Reached a milestone and left with Nothing But Wind!
June 6, 2010 
When this website was being built, two of my friends (who built it), had countless arguments about how the blog could be named. While one of them came up with Wind Notes, the other begged to differ. But today, I realize, it couldn’t have been named any better!
I had the concert of a lifetime last night. How better can I describe it, when a two-month long hard work has a fitting culmination with the God of music blessing me! Firstly, I put forth my heartiest thanks to all those who were present there to encourage me and also those who were with me in spirits. This post is for those who missed out on the concert and are dying to get that inside story about the most happening musical evenings in the recent times. The enormity of the dais with dignitaries who are stalwarts of music and a packed audience of music lovers set the perfect occasion for us musicians. We are truly fortunate and can never ask for more.
Of all these years that I have performed in concerts, one thing against which I’ve stood strong is stage-fear or so to say, the nervousness to perform the best for the audience. The auditorium was fully packed with fans or should I say fanatics of Ilayaraja sir’s music. I stood confident to give my best for the show. However, when the maestro walked in with his magical aura and set eye contact with me (for the first time in my lifetime), I must admit some fear did show up within me. With thousands of prayers, I began playing, the first piece itself being one of the complex compositions in the album. Once I finished, I sought his approval and he gestured a thumbs up sign! Gosh! Only one thing came to my mind…. I think most of you would have read about the story of Narayaneeyam. After each verse was composed by the saint Narayana Bhattathri, Lord Krishna appeared before him and nodded his head to give his approval. I found this most appropriate to what happened to me. Further to that, confidence exuded within me in full force and I performed the rest of the pieces effortlessly. During the concert, I found Ilayaraja sir explaining the complexity behind each piece to composer Uttam Singh. The maestro never failed to approve each one of them with a thumbs up! What more can I ask for as a musician?
With the genius
Once the show came to a close, he came up on stage to bless us all. The first thing I did (the first thing every lover of his music would do) was to fall at his feet…. He literally gave me a pat on the back, happiness being evident on his face and told me “I know how complex these compositions are… but you rendered each one of them flawlessly… God bless you.” BLISS…. When he gave his speech, he also mentioned that he was happy to see that I changed only very few flutes for all the pieces, despite their complexity.
The evening was indeed magical for me and one of the biggest milestones in my career. Credits should be given where its due…. My foremost thanks goes to Ms. Bhavatharini who gave me this incredible opportunity… I should also thank the 22 piece strings section, each one of them being pillars of support for the music. My heartiest thanks to Prabhakaran sir for his amazing conduction. A big thanks to my buddies Navneeth Sundar, Aalaap Raju, Leon, Geo Raj and Donnan Murray for their support. And last but by no means least, to all you music lovers out there, who went far and wide to be a part of the evening.
Comments
It was wattey wow!
2 yearss agoOne of the best rendition ever done by an individual on flute !!
I was fortunate enough to be there at the event !!
Gr8 show Navin !!Way to go !!
2 yearss agoAll the very best !!
hey Navin…I attended the show with my very close friend and we both are core fan of Raja Sir. We bot got an opportunity to see Raja Sir very very closely when he got down from his car. Real thanks to Bhavatharini.
And Nothing But Wind……It’s you and the Violin Orchestra who stole the whole evening……..Flawless and incredible recreation by you ppl…….my kudos to you and the rest of the team…..
It’s really difficult to write the notes by hearing the music and Mr.Prabhakar had proved that he is from Raja Sir’s Institution…. Hats of to Prabhakar Sir….
Except Praising you all…..what else can I say Navin……. you ppl made us to feel the music indepth after such a long time in stage………lovely performance……good show good job…..God Bless you all………. And it’s Nothing But Wind……..Ofcourse the Real Wind is Illayaraja Sir…….
2 yearss agoThis is so awesome!!U deserve this and more!
2 yearss agoDear Navin,
Congrats on the feat ! Though I could not be there, felt as if I was there after seeing the descriptions that are coming forth from all sides.
My sincere requests, can you replicate this performance of NBW in all your future programmes within country and abroad!
God Bless You !
Regards
CSR
2 yearss ago“I know how complex these compositions are… but you rendered each one of them flawlessly… God bless you.”
There is nothing more needed than receiving the above words from the genius… Genius wishing a genius in making
2 yearss agoMachi,
Great to hear this and you did it!!!
Awaiting for videos.
2 yearss agoMy congratulations to you. Receiving an applaase from the composer himself is quite a great achievement. God bless you with all the health & breath
so that you breathe music into our lives.
2 yearss agoHi Navin,
Mindblowing and a next to impossible performance @ the Music Academy. Honoured to hear the notes flowing from your Flute. You are gonna be my inspiration whenever I play this instrument from now on.
A big thanks to you and the MAESTRO.
2 yearss agoit was not a pat on ur back… it was a hard hit… i could feel it…:P:P
2 yearss agowas awesome to witness the whole show…. i am glad i managed to do so….
so very happy for u navin m/
Hi da,
I can feel the excitement reading it… Congrats da!! Great guns!! Wishing you all the best!! And what was the discussion all about?
2 yearss agoAnd do you have the videos of the show?
2 yearss agoIt was amazing. I never thought a piece like ‘Mozart I love you’ can be played live by any other flautist other than Hariprasad sir.
2 yearss agoGreat work man. You rock and the man who composed it, is a legend without doubt
Hi Naveen,
I was there for the concert sitting in the first row and watching and listening you play. You were extraordinary. I play flute as a hobby and I always thought, this album can not be played live that too with a single flautist. It was unbelievable. Hats off to you Naveen! Hats off to the entire orchestra. Of course, Hats off to Maestro!
God bless you.
2 yearss agoShiv.
Dear Mr.Navin,
It gave me goose bumps while reading your post.
Congratulations for working with the LORD.
2 yearss agoHi Navin
Watched the show completely,simply a sheer pleasure.
U simply wowed the crowd.
Hats off to u & the entire orchestra.
God Bless!
Hail the Mastero!
2 yearss agoDear Navin,
2 yearss agoI am really happy for you that you were able to get the Maestro’s nod of approval. Please let me know where can people like me who could not make it get to see the same on video.
When are you coming to NYC. Please keep me posted and we should meet even for 15 mins.
Thanks and Keep it up…..
Dear Naven Ji
am proud to attend this great Music concert of only and maestro ILAYARAAJA sir master piece – NOTHING BUT WIND – your are awesome …. ….. your are very close to Hari prasad ji original creations …. May god bless ….
Musically
2 yearss agoalex
Dear Navin,
I am one of those who would proudly gloat “I WAS THERE”. I have been hearing NBW for the past 20yrs now ever since the first time I was introduced to those magical compositions. As a layman and someone who has virtually grown listening to those compositions for about hundreds of times over the last 20yrs, I could feel how flawless your performance was but of course, my (many like me) views mean nothing since you have anyway already heard it from the horse’s..should i say God’s mouth that your performance was flawless. The entire show was just goosebump-inducing one. Kuduos to you & the entire orchestra for pulling this off brilliantly.
Hoping you do more such shows…
Siva
2 yearss agoNavin, no one dare find a difference in how you played in this performance Vs how Panditji played in the original track.
Here am I watching it for the 3rd or 4th time on youtube and I am full of goosebumps.
Hats off to the entire crew, Prabhakaran Sir (for having written the notes) and of course, to you for the flawless performance!
2 yearss agoNaveen,
I just finished watching this on youtube. Wonderful wonderful rendition. I have always loved this piece with all the complex scale changes and have always whistled it. Can you explain in a blog post a little bit about the scale changes ? That would surely be very useful.
Thanks,
Arun
1 years ago