Guruthvam

I have my questions. Always did. So I asked Ratheesh - I find these carnatic keerthanas to be so much more demanding than smule songs. Does that imply that if I am a worthwhile carnatic student, who does his practices and takes his craft sincerely, would I be able to cake walk through film songs?

When you started off before taking these lessons, you used to think you were pretty good. And you were not, and you have come a long way. And you have a very very long way to go further as well. Film songs are not cake walks. Perfection in them does take a lot. 

So I asked for my pitfalls when I am receptive, and he said he tends to be blatant and would not give real feedback to anyone other than his daughter. 

And then he said.. let me tell you one more thing..

When I was going for carnatic classes, I used to leave home at 7 7:30 in the morning, take a bus halfway, and then walk for 2-3 kilometers. The class is supposed to start at 9:00 AM. I will be at the class at 8:45 AM. And the master would sometimes come in late at 10:45 AM or so. 

Some weeks, he would not even show up.  So I would sit from 8:45 to 10:45 or so, and then I would be told that the master is unable to come today.  I would say OK and I would leave. The same cycle would repeat for next two three weeks. And on the forth week, I would get the actual class. 

In all these weeks, while walking to the class, and while coming back without having any food, hungry, I would be practicing all the lessons from the beginning to the portion that I just learned. This penance and reverence for my Guru is what led to my success.