VISHNUDEV (NAMBOODIRI) K.S. FOR MUDHRA - 17/12/2020

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CRama
Posts: 2939
Joined: 18 Nov 2009, 16:58

VISHNUDEV (NAMBOODIRI) K.S. FOR MUDHRA - 17/12/2020

Post by CRama »

Accompaniments
B.V.Raghavendra Rao- Violin
Shertallai Ananthakrishnan- Mridangam
N.Rajaraman-Ghatam
List of songs.
• Harikatha sravanamado- Ritigowla- PD (S)
• Sugunamule- Chakravakam-T (N,S)
• Kaalai thookki- Yadukulakambodi- Maarimutha Pillai (R)
• Paramapurusha- Vasantha- ST (S)
• Nidhi chaala sukhama-T (R,N,S)
• Tani avartanam
• Saaramaina- Behag- ST
• Aravinda pada malar- Kapi- Ambujam Krishna
• Mangalam


Vishnudev has become an integral part of the Concert arena since the past few years. This is not a chance achievement. His rigorous training with the doyenne Guru P.S.Narayanaswamy, hard work, dedication, humility, all had contributed to his success in the Chennai music circle. It is not an easy task for a singer from Kerala to establish himself in the Chennai concert circuit. Thrissur Brothers and Vishnudev have achieved that in the recent times. And they are never complacent with their present position. They continue to work hard to achieve greater heights which gets amply reflected in their concerts.

In his concert for Mudhra, Vishnudev chose the Purandaradasa devaranama Harikatha Sravanamado for the start, without any varnam or a customary Vinayaka kriti. I have heard this song from T.R.Subramaniam and Thrissur Ramachandran who always did full justice to the dasar padam. Vishnudev presented the song in all its purity with uncompromising bhavam and decorated with a few rounds of kalpana swarams. The next song Sugunamule was presented in all its glory reminding the many musicians of the bygone era who used to sing this song as number two and infuse weight to the concert with elaborate neraval and kalpana swarams. Vishnudev followed suit and his elaborate neraval on the lines Snaanaadi su karmambulu vedaadhyayanambu leruga was much relishing. His velvetty voice with its amazing range and power negotiated the octaves with considerable ease reaching upto mel panchamam and creating a vast canopy of the ragam and the elaborate swara prastarams were reflection of his vast manodharmam and musical acumen. In a live concert, this neraval and swarams would have created thunderous applause.

Ragam Yadukulakambodi was the first ragam taken up for elaboration and the kriti taken up was Kaalai thooki nindradum deivame, popularised by Bharat Rathna M.S. Subbulakshmi. Here again, he sang his heart out, going to all possible depth and breadth to bring out the raga’s distinct colour without tresspassing its contours, a very relaxed and unhurried alapana focussing on the aesthetics of the raga. There was no swarams for the kriti and it was no shortcoming. The next kriti in Vasantha offered the desired contrast- a brisk rendition appended with a few rounds of sarvalaghu swarams.

The main ragam of the day was Kalyani- as expected- and the kriti chosen was Nidhi chala sukhama. It is a mystery that out of about nineteen kritis in Kalyani composed by Thyagraja, only two kritis – Etavunera and Nidhi chala Sukhma has been the choice of the concert musicians. Coming to this concert, Vishnudev handled the alapana of Kalyani traversing the octaves illuminated by strategic vadi samvadi touches and judiciously used brighas and well rounded gamakams. Strengthened by traditional pidis, the exposition spanned wide vistas of manodharmam complemented by his powerful voice and its reach. The kriti was rendered neatly with all the sangatis in tact and the lines chosen for neraval were Dasaradhi dhyana bhajana sudha rasamu. rucho. The riveting tempo that he maintained and the flow of creative patterns during the neraval as well as kalpanaswaras, pointed towards his amazing musicianship.

A javali in Behag and the Ambujam Krishna composition in Kapi popularised by the Doyenne Semmangudi brought the curtains down.

B.V.Raghavendra Rao, violinist was a great strength to Vishnudev. With admirable thick and thin shades, his alapanas were rich in imagination and his returns much succinct. Ananthakrishnan, on the Mridangam embellished the concert to a great extent. His anticipation and understanding contributed much to the success of the concert. His remarkable thoppi-valanthalai coordination, the patterns he produced on the toppi during the tani avartanam all offered veritable treat. Rajaraman on the Ghatam jelled well with the entire team.

thanjavooran
Posts: 2972
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 04:44

Re: VISHNUDEV (NAMBOODIRI) K.S. FOR MUDHRA - 17/12/2020

Post by thanjavooran »

As usual very elaborate technical write up. Excellent song selection. In his favourte Kalyani
He has justified his vidwath. Many thanx for the review.
Thanjavooran
19 12 2020

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