Review of concert on 12th August - Mumbai

The concert on 12th August by Ganesh and Kumaresh at Shanmuganandha was just amazing..It was a rainy evening but that didn't deter us from reaching the venue much before time. As we entered there we lots of policemen around, we came to know that the Governor is attending the concert .. and he did , the entire concert.

By the time we entered the auditorium - GK were in the verge of completing their sound check up!!!After the initial introduction, Ganesh and Kumaresh along with Satish Kumar on the Mridangam and Gopalakrishnan on the Ganjira were honoured with a shawl .

The concert began with a varnam titled Pancharagamalika composed by Kumaresh. The composition had 5 ragas namely Nattai,Gowlai,arabhi varali sri. It was an unbelivable piece in a brisk pace.. It was the beginning of a fantastic experience. The Varnam was followd by Gam Ganapthi in Raga Hamsadhwani. Ganesh played a brilliant but short alapana in Saramathi. To be frank I had goose pimples, listening to that alapana. They played the song Mokshamu Galadha. It was absolutely an experience listening to the song. The next in line was Brovabarama in ragam Bahudhari.

The surprise was in the next piece in Ragam Dharmavathi. It was a composition by the brothers . It was an amazing ragapravaham and was immensly pleasing. Ganesh sang Devaki nandhana -a Ragamalika set in ragas sahana, reetigowlai and mohana kalyani .The main piece was Ragam Tanam Pallavi in Shankarabharanam. I really don't have words the way it was rendered .. I am still surprised why these brothers have not been given any National Honour for the kind of music they play!!

After the thaniyavarthanam, Ganesh rendered 3 songs - a Sloka on Patanjali's compoisiton on Shiva's dance 2 Puniya Kanchiyil bought tears to those who love Paramacharya 3 O Rama Nee Nama Memi Ruchi Ra. The concert came to an end with a Thillana in Sindhubairavi composed by the brothers followed by Managalam.

All in all it was an experience listening to a soulful music by the brothers!!

Ganesh Kumaresh Rocks!!

Ganesh and Kumaresh are my all time favorites.. Dunno why..

There was a time when my mother tried her level best to make me learn music. She used to take music lessons for the neighbourhood girls. She will force me to sit down for music lessons.. I on the other hand wait for an opportunity to run away.. Being a South Indian - Tam Bram to be precise, it is only natural that you end up learning one of the artforms! so I was no exception.. to me they were torture sessions.. until I started listening to Ganesh Kumareh's violin..

I never took to music.. maybe I never had the passion. But my parents were avid musicians, not that they were professionals, they were both good in music. You can say I dissappointed them by not being an active musician!!!

Ganesh Kumaresh's music came quite early in my life. My mom used to say that I loved Thiratha vilyatu pillai and Chinanjiru kilye kanamma rendered by the Brothers while I was a small girl. Infact that was a lullaby for me.. Cool!!!

As I grew up, I realised I never really enjoyed the music rendered by others. Dad took me to other concerts, my neighbours took me to kutcheris during the December music festival, but I pestered them to take me back home. But with Ganesh and Kumaresh it was different.
Everytime I listen to them , they surprise me with their music. Mebbe thats why I am never bored with their music.

Maybe it is the difference between a Karan Johar and a Mani Rathnam movie

Ganesh and Kumaresh to me are legends.... I 've heard many stories about the brothers, in the process also learnt they never had a Godfather , their principles it seems invited the warth of Sabha Secrataries who boycotted them during the music seasons at one point.

So it is not by luck, it's not by somebodies help... It is only Mahaperiyavas anugraha and their sheer dedication and hard work that have seen them through the many obstacles paved by many

To me their music is unparalled, why because when they play music, they don't take a conscious effort to please the audience.. at any point when they play, they are completely engrossed with the superior power. One can see that when they close their eyes and play the music. When Ganesh plays Ragam, one can experience goose pimples and when Kumaresh plays one is transported to a different plane . This is because for Ganesh and Kumaresh playing before an audience is not entertainment, it is Dyanam - meditation

It is Bhakthi Marga I see , I experience when I hear them play.. I have been listening to them for the past 25 years and even today when I hear them plan I cry...coz they touch me with their music, transport to me a spiritual plance which I have not experienced with any other musician!!!

I maybe prejudiced.. but I know I am right.. May their music spread and touch the hearts of billions just the way it has touched mine

Glory be to them!!!