Sublime vibrations... carryed in an other world

kuru nagai thanai kati narumalar sooti vittan?

Just heard this- truly a talented and beautiful singer and loved the triphop effect 

Heard the madhuvanthi saayal in the first 5 -6 secs!!

Oh boy. This is superb. Sounds at their best. Thanks for putting out such great quality content 

The genius Carnatic vocalist Madurai Mani Iyer (1912-1968), possibly the greatest exponent of live improvisation in Carnatic classical music, popularized this "English Note" composed by Harikesanallur Mutthiah Bhagavathar (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNjl5w8Prw0) to showcase his autodidactic (self teaching) talent in expanding beyond his strictly classical training. This piece was extremely popular with an independence era audience that felt pride in one of their own "getting" western music while no Englishman could perform a Thodi alapana. 

Obviously as a Indian classical musician, Mutthiah Bhagavathar only composed the main melody, an incredibly catchy and hummable tune that would have worked in the best courts of Vienna. But Western classical music is about harmony layered over the melody and I was surprised that no one had taken a crack at taking this really catch melody and writing a String quartet around it. 

There were some interesting challenges. Mani Iyer clearly did not keep harmony in mind when he wrote the piece so there are places where the melodic sequence presents quite a hard challenge to harmonize, but all in all, I think it turned out okayish. 

Again, I am quite an amateur and It will be great if more talented musicians take this melody and set it to even better background scores :)

English Note (by Madurai Mani Iyer) - String Quartet

Vidya Sankaranarayanan (https://www.facebook.com/vidya.sankaranarayanan) is an extraordinarily talented Bharatanatyam dancer who trained under the legendary Thanjavur Kittappa Pillai (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K._P._Kittappa_Pillai). She is, in the rich tradition of T Balasaraswathy, a gifted vocalist as well. 

She also happens to be my cousin so this is a family production of S Chidambaram's classic "Kanda naal mudhalaai" in Raga Madhuvanti. 

It's a trip hop version featuring violin, cello, keyboard and programming by me. The chords used are primarily variations of Gm, D and A 

Lyrics Translation

My love overflows my dear since seeing you, holding a spear (vEl) in your hand (kai), oh compassionate son of Shiva.

The people will come and sing (paaDum) songs (paNNisai) for you, Kandan (a name for Murugan) my child (baalan), to bring you happiness (sugam).

My heart has not forgotten (marakavillai) your blue (neela) peacock (mayil). I have not forgotten this love (nEsam) mixed with affection (paasam). Oh this sharp-eyed festive (kOla) prince (kumar) has been in the temple (kOvil) of my mind (mana). Showing a small smile (kurunagai), he placed (sooti) a fragrant flower (narumalar) of love within us. 

(source: http://www.karnatik.com/c1437.shtml)


Kanda Naal Mudhalaai

"Redefining the concept of Coalescence"

CREDITS :

Percussion - Raghav Viswanathan

Keyboards and Synth - Sooraj Kumar

Guitars - Sanjeev Krishna Ganesh

Bass Guitar - Murali Dhananjey

Vocals - Sudharshan Ashok

Violin - Shravan Sridhar

Drums - Prakash Thanigaivel / Vignesh Ashok

Sound Engineer - Navneeth Balachanderan

Lyrics - Shruthi Vishwanath

Recorded,Mixed and Mastered @ " The Red Pencil Company " , Chennai

Creative Designs and Artwork - Harini Venkataraman

A Sarvam Production ©

The Journey

Like a soft whisper in the dark, this track slips into the heart’s quiet corners. It’s a sonic diary entry — delicate, real, and filled with late-night thoughts you’d never say aloud.

With lo-fi drums that feel like heartbeat echoes, velvety synth pads, gentle guitars or Rhodes keys, and vocals close enough to breathe in your ear — the production cradles the listener in warmth.

The lyrics speak of love not in fireworks, but in the calm after them: a slow-burning closeness, a joy that needs no explanation. This is music for staring at the ceiling, writing unsent messages, or watching someone sleep beside you.

If you've ever felt too much and said too little — this one’s for you.

“You’re the rhythm in my chest, the gentle pull I can't resist...”

Lyrics:

Woke up with sunlight on my face
But it’s your name I still retrace
In every shadow, every sound
You're the peace that I have found

I never thought I’d feel this way
But here we are, day after day
And every little thing you do
Feels like a dream that’s coming true

I'm thinking about you
That I'm very happy to have you
Probably you're my biggest love
More than words I’m dreaming of
You’re the reason, you're the song
That’s been playing all along
Oh, I’m thinking about you
And how you’re my biggest love

Some nights we just don’t say a word
But silence speaks, and it’s still heard
In every laugh, in every sigh
You’re the one I can’t deny

With you, the world is soft and wide
You’re the calm in every tide
I hold you close, I hold you near
You’re the voice I always hear

I'm thinking about you
That I'm very happy to have you
Probably you're my biggest love
More than words I’m dreaming of
You’re the rhythm in my chest
The gentle pull I can't resist
Oh, I’m thinking about you
And how you’re my biggest love

If I could pause time just for us
To hold this light, to hold this trust
I’d do it all, I’d do it twice
Just to see you in this life

I'm thinking about you
That I'm very happy to have you
Probably you're my biggest love
Even more than stars above
You're the hope I hold on tight
My softest truth, my guiding light
Oh, I’m thinking about you
Forever, you’re my biggest love

I’m Thinking About You

A blistering collision of raw emotion and razor-sharp social commentary, Road Kill drags listeners through the wreckage of modern love and systemic decay with unflinching ferocity. From the gaslight carnivals of toxic romance ("Road Kill") to the vampiric bite of corporate exploitation ("Who"), this album weaponizes visceral storytelling, blending trap-soul grit with rock-opera drama. Tracks like "Strong Hands" redefine vulnerability as strength, while "I Fight" transforms daily survival into a rebel anthem. Perfect for those craving music that claws at the soul, Road Kill isn’t just heard—it’s felt. Buckle up; this isn’t a ride, it’s a reckoning.  

Road Kill

Strong Hands

Vocals and music arrangement : @bharadwaj-cv ( #bharadwaj-cv )
Do hit the small like button if you like it. Earphones recommended :) Learnt this song from Bombay Jayashree mam, 2 years back. Thought would give it a shot. This is my tribute to her :)
You can also check my other works on youtube https://www.youtube.com/user/ganeshbharadwaj?sub_confirmation=1

Hamir Kalyani | Sharadhe Karunanidhe | Carnatic fusion

Composed by Shri Andal, an 9th century Aalwar saint

Copyright © 2016 Vinod Krishnan

Vocal and background score: Vinod Krishnan
Mixing and mastering: Nick Dawes


karupUram nArumO kamalappU nArumO
tirupavazhach chevvAi tAn tittirukkumO

maruppositta mAdhavan tAn vAiccuvaiyum nATramum
viruppuTruk-kETkinrEn sollAzhi veN shangE

uNbadu sollil ulagaLandAn vAi amudam kaN paDai koLLal kaDal vaNNan kaittalattE
pEN paDaiyAr un mEl pErum pUsal sATruginrAr paNpala seiginrAi pAncajanniyamE

Copyright © 2016 Vinod Krishnan

Karpooram naarumo

the ragam - Vaagadeeswari, Something which haunts without any reason . ;) !!


Relaxing with Vaagadeeshwari

An Indian Classical version of the Stranger Things theme

Stranger Hamsadhwani

A western classical version of an Indian Carnatic song, Mokshamu Galada, played on Indian bamboo flute, inspired by the Madras String Quartet of VS Narasimhan.

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Mokshamu Galada

I asked my 80 year old grandaunt (Saraswathi Sankaranarayanan) who is stuck in my place due to the Covid-19 lockdown to record a simple song that my 8 year old son could learn to sing. She picked this 500 year old Tiruppugazh 1328 (Erumayil Eri), and I played the violin accompaniment and added an ambient guitar background
Lyrics/Translation: http://kaumaram.com/thiru/nnt1328_u.html#english

Erumayil Eri

I take the ridiculous and the sublime, add cellos, violins, guitars and random internet collaborators to make music of sorts

Kanda Naal Mudhalaai

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