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Obituary – Sri M N Nambiar
M N Nambiar (born Manjeri Narayan Nambiar March 7, 1919 — November 19, 2008), a veteran film actor in Tamil cinema, he has been in the film industry for more than 50 years. He is a veteran of theatre and considered a legend in cinema. He is acknowledged to be one of the oldest actors from the pre-war era who remains in the industry today. He remains humble despite having worked with seven generations of actors
വില്ലന് വേളങ്ങളിലൂടെ പ്രേക്ഷക മനസ്സുകളില് നിറഞ്ഞുനിന്ന നടന് എം.എന് നമ്പ്യാര്(89) അന്തരിച്ചു. ഉച്ചയ്ക്ക് ഒരു മണിയോടെ ചെന്നൈയിലെ സ്വകാര്യ ആസ്പത്രിയിലായിരുന്നു അന്ത്യം. കഴിഞ്ഞ കുറച്ചുനാളുകളായി രോഗബാധിതനായി ചികിത്സയിലായിരുന്നു. 50 വര്ഷക്കാലം ദക്ഷിണേന്ത്യന് സിനിമ രംഗത്ത് സജീവമായിരുന്ന മഞ്ചേരി രാമന് നമ്പ്യാര് എന്ന എം.എന് നമ്പ്യാര് തമിഴ്, തെലുങ്ക്, മലയാളം, ഹിന്ദി എന്നീ ഭാഷകളിലായി ആയിരത്തിലധികം ചിത്രങ്ങളില് അഭിനയിച്ചു. ജംഗിള് എന്ന പേരില് ഒരു ഇംഗ്ലീഷ് ചിത്രത്തിലും അദ്ദേഹം പ്രത്യക്ഷപ്പെട്ടു.
അഭ്രപാളികളില് പരുക്കനായ വില്ലനായി അഭിനയിച്ചപ്പോഴും യഥാര്ത്ഥ ജീവിതത്തില് ഇതിന് നേര് വിപരീതമായി ഹൃദയാലുവും തികഞ്ഞ ഈശ്വരഭക്തനുമായിരുന്നു നമ്പ്യാര്. 1919 ല് കണ്ണൂരില് ജനിച്ച എം.എന് 13 ാം വയസ്സില് നവാബ് രാജമാണിക്യം ട്രൂപ്പിലൂടെയാണ് അഭിനയരംഗത്തേക്ക് കടന്നുവരുന്നത്. 1935 ല് പുറത്തിറങ്ങിയ ഭക്ത രാമദാസാണ് ആദ്യ ചിത്രം. ബാലയ്യ മുതല് മനോജ്(ഭാരതിരാജയുടെ മകന്) വരെ ഏഴ് തലമുറയിലുള്ള നടന്മാര്ക്കൊപ്പം വേഷമിട്ടു.
ആരോഗ്യകാര്യങ്ങളില് അതീവശ്രദ്ധാലുവായിരുന്ന എം.എന് വീട്ടില് നിന്ന് കൊണ്ടുവരുന്ന ഭക്ഷണം മാത്രമേ കഴിച്ചിരുന്നുള്ളൂ. അതും സസ്യാഹാരങ്ങള് മാത്രം. തമിഴില് തിരക്കേറിയ നടനായി മാറയതോടെ നമ്പ്യാര് നാടക മന്ട്രം എന്ന പേരില് ഒരു നാടക ട്രൂപ്പ് അദ്ദേഹം തുടങ്ങി.
ശബരിമല ശാസ്താവിന്റെ തികഞ്ഞ ഭക്തനായിരുന്നു എം.എന് നമ്പ്യാര്. 65 വര്ഷമായി എല്ലാ മലയാള മാസവും ഒന്നാം തീയതി ശബരിമല ദര്ശനം നടത്താറുള്ള എം.എന് മഹാ ഗുരുസ്വാമി എന്നാണ് അറിയപ്പെട്ടിരുന്നത്. അനാരോഗ്യം കാരണം കഴിഞ്ഞ വര്ഷം മാത്രം അദ്ദേഹത്തിന് ശബരിമലയില് ദര്ശനത്തിനെത്താന് കഴിഞ്ഞില്ല. പകരം മകനാണ് ഇരുമുടിക്കെട്ടുമായെത്തിയത്.
എം.ജി.ആറിനൊപ്പമുള്ള ‘ആയിരത്തില് ഒരുവന്’, ശിവാജി ഗണേശനൊപ്പം ‘അമ്പികാപതി’, ജമിനി ഗണേശനൊപ്പം ‘മിസിയമ്മ’, ‘നെഞ്ചം മരപ്പതിലൈയ്ത്ത്ള തുടങ്ങിയവയാണ് പ്രധാന ചിത്രങ്ങള്. ‘ദിഗംബരസ്വാമിയാര്’ എന്ന ചിത്രത്തില് 11 വേഷങ്ങളില് അഭിനയിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്. ‘കല്യാണി’, ‘കവിത’ എന്നീ ചിത്രങ്ങളില് അദ്ദേഹം നായകനായും അഭിനയിച്ചു. സിനിമ, സീരിയല്, നാടകം എന്നീ മൂന്ന് അഭിനയകളരിയിലും അദ്ദേഹം തിളങ്ങി. എല്ലാ നടന്മാരുമായും നല്ല ബന്ധം കാത്തുസൂക്ഷിച്ചിരുന്ന എം.എന്നിന് ഏറ്റവും പ്രിയപ്പെട്ട അഭിനേതാക്കള് എം.ആര്.രാധയും സാവിത്രിയുമായിരുന്നു. മലയാളത്തില് ജയറാം ചിത്രമായ ‘ഷാര്ജ ടു ഷാര്ജ’, ദിലീപിനൊപ്പം ‘കുബേരന്’ എന്നിവയാണ് അവസാനം അഭിനയിച്ച ചിത്രങ്ങള്.
Chakkamkulam Appu Marar passes away
Chakkamkulam Appu Marar passes away
Chakkamkulam Appu MararExpress News Service 10 Sep 2008 01:59:00 AM ISTTHRISSUR: Melam maestro Chakkamkulam Appu Marar died at his residence at Thaloor near here on Tuesday morning.
He was 85. The cremation will be held on the premises of his house at Thaloor on Wednesday at 10 am. He is survived by wife Vishalakshmi Marasyar, sons Unnikrishnan, Ramkumar, Satheeshan and Prakashan and daughter Lathika.
Well-known as a resourceful thayambaka expert, Appu Marar was known as an expert in sopana sangeetham and thimila.
He learned the melam preliminaries from his father Narayana Marar and later from melam acharyan Anthikkad Ramankutty Marar.
At the age of 14 he had the `arengettam’ at Anthikkad Karthyayani Temple. At the age of 35, he led the prestigious panchari melam of Peruvanam Chathakudam Shastha and earned the rare title of ‘melapramani’. In the subsequent years, Appu Marar had the ‘pramanam’ for all the famous Pooram celebrations, including the famous Thrissur Pooram and Arattupuzha Pooram. Appu Marar had developed his own style known as ‘Chakkamkulam style’.
He is the recipient of the first Pallavoor Appu Marar Puraskaram of the Kerala Government. Appu Marar earned the titles of Mela Kalathilakam, Mela Kalaratnam, Mela Kalacharyan, Melacharyan and Kalacharya. He is also the recipient of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award Veera Shringhala from Mumbai Keli organisation.
Music therapy loses its champion – Kunnakkudi Vaidyanathan
Music therapy loses its champion – Kunnakkudi Vaidyanathan
Sharadha Narayanan | ENS09 Sep 2008 12:00:00 AM ISTCHENNAI: Violin maestro Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan (73) passed away in the city on Monday evening following a prolonged illness. The Padma Shri Awardee was admitted to the Sri Ramachandra University Medical College Hospital where he breathed his last following a cardiac arrest.
Kunnakudi was undergoing treatment for a stomach ailment for over two months. Initially, he was taken to a private hospital in Perungudi and later moved to Ramachandra Hospital where he was under intensive medical care.
Sources close to the musician said that Kunnakudi, as the ace musician was popularly referred to, had not been keeping good health for over a couple of months. His son, a doctor working in Melbourne, had also come down to Chennai to treat him and he was planning to take his father abroad for treatment.
However, Kunnakudi’s health deteriorated over the weekend and he was under intensive care at the hospital when he developed complications in his heart.
His body is expected to be cremated tomorrow. He is survived by wife and two sons.
Born in 1935 to Ramaswamy Sastri and Meenakshi at Kunnakudi in Sivaganga district, his father was an erudite scholar in Sanskrit, Tamil and Carnatic music as well as a great composer and exponent of Carnatic music and Kathakalakshepam.
For young Kunnakudi, veda sastram and sangeetam were the main disciplines besides schooling.
The noted violinist, spotted always with a bright saffron spot and sacred ash smeared on his forehead, was known for introducing novelties in his concerts. He has performed all over the world. Conferred the Padma Shri in 2005 , he was also the head of the Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram for many years.
Kunnakudi joined Modern Theatres for film orchestras in the late 50s. In 1963, he got a break with HMV as a music director.
He produced Muruga Ganamrutham.
From 1976, Kunnakudi concentrated on his solo concerts and stopped accompanying vocals for concerts.
Apart from Carnatic music, he also tried his hand in movies. He produced Todi, a musical feature film, along with T N Seshagopalan which went on to become a success. Kunnakudi made a special appearance in the 2005 Tamil blockbuster movie Anniyan directed by Shankar.
Honours have pursued him. Apart from the Padma Shri, he was given the title ‘Sangita Mamani’ and was conferred with more than 200 awards He was also the secretary of Thygabramha Sabha, Tiruvaiyaru in Thanjavur, which organises the annual Aradhna Festival of the great carnatic music composer Saint Thyagaraja. Kunnakudi also had deep faith in the therapeutical merits of music.
Sushiri by G Jayaprakash – For Guinness, this is not the smallest yet
Sushiri by G Jayaprakash – For Guinness, this is not the smallest yet
M. Harish Govind for THE HINDU
The musician G. Jayaprakash is annoyed at the Guinness Book of Records refusing to accept his innovative `sushiri’ as the smallest musical instrument. The musician G. Jayaprakash is annoyed at the Guinness Book of Records refusing to accept his innovative `sushiri’ as the smallest musical instrument.
SMALL IS MUSICAL: G. Jayaprakash plays on the tiny wind instrument, `sushiri’. Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar for THE HINDU.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The efforts of a city-based musician, G. Jayaprakash, to get into the Guinness Book of Records for developing the smallest musical instrument have come to nought, with the global organisation refusing to alter the existing record being held by a nano-technology device developed by US scientists in the laboratory.
Jayaprakash’s instrument, `sushiri,’ is a chip of sandalwood 4.5 cm long, 1.5 cm wide, one mm thick and weighing just half a gram. The chip has four rows of minute holes on it, and when held close to the lips and played with fingers, it produces notes similar to those of a saxophone or a flute.
In response to Jayaprakash’s application, Guinness wrote to say that his achievement does not better the existing record held by the nano-scale guitar developed by scientists at Cornell University, USA. The silicon `nano-guitar’ is only as big as a single red-blood cell; it is `played’ in a vacuum chamber, using a laser in place of a guitar-pick.
When a laser hits a string, the heat makes it vibrate at frequencies a thousand times higher than what the human ear can pick up. However, scientists say that they can detect the vibrations and electronically scale them down to audible tones. Interestingly, the device was developed not to make music, but to try out small devices that vibrate at very high frequencies — to find ways to create cheaper electronics that save energy.
Unfazed by the reply, Jayaprakash wrote back pointing out that his `sushiri’ is a conventional wind instrument which produces the same sound frequencies as other such instruments. It can produce notes loud enough to be heard by about 100 persons in a room. Its notes could blend with those of other wind, string and percussion instruments in a concert, he said.
But the Guinness authorities refused to budge. “We are not at present interested in splitting the category into instrument types, and so the smallest guitar as mentioned takes precedence,” they wrote back, adding that the decision was final.
Jayaprakash, 44, says that he developed the instrument after 15 years of research.
“I did not expect a prestigious global organisation such as Guinness to be so biased. How can they can call a laboratory device, which cannot be seen or heard, a musical instrument?” he asks.
A self-taught musician, Jayaprakash coaxes classical compositions such as `Om mahaganapathim…,’ `Ennathapam cheithane…’ and `Jnanappazhathe…’ out of the `sushiri’ with the finesse of a maestro. He played the instrument at the Soorya Art & Dance Festival held in the State capital in July last. He has now submitted a proposal to the Limca Book of World Records and is awaiting their response.
Sohanlal teams up with Thilakan in ‘Orkkuka Vallappozhum’
Sohanlal teams up with Thilakan in ‘Orkkuka Vallappozhum’
Music lovers all over cannot forget the recently concluded Raga Ratnam Junior show. The quality of the show was appreciated by all and even managed to get the prime time of Amrita TV for it’s telecast and even continued after the Finals due to viewer’s demand.
Mr. Sohanlal, the producer and director of the show, daring and courageous man behind such a venture is coming up with an exciting project – a movie this time. Thilakan is doing a key character in the film ‘Orkkuka Vallappozhum’ to be directed by Sohanlal. A promising artiste, director and more over a daring person who wish to innovate, who made the beautiful ‘Neermaathalathinte Pookkal’, a telefilm about poetess Kamala Das. In the movie ‘Orkkuka Vallappozhum’, Thilakan plays the character of a 75 year old.
It is known to all that the thespian has not been getting characters commensurate to his potential and righteously has been voicing his protest against this for sometime now. This is an opportunistic character which may bring out the best in him as the role promises much emotion projecting his talents, yet un-explored by others.
Shilpabala, a new face, plays the heroine.
The filming of the movie, produced by Vinu Y.S for God’s Own Moviz, is scheduled for September at Kuttikkanam. Music is by M.Jayachandran. Music lovers can listen to some good scores including onne of P Bhaskaran’s poems in this movie. The story is narrated in a nostalgic mood where veteran Sethumadhavan makes feeble attempts to return to the innocence of his past.
Ramesh Menon
10082008
Super Star Nite in Abu Dhabi – Friday, 01st August 2008 – a memorable evening
Super Star Nite in Abu Dhabi – Friday, 01st August 2008 – a memorable evening
Super Stars Nite in Abu Dhabi – inaugural ceremony – Chief guest – Smt KPAC Lalitha with sponsors and organisers of the event.
Sri Regi Mannel introducing the Super Stars to the audience.
Super Stars in UAE – Rashmi, Praveen, Latha, Ratheesh, Roopa and Anand.
Praveen on stage.
Roopa and Ratheesh.
Fully packed National Theatre Auditorium in Abu Dhabi.
Roopa and Praveen.
Super Stars interacting with children.
Super Stars rocking for the final time on stage with audience for this memorable evening. I am sure this will be the beginning of a series of successful programme for these young talents and may get to perform many more such packed venues in INDIA, UAE, OMAN, BAHRAIN, QATAR, KUWAIT and other parts of the world.
Let us look at the details of the show as it evolved.
Vow!!! Reality Stars in Real. Amazing performance by the team of Anand, Roopa, Ratheesh, Praveen, Latha and Rashmi.
The 2000 plus seat National Theatre Abu Dhabi was full – a surprise to many of us considering the summer holiday period. What would have been the scenario if this programme was held during normal time?.
Full round of applause to Anand and team for their good preparation and execution of the programme from start to end. Every one enjoyed the programme to the full.
A surprise was in store for them and for all when the show was inaugurated by Smt. KPAC Lalitha.
Sri Reji Mannel, famous radio presenter based in UAE compered the show.
Anand was the first one to be introduced, then followed by Rashmi Vijayan, Praveen, Latha Krishnan, Ratheesh and finally Roopa. The introduction itself brought variety as the singers mixed with the audience and came out from amongst them when introduced.
They sang 28 songs in the following order:
1. Ratheesh – Hrudaya sarassile
2. Roopa – Aa nimishathinte
3. Roopa/Ratheesh – Odakkuzhal Vilikketto
4. Latha – Maarghazhi Thinkallallava
5. Anand – Voh Lamhe
6. Praveen – Oru Pushpam Mathramen
7. Praveen/Roopa – Akale Akale Neelakasam
8. Rashmi – Chandralekha from Thiruda Thiruda
9. Ratheesh – Sankrutha pamakari
10. Roopa – Minsaara poove poove
11. Ratheesh/Praveen – Padakaali chembada from Yodha
12. Roopa/Anand – Muthumazha konchal pole
13. Praveen – Pramadhavanam
14. Rashmi – Rasikira vanra
15. Latha – Oo mama mama chanda mama
16. Roopa/Latha – Kasthoori Thailamittu vala kilukki
17. Ratheesh – Kadukkittu varuthoru from Hallo
18. Praveen/Rashmi – Muthal Murai Janal Thuranthathai
19. Anand / Roopa – Karuppanu kayyala
20.Ratheesh/Latha – Mambazhama mambazham
21. Roopa/Latha/Rashmi – Aarumukhan
22. Anand/Roopa/Ratheesh/Praveen/Latha/Rashmi – Pennale, Pennale, Karimeen Pennale from Chemmeen
23.Anand/Latha – Ram bam bam Ram bam bam perimbam
24. Rashmi – Mayya mayya. Too neel samundar hai
25. Anand/Rashmi – Theri ankhem bhool bholayya
26. Praveen/Latha – Madhuraikku pokamedi
27. Rashmi/Anand – Kannum kannum maafia
28. Final songs – Melodious medley of several hit Hindi/Tamil/Malayalam mix by all 6 Super Stars.
Irrespective of age, everybody was dancing – so much fun filled moments that when Rashmi announced her song Mayya mayya – audience replied by saying that Vayya vayya. Ratheesh and Roopa were applauded each time when they came on stage. Praveen and Latha mesmoriesd the audience with their numbers. Anand – a total leader – held on to the steering and controlled it very well. Not to leave out Rashmi – if you ask a question – who will be the next Usha Uthup – we have an answer – Rashmi Vijayan from UAE. Overall, it was a memorable musical evening which one and all present in the packed National Theatre Abu Dhabi auditorum will remember for ever.
A very big thanks to KERALA SOCIAL CENTRE organisers for inviting them to Abu Dhabi to perform in live and real. I am sure their objectives for social cause were also duly achieved by this event.
Let this be the golden beginning for these young talents and May God bless them all to give many more such venues and opportunities in future.
Ramesh Menon
02082008
And the videos:
UAE get set to Sing and Dance with the Super Stars
A hoarding announcing the arrival of the Super Stars for their performance on 1st August 2008
National Theatre Abu Dhabi where the Super Stars Nite will be held on Friday, 1st August 2008
A view of the National Theatre Abu Dhabi where the Super Stars Nite will be held on Friday, 1st August 2008
Hoardings in the main street of Abu Dhabi announcing the programme on Friday, 1st August 2008.
It’s a family affair
It’s a family affair
Wednesday June 25 2008 10:54 IST Gayatri Dwivedi for Express News Service Kochi
WHEN mom and daughters stepped out in tune with the music, ‘Nritha Sandhya’ held at Fine Arts Hall became an event to cherish.
Renowned dancer Mary John and her daughters Ria and Ruby John put up a mesmerising show with spectacular performances of mohiniyattam, bharatanatyam and kuchipudi last week. Their troupe ‘Kalatharangini’ is headed by Mary’s husband KM John. The programme was held as part of the silver jubilee celebrations of Bank Employees Art Movement Ernakulam (BEAME).
John was born into a traditional Christian family in Kerala and nobody ever envisaged that he would be a dancer of international acclaim. As a child, he loved participating in school dramas.
The Duryodhana-Krishna sequences depicted in kathakali performances used to stir him like nothing else could. He felt that kathakali was his calling and made up his mind to study it. The going was tough and the training rigorous.
The painstaking practice sessions of eight hours a day for nine years was no child’s play. But his efforts came to fruition. The first honour that came his way was the AD Bollard gold medal for the best kathakali student in 1977. He started as a teacher at Kalamandalam.
The first tour abroad came in 1981 and after that, there was no looking back.
Marriage blessed him with a perfect partner in Mary. Besides being a leading mohiniyattam artist, Mary is also the first Indian female ‘chutti’ (make-up) artist. Mary’s decision to learn dance after marriage did not take off initially but after the birth of her second daughter, the desire became irrepressible.
Recalls John: “Mary used to get up very early in the morning with the plate and pot for kuchipudi practice. Amidst all this, there would be moments when she would hold the baby in her arms. The commitment in her put wings to her aspirations and soon, she started performing all over the globe.”
Their daughters are following their footsteps and perform kathakali, koodiyattam, mohiniyattam, bharatanatayam, kuchipudi and ottan thullal. While Ria is pursuing dentistry in Kochi, Ruby is a Plus-Two student. The family has given many performances in almost all the European countries. The troupe regularly conducts classes and workshops abroad.
The audiences there are very different. “In India, the number peters out as the night passes; but people abroad sit through the performances even if the next day is a working day,” says John.
The couple runs Kalatharamgini, a centre for performing and fine arts and culture in Cheruthuruthy, Thrissur.
Giving ‘mizhavu’ its due
Innovative: ‘Thayambaka’ performed on the mizhavu by brothers P.K. Unnikrishnan and P.K. Harish at the Puzhikunnam Sreekrishna Temple Hall in Ottappalam recently.
Giving ‘mizhavu’ its due
Brothers P.K. Unnikrishnan and P.K. Harish gave a memorable gift to their father, P.K. Narayanan Nambiar, on his 81st birthday. At the Puzhikunnam Sreekrishna Temple Hall in Ottappalam, the siblings performed ‘thayambaka’ on mizhavu for the first time. Usually, ‘thayambaka’ is performed on chenda.
Nambiar, a Padmasree winner, is a master in mizhavu, the background instrument of Koodiyattam. Mizhavu has profuse references in epics as the instrument used to accompany the ‘Thandava Nritha’ (cosmic dance) of Lord Shiva. The instrument is made of earth or lead, in the shape of a pot, with the hide of calf stretched at the top. For quite a long time, this was an unknown accompaniment to Koodiyattam and was hardly taken notice of by the temple audience.
But, Nambiar realised the immense possibilities of mizhavu. After many years of training, he developed it into a separate genre of percussion instrument. The maestro structured ‘thayambaka’ on mizhavu.
Another doyen
Nambiar, son of the patriarch of Koodiyattam, the late Mani Madhava Chakyar, began performing on the instrument in 1948 and later popularised it on countless stages. He tutored his children and disciples, keeping the tradition alive.
Unnikrishnan and Harish experimented on mizhavu, while taking care to keep the ritualistic and pristine charms of the instrument intact. It took years of ‘sadhana’ to perform ‘thayambaka’ on mizhavu.
Nambiar’s nephews Shreejit, grandchildren Sharat Narayanan and Abhilash Narayanan too performed at the programme.
Unnikrishnan is a high school teacher at Kuzhalmannam and Harish is a graphic designer. He is also a performing Koodiyattam artiste. Both are keen to follow in the footsteps of their grandfather Mani Madhava Chakyar.
G. Prabhakaran for THE HINDU
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