Saagara sayana vibho...!

"He did not get due recognition when he was alive, they rave about him years after his death" --- President APJ Abdul Kalam.

Guess who's the person being referred to, here.


...

Yes, it is Manjapra Devesa Bhagavathar Ramanathan popularly known as MDR.

One of my friends at college was a great fan of MDR. I dint know much about him until I was introduced to his concerts that I listened online. Man, what a majestic voice ! What a bass tone ! In his deep-toned exposition, there was an irresistible combination of tenderness and melody. His rendering of Jojo Rama in Reethigowla, Suga suga in SriRanjani are some of the few that I've listened to. I'm planning to listen to a lot more of his :)

It seems he was the most misunderstood Carnatic vocalist of the 20th century - says this website : www.mdramanathan.com . Although many musicians studied under him, no one was really able to emulate the great MDR.

He received several prestigious awards such as the Kerala State Sangeeta Natak Academy award, Padmashri, Sangeeta Nataka Academy award and others.

He was a great Vaggeyakkara too. He has composed many songs using his mudhra, 'Varadhadasa' as he was a disciple of Sri. Tiger Varadachariar.

Below is my rendering of the song, 'Saagara sayana' composed by him in Bagyeshree raga set to Adi talam.

JACK OF ALL JOKES !

When the entire world goes one way, Bosskey goes the other. The way he spells his name (the short form of Bhaskar) is just an example !

At the age of two, Bhaskaran cracked his first joke. Asked if the auto rickshaw could go in 'reverse', he replied in all innocence, "No, it can only travel on roads."
(rivers, if you dint get it !)

The number of activities that Bosskey is involved in, is mind-boggling.

Cartoonist Madhan spotted his flair for humour and gave him a chance to write jokes for Ananda Vikatan. (Around 15,000 have been published so far !) .

The 'Mirchi-Sirchi' comic slot that he's been presenting on Radio Mirchi is more than a year old now.

He also anchored the live cricket programme, "Poova Thalaiya," for 40 days at a stretch during the World Cup series.

He's also done a couple of films.

And that's not all. He is a model too. His stage play "Oho!" and his latest comic caper "Left,Right" both had a successful run. I've been to this "Left, Right"! Simply, just too hilarious !
I remember one joke from this play.
One guy falls down while a photograph is being taken.
When asked why, he replies, "Photola naan nalla vizhanumnu neenga dhaane sonninga" ! :D

There's still more to come. The man is an employee with Indian Overseas Bank too. Sample this : A customer walks in asking for change — "Tens-a kudunga sir". To which Bosskey's standard response is, "Tense-a vendaam, Relaxed-a kudukaraen." :D

In his Hari Giri Assembly, he has interviewed nearly 700 people, all face-to-face, where several celebrities found his brand of humour a little difficult to swallow !

I remember him presiding as the chief guest for our school culturals when I was in 12th std. We kept roaring with laughter as he came and spoke for about some 15 minutes. It was then I realised how powerful this tool of humour can be ! They say 'Laughter is the best medicine !'
I can recollect one joke that he cracked during his talk.
"Be always positive. In whatever thing or work that you do....

except one...

you should never be positive in this one alone !

yeah, HIV ! "

Eavesdropping on two auto drivers, this is what he heard. They were talking about James Cameron's Titanic. After a lively discussion in typical Madras baashai, they were convinced that the celebrated Hollywood director borrowed the idea for his movie from P. Vasu's Chinna Thambi ! After all, both movies spoke about a rich girl falling in love with a poor boy!

Below is a photo of Bosskey with THE BOSS :)