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rajasaranam
17th July 2008, 11:01 PM
[tscii:bd40305f26]http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/17/stories/2008071753410400.htm

TIRUPATI: When Mahatma Gandhi’s last bhajan ‘O namrata ke saagar!’ saw light on Wednesday (16 July 2008), full seventy years after it was written, perhaps divine intervention saw to it that it was first heard officially in the abode of Lord Venkateswara! What else could be the explanation for the high-profile Aditya Birla group releasing the much-sought-after audio compact disc in the midst of engineering students in the temple city of Tirupati?

The fact that the music was composed by maestro Ilayaraja and the Hindustani classical exponent Pandit Bhimsen Joshi lent his voice for the thought-provoking number accords it a cult status.

The CD was released in Sree Vidyaniketan Engineering College, run by film actor and former Rajya Sabha member M. Mohan Babu on Wednesday. Bharat Parekh, the General Manager of Aditya Birla group gave away the first copy to the music wizard Ilayaraja, who in turn handed it over to Mr. Mohan Babu for use in the college.

The ‘bhajan’, which requests the Lord to bestow humility upon the humans and bless the country with prosperity, was said to have been written by the Mahatma during his stay with the Birlas. The Congress and even the Gandhi family never knew such a ‘bhajan’ existed until the Birlas stumbled upon it accidentally, three years back.

“We have given a copy even to Tushar Gandhi, the great grandson of the Mahatma,” he announced.

Ilayaraja explained how he found himself on a sticky wicket, trying to compose tune for the couplet, which was more like a soliloquy. “What turned out at the end was a mellifluous number, sung by the greatest Hindustani classical singer,” he said and sang the first two lines, amid a thunderous applause.

Athu... :oops:

REX Now you translate this and post :P http://eenadu.net/story.asp?qry1=24&reccount=26
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dochu
18th July 2008, 02:36 AM
Wow!!!

I wasn't aware about it until I saw the article. Was anybody aware of this before this news article?

where to get it?

d

app_engine
18th July 2008, 05:26 PM
Look at the title of this article:
Lyric - Mahatma Gandhi Music - Ilaiyaraja:-)

http://entertainment.in.msn.com/southcinema/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1574638

app_engine
19th July 2008, 01:26 AM
http://entertainment.oneindia.in/tamil/exclusive/2008/ilayaraja-mahatma-gandhis-bhajan-180708.html

nbp
19th July 2008, 06:17 PM
FOR MORE DETAILS AND PHOTOS...

http://www.vidyanikethan.edu/inside_2/news/Mahatma.htm

SVN
20th July 2008, 11:59 PM
If Bhimsen Joshi has sung the song, how come it has not appeared in any mainstream sites (read North Indian)?
The MSN feed is also appearing in the 'South Cinema' section. Once again, poor marketing seems to go hand in hand with IR!

kameshratnam
22nd July 2008, 09:39 AM
Ellam ok..where can we get the CD

krish244
23rd July 2008, 11:51 AM
Looks like more artists have sung for this album. Includes Amitabh Bachan, Ajoy Chakrabarthy, Parveen Sultana, etc. The link says, the album will have a release by year end, world class (??). Does it mean, it still is undergoing additions? No idea.

Also, a line says:

"Ilayaraja has composed two other bhajans for the album which were Gandhi's favourites"

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Gandhis_bhajan_in_Big_Bs_voice/articleshow/3266436.cms

thanks,

Krishnan

rajasaranam
23rd July 2008, 12:21 PM
Raaja excels in hindusthani tune, Still the orchestration is vintage Raaja (Which is the reason he is not getting connected with Northies IMO) Bhimsen Joshi's voice is divine in all respects. Great Song! Eagerly awaiting for the original ACD/VCD :) Till then
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z86LscyJhNY

rajasaranam
23rd July 2008, 01:07 PM
the beauty is that the tune just got into my mind that unconciously Iam humming it always :) apart from Bhimsen Joshi there is Ajoy Chakroborthy also singing the song I believe :?
For those who cant access Youtube i've converted it to MP3 and uploaded here :)
http://www.esnips.com/doc/454777ff-426a-40a7-adc7-922366648373/Namrata-ke-Saagar--Mahathma-Gandhi-Ilaiyaraaja-Bhimsen-Joshi

krish244
23rd July 2008, 02:16 PM
Thanks Rajasaranam! I liked the song. Although, it has IR touches in it, it sounds a little different because of the orchestration (the way the rhythm starts is nice), Pandit's singing style (i have never heard non-classical so far!). Does the tune (including chorus portions) have more hindustani classical touch? Good bhajan like tune. I liked it. Need to listen in better quality.

thanks,

Krishnan

krish244
23rd July 2008, 02:30 PM
The chorus and the charanam tune especially is really good. Indeed invokes lots of (desh) bhakthi!

thanks,

Krishnan

app_engine
23rd July 2008, 07:13 PM
A reader's comment in the TOI website (to the article on bhajan album):
=============
Anant Sheth, Baroda(now USA), says: Anant Sheth writes from Baroda(now USA):Hats off to Kumaramangalam Birla for not only to spot three years ago (more than sixty years after Gandhiji's passing away) his song but also bringing out an Album with his two other songs for humility on people and to bless the country with prosperity, and with commentary by Naushad and music by Bhimsen Joshi. We look forward in December as a memento to be kept in everybody's home.
=============

EKSI:-(

rajasaranam
23rd July 2008, 07:28 PM
a_e,

Mothalla avanugalukku English Padikka Theriyaathu Poala :x The TOI Article clearly says music by Ilayaraja, even after that if morons like him are going to comment like this :evil: ivanungala ellam.... :angry2:

app_engine
23rd July 2008, 07:50 PM
rs,
I think that's the general status outside TN - apathy towards MD while appreciating the singer. I have often observed this even in Kerala where there're big pictures of KJY / LM / KSC while nobody has ever seen Devarajan or Raveendran's pics. Why, it was pretty much the same even in TN prior to IR (there were few music shops / recording centers and they probably had pics of MGR-Shivaji or may be TMS/PS) when the MD was typically unsung and never an icon. In an IR program on DD when I spotted MSV and exclaimed -sitting among my friend's family of 20 in the early 90's - none else could identify him.

So, no worries rs, sirichchittu vittuda vENdiyadhu dhAn:-)

entertainment
24th July 2008, 03:51 AM
rs,
I think that's the general status outside TN - apathy towards MD while appreciating the singer. I have often observed this even in Kerala where there're big pictures of KJY / LM / KSC while nobody has ever seen Devarajan or Raveendran's pics. Why, it was pretty much the same even in TN prior to IR (there were few music shops / recording centers and they probably had pics of MGR-Shivaji or may be TMS/PS) when the MD was typically unsung and never an icon. In an IR program on DD when I spotted MSV and exclaimed -sitting among my friend's family of 20 in the early 90's - none else could identify him.

So, no worries rs, sirichchittu vittuda vENdiyadhu dhAn:-)

I have sent an email to the Editor to correct the comment.

raja_fan
24th July 2008, 08:35 AM
with commentary by Naushad and music by Bhimsen Joshi.



Rendume thappu :banghead: