SHIVKUMAR KRISHNAN IN NGS MINI HALL- 9/11/18

[CRama]

Monthly concert of Charsur.
Accompanists
Vittal Rangan- Violin
Akshay Ananthapadmanabhan-¬Mridangam
H.Prasanna- Ghatam
List of songs.
• Neevenanu- Varnam- Ranjani
• Ganadhipam sathathamasraye - Nata –Dr.BMK (R,S)
• Sabhapathikki- Abhogi- GKB (R,S)
• Bagayanayya- Chandrajothi- T (S)
• Unnai thutikka arul taa- Kunthalavarali-PS (S)
• Talli ninnu nera nammi-Kalyani-SS (R,N,S)
• Thani
• Gulam mere- Dwijavanti
• Mangalam

About the vocalist as given in the pamphlet of Charsur.
Shivkumar Krishnan is a vocalist from Mumbai presently residing in Chennai. He was initiated into music by his father Sri.V.S.Krishnan who is a Mridanga vidwan and subsequently learned basic lessons from Sri. Pallavoor Sankara Bhagavatar in Mumbai. Since the age of 10, he is under the tutelage of Guru J.Venkatraman. Currently he is pursuing his Masters Degree in Music from the University of Madras.

It was a concert that left a lasting impression among the audience. The vocalist was totally new to most of the listeners. In fact I went without any knowledge about the artiste. Because it is sponsored by Charsur, I expected that the vocalist must be capable of providing good music. And he provided a music that far exceeded my expectations.

Shivkumar has a got an endearing voice capable of traversing three octaves with consummate ease which he used very intelligently during the alapanas. Open throated singing, sruti sudham, patantharam, manodharmam, expertise in laya -all contributed to the success of the concert. The varnam in Ranjani is a rare one. Even on googling, I could not get the name of the composer. Neekela dayaradu Sree Kamakshi was the charanam. Some body may do research and bring out the name of the composer.

Two ragams Abhogi and Kalyani were presented well with good imagination and verve and gusto. His alapana style reminded me of Kalyanaraman and TNS for the long akara sangatis and predominantly brigha laded sancharams. Eventhough the kritis conformed to the authentic patantharam, he infused innovative sangatis in them which were much refreshing. In the alapana of Kalyani, the sruti bhedam to Sudha dhanyasi was executed with precision. Elaborate neraval was done at the place Syamakrishna paripalini in the song Talli ninnu nera. In all the songs, the swara prastarams had enough laya pyrotechniques in them which again reminded of TNS.

Vittal Rangan provided very good alapanas and returns. The percussion artistes had good anticipation and support for the complicated swara exercises. The tani was quite engaging.

Shivkumar should get more concert opportunities to showcase his talents. Excellent concert for two hours twenty minutes.

[jignyaasu]

Few Excerpts of the above Kutcheri from the Charsur FB page:

Ganadhipam sathathamasraye - Nata
https://www.facebook.com/CharsurArtsFou ... 154170272/

Bagayanayya- Chandrajothi
https://www.facebook.com/CharsurArtsFou ... 952654424/