The Mecca of Carnatic Music

No, it's not the annual Thiruvaiyyaaru festival or Chicago or even the Cleveland utsavam, for that matter! If there's one place where every budding musician would want to perform, it should be the Music Academy in Madras. The name couldn't be more apt! With a long history and superlative performances, year after year, an Academy concert is where every discerning rasika wants to be. There is something unique and ineffable about this place that gives you those vibes - the good ones, of being in a supreme place, a longing to be sincere and a sense that the listener is no fool! The place boasts of  state-of-the-art acoustics (BOSE speakers et al), thoughtful parking arrangements, and of course, the artistes save their best for the Academy concert. It's no secret that they get almost a pittance for singing here. Performing here is a privilege in itself. For the average Madras man, it's something like getting a chance to act in a Maniratnam movie or sing an AR Rehman song (I know it's a foolish comparison but thought it served the purpose. )

Just like the good old times, concerts at the Academy, begin just on time, at the ring of a bell. The curtains go up and Bam, it's like "Your time starts now!" Right at the end of two hours, the curtains go down again, whether the artiste's done or not. Super na! And this rule applies to just every artiste, big or small. Though we've heard of several heartburns and bitter relations because of such strict time policies, the Academy guys are like 'Shut up, We know you want to sing here again' - Love that ATTITUDE, I say! More seriously, this rule is a manifestation of the fact that, for an artiste, the stage is God  - the most respected and the most honoured and it's important to shed all ego on the stage.

It's no understatement when I say that the whole place reverberates with the seven swaras. At an afternoon free concert yesterday, I found the in-concert security guard enjoying himself (the Music pa,) immensely - singing along with the artiste - now, that is SOME influence! While most artistes give their best here (singing the rarest of kritis and the most complicated RTPs ever), there are some who provide the same fare - with a Nalinakanti RTP and a string of ragams at the end - Vaazha elai pottutu, paayasam vidaati eppadi? (Promising full unlimited meals and not serving sweet rice porridge cannot be tolerated!)  - hehe.. :) The audience is sitting down there, shouting "Give me more!!!" - So, do give us more man !

All said and done, the best part was a signboard outside that said "No parking facility for canteen visitors!"  Though, it can be really tough to find out, who came to listen to the concert and who came for the lip-smacking Vaazhapoo Vadai at the canteen!

P.S: I was not paid by the Academy guys to write this - my blog is not that popular yet, you see! :D