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Navagraha Gaana Anjali
 Palghat Sri T S Anantharama Bhagavathar (Asthana Vidwan of Sri Sringeri Mutt, Principal of Sri Naadabrahmam Music School, Mumbai) presented an unique programme based on the nine krithis of Muthuswamy Dikshithar in Chennai on November 1 and 2. This audio-visual programme covered the musical, astronomical, astrological, and the religious aspects of the nine planets mentioned in these songs.
The unique three-hour-long event gave an insight into the nine krithis based on the nine grahas in which the composer has picturised each graha has a devata or deity. The manner of presentation of the show was very interesting. Firstly, the nine krithis were sung by nine ladies who were dressed in the nine colours associated with the Navagrahas. Before each krithi was rendered, information about the astronomical, astrological and mythological aspects were presented by Maya Hariharan, one of the senior students of Naadabrahmam Music School.
 This was accompanied by a slide-show which covered the photographs of the planets, the deities. Next, the astrological aspects of the Grahas were discussed followed by the meaning of the original Sanskrit verses of the composition. The Veda mantra associated with the particular Graha was chanted while the actual Navagraha pooja was performed on stage by a priest. Information about the gem or ratna associated with each graha and its power to appease or alleviate the undesirable efects of the Graha was also conveyed. The singers were accompanied by performers on the violin, veena, mridangam, keyboard and moorsing. The lighting on stage changed according to the colour associated with the
graha.
There were two offerings of this programme, one on the 1st of Nov at Bharat Kalachar and the other on the 2nd of Nov at Sri Krishna Gaana Sabha. Both these programmes were well attended by the rasikas of Chennai including well-known personalities like Mrs Y. G. Parthasarathy, Carnatic vocalist T M Krishna and Kalaimamani Dr. Sunder. It was quite heartening to see such a huge attendance on a Sunday morning.
About Sri Naadabrahmam,
Mumbai:
 27 years ago, a few music lovers from Chembur, Mumbai came together for a common cause. To promote and propagate Carnatic classical music. No other name seemed more appropriate for this organisation than Sri Naadabrahmam, to these early day evangelists, who were passionate about Carnatic music.
This organisation was subsequently registered as a charitable trust. The noble intention of the trust was to instill and inculcate an awareness of Carnatic music amongst the younger generation. In addition it was their ambition to provide a platform for bringing out the talents of young artistes, eager and waiting for an opportunity.
The trust realised that to catch the imagination of the music loving public, it must go beyond just concerts. This gave birth to a series of innovative ideas and activities which includes
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Running a school to impart Carnatic music in
Chembur, Mumbai;
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Celebrating the Thyagaraja aradhana every year with a 2-day festival;
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Celebrating Muthuswamy Dikshitar day, Purandara Dasa Day, and Swati Tirunal Day, every year;
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Organising unique lecture demonstrations, question and answer sessions by stalwarts in carnatic music, periodically.
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Organising highly enjoyable and involving Carnatic music quiz programmes to attract young music lovers;
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Organising experimental programmes – one raga concert, one composer’s compositions, thematic concerts;
Over a period of time these programmes have acquired tremendous popularity and support from music lovers in Chembur and from far off suburbs too.
Sri Naadabrahmam, true to its noble objective, conceived of another unique way to serve the cause of Carnatic music. It instituted the tradition of honouring the 'gurus' who were propagating music through various institutions. Several eminent teachers in vocal and instrumental music (both from the Carnatic and Hindustani traditions) have been honoured by Sri Naadabrahmam over the last 24 years.
One of the founder members of Sri Naadabrahmam, which is completing 25 years, is our guru Sri T. S.
Anantharaman.
About Sri T S
Anantharaman:
 Sri T. S. Anantharaman, was born on August 5, 1942, on the auspicious day of Aadi Pooram. He hails from a family of musicians in Palakkad, steeped in music traditions. His grandfather Palakkad Sri Anantharama Bhagavathar, was a stalwart in Carnatic music. Anantharaman was brought up listening to Carnatic music from his childhood. His paternal uncle, Sri T. A. K. Swamy Bhagavathar was also a doyen of Carnatic music. Anantharaman started his training in Carnatic Music from the tender age of five under the tutelage of his aunt Smt. Mangalam who was a direct disciple of doyen of Carnatic Music Palakkad Sri Anantharama Bhagavathar. Further, his tutelage continued from Sri Appukuttan Marar, a disciple of Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar. Simultaneously, he carried on with his academic career too. Participating in youth festivals and winning several awards sharpened his musical skills.
On his own initiative, he learnt the art of playing harmonium. This gave him the opportunity to accompany many doyens like Haridas Giri Swamy, Sri Krupananda Variyar and Erode Sri. Viswanantha Iyer. While he learnt mridangam for some time from Sri Palghat Raghu, his first passion continued to be vocal music. He vigorously practised and mastered his voice. Sri Anantharaman believes that he was blessed by the maestros.
Migration to
Mumbai:
 After completing the final year schooling in 1960, he came to Bombay looking for a job. In Bombay too, he continued his practice in vocal music, under the guidance of Sri. Trichy Swaminatha Iyer. In view of his proficiency in harmonium and mridangam, he was a sought after accompanist for several devotional bhajans and music concerts. He gave his first vocal concert in Mumbai in 1962 at a Thyagaraja Aradhana festival. Soon thereafter he got the AIR gradation as well. After 24 years of service, he boldly gave up his white collar job and became a full fledged musician. He also established a music school in Chembur. He had trained hundreds of students in and around Chembur. Dr S Sunder, who recently got the 'Kalaimamani' title, was his student.
The Teacher:
Sri Anantharaman believes that music should have both Lakshana and Lakshya. A systematic approach to learning music not only prepares the student to become a good performer but also a good rasika, well-versed in the theory and practice of Carnatic music. He has always maintained a very high standard in his teaching methods. He motivates the students and brings out the best in them. This has evoked a positive response from the students and has made them eager to learn more. His vision is to bring out more innovative programmes related to Carnatic music so as to sustain the interest of the younger generation in classical music. His long cherished dreams include generating a music library, stocking the audio cassettes of great maestros and collecting books and papers on Carnatic music by great musicians and musicologists.
Concerts:
 Sri Anantharaman had a good opportunity to present his vocal recitals in many of the sabhas in Mumbai, Bangalore, Madras, Calcutta, Trivandrum, Palakkad, Coimbatore, and Kozhikode. Many eminent Vidwans like Thanjavur Sri T.K. Murthy (Mridangam), Chalakudi Sri Narayanaswami (Violin) have accompanied him. Sri Anantharaman is a graded artiste of AIR and has given performances in television as well. He also took part in a special concert arranged in connection with the Golden Jubilee Celebration of India’s Independence, and considers that as one of his proud
moments.
Achievements:
Sri Anantharaman’s music school is the first in Mumbai to train students for Government Technical Examinations. He prepares and sends students for junior and senior examinations for the Government of Karnataka Music Examinations at Bangalore. Till date, 80 of his students have passed junior/senior level exams with flying colours. Sri. Anantharaman has given several lectures on Carnatic Music in many seminars. Prominent amongst them are his lectures in the Rotaract Club of Chembur & the SNDT College. He has also submitted a paper on ‘The Institutionalization of Music’ and gave a lecture at the World Music Conference held in
Mumbai.
Honours & Awards:
 In 1992, His Holiness Sri Bharati Thirtha Swamy, the Shankaracharya of Sringeri Sharada Peetham, bestowed upon Sri Anantharaman, his blessings and the title 'Asthana Vidwan of Sringeri Sri Saradha Peetam'. This a high point in Sri Anantharaman’s music career and personal life. A recipient of many awards and honours, Sri. Anantharaman considers this to be his lifetime achievement.
Cassette Recordings:
An audio cassette of rare Kritis of Swati Tirunal sung by Sri Anantharaman was released by His Holiness Sri. Bharati Thirtha Swamy, the Shankaracharya of Sringeri Sharada Peetham. He has also composed music for the audio cassette of devotional songs sung by Sri Narayananda Bharati of Nilamau Mutt. He also had set music to the compositions of His Holiness Sri Bharati Thirtha Swamy, the Shankaracharya of Sringeri Sharadha
Peetham.
Compositions:
Sri Anantharaman has composed many songs on Sharadambal, including a Varnam & a Thillana. He believes that it is the grace of Sharadambal that has inspired him in these compositions.
Innovations:
Sri Anantharaman believes in carrying forward the great musical traditions that he has imbibed from his family and his gurus. At the same time he constantly introduces relevant innovations to keep the interest in Carnatic Music alive.
Some examples of his innovative efforts are:
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Navagraha Gananjali – an audio visual presentation of Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar’s Navagraha Krithis by his students. This was presented in the Sky Theatre of the Nehru Planetarium in Mumbai, as well as several sabhas in Mumbai, Palghat &
Pune.
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Tamizhisai by 21 different composers presented by his students.
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Compositions of selected pre-trinity composers presented by his students at the NCPA
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One experimental concert every month presented by various artistes in Mumbai under the auspices of Sri Naadabrahmam
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