Golden Voice Goes silent

BHIMSEN JOSHI
(Feb-4-1922 - Jan-24-2011)

Jan 24th 2011 a Golden Voice goes Silent, a Giant of Giants in Hindustani Classical music Pt. Bhimsen Joshi is snatched away from his millions of lovers.

I was getting ready to step out of house for office, house is full of his voice, "Begun Gun Ga"...., "Bhimsen Joshi is no more", reads an SMS from my cousin, I wonder how is this possible ? after two min I came to terms with truth, switched on the television and a new reader announced"Pt. Bhimsen Joshi passed away today morning in pune", could not stop tears rolling out of my eyes..World had lost a golden voice for ever.

Memories of my childhood as still so green, 1987 We had just bought a tape recorder and the first cassette we bought Bhimsen Joshi's Raag Darbari, Jhanak Janakava..., Second was Dasavani Bhagayada Lakshmi Baramma and list goes on.....But these two cassettes going round and round in the house day after day, my interest grew in music so much that the desire to learn music became unstoppable, No wonder there will thousands of students who got inspired like this.

I am sure, there is no house hold in INDIA that has not been touched by this vibrent voice at some point of time Mile Sur Mere Thumara, Raag Des, some of the fine rendition that touched hearts of every INDIAN, Hard to believe the Pt Bhimsen Joshi is no more.

Death is only for the physical body, but Panditji will continue to live in countless hearts with inspiring music and that fine voice he has left behind in his thousands of recordings.

Panditji we bow to you for whatever you have done to INDIAN Classical music and pray that your soul rest in peace.

Tribute to Gaana Kogile Gangubai Hangal

Gangubai Hangal

5th March 1913 - 21st July 2009

Gangubai Hangal, a Voice we can never forget....became silent for ever today 21st July 2009, this day will go down the history as a sad day for Music lovers of the world.
First time I heard the name Gangubai Hangal I could only relate to her as somebody from my native, as I grew up I discovered that Gangubai was somebody close to my Grand mom, as time passed as I developed Interest in music, I discovered Gangubai Hangal is a voice that India loves.

After a prolonged illness, today we have lost that voice for ever, I pary let her voice come back to this land in a new form and continue to mesmerize her audience for ever.

Let her soul rest in Peace.

Kannadda Kannmani Dr. Raj

April 24, 1928 - April 12, 2006

12th April, 2006 3:00 PM, I got a mail, "Annavaru innilla" was the subject and that spoke volume for itself.

I could not believe this news, started searching web for reliable source of the information. Deccan Herald announced "Dr. Raj Kumar Passed away". It was a shock which was not expected.

In next one hour Came the announcement from the CEO, "Employees are advised to leave early..." and 13th April was declared holiday.

The sequence of event resembled something what happened in year 2000, that was when Dr. Raj kumar was kidnapped.

Before this, my memory fails to recall anything like this, it dates back to my school days when the school was let off when our prime minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi was killed.

Shocked with the news of Dr. Raj's death, I reached home witnessing Deserted roads of Bangalore, some burnt vehicles, tyres on fire, broken glasses of shops..., I reached home. switched on the TV, I saw lakhs of people assembling to pay their respect to the departed soul.

Dr. Raj was not a political leader nor a religious leader, he was a actor and he was the best at it. he would fill life into the characters he played, which no other actor could do.

That night I could not help brooding Hundreds of his movies I had seen from my childhood, Hosa Belaku, Kaviratna Kalidaasa, Chalisida Modagalu, Halu Jenu, Bhakta kumbara, Mayura, Babrubahana....If go on, I will have to list all the 200+ movies acted by him.

I looked back at the range of roles he has played, Starting from Bedara Kannapa

Historic roles like Krishna Deva Raya, immadi Pulakesh, RanaDheera Kanthirava....

As a common man in Bangara Manushya, Kasturi nivasa, kamanabillu..

Kaviratna Kalidasa, Kanak dasa....

Till the his last movie Shabdavedi..

Every movie made a big impact on Kanndigas, every character he played came alive on the silver screen. People of Karnataka will continue to watch and cherish these movies, Raj kumar may not be there, but he shall continue to live in every role he has played.

Annavare we will all miss you, We are grateful for what you have done for Kannada and Karnataka.

Nimma Atmakke Shanti Sigali..