Injikkudi E M Subramaniyam: Nagaswaram: 15.01.2016 at SKGS

[Sivaramakrishnan]

Injikkudi E M Subramaniyam: Nagaswaram: 15.01.2016 at
Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, T Nagar, Chennai
28th Pongal Nagaswara Isai Vizha 15-17 Jan 2016

Day 1: 15.01.2016
Injikkudi E M Subramaniyam: Nagaswaram
Support: Pollachi M Chandrasekaran
Pondicherry Saravanan &
Gangaikondacholapuram Sudarsan : Tavil
Sruti 2 kattai
(6.15-8.45 p.m.) Audience strength around 100

SKGS has been organising the Pongal Nagaswara Isai Vizha religiously for the past several years and it has turned out to be a landmark event in the carnatic calendar - thanks to the visionary Sri.Yagnaraman who wanted to reinforce patronage for melam as an integral part of Carnatic music.
The 3 day series features 3 concerts a day starting on Pongal day. The prime slot is at 6.15 p.m. with two afternoon slots at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Being the birthday of Thanjavur Sankara Iyer (TSI) from whom Subramaniyam has been taking lessons most kritis played were of the contemporary Vaaggeyakaara.

Kritis:
1. Sobhillu Saptaswara: Jaganmohini: T
2. ManatthunaiNaatharai -Jayanthasri-Aadi-TSI
3. Muruga Tirumalmaruga-Harikambodhi-TSI
4. Ranjani Mridupankaja lochani -Ragamalika-TSI
5. Unnai Nambinen Ayya-Keeravani-Aadi-Muthuthandavar
6. Manadirkkugandhadu-Sindhubhairavi-TSI
7. Tullumadhavetkai (Thiruppugazh) Hamsanandi
followed by a brief Madhyamavati aalaapana as Mangalam

(After the concert, I talked to Sri Injikkudi Subramaniyam to get information on the rare kritis / sahitya passages etc especially for (2) and (5) and he was kind enough to give lot of valuable details)

Sobhillu in a superfast tempo gave a racy start to the concert. I was reminded of legendary TN Rajaratnam Pillai’s rendering of Yochana Kamalalochana (Durbar). The intricate kalpanaswaras for the Pallavi saw me at the ‘edge of the seat’.

The rare composition of TSI in Jayantasri was very good and the Swaraprastaara was well executed. Injikkudi wove beautiful kalpanaswara patterns for Pallavi. (I have heard MLV rendering elaborate kalpana swaras for Marugelara). The kriti ManatthunaiNaatharai is on Lord Siva of Valivalam temple. The Vidwan told me that this kriti may not be available in print.

Muruga Tirumalmaruga is a delight in Harikambodhi and presented leisurely with extreme care on the lyrical aspect. Of course many felt that a brief aalaapana could be an icing on the cake.

A calm and composed aalaapana of Ranjini was only a prelude to the celebrated Chatur Ranjani maala and kriti was rendered with lot of reverence to established sangati-s (eg. embellishments at Manjubhashini (Sreeranjani). While he muted the panchama note in the e sruti box for aalaapana, pallavi, sreeranjani & megharanjani he ensured to restore it for Janaranjani – the only raga with panchama in the ragamalika -so subtly and beautifully!

The ‘main’ was a brilliant Keeravani with adequate meandering on the upper sthaayi during raga delineation. Swaraprastaara with different nadais and katthari patterns was for the charana passage ‘mazhuvidai dharittha ayya’.

The tani was a beautiful extension of the swaraprastaara and Sri Saravanan & Sudarsan (both left handers) gave entertaining and educative kuraippu patterns in tisra and khanda to a smooth finale. They were extremely decibel disciplined that made listening to Tani a pleasure. Luckily none increased the volume for the tani segment!

A laid-back aalaapana of sindhubhairavi of course with a couple of Shehnai pidi-s was followed up with the mesmerising TSI kriti Manadirkkugandhadu murugan roopam. Absolute loyalty to the lyrical content was evident throughout.

The brisk thiruppugazh and a meditative madhyamaavati brought the concert to a serene conclusion. I was happy to have forumite CRama for valuable company on the auspcious day!

It was however a bit disappointing that few Carnatic leading Vidwans could be spotted among the audience. Those who hail the significance of nagaswara music must attend melam in large numbers.

Nagawrara concerts give lot of fillip to the melam artists as there is intended/ ‘serious’ listening in contrast to festival occasions where listeners’ attention is much distracted. Taking cue from KGS is Brahma Gaana Sabha organising a Nagaswara isai vizha in the recent years just after the ‘ December season’.

[CRama]

Krishna Gana Sabha and Brahma Gana Sabha deserve our appreciation and gratitude for arranging Nagawara Isai vizha. At least once in a year we get the opportunities to hear very good Nagaswaram concerts. And Injikudi is on the top. Yesterday's concert was excellent. Ranjani and Keeravani alapanas were very expansive and imaginative. The alapana of Sindubhairavi was Bismillaish which we normally expect from Injikudi and he never disappoints us in this genre. We could hear many new songs as well. Only the racy start of Jaganmohini did not appeal to me as there was no clarity in the swaras because of the speed. My company with Sivarmakrishnan made the pleasure double fold.

Injikudi concert in Pethachi Hall for Brahma Gana Sabha on 23 Jan. Don't miss it.

Thanks Sivaramakrishnan for the comprehensive review. Kudos to your efforts in contacting Injikudi and getting correct information about the rare kritis.

[Rsachi]

Sri Siva ramakrishnan, thank you for a flavoursome review! Glad to know Sri Injukudi preferred Tavil accompaniment. I feel mridangam and violin cannot supplant the mood created by Tavil.

[Sivaramakrishnan]

Yes, Rsachi. I too can't enjoy Nagaswara with Violin and mridangam for accompaniment.

[CRama]

In this series of Nagaswara Vizha organised by KGS and Brahma Gana Sabha, it is always full melam- Nagaswaram with tavil.

[CRama]

Today again Injikudi Subramaniam is performing in KGS at 6.15 PM. A very rare instance of same artiste performing twice in the same series.

So he is at par with Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sanjay Subramaniam who used to give two concerts in Brahma Gana Sabha every year.

To quote a few earlier instances, KVN performed twice in Navarathri Mandapam once due to the sudden demise of Alathur Sreenivasa Iyer. There is another instance of Sathur Subramaniam performing twice in Navarathri Mandapam in a year.

[Sivaramakrishnan]

Thanks CRama for the old stories.
I remember having attended both concerts of Sathur at the Mandapam that year. Interestingly he sang the kalyani kriti 'Saarasasuvadana mahaneeyacharita' on both the days with aalaapana and swaras. It was one of his favourites. A highly religious person, he used to perform Sandhyaavandanam at the Bhajanapura palace before proceeding to the Mandapam for the concert. His large kadukkans would glitter in the light from the oil lamps during the concert. Just divine.
"Taruni njaan' (dwijaavanti) was his favourite padam.

[CRama]

On discussion with Nageswaran Sir, who discussed with Injikudi regarding his second concert, it came to light that the information given in the HINDU dated 20 Jan was wrong. And that was the basis for my post. Anyhow, that brought to light some old stories of Navarathri Mandapam involving KVN and Sathur!

[Sivaramakrishnan]

Quite interesting, CRama!