Every week on an appointed day, I am treated to a mid afternoon choral emanating from a neighbour’s house. The constant buzz of rickshaws, traditional Tamil mamis alighting at the given hour, mark the weekly meet.

Summers are special because they bring in the koel’s indefatigable song of rapture, of pathos, of delirium.

International Women’s Day picks up fervour every year. The increasing tribe of women achievers in all areas, big and small, in public view, in solitary domains hidden from media interest, is something to contend with. I was happy presenting my multimedia show, Stree Gaanam, highlighting the contribution of women composers in Carnatic music once again as on every International Women’s Day.

My usual sources of reference are my mother’s music books and hand written manuscripts.
Each page, yellowed with time, tells a story and takes me back to the calendar. I poignantly remember when one afternoon my mother was rehearsing a Pallavi in Dharmavati raga, the book spread out in front, with intricate complexities noted down. I recall the serenity of the moment.

Classical music buffs are not indifferent to the announcement of awards.

Once again the Tyagaraja Aradhana ushered in the new year. This is indeed an event like none other, drawing hordes of music lovers to the shrine of Tyagaraja in Thiruvaiyaru, in southern India. An otherwise quiet, nondescript town, known for its temple, and nourished by five rivers, Thiruvaiyaru comes to life in January every year in an incredible way.

A friend of mine called me asking for a “good” music teacher in the city. The first criterion was proximity to the house, among other parameters. I did not have an answer right away and said that I would get back to her. Another acquaintance

The recent demise of T.K. Govinda Rao marks the end of a chapter in Carnatic music.

Dr Ashok Ranade, the acclaimed musicologist, passed away recently. I had seen and listened to Ranade on several occasions since my childhood days.

My uncle Venkatesh recently visited a few temples in South India while on a holiday to India and subsequently published his best pictures in a book that would keep the memories alive. One of the temples that he visited over two days and got many stunning photographs of was the Brihadeeswara temple. Also known as the Big