Usha Uthup of Carnatic Music...

Top U.S. honours for Aruna Sairam
It was a concert-cum-felicitation ceremony organised by Shri Vari Foundation in New York.

"The U.S. national flag was flown atop the Capitol building and handed over to Aruna Sairam and a special Congressional proclamation recognising her musical contribution was issued by the U.S. House of Representatives at a function held in New York.
It was a concert-cum-felicitation ceremony organised on August 16 by Shri Vari Foundation, an organisation to promote spirituality, music and dance, at Francis Lewis Auditorium in Queens, New York.
"Margazhi Mahotsavam, music fete in Chennai. Surpised to see and feel the same spirit, even after major natural, humane and economic calamity our nation is facing. But our culture and tradition is very closely linked to Music, Dance and Art, and we strongly believe that our unity is based not on religion but purely on Music, Dance and Art.

I could proudly mention, that I hail from a music background family, my maternal grandmother, a direct disciple of yester year VEENAI DHANAMMAL. She was also an AIR Veena player. A small portion of her gene has made me a great Bathroom Singer, and also learnt VEENA from popular VEENAI JAYLAKSHMI. Surprisingly I played very well and used my Granny's antique veena to practise at home. But today, the fingering on VEENA strings have trained me to use my laptop with style.. Also thanks to KUTCHERI BUZZ, and my professional teacher MR. VINCENT, my interest to sit through 3 hrs of long concert, and waiting to meet the artist and sell space for the famous "KUTCHERI BUZZ GUIDE" had made me write this blog on music.

7th Sunday, evening, I had to typically dress like a mylapore mami to listen to live Concert of Aruna Sairam for JAYA TV margazhi Mahotsavam, at 6.30 pm. Wanted to find a place in one of the prime rows in the front, like anyother rasika. The catch for most of the rasikas to chose the first three rows is to show their face on the camera.. of Jaya TV. My previous experience in the college to get into a running bus for a seat, really helped me. I got the third row, from the dias.

Wow !! sharp as schduled, curtain raised, and the sight was very godly. ARuna Sairam in a typical south Indian attire, with Kharthik Ghatam,( who has recently got Doctorate in percussion instrument - Ghatam)as one of the accompanist. Her choice of music was on OOTHUKADU, my favourite. Her tone, body language, selection of songs, interaction with the audience, always reminded me of pop singer USHA UTHUP. Also my observation, about her, right on the third song, she would promiently remove off her golden bangles, finger ring to feel at ease. That is her involvement to singing. Her feel at HOME -DIAS, has really made the rasikas very comfortable.
Her famous number - 'kalinganarthanam and "vishama kara Kannan' literally made the mami, and mamas to dance. She also had a remix of all oothukadu numbers.

Very surprisingly, my little knowledge on Oothukadu, was specialised composition on Lord Krishna, but this concert had songs on lord Ganesha, Lord Muruga and Goddess Durga.

The compere and the organisers literally had to drive the crowd and I saw god's creation in one hall. so many different faces, emotions, background jointly clapping hands and dancing to the music. Thanks to the singer for bringing this unity amongst us. More that 1000nos were the audience count.