NJ Nandini

Mallari as known to everybody is a musical form played on Nagaswaram at the outset of any deity’s procession. It is in a way, a signature tune and anyone can easily understand that the temple diety has commenced the rounds. The form and compositions of Mallari are generally believed to be the off-shoots of ‘Prabhandham’. Even though there are possibilities that the word “ Mallari” may have a tamil origin, we cannot say from which language it originally is. “ Malla ” means wrestler or Palanquin bearer and “ Ri ” means the voluminous sound produced by the palanquin bearer when they carry it. To equate this sound, the work mallari came to be used particularly in temples. An agama “Dhvajarohana vidhi” speaks about a tune called Mallara that should be sounded when the deity starts from its abode. The Mallara might have by the course of time, corruptly gained the name “Mallari”. Interestingly, there is a raga called Mallara a janya of Kharaharapriya (22 nd Mela) with the scal...

4:50 pm - 01 May 2010….   I was behind that glossy red curtain, which had been a veil between the stalwarts and the thronging rasikas of Trivandrum, who held their breath to see and listen to the scintillating performers who captured their imaginations for decades. It was not the first time I was behind that curtain... I was there innumerable times with my father, as a quirky little girl, attempting to catch a glimpse of those impeccable artists after their concerts. I was there when Semmangudi signed the first autograph in my brand new sign book.   I was there after the concert in which Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan asked for a glass of water through his violin. I was there, with my mom, to draw the “Kolam” for several Anjaneyotsavams. But this time, it was a bit different. In another ten minutes, that same curtain would unveil, and I was about to give my first concert at one of the grandest stages of all, Sree Swati Tirunal Sangeetha Sabha, my second home..! The m...