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News Round UpNovember 12, 2007
Colour of Rain
By KutcheriBuzz Staff
 

By now, Chennai is getting to know pianist Anil Srinivasan and vocalist Sikkil Gurucharan.

Better still, getting a feel of their music. A western classical pianist who has also attended Carnatic music lessons and a third-generation Carnatic musician who is not shy of going beyond the sabha stage.

Anil and Gurucharan have performed at a dozen concerts perhaps.

And so, the concert on Sunday, November 11, at The Music Academy for the annual The Hindu's Friday Review Music Festival was an opportunity for people who had read and heard about the duo's music to listen to them live.

It wasn't a packed house at the Academy. But lots of people who sat through the entire concert seemed to love it. And you got an indication of it from the quick sales of the new album of the duo called - Maaya: The Colour of Rain, produced by Charsur.

"The music is so soothing," said one.
"The words are so distinct and the lyrics so clear," said another.
"Please tell Gurucharan that!" said Charsur's promoter Charubala.

Anil and Gurucharan, who went to the same school and college (Vidya Mandir and Vivekananda College in Mylapore) came together a couple of years ago to collaborate.
Since then they have worked with dancer Anita Ratnam and cut their first album, 'Madhirakshi' (Charsur).

It has taken time for their music to sink in. But not everyone is enamoured by it.



A critic had some snide remarks to make in 'The Hindu' newspaper while reviewing a face-to-face session that the duo had at the Alliance Francaise auditorium in the city in October.

At Sunday's concert, the duo was joined by kanjira artiste B. S. Purushothaman, violinist Mysore V. Srikanth, saarangi artiste Murad Ali Khan and guitarist Vedanth Bharadwaj.
They performed the popular Subramanya Bharathi’s song ' Aasai Mugam' which they have recorded for their first disc. The buzz is that the duo's version of this song has enveloped lots of young people here and abroad.

<< Well, if you have been listening to the duo's music and feel strongly about it, mail us your feelings. Mail to editor@kutcheribuzz.com. >>

See Video -
100kbps : http://st.malargal.com/kbuzz/0711/musicworkshop100.wmv
200kbps : http://st.malargal.com/kbuzz/0711/musicworkshop200.wmv



Readers share...

It is heartening to note the encouraging stance you have taken regarding the truly beautiful music of Anil Srinivasan and Sikkil Gurucharan. For a number of listeners like myself, who have been exposed to Carnatic music when very young, but having journeyed outside it due to life taking over, their music has a freshness and a haunting seductiveness about it that has heightened our appreciation for, and attendance of classical concerts.

I completely agree with the comment that there are detractors to their work, but which new form does not? And truly, theirs is a form that is unique and strong. Kudos to Kutcheribuzz for their encouragement of the new duo!

Ranjani Muthana, London, UK. By Email
by E-mail

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