana Sabha or at Music Academy.

The Founder-President of this organization is P. Obul Reddy, a 'Thyagaraja bhaktha', as T.T. Vasu calls him.

Artistes who wish to take part in these monthly concerts may do so by sending an application along with their bio-data and an audio recording to

Thyagaraja Seva Samithi, Pottipati Plaza,
4th floor, 35, Nungambakkam High Road,
Chennai. Ph: 8272711.
Fax:91-44- 8272218.
E-mail: nippo@giasmd01.vsnl.net.in

- By Aruna. S