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Chandan Kumar and Vishwas Hari presented ragas with artistic finesse at the Suswaraa Trust’s annual music festival 2025

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Chandan Kumar and Vishwas Hari presented ragas with artistic finesse at the Suswaraa Trust’s annual music festival 2025


Mysore Chandan Kumar showcased his artistry with a well-curated song list.
| Photo Credit: JOTHI RAMALINGAM B

Lyrical appreciation is as integral to enjoying Carnatic music as its musical aesthetics. This places instrumentalists at an inherent disadvantage. However, they can overcome this limitation significantly through pristine tonal quality, perfect sruti alignment, and a playing technique that closely mirrors the sahityam. A less-arduous path is to lean on sheer mastery over the instrument, indulging in gimmickry to produce a hollow melody designed for applause rather than artistry.

It was heartening that two artistes steadfastly upheld classicism, resisting the lure of contrivance. As a result, back-to-back concerts by Vishwas Hari (mandolin) and Mysore A. Chandan Kumar (flute) on the opening day of Suswaraa Trust’s 36th Sangeetha Utsavam at Bharaitya Vidya Bhavan Mini Hall proved to be a double delight.

Mysore A. Chandan Kumar (flute), V.V. Ravi (violin), Neyveli Narayanan (mridangam), and B.S. Purushotham (kanjira),
| Photo Credit:
JOTHI RAMALINGAM B

Chandan Kumar’s recital was a revelation. Accompanied by V.V. Ravi on the violin, Neyveli Narayanan on the mridangam, and B.S. Purushotham on the kanjira, the flautist showcased his impeccable artistry with a well-curated song list. The Sahana varnam ‘Karunimpa’ by Tiruvotriyur Tyagayyar provided a lively start before he presented two contrasting Dikshitar kritis. His kalpanaswaras for ‘Siddhi vinayakam’ (Chamaram-Rupakam) flowed effortlessly, while ‘Akhilandeswari’ in Dwijavanti unfolded at an unhurried pace, lending a soothing touch.

The flautist’s Saveri alapana, replete with loopy phrases, tonal modulations, and gamakas, particularly in the middle and lower octaves, was refreshing. The Syama Sastri kriti ‘Sankari samkuru’ (Adi, tisra nadai) was played with flair, and Chandan Kumar’s manodharma soared in the swaras at ‘Syamakrishna sodhari’ in the charanam.

This was followed by two compositions by Tyagaraja. ‘Anupama gunambudhi’ (Atana-Khanda Chapu) set the pace before the main piece, ‘Raksha pettare’ in Bhairavi. Chandan Kumar once again excelled in the raga essay by adopting a leisurely tempo, allowing the grandeur of the raga to flow organically. Ravi’s reply retained the melodic appeal. After a neat presentation of the Utsava Sampradaya kirtana, which seeks to ward off evil to the Lord, Chandan Kumar took up swaraprastara at the pallavi opening, blending exuberance with aesthetics.

After Swati Tirunal’s Behag javali ‘Saaramaina’, the recital concluded with the ever-popular Oothukadu Venkata Kavi song ‘Alaipaayudhe’ in Kanada. Ravi and Narayanan demonstrated the value of experience throughout with sensitive support. Narayanan’s tani avartanam with Purushotham featured absorbing exchanges.

Vishwas Hari played the raga alapana of Nagaswarali with finesse.
| Photo Credit:
JOTHI RAMALINGAM B

Earlier in the evening, Vishwas delivered a commendable mandolin recital, accompanied by Puttur T. Nikshith (mridangam) and Sai Bharath (kanjira). Opening with ‘Gananayakam bhajeham’, a Dikshitar kriti in Purnashadjam, he capped it with a brief swara segment. It may be noted that another school of thought assigns the raga of this composition as Rudrapriya.

Vishwas displayed an assured grasp of Nagaswarali in his alapana before taking up ‘Garuda gamana’ by Patnam Subramania Iyer. The swarakalpana for the pentatonic janya of the 28th melakarta was executed with finesse. Tyagaraja’s ‘Kamalapta kula’ in Brindavani followed, leading to Pallavi Seshayyar’s ‘Entani vinavintura’ in the rare raga Urmika (Adi – tisra nadai), an audava-audava scale that omits ‘dha’ from Simhendra Madhyamam.

Vishwas Hari with ccompanied by Puttur T. Nikshith (mridangam) and Sai Bharath (kanjira).
| Photo Credit:
JOTHI RAMALINGAM B

Vishwas sculpted Kalyani, coaxing out its essence in a meticulous exploration. It was marked by elegant phrases, some of which alternated between octaves. Tyagaraja’s charming ‘Vasudevayani’ was the main song and Vishwas played it with the right quotient of gamakas. A lively swara passage culminated in a tani avartanam where Nikshith and Sai Bharath impressed with interesting laya forays. The concert concluded with Narayana Tirtha’s ‘Govardhana giridhara’ in Darbari Kanada.



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Blake Lively–Justin Baldoni lawsuit: Taylor Swift and Hugh Jackman reportedly on subpoena list | – The Times of India

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What began as a film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel It Ends With Us has now spiraled into a courtroom drama involving some of Hollywood’s biggest names — and it might soon pull Taylor Swift and Hugh Jackman into the spotlight.
According to a report by the Daily Mail, Swift and ‘Wolverine’ star Jackman, are expected to be issued subpoenas in connection with the ongoing legal battle between actress Blake Lively and her co-star Justin Baldoni. The source claims the subpoenas could be delivered “at any time,” with Casa Cipriani — a New York celebrity hotspot — tipped as the likely scene for this dramatic plot twist.
The Lively and Baldoni drama began in December 2024, when the actress filed a lawsuit citing emotional distress and monetary losses linked to the production of It Ends With Us. In January 2025, Baldoni responded with a $400 million countersuit, accusing Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, of defamation, emotional manipulation, and exerting undue influence over the film’s direction by allegedly leveraging their A-list connections.
According to court filings, a rewritten rooftop scene allegedly became a point of contention. Baldoni claimed that Lively used her friendship with Swift to sway creative decisions during a private script session held at the couple’s New York penthouse.
While Swift was not been directly named in the filings, her presence was implied in a message from Baldoni reportedly praising the changes, “I really love what you did. It really does help a lot. Makes it so much more fun and interesting. (And I would have felt that way without Ryan or Taylor).”
Sources speaking to Page Six revealed that the pop star felt “used” after being dragged into what was supposed to be a behind-the-scenes creative process, but she has no intention of avoiding the stand. Swift has reportedly received a “genuine and heartfelt” apology from Lively and is “not afraid” to testify if called upon.
Meanwhile, Jackman’s potential involvement remains less clear, though insiders suggest his long-standing friendship with both Blake and Ryan and proximity to certain production meetings could make his testimony relevant.
The high-profile battle is due for a hearing in court on March 9, 2026.





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How Will India Respond To Pakistan After Pahalgam Terror Attack? Modi-Doval Hold Key To…

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Pahalgam Terrorist Attack: Following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, one thing is now certain—India will retaliate, and this time, the response is expected to be far more extensive and destructive than the actions taken in 2016 or 2019. According to a detailed analysis by Zee News Managing Editor Rahul Sinha, the Indian government is working in mission mode on three fronts: strategic planning, diplomatic outreach, and military action.

Before delving into the specifics, the country heard a powerful statement from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, which is being viewed as a formal announcement of India’s intent to retaliate. Importantly, this was not a political or election-related statement but a serious message directed at Pakistan’s leadership, its army chief General Asim Munir, and terrorist organizations operating from its soil.

In today’s DNA, Rahul Sinha, Managing Editor, Zee News, analysed the developments related to the Pahalgam terror attack and possible retaliation from India:

Watch Full DNA Episode Here


  • The Indian government will take every necessary and appropriate step.
  • The retaliation will not only target the attackers but also those involved in the planning and conspiracy.
  • India cannot be intimidated by terror attacks.
  • The response will be strong and decisive.

This makes it clear that a countdown to action has begun. Both the terrorists and the Pakistani military, believed to be involved in the planning, are likely targets of India’s upcoming strike.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was scheduled to return from Saudi Arabia late at night, instead cut short his visit and returned to Delhi around 7 AM after learning of the attack. He canceled a scheduled dinner with the Saudi leadership and held an immediate meeting at the airport with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who briefed him on the entire situation.

Sources confirm that any military response will be carried out either by the Indian Army or the BSF. In light of this, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh convened a two-and-a-half-hour meeting with Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. During this meeting, the Defence Minister was briefed on the current situation and the following key threats:

  • 42 terrorist launchpads are currently active in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
  • 30 to 35 launchpads are operating near Kashmir and other regions.
  • Between 100 and 125 Pakistani terrorists are prepared to infiltrate via the Line of Control or the International Border.
  • 70 to 75 terrorists are believed to already be in the Kashmir Valley.
  • Approximately 115 Pakistani terrorists are currently active in Kashmir and surrounding areas.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval’s role is seen as crucial. His presence in the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting highlights his central involvement in shaping India’s response. Sources suggest that Doval is preparing a distinct and possibly unprecedented action plan for retaliation.

With extensive experience in Pakistan and deep knowledge of the Kashmir region, Doval is credited with overseeing two of the most successful strikes across the border. His mastery in strategic planning and intelligence coordination is likely to play a pivotal role in whatever course of action India takes next.

As the situation develops, all signs point to a meticulously crafted, high-impact response—one that will once again showcase India’s resolve against terrorism and those who harbor it.





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Anurag Kashyap to TMKOC’s Munmun Dutta: Celebrities who called for trouble with ‘casteist’ remarks

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Celebrities and controversies go hand-in-hand. In recent times, Anurag Kashyap called for a major controversy with his alleged ‘casteist’ remark. Here’s looking at other stars who received backlash for caste-related comments.



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