ஆவண விவரிப்பு│Archive description
Mira Thiruchelvam (மீரா திருச்செல்வம்) is a Tamil woman born and grown up in Norway. She along with her sister and two Norwegian friends started a music band, called 9 grader nord. The flute is her main instrument, but also guitar and Cajon. She writes songs in Tamil and wears a saree at the stage events. She talks about their musical journey. Tamil culture and Tamil society. Memories, experiences and challenges of being a Tamil woman and doing a music band.
Title: Mira Thiruchelvam: Norwegian-Tamil music band in Norway
Creator: DsporA Tamil Archive
Subject: Tamil woman starts a music band, 9 grader nord.
Contributor – an oral history: Mira Thiruchelvam. Bergen, Norway. 31.12.2020.
Contributor – interviewer: Baheerathy Kumarendiran. Oslo, Norway.
Contributor – the logger: Baheerathy Kumarendiran. Oslo, Norway. 02.01.2021.
Last updated log: Baheerathy Kumarendiran. Oslo, Norway. 28.02.2021.
Format: Video (TEAMS)
Type: Oral history
Identifier: https://youtu.be/MYaS4EktC1o
Language: Tamil
Rights: DsporA Tamil Archive and the narrator have shared copyright to the oral history interview.
Relation: Cite this oral history archival material according to the appropriate referencing style.
Reference code: 511.1_20_02-08
வாய்மொழி வரலாறு பதிவு│Oral History log (PDF)
Note: Time codes in this log starts at oral history interviewee´s answer.
1:1 (31.12.2020 – 01:02:39)
| 00:00:00 | Start |
| 00:00:09 | Introduction |
| 00:00:23 | Personalia. Mira Thiruchelvam – மீரா திருச்செல்வம். 26 years old. Bergen. Parents. Migration. War. Father. Flute. Mentor. Tamil culture. Speak in Tamil. Sister. Music band. Tour. Music album. |
| 00:02:10 | Education. Molecular biology. Bachelors. Pedagogy. |
| 00:03:19 | Music band. Many factors. Situations. Parents. Upbringing. Free space. Independency. Integration. Ambitious. 13 years old. |
| 00:04:50 | Music journey. Father as the instructor. 8 years old. Starting flute. Songs. India. Canada. Family visits. Private classes. No interest. No dividend. Not ready. 12 years old. YouTube. CDs. Own approach. அரங்கேற்றம் – arrangetram – the debut. Carnatic stage events. Oslo. Bergen. Side Instrumental. 15 years. Real interest. |
| 00:07:12 | Creating a music band. Sister. Rejection. Videregående Skole – High School. Classmate. Norwegians. Drum. Classmate´s mother. Classmate´s friend. Bass guitar. |
| 00:08:33 | Music band members. Self-taught. Experience. Musicians. |
| 00:08:50 | Edit. |
| 00:08:53 | First idea. Presentation. Music band members. Own composed. Computer. Bass guitar. Drums. Different. Didn’t understand. Response. |
| 00:10:28 | Vocal. Optional. Flute. Main instrument. Guitar. Cajon. |
| 00:11:09 | Idea taking shape. Difficult process. Already in another music band. Economy. Earn profit. Booking management. Patience. |
| 00:12:31 | Purpose. No purpose. Focused on music. Importance. Realized. Integration. Rights of women. Tamil culture. Stage event. Responsibility. Effect. |
| 00:13:51 | Responsibility. Exotic. Diaspora. Tamil culture. Moral. Marketing strategy. Identity. Minorities. Saree. Signal. Symbolic. Competence. Fearless. |
| 00:15:53 | Music tour. No foreign countries. Inland. Norwegian audience. Norway. Variety of audience. Clubs. Den Kulturelle Skolesekken – DKS. The Cultural Schoolbag. Schools. Small children. Teenagers. Elderly. Festivals. Positive. Respect. Weird. Create contacts and bonds. No compromise. Villages. Norwegian. North-Norway. Trondheim. Victoria song. Norwegians sing Victoria song in Tamil. Proud. |
| 00:18:31 | Challenges. Audience. Satisfy the audience. Late night. Club. Alcohol. Adjust. Happy. Dance. Tamil songs. Convey a message. |
| 00:20:14 | Music communication within the music band. Two Norwegian friends. Carnatic music. New tools. Computer programs. Democratizing. Home studio. Tracks. Play by listening. Positive. Advantages. |
| 00:21:37 | Tamil society. Response to the music band. Lack of reach. Lack of attendance. Absorption. Difficult. Doubtful. Many Ilankai (Sri Lankan) Tamil music composers. Sad. Indian Tamil Music. No interest. No support. Diaspora Tamil composers. |
| 00:23:48 | Norwegian mainstream. Bergen BRAK. Music interest organisation. Management. Manager. Contacts. Booking agent. Act booking company. Creating contacts. NRK Trygdekontor. Norwegian national broadcasting. Dialogue. Symphony orchestra. Norwegian Music market. |
| 00:25:46 | BRAK. Interest organisation for musicians. Help and guidance. Application. Export and distribute music. |
| 00:26:48 | Music industry system in Tamil society. Individuals. Support. Flute. “arrangetram”. Tamil music organisation. |
| 00:27:47 | Woman or minority. The Norwegian music industry. Liberal. Cultural equality. Acceptance. No cultural obstacle. |
| 00:28:18 | Woman challenges. The Norwegian music industry. Debate. Woman rights. Space. Women composer. Lack of trust. Boys. Technical. Monitor sounding. Underestimate. Woman professional. Lack of understanding. |
| 00:29:37 | Tamil programs. Ilankai (Sri Lankan) Tamils respect youngsters. Artists from India underestimate youngsters. Young Tamil woman. Under their shadow. Expectation. Norwegian culture. Inclusion. Opinions. Indian music culture. |
| 00:30:42 | Many questions. Restrictions. Tamil culture. Tamil women. Touring with boys. Coming and staying alone. Companion. Staying with boys. |
| 00:31:47 | Indian music artists. “Arrangetrams”. Oslo. Bergen. Cultural differences. Pay respect. Obey. |
| 00:32:50 | Handling challenges. Parents support. Solution. Lack of experience. |
| 00:33:45 | Handle a challenging situation. Man explaining. Showing knowledge. Talking around. Accept. Men culture. Collective discussion of the idea. Share ideas and experiences. Talks about technical stuff. Women lack technical talks. Self-taught. YouTube. Gain knowledge. |
| 00:35:30 | Interest in Tamil culture. Use of Tamil culture. Parents. Communicate in Tamil at home. Rule. Upbringing. Lack of friends at school. Shy type. Alone. Confidence in Tamil culture. Natural choice. |
| 00:37:08 | Contribution of Tamil Schools. Important. Bergen Tamils barneskole. First Tamil school in Norway. Tamil teachers. Free teaching methods. Learning through music, drama and play. Tamil culture. Flexibility. Healthy community. Tamil society. Nowadays teaching method. Syllabus and exams. |
| 00:39:28 | Use of Tamil in the mainstream. Direct use challenging. Symbolic value. Diversity. Healthy for Norwegian society. Individual benefit. Society benefit. The direct value of the language. |
| 00:41:00 | Choice of topics in music. First focus on music. Writing lyrics for music. Tamil lyrics. First Tamil lyrics – “Victoria” song. Poet Barathiyar text. No fear for women. Inspiration. Taboo topics in Tamil culture. “Seeni” song. Tamil diaspora lifestyle. “Noor” song. Human greed. Change of attitude. Diaspora Tamil and back home. “Aiyoo” song. Luxurious celebrations. Observations. No deep meaning. No poet. |
| 00:44:03 | Taboo topics in Tamil society. Girlfriend and boyfriend. Homophily. Religion. Hinduism. Menstruation. Debates. Address topics. |
| 00:45:50 | Integration. Life. Halfway through in all languages. No talkative person. Oslo Tamil society. Optional Tamil society in Oslo. Tamil facilities. Availability. Bergen Tamil society. Free Tamil society. Both way of opportunity. Tamil and Norwegian. Free space. Flexibility. Balance. |
| 00:48:23 | Planned pause. |
| 00:48:35 | Balance music and education. Music tour. Study at evening and night. Home exam. |
| 00:49:30 | Politics. Pedagogy. Culture studies. Youngsters and leisure time. Children and youngsters. Leisure time as resourceful. Tamil society. Instrument classes. Tamil school. Beneficial for the future. Beneficial for society. Part-time job. Workshops. Relevant education. |
| 00:51:01 | Migration and war. Unawareness at the start. Tamil migration history. Last 2-3 years. Ignorance. Sad. Minority rights. Ilangai (Sri Lankan) Tamil Music. Contribution. Resources about Ilangai Tamil music. Lack of knowledge. Lack of contact point. Ilangai (Sri Lankan) Tamil music history. Indian Tamil music. Baila music. Folk music. “Pann” music. Interest to know. |
| 00:53:17 | Political awareness. Thought to forgive. Give a new opportunity to Sri Lanka. Historical facts. Sri Lankan state oppression. Treating minorities. Anger. Frustration. Minority politics. Complexity. Tamils and Muslims. Importance of raise of voice. |
| 00:55:01 | Additional. Many opinions and ideas. Tamil society related. Development of Tamil culture in the diaspora. Our tenet and opinion. Our tactics. Re-examination. Now Tamil children learning Tamil. Future. Enjoyment and love for Tamil and Tamil culture. Tamil schools. Created expectations. Advantages and disadvantages. Distanced from Tamils. Why Tamil youngsters do not talk in Tamil. |
| 00:56:58 | Double standards. Young Tamil society. Double life. Alcohol. Girlfriend and boyfriend. Lack of openness. Sadness. |
| 00:58:03 | Playing the flute. |
| 00:59:40 | Jaffna album. Edward award. “Årets utfordrer”. Guitar. |
| 00:59:59 | Edit. |
| 01:00:01 | Playing the flute. Jaffna album. |
| 01:01:06 | Edvard award. Norwegian composers award. Challenger category. Norsk componistforening – Norwegian Society of Composers. Jaffna album. Named the album Jaffna. 9 degrees north from the equator. Favourite city. Parents´ birthplace. The city for Tamil culture. |
| 01:02:23 | End. |
புதுப்பிப்பு│Update: 16.03.2021
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