Sunday evening - contd...

Since I reached dinner time yesterday and since I did not intend disturbing the peaceful atmosphere at home(rare) by delaying my appearance at the table after dinner was served, I posted my piece in a hurry and left. I am adding the left over bit today.

While writing about these music and dance shows I wanted to mention about one such show hosted by Sri S P Balasubramaniam which has Sri Jayant kaykini as co host. There is nothing new in the show but SPB’s words make a difference here. He puts the children at ease, points out very gently if they go wrong, sings himself to demonstrate how it should be and sometimes, relates the songs to the classical ragas on which they are based by singing the ragas. He never lets down any one.

If I sing there, his comment would be, “That was great, doctor Raghunandan. God has given you the gift of singing and soothing the mind, apart from healing the body. Very good. You were out of tune, the notes were wrong and rhythm did not exist. But for these minor defects your singing was perfect. If you can sing so well without training and practice, I don’t know where you could have reached, had you learnt to sing and practiced well. I feel small in front of you.” And you will feel it is straight out of his heart.

Sri Kaykini is another sensible host. After hearing a seductive song sung by a seven year old, he said “Your singing is good. But you would have been much better if you had understood the meaning. We cannot expect that from you. This song is not for your age. Your parents and teacher should have thought about it. You did your job well.”

(the words of sri Kaykini are very much similar to those of Sri Shivaram karanth which Brinda has quoted in her comment)

Some sanity is still there.