Bhavayami Gopalabalam - S.Aishwarya & S.Saundarya

Date: 23rd Aug 2019
Location: Suswaralakshmi Foundation for Classical Music and Performing Arts.

© & ℗ 2019: V.Shrinivasan - Grandson of Bharat Ratna M.S.Subbulakshmi and Managing Trustee of Suswaralakshmi Foundation for Classical Music and Performimg Arts.

All rights reserved and owned by Suswaralakshmi Foundation for Classical Music and Performing Arts.

Videography: Sri.Shreedhar Mechri
Recorded at : Prabhat Studios, Bangalore

S.Aishwarya & S.Saundarya are the Great Grand Daughters of Bharat Ratna M.S.Subbulakshmi and the Grand Daughters of Dr Radha Viswanathan and the torch bearers of the MS Legacy.

Message from S.Aishwarya

On the eve of Krishna Janmashtami, my sister S Saundarya and I present to all rasikas, the everlasting creation of Annamacharya "Bhavayami Gopabalam" which was truly eternalised by my Great Grandmother Bharat Ratna M.S.Subbulakshmi and Grandmother Dr Radha Viswanathan.

This song was set to tune in the Ragam "Yaman Kalyani" by the musical genius late Kadayanallur Venkataraman.

When Sri Venkataraman sang the song for the first time , my great grandmother & grandmother were moved beyond measure by the powerful emotion behind the song & music.

My Grandmother Radha also had made a significant contribution to this song. The part from 3.16 to 3.34 "Nirathakara Kaleetha " was actually tuned by her.

The brikha at 4.20 was also a Trade Mark of Radha Patti as Ammu Patti used to leave that portion exclusively for her to execute during concerts.

Also I can never ever forget my dearest Radha Patti, how she taught me this song and perfected every sangathi by making me repeat 1000 times till she felt satisfied.

When I was a child of seven years I sang "Bhavayami Gopabalam" in front of my Great Grandmother. At that age one does not have any inhibitions that one is singing in front of one of the greatest singers ever.
Ammu Patti was also not keeping the best of health but she was nevertheless listening intently, sitting cross-legged on her bed.

When I uttered the Mudra of the composer, "Thiru Venkatachla" her hands automatically folded as a sign of reverence.

As soon as I completed the song, with tears welling in her eyes, Ammu Patti pointed her index finger in my direction and exclaimed "You will carry my music forward"

This precious memory will be chiseled in my mind throughout my entire life 🙏