A beautiful memory

Still remember father drawing the design for a new sofa that he had ordered to be made. He was excellent at drawing, having helped me many times with my homework. The design for the sofa was intricate, with nice edges and a beautiful decoration at the center. The carpenter executed the design nicely, and the sofa gave us many years of pleasure. We would sit there and listen to music as father played the records.

Now Playing...

SHolay and Amitabh- father quite enjoyed this move and encouraged us to see it. He liked the storyline and Amitabh's role in it. The fact that father played the mouth organ and AMitabh did it in the movie was an interesting side note as well...

Columbo...

is a favorite of mother. I wonder if father would have enjoyed it, had he seen it...

The Joy of Flying...

Kite Flying, that is. President Barack Obama writes in his autobiography that as a kid growing up in Indonesia he used to fly kites. In that aspect his youth mirrored mine. However, in my case, my father played a great part in my early kite flying years. later on I used to fly by myself and with other kids.

Ek Raaz songs

Listening to them, I am reminded of the romantic in father...

Hamraaz

Watching the songs from the movie Hamraaz today reminded me of the times these songs used to come on the radio, and all of us enjoyed them.

Mr. Natwarlal

Not sure if father liked the songs of this movie- I enjoyed the songs. It was also played quite a bit in our common room in Narmada.

Writing thank you notes...

I don't remember writing thank you notes to anyone during my college years. Of course, the traditional Indian hospitality was always a part of my DNA. My brother, who grew up in similar surroundings and went to the same schools, said that he wrote many of these notes. He also gave father Happy Birthday cards along with wafers, a sugar-laden confectionery. These actions reveal quite a bit about the person.

Suvvi SUvvi

Yet another favorite song of father, and of us all..

Playing songs...like dad

Today my brother came down from Ottawa. In the evening he sat down in front of the TV and started playing old songs from YouTube. Our sister remarked that it reminded us of our father sitting in front of our Music cabinet and playing our choice music on the Gerard turntable. Every evening was so delightful, and full of music!

A World of Kites and Dreams...

One of the victims of Americanization of India is the art of kite-flying. Quite a few of my childhood memories involve flying kites- sometimes with father. Making the special thread for flying kites was a great pastime in December and January.

Kishore...

I remember father discussing Kishore Kumar and his songs...father perhaps perceived that Kishore could not sing songs of great depth, since he had a somwhat tinny voice.

Chikati velugulu

Am reminded of the day dad bought the record- he really enjoyed the songs from the movie.

A difficult life

Remembering how father had to live without his wife and children for months at a stretch, working in remote parts of the country and serving the country bu identifying groundwater. He did not get any medals, but he deserves the highest medal for exemplary service and dedication.

Jagmohan

After nearly twenty five years I heard the song "Meri Annken Bani Diwani" by Jagmohan, courtesy of my brother. A favorite of father, it is an amazing, magical song.

Khel Khel Mein

I remember going to see this movie with friends during one of my summers. It was a movie where the actors who traditionally played good guys played the bad guys' roles, and vice versa. The songs were quite popular. I am not sure what father thought of the movie or of the songs.

A wonderful gift...

from my brother...the english version of a rafi'an song, sung by the great man himself...

Am not sure if father had heard the English version.

We had some songs of Vasant Desai at home- another genius.

Rafi'an songs...

During my time at IIT I had bought a tape recorder that I brought home for the holidays. I had also recorded songs of Rafi and Kishore on tapes and songs from movies like Chori Chori and Madhumati. We used to play it during the holidays- I hope dad enjoyed those songs and the recorder.

Suseela

My brother informs me that Suseela turned 73 today. What a voice. If he have to pick one singer to represent "Telugudanam" it would be her.

She was greatly admired by father as well. I personally liked her chandana charchita neela kalebara song in Tenali Ramakrishna. She has brought glory to the motherland.

Binaca Geet Mala

And Amin Sayani were a mainstay for us. Now, my student in Delhi tells me that 93.7FM is mirch masala songs on radio...

Bangla songs...

Listening to Ami Chalte Chalte reminds me of the Bangla saongs father used to mention and play.

Dad on Columbo...

Father was fond of suspense and mystery. I wonder how he would have liked Columbo- a series my mom loves very much. Unlike Sherlock Holmes, Columbo is more accessible to the non-English speaking viewers.

Viswanathan Ramamurty

During the hey days of Shankar Jaikishen, Kalyanji Anandji, LP, and other duos, Viswanathan Ramamurty composed many gems in Telugu, and a few in Hindi. My father had a 78 rpm record with Laut Gaya Gham ka Jamana, a fabulous Lata Hemanta duet composed by the VR pair.

Losing a parent...

Today my good friend Glenn informed me that his mother had passed away recently. I knew her quite well, and she was a very nice and considerate lady. It is tough- I remember the time my father passed away.

Student Life...

Talking about the issues of students at the conference today took me back to my days when no one gave much thought to the research behind student development. Our parents tried to understand us, and helped us develop at our own pace- a blessing.

Father and Balamurali

Father had an interesting take on Balamuralikrishna- he respected the latter's abilities and his singing, but considered him an egotist. While nearly all Carnatic musicians start their performances with works of the great trinity of Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar and Annamacharya, Bala often started with his own works.

Father's pain

When father was alive, I never realized the pain and suffering he went through and fought. If my brother was not with him, I do not know what might have happened. Life is such a mystery!

Is mod se ja te hain...

The wonderful song from Aandhi- has many memories. It was one movie which we all used to discuss. The songs are also very meaningful.

Records of C. Ramachandra

My father's range of musical tastes amazes me..he had records of Pankaj Mallick, Saigal, C.Ramachanrda, as well those of Kishore and SPB.

Tossing the Newspaper...

When we lived in Himayat Nagar we were on the second floor. The newspaper man, on the occasional day when he chose to deliver the paper, would swing by and toss it from the road onto our balcony. The newspaper was one of the eagerly awaited moments of the day. We had to keep track of the days the paper was not delivered, so that we could deduct it from the bill at the end of the month. On my recent visit to India I saw the newspaper packaging operation on the streets of Gurgaon...an interesting entrepreneurial sight.

Taking a bath

As I washed my hair and head today, I was reminded of the many times father applied oil to our head and then washed it. He would also apply a drop or two of oil to our ears so that they would be clean. So much care provided by our parents, despite all the complaints and grief we gave them.