Welcome to Planet M

The soul dances, mind relaxes and the body loses control...thats the power of music. Be it "Sad but true.." by Metallica or "Enna sattham inda neram" from Punagai Mannan, music can alter moods and take you to a different galaxy. For some music is the way of life, I am also a proud member of this elite club. Kollywood and bollywood were my source of introduction to this magical world not to forget Oliyum Oliyum and Chitrahaar. Being a hard core fan of Kamal Hassan, I first started listening to music from his movies. Started dancing for his title song from "Vikram" at the age of 5. Slowly and steadily started 'listening' to music and learnt to appreciate it. Thanks to one of the greatest musicians India has seen, Ilayaraaja. I started listening to all his songs and my favorites were from Kamal movies like "Raaja parvai", "Punagai Mannan", "Moonram Pirai" and the list goes on. I slowly came out of this Kamal trap and started exploring all kinds of music. This interest made me learn musical instruments, I took drums classes for three years and mridangam class for a year. Then over the years I learnt that I was more a music admirer than a performer.

I enjoy all kinds of music and I feel happy that I don't stick to any particular genre. The choice depends on my mood...if I am relaxing I'd love to hear a classic melody by A.R. Rehman or a nerve relaxing ghazal by Pankaj Udas or a soothing number by Eagles. When I am full of energy and I am on a drive, I feel like listening to "Dil Chahta hai" or "Uyirin Uyirey" or a "Keep Rolling" by Limp bizket. There is a song for every mood..and we should learn to chose the right one to completely enjoy it. Whenever I listen to the right songs in the right mood, I feel like I am part of the song and I am very much into it. Rock music makes me do weird things, which I can never even imagine of doing it otherwise. The rock concerts are the best place for the metal fan within me to come out and display his attitude. At this point I remember me and my friend Sanath singing Linkin Park songs in the mic with the lyrics in hand and the original song blasting in the background...boy that was fun! Then there was a time when I sang "Rock you" in a college event and the crowd going wild, that was the first time the entire college had seen me doing something like that, which was so unusual of me. There was a period when I was madly addicted to Iron Maiden and Metallica, searching for their lyrics, memorising them and singing them loudly just for the heck of it. Those were the best days of my life...if I may say!

There is a completely different side of me which is addicted to true classical Indian music. I love the sound of the south Indian classical music instruments. The voice of Jesudas set to the ensemble of veena, mridangam and flute can take me to heaven and back. Most of the telugu songs I listen belong to such catagory. I should consider myself gifted to know so many languages to admire the musical beauty of each of them. Coming back to telugu songs, one of my all time favorites if from the movie "Annamayya", its a collection of songs written by a poet who lived centuries ago. The number "Antharyaami", I feel has some special powers..ok am jus getting carried away. Telugu carnatic songs are sweetest of all and can easily melt anyones heart.

Either shaking a leg to a Bhagra number by Daler Mehndi or Dappankuthu by Deva, dance numbers can make even baby to start moving. Though they are not evergreen like the melodies, dance numbers are best experienced only by dancing. India is a country where any kind of celebration is accompanied by music and dance. From school parties to marriages, dance and music is always present. Everyone's happiness is let out in the form of dance and its a true mark of fun and enjoyment.

There is so much more to say about music but it is time for me to get my headphones and go to bed... this is something I have been doing for a long long time. Well I am in the mood to hear some Bryan Adams tonight.

Peace out..its music time.

- Lone Warrior