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Raga Arabi had a great lover in Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer. Some time in 1951, flautist Mali was holding the rasikas riveted to their chairs at a Navarathri concert in Ramakrishna Home in the now Chennai. Mali was at his best, recalled L.Sundaram, one of the foremost disciples of Mali. The veteran flautist was playing a kriti in Raga Kalayani.
All of a sudden, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer trooped into the hall. Mali spotted him as he was entering the hall. An excited Mali suddenly stopped Kalyani and started playing the kriti `Nada Sudha Rasa’ in Raga Arabi. The genius vocalist later went away nodding his head in appreciation. According to Mr.Sundaram, this incident not only brought out the Pitama’s love for Arabi Raga but also underscored the immense respect he had elicited from artistes of all sorts.
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