Dhwanii - Issue 2

Columns Along with our regular columnists, this month, talented writers - TR Sankar and Lazy Geek aka Guru join our reputed group of columnists and share their views with Dhwanii readers.

B-Sides -Ameen Merchant

Bite Me, harder "Before reaching this agreement, that all this Moulin Brun was a phenomenon sort-of, we'd glossed over (sound bite format) notions of identity, multiculturalism, "global village," Shania-Madonna, fusion food, NRI clout - and then right after the commercial break, the programme hostess dropped this: Why do you think Bollywood is such a lifeline to India for south asians? As I said, everything was going well, as well as could be hoped for..." Ameen Merchant muses over the sudden metamorphosis of the new Bollywood-Hollywood paradigm.

Essence of Music - Vijay Iyer

A Day at Panchathan Studio "Waiting at Panchathan Recording Inn for AR Rahman can be a unique experience. Not that one gets bored but a walk around the place reveals that there are directors and musicians waiting patiently for him... " Vijay Iyer gets us an unique look into Panchathan Record Inn.

Music Notes - Dr. Pradeep Immanuel

Music for a Cause "Did you know that A.R. Rahman’s father, Malayalam music director Ravi Sekhar, died of cancer? And the popular music director Mahesh Mahadevan who scored scintillating music for films such as ‘Nammavar’, ’Kuruthi Punal’, ‘Alavandaan’ (background score) and numerous jingles, recently lost his battle with cancer." Dr.Pradeep Immanuel pens one more article that makes our love of music worthwhile.

Sound Bytes - T R Sankar

Myth : AR Rahman's weak Carnatic links "It would have been hard to digest "Muqqala Mukabla", if it had been set to the scholarly Hindolam with all the sangathis and swaraprastharams of, say, "samaja Vara Gamana". Had it happened, Rahman would have probably satisfied the puritans. But me? The common man following him in his musical journey would have been left stranded. The common man, without structured musical training and knowledge, follows Rahman only because he is able to relate to the music, and hence the man himself." TR Sankar shatters preconceived notions of Music.

RumBumBum- Lazy Geek aka Guru Subramanian

"Sight Adippom, Dum Adippom" (Tamil lyrics "We'll birdwatch, we'll smoke" - college song) "From Illayaraja to Rahman, from RD Burman to Sandeep Chowta, everyone impacts us in some way or other. Since I am avid film music listener and not a critic of film music, I have always seen better horizons in film music than my friends. Some of my friends are either too praiseful of Rahman or they are the greatest fans of Illayaraja. This combination has made me sustain the balance and hear the best of both worlds..." Lazy Geek provides very balanced views and insights into the month that was.