Vijayalakshmi Navaneethakrishnan is a name that changed the scene for Tamil folk songs. In an age when film songs have taken over the music industry, Vijayalakshmi recorded Tamil folk songs on cassettes making it a favourite of Tamil Nadu. Folk songs enjoy popularity only in the places they have sprung out from. In the 1990s, with the release of Vijayalakshmi’s Tamil folk song cassettes, a huge commercial market opened up for Tamil folk songs. Her extraordinary contribution to Tamil folk music gained her the nation’s fourth-highest civilian award, Padma Shri, in 2018. 

Reviving The Spirit of the Past

Compiling folk songs is not an easy task as they arise from a particular region and pass around from one generation to another, without any written recordings. The spirit of folk songs lies in this oral transmission among people. Vijayalakshmi Navaneethakrishnan took upon herself the task of researching, reviving and recording the precious gems of Tamil folk art. Years of research went behind her every song of hers, but she was successful in bringing the folk songs heard in remote villages to the lips of the city dwellers. That is where Vijayalakshmi’s research bears fruition. 

Her husband, Navaneethakrishnan played a huge role in her folk art research. They understood each other’s passion for folk music during their days in Madurai Kamarajar University. Together, they brought out several albums of authentic Tamil folk songs. Even after retirement as professors from the Department of Folk Arts and Culture, the couple continued with their efforts to revive Tamil folk art. Connoisseurs and lovers of folk music seek them out to conduct performances. 

Vijayalaksmi Navaneethakrishnan’s Success

With the release of her cassettes, her folk songs became immensely popular in Tamil Nadu. You cannot find Tamilians who haven’t hummed “Thottu kadai orathile” even once. It is not just entertaining lyrics that make her songs popular. It is also the diversity and variations Vijayalakshmi introduces with each song. She could easily digress from talking about food to love in a single song. We see that in “Jothinila pola appam”. Her songs are also packed with information and scientific themes as in “Yettu anu oru immi”. ‘Gummipaattu’ by Vijayalaksmi is also highly favoured by people, without which Amman temple festivities are incomplete. Her songs have made appearances in some movies along with her. 

Vijayalakshmi’s Contribution to Folk Art

Vijayalakshmi Navaneethakrishnan would remain a pivotal figure in Tamil folk art as long as it remains. Folk music is an art that we see dying off quietly in today’s age of pop culture. If not for people like Vijayalakshmi and her husband, Navaneethakrishnan, Tamil folk songs would have become a thing of the distant past. They remind us to grab hold of our rich folk heritage, celebrate it and savour it. 

The flute is one of the oldest musical instruments, and the first wind instrument. With the utterance of the word ‘Flute’, one immediately recalls Lord Krishna. It is believed that the world was created through the beautiful sound of Lord Krishna’s flute, and since then Flute has been equated with freedom and love. A flute produces sound by the steady stream of air vibrating through it. The air stream around the holes of the instrument play with the air inside the hollow cavity of the flute, causing vibrations and ultimately producing sounds. No wonder that playing full fledged songs and music on this instrument must require thorough practice and a clear mindset. The presence of the flute and its music is now dominant. It is used in films, orchestras, bands, jazz, classical, folk, etc. 

This versatile instrument requires skillful mastery to perfect the varied musical notes. A flutist not only blows the air but also has to control one’s breathing accordingly. Moreover, the instrument also needs to be held at correct angles. In this light, we bring you some beautiful flutists and their music. 

O Sajna Flute Cover – Varun Kumar

Varun Kumar takes us on a nostalgic ride with his heart touching flute cover of ‘O Sajna’ by Salil Chowdhury and Lata Mangeshkar. Along with the music by Varun’s flute, we also get blends of tabla, sitar and key. Covering a song as beautiful as O Sajna, which was backed by Lata Mangeshkar’s vocals, is no doubt a very difficult task. However, Varun proves everyone wrong, and delivers a soulful cover. The cover has a merriment and calmness to it.

Krishna Theme – Lakhinandan Lahon

Lakhinandan Lahon, through his flute, has the ability to leave his listeners speechless. This Krishna Theme flute composition is just one example. All one can say is that he must be one of the reincarnations of Lord Krishna, to be able to produce this beautiful and hypnotizing flute music. It is divine, refreshing, and soulful. It is quite humanly impossible to not have goosebumps all over your body while listening to it. 

Awaaz Do Humko Hum Kho Gaye – Divyansh Shrivastava 

Another cover on an evergreen song, Awaaz Do Humko, by the flutist Divyansh Shrivastava. The music which Divyansh and his flute produce is angelic. It is the perfect instrumental to close your eyes to and listen during a beautiful downpour. The cover for sure has healing properties!

My Heart Will Go on Flute Cover – Rahul Krishnan 

My Heart Will Go on holds a special place in almost everyone’s hearts. It is reminiscent of the famous movie Titanic and the love between Rose and Jack. The song is heavenly and beautiful, and Rahul Krishnan delivers this cover in all its truest essence. The cover is mystical and retains all the emotions attached to the song. An instrumental cover which is definitely one of the ‘on-loop’ covers.

Artists and listeners explore music in diversely unique ways. There are a plethora of genres for us to discover and listen to. There can never be enough music compositions, or enough songs, or enough lyrics produced. Indie Musicians and Artists are rising to the same stage as the mainstream music industry, and this has nothing to do with wins or losses, but the unique musical art and new talent being discovered and explored by the audience.

Production of a song, from its lyricism to composition, it is surely a tedious task. However, with passion and determination, all beautiful things rise and reach people’s hearts. A music lover is often on the lookout for either the instrumentals or the lyrics, or maybe both. Therefore, in this light, we would like to drop the spotlight on indie musicians Girish Nakod and Aakritti Mehra, and their originals, offering both the pleasures of lyricism and music.

Girish Nakod – Pyaar Ya Khata

Call it absurd, but what is the human race if not continued attempts at loving each other? Our very human essence is ‘love’. Girish Nakod, a lyricist, a composer and a singer, serves the very beautiful single ‘Pyaar Ya Khata’. Narrating the poetic lyrics surrounding the bewitching and exquisite waves of emotions of falling in love, it questions this blissful and too good to be true feelings as love or sin. The lyrics are quite simple, yet with a depth that heightens the listening experience. You’d want to physically absorb the words. This song will be a perfect dedication to someone who’s your ‘my person’.

Aakritti Mehra – Saiyaan Mora Beyimaan 

This soulful original music by Aakritti is a heavenly composition of enthralling vocals, calming fusion of instruments and lyrics. The song begins with an Indian classic touch instrumental, which seems to be a blend of tabla and flute. The stretched instrumental music before Aakritti’s heavenly voice takes over will already make you mesmerized by its soothing and rousing weight. Aakritti’s sweet vocals dreamily synchronize with the rhythms of the music. Saiyaan Mora Beyimaan should definitely be in the playlists of all Indian Classical Music enthusiasts!

India-a country of varieties and colors. A land whose soil’s fragrance renews after every kilometer. From languages to foods and traditions, every state is like a ‘country’ in self. As diverse are the people of the country, so is India’s music. Every state comes with its exclusive ‘trademark’ of music which separates it from the others. And even after containing such abundant versatility, the nation stands united as one, and so does the country’s music (and, of course the music fans!).

Today, we bring some aesthetic covers from around the country to give you a better taste of India’s music. These Indian music videos will take you all the way from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Kutch to Shillong!

“Hariyala Banna”- The Rajasthani Folk Music!

Priyansh Paliwal’s cover of the renowned Rajasthani folk melody, “Hariyala Banna”, is a successful attempt to take us to the lanes of Rajasthan. Sung during the wedding ceremonies in Rajasthan, the song’s cover has maintained its originality. It is the soft tunes that give it an exclusive touch. “Hariyala Banna” expresses the joy of the bride whose groom has arrived to take her along.

“Aigiri Nandini (Mahisasurmardini Stotram)” by Maithili Thakur

The saga of the warrior goddess Durga, presented by Maithili Thakur, is a treat to mind and ears. “Aigiri nandini” is one of the strongest stotra of the goddess, which sings the glory of goddess’s victory over the evil. And Maithili’s voice has added even more power to the shlokas of the stotram. It’s even fascinating to see someone as young as Maithili to be so fluent with Sanskrit words that almost seem like a tongue twister! ‘Mahisasurmardini Stotram’ will certainly strengthen your mind, soul and body.

“Sar jo Tera Chakraye & Lonely Goatherd”- Mashup by Shillong Chamber Choir

This mashup cover was created by bringing together Mohammed Rafi’s “Sar Jo Tera Chakraye” with the harmony of “The Lonely Goatherd”. Shillong Chamber Choir has harmonized these two songs as one and the results were nothing but cheerful! The various artists who have performed have left us humming the tunes! As the music video was released during the peak covid times, it had the motive to bring smiles on faces. If perfect harmonization could be put in one song, this would be it.

“A R Rahman 90s Hits Mashup”- Taking You to South India

Paying his tribute to the legendary musician, A.R. Rahman, Rajaganapathy has performed this musical rendition in his gifted voice. This is about a mashup that contains all the hit melodies composed by A.R. Rehman in 90’s in the South Indian industry. The music video also features Ashish with his mystical tune of flute. Being a part of South India’s music custom, the mashup of various songs flows like fluid. What make this mashup a must watch are the compositions, the arrangements and the name ‘A.R. Rahman’ itself.   

Fluency of the hands, unique sound and plethora of practice are what give rise to a star guitarist. From bonfires and concerts to chilling in cafés, guitarists are the heart of every musical performance. Much known for his musical talents, is another rising star in the world of music, Punit Lotia. We bring to you, the life story of a professional guitarist, a musician, a traveler and a man driven by his dreams.

Early life!

Born in Bhuleshwar, Mumbai and raised in the same city, Punit was an average boy since his childhood. During the completion of his last year of intermediate school from a private institution, he had to go through immense hardships of life. He was only 16 when his father was diagnosed with partial paralysis. It was not just a difficult phase for him mentally, but left the family of 5 members in distress too. But Punit’s perseverance was built on a firm foundation. He, along with his mother, took up odd jobs to maintain a good living. It was during this time that he joined a music class to learn guitar as a hobby. Who knew, an activity taken up as a hobby would soon turn into passion and the dream of his life.

Punit’s first second-hand guitar was bought from his first salary that he earned after delivering goods for a month or two. The same guitar is a souvenir of those days to him today. After just a few months of practicing guitar, he got the opportunities to share the stage with his teacher, Mr Deepak Bhaing. Later, he started his own music classes, which have been active for 12 years now. His first great and the most memorable achievement was his own music band, “The Bombay Tribe”, whose foundations were laid by Lotia himself, along with his two very talented students in 2015. The band throve for 2 years, won several music competitions, made tours to Goa, performed in the cafés of Goa, created unforgettable memories with each other and after those 2 years, they all went on their individual paths.

Lotia is currently a part of one of the greatest musical projects in the country, “Ekam Satt: Mission for Nation”. The project aims to connect with the Armed Forces and provide them with the best of entertainment. He has performed at over 18 locations, traveling around the many states of the country as well as abroad, including Indonesia, Bali and Dubai. So far, he has performed in more than 50 concerts as a part of the project. Traveling to places with the team has added amusement to the adventures of his life. But in the graph of his life, his mother, brother and his better half, Meera have been the constant line of support.

 In 2019, Lotia met Manish Kulkarni, his current guru, his greatest inspiration of his life and career. The practicalities of the world of music, along with life lessons, were taught by his guru. Quoting Lotia’s words, “It’s important to know what to do and what not to do”; those differences were taught to him by his guru himself.

His message!

Punit believes that for every artist, practicing his skills is the only way to success. He states that one cannot achieve all that one desires merely overnight. It requires years of hardwork, skill refinement and perseverance to fulfil the dreams. The more you dedicate yourself to music, the more will music dedicate itself to you. One should be the competitor to self rather than comparing self with the others. Punit’s journey is certainly an inspiration among the youth, which reflects that it requires a blend of hardwork, perseverance and passion to reach up to the skies.