Concert Reviews

[R.Latha]

Bohemia ‘rap’sody

For rapper Bohemia, everything’s about originality



Desi hip hop The Bohemia way

Most of us have heard the Bohemian Rhapsody. Now it’s time to hear Bohemia’s rap. Bohemia, the pioneer of desi hip hop is out with his third album Da Rap Star. “The album has been written, composed and recorded by me. It’s got original music, and a few great artists,” says Bohemia. Originally known as Roger David, Bohemia has been rapping for close to six years now. He did not have any formal education in music, and got his initial training from his father, who was a “shaukiya harmonium player”.
Being blunt

A passion for music coupled with his love for writing poetry and putting them to beat made him come up with this genre of music, desi hip hop. “I wanted to make music that represented my style. I wanted to stay original, and, therefore, I got the name Bohemia — which also means somebody who doesn’t follow others and creates his own trend and does his own stuff.” His lyrics are in Punjabi and set to hip hop beats. As most rap / hip hop lyrics go, his are a bit explicit too. Which explains why his album cover mentions ‘Parental Advisory Explicit Content’.” Bohemia smiles and explains: “Rap is a blunt genre, and I try to keep it real.” the Punjabi rapper from California says: “‘Da Rap Star’ has 15 tracks, and most of the tracks are based on incidents in my life.” His favourite song is ‘Dil’, a slow love ballad that talks about his experience of being in love.“Apart from rapping, I also sang this song.” Remember the old school hit ‘Gur Naal Ishq’ by Malkit Singh? As a tribute to the famous singer, Bohemia has reworked the Bhangra track giving it a desi feel.

While hip-hop lovers rejoice over Bohemia’s music, the rapper has also found a fan in Akshay Kumar, who approached him to write something for “Chandni Chowk to China”. “I was very excited when Akshay said he has been a fan of my music,” beams Bohemia. That’s how the two got together for the title track of “CC2C”. Following the hit of which the duo came together again for a track from “8X10 Tasveer”.

Bohemia is a big fan of the film industry, and says he would like to work with a lot of people. “Govinda is my favourite actor. I would like to work with him, A.R. Rahman, Bappi Lahiri, and some of the people who worked on the music of ‘CC2C’,” smiles the rap star.

http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/04/16/s...1650340400.htm

[R.Latha]

1. Lyrical songs of devotion
The Sree Rama Navami fete at Kalpathy featured three young vocalists who came up with a fine selection and rendition of compositions.

http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/04/17/s...1750850300.htm

2. Scholarly recital
Mavelikkara P. Subrahmanian’s concert adhered to tradition and he enriched it with some rare compositions.

http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/04/17/s...1750840300.htm

[R.Latha]

1. A long flight
Canada's leading alternative rock band Low Level Flight is currently touring India
http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/04/16/s...1650690100.htm

2. ‘Maa ka Ladla’ arrives
Master Saleem is on a high

http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/04/16/s...1650700100.htm

3. A sound vision
“Delhi City Symphony”, a silent film by children, is to be screened with live music this Saturday, reports ANJANA RAJAN
http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/04/16/s...1650730200.htm

[R.Latha]

Clear music
Manasa Nayana's music was articulate; Gayatri Girish was fluent as well

http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/04/24/s...2451000300.htm

[R.Latha]

1. Stress on sahitya
Prince Rama Varma’s voice has a pleasant timbre that acquires depth in the lower octave.

http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/04/24/s...2451200200.htm

2. Reverberating with bhakti
The rasikas in Coimbatore enjoyed a rich aural treat as eminent musicians performed during the Sri Ramanavami celebrations.

http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/04/24/s...2450570300.htm

3. Well-trained voice
Confidence was the hallmark of Vani Sateesh’s concert with Lord Krishna as the theme.

http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/04/24/s...2451140200.htm

4. A slice of the past
Mudicondan Ramesh presented a veena concert in memory of S. Balachander.

http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/04/24/s...2451230300.htm

[R.Latha]

1. Audio visual treat
Dance and music marked Bengali New Year celebrations.

http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/04/24/s...2450310200.htm

2. Noteworthy recital
Vocalist N. Subba Lakshmi impressed with her good ‘sruthi’.

http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/04/24/s...2450390300.htm

3. A classic touch
R.V. Panduranga Sharma’s vocal recital marked Nada Bharathi’s weekly concert.
http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/04/24/s...2450400300.htm

[R.Latha]

1. Festival of ragas
The first six days of the 12-day Theerthapada Sangeetotsavam saw reputed Carnatic vocalists render a wide range of compositions.

http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/04/24/s...2450830300.htm

2. Sagacious rendition
Nedumkunnam P.K. Vasudevan enthralled listeners with music that was devoid of all gimmicks.

http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/04/24/s...2450820300.htm

[R.Latha]

1. Genius remembered
GNB DAY Jeyaraaj Krishnan and Jayasri Jeyaraaj stuck to tradition in their veena playing. Trichur Ramachandran reminded one of his guru, in style and presentation.

http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/05/08/s...0851460200.htm

2. Tharangam in Tirtha tradition
SPECIAL Ghorakavi Sampathkumar rendered the songs just as Narayana Tirtha sang them centuries ago.

http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/05/08/s...0851470200.htm

3. Full of promise
The Vizianagaram Brothers showcased their talent at a concert to mark Annamacharya Jayanthi.

http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/05/08/s...0851490300.htm

[R.Latha]

1. Music magic
CONCERTS Bangalore will be gifted a musical bonanza this weekend with a host of programmes across the city

http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/05/08/s...0851120300.htm

2. Melody is pure
INTERVIEW The sarod is life’s ultimate calling for maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan

http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/05/08/s...0851160300.htm

[R.Latha]

Strung together

At the Ramanavami concerts, late Kunnakudi’s team came back to perform for him

Photo: V. Ganesan

FLAMBOYANT Kunnakudi was a fine blend of form and technique

The dais was a compelling Kunnakudi beckon. With foreheads adorned in vermillion, the entire pakkavadya group of Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan – including his 50-year associate, Raja Ram on the tambura - was present at the Ramothsava Celebrations of R ama Seva Mandali, Chamarajpet, Bangalore, to accompany vocalist Kunnakudi Subbalakshmi Natesan (Vaidyanathan’s sister) and Aparna and Mithun Srinivas (violin students) who presented several kritis in separate concerts in memory of the violinist. It was a Kunnakudi-family union too to receive the felicitations.

Vaidyanathan was known for his unique approach in retaining a fixed group of pakkavadya artistes who have been his associates for nearly five decades. Modesty and simplicity was the hallmark of the musical family; one could see it in Subbalakshmi Natesan too. “We both used to take lessons from my father Ramaswamy Shastrigal. I only remember my prankster brother who used to be in-and-out of the lessons and in spite of his playful attitude perform better than me and my elder sister,” recalled the 78-year-old Subbalakshmi after her concert. “Our family get-togethers were totally musical because among us siblings, two of us were vocalists, with a violinist and mridangist.” Kalyani and Todi raga being the family favourites, they were taken up for brief sketches in her concert after which kritis such as “Dayamaado Ranga” and “Sanatana Parama Pavana” came along with much gusto that the Kunnakudi school is known for. Kunnakudi’s heavy-bow techniques and the sound-and-fury passionate amalgam came through with fanfare in Mithun Srinivas and Aparna’s violin duet. Taking the signature Kunnakudi school across was what the young musicians were proving with “Telisi Rama Chintana” in Poornachandrika, and what a memory-brought-alive it was to hear the stamp of the maestro in the fast-paced chittaswara! “Our Guru taught us with his vocal lessons, not with his violin, we grasped his technique observing him play on other occasions,” said Aparna. “I would say his approach was different in every aspect of his life,” said K.V.Srinivasan, Vaidyanathan’s son. He was one man who could play for a sabha audience and gallery , and that explains his 200 concerts a year!”

Kunnkudi’s interest in new attempts and innovations led him to work with veteran thavil vidwan Valayapatti Subramanian, who had 3,000 shows together. “My father gained consciousness after 25-days in the hospital after my brother’s Bhairavi rendition,” recalls Srinivasan, even as he talks of keeping alive the active work of the maestro’s Raga Research Centre on health aspects.

“Karnataka is dear to me, Chowdiah appreciated me as much as Mannina Maga Rajkumar who was my great friend…” the words of the maestro will keep ringing, even as his unorthodox bowing will always be kept afresh by the Kunnakudi Sangeetha Gurukulam.


http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/05/08/s...0851220400.htm