Chong Chiu Sen (Sai Madhana Mohan Kumar)

Chong Chiu Sen
Origin Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Genres Carnatic music – Indian Classical Music
Occupation(s) Vocalist
Years active 2002 – Present

Chong Chiu Sen (commonly known as Madhana Mohan Kumar) is a Malaysian-born Chinese vocalist. He was an apprentice of prominent Carnatic musician, D. K. Pattammal who also adopted him as her god-grandson and named him Madhana Mohan Kumar.

Biography

Chong Chiu Sen was introduced to Carnatic music through Bhajans. He initially started formal training in Bhajan singing under the tutelage of Shanthi Jagadeesan and R. Vatsala in Malaysia. Chiu Sen was interested in both, playing the harmonium and singing Bhajans. Hence, he learnt to play the harmonium from Sri Jullius Tan Teck Joo and continued Bhajan training with Vijayalakshmi Kulaveerasingam whose affectionate approach motivated Chiu Sen to continue his passion for performing arts in India. Subsequently, he began learning Bharatha Natyam under Usha Srinivasan and started learning the veena under Sangeetha Kala Acharya and Kalpakam Swaminathan. Chiu Sen soon realized his motivations behind traveling to India were primarily to broaden his musical prowess. He had a series of negative experiences with instructors who cheated him of all savings but eventually chanced upon D.K Pattammal's details in a telephone directory. She asked him to visit and Chiu Sen was ecstatic.[notes 1] However, during their meeting her husband advised that she does not take him on because of her deteriorating health. Nevertheless, before he left, Pattammal asked Chiu Sen to sing a song for her. Acknowledging that it may be his last opportunity in India, he sang "Maha Ganapathi" in raga natya composed by Muthuswami Dikshitar. Pattammal corrected his singing immediately and accepted him as her student. She would later adopt him as her godson and name him Madhana Mohan Kumar. After 2006, Chiu Sen continued his music lessons under Pattammal’s granddaughter, Gayathri Sundararaman. Chiu Sen speaks fondly of his relationship with Sundararaman and Pattammal[notes 2]

Major Performances and Awards

2015 NOVEMBER 27 (Award)

Received an award from Padma Vibhushan Pandit Jasraj for the Pt. Jasraj — Rotary Club of Hyderabad Award for Cross Cultural Understanding. He got an opportunity to perform in front of Padma Vibhushan, Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj, the living legend and doyen of Hindustani Classical Music.[1] (Hyderabad, Telangana, India).

2015 October 22 (Performance)

Performed in Sathya Sai Grama during their Athi Rudra Maha Yagnam, along with Navarathri celebrations at Muddenahalli (Karnataka, India).[2]

2013 NOVEMBER 21 (Performance)

Performed during SRI SATHYA SAI BABA's 88th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION at PRASHANTHI NILAYAM [3] (Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh, India).[4]

October 2013 (Nomination)

One of the top 5 Best Devotional Song Singers by the Recording Industry Association of Malaysia (RIM) for the 1st Anugerah Industri Music (AIM) Indian Music Awards 2013.

2006 JANUARY 01 (Invitation)

Performed in the 79th Annual Conference of THE MUSIC ACADEMY (Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India).[5]

2005 NOVEMBER 12 (Performance)

Performed during the 32nd National Festival (Shirdi, North India) SPIRIT of UNITY CONCERTS for UNIVERSAL INTEGRATION COMMITEE.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.deccanchronicle.com/151128/entertainment-tvmusic/article/‘connecting-through-music’
  2. ↑ http://saivrinda.org/updates/day-10-evening-proceedings-of-athi-rudra-maha-yagna-navarathri-homa-and-durga-puja/
  3. ↑ http://www.theprasanthireporter.org/2013/11/chiu-sens-carnatic-concert-and-sssihms-anniversary/
  4. ↑ http://www.deccanchronicle.com/131122/news-current-affairs/article/malaysian-chiu-sen-enthrals-carnatic-music
  5. ↑ http://www.thestar.com.my/story/?file=%2F2006%2F8%2F7%2Fmusic%2F14744548&sec=music
  1. ↑ "I have no words to explain the feeling I had when I set my foot down from my bicycle by her house compound. The moment I stepped into her house, tears started rolling down my cheeks. I felt a sense of belonging and that this is where I was meant to be. As I set my very first sight upon her, I bursted out in tears. I felt that I have met her before. That feeling is so dear. I believe that we had a connection, a certain bond in my previous birth. Her loving aura and loving smile was just like my Lord Sathya Sai Baba. I just couldn't control my tears due to this Divine Love from Her through Him!" said Chiu Sen.
  2. ↑ "The beauty of learning from Gayathri Sundararaman akka is that we both share the same love for our beloved Guru and Grandmother D. K. Pattammal." - Chong Chiu Sen
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