Shri Embar Kannan - Violin
Shri Patri Satishkumar - Mridangam
Shri R Raman - Morsing
Technology is bridging the distance and today the world has definitely got a lot closer. So thanks to whatsapp and Skype, I enjoy the Margazhi Utsavam and attend most of the evening concerts sitting miles away in USA thanks to my friends who diligently call me and let me enjoy most of the MA concerts (because that is the only auditorium where the audio balancing is good)
Here is the songlist
Mathe - Khamas - Varnam - Adi - muttiah Bhagavathar
Sri Jalandhara - Gambeera Nattai - Adi - Jayachamara Wodeyar - Swaram
Sabapathikku Vera Daivam - Abhogi - Roopakam - Gopalakrishna Bharathi - Neraval in Charanam
Nee Valayinche - Chaya Ranjani - Adi - GNB - R,S
Mariyada Gadaiyya - Bhairavam - Adi - Thyagaraja
Narasimhagacha - Mohanam - Misra Chapu - Dikshithar - R,N,S
Chandrachooda - Ragamalika - Adi - Purandaradasa
Matsya Kurma Varaha Vamana Narasimha Parasurama Rama Balarama Krishna Kalki Dasavathara - Natakapriya-RTP - Misra Jathi Triputa (Purvangam in Chatusra Nadai and Utharangam in Misra Nadai)
Eppadi Paadinaro - Karnataka Devagandhari - Adi - Suddhanandha Bharathi
Thillana - Ragashree - Lalgudi Jayaraman
If I may describe this concert is single word then it can be called marvelous. Smt Sudha Ragunathan was in fine form yesterday evening and set the ball rolling right from the word go.
She started off with the ever popular Khamas varnam. Khamas is one of my favorites and that set the mood of the concert. Being Arudra darisanam and also the centenary year of Jayachamara Wodeyar she sang a krithi composed by him on lord shiva. The kalpana swaram was sung in the charnam at ‘Gambeera Nattai’. The electrifying swaram raised the expectation of the concert. She began the next song from the Anu pallavi. I must mention I am a big fan of gopalakrishna Bharathi and the way she emotively sang the song brought tears in my eyes. Another Arudra darisanam special if I may say. She did a soulful neraval at the charanam ‘Oru dharam chidamabran sonnal pothume’
GNB school is known for handling rare ragas and Smt Sudha’s Guru MLV has enthralled rasikas by singing RTPs in many rare ragas. Smt Sudha followed her gurus footsteps and sang Chaya Ranjani a ragam invented by the doyen GNB sir. This ragam was handled well bringing out the aesthetics of the ragam and the haunting krithi Nee Valayinche was rendered with ease. The fading notes of the ragam echoed in the ears of the listener and hardcore GNB rasikas were thrilled to hear such a fine rendition.
After a filler in Bhairavam, majestic Mohanam was taken up for elaboration. It was 5PM when she started. I must credit the artist for superb planning because this would have given her enough time to sing both the main and rtp leisurely. Coming back to Mohanam, she truly showcased her vidwat while effortlessly cascading through the notes in all the octaves. The veteran showcased her manodharma during the alapana and her unhurried approach brought out the beauty of the classic ragam. After hearing some zillion thodis this year at the academy, her raga choices was a breath of fresh air for the rasikas. Embar matched up to her classic rendition and thumbs up to this seasoned violinist.
The grand dikshithar krithi was taken up and surprised few mamas who were humming evarura and nannu palimpa when the violinist finished the ragam. They should have known that she is a master in throwing surprises.
. Neraval was taken up in the charanam and her mathematical expertise during kalpana swarams was showcased. Her exchanges with Embar was simply Mind boggling and she was enjoying it for sure. Both tried to match up each other and at the end it was the rasikas who were treated with high quality music. She didn’t give tani in this piece and proceeded to a beautiful dasar pada a ragamalika set to tune by her guru.
She then went on to deliver an outstanding ragam
in Natakapriya. Skillfully presented, her Raga elaboration had the right proportion of brighas, long notes and some beautiful patterns bringing out the essence of the ragam. She showcased charukesi while doing Sruthi Bedham which of course can termed as her schools asset. Embar’s returns were sedate and there was a sense of proportion not taking the efforts of the main artist and at the same time showcasing his skills too. After Embar finished his elaboration he immediately took up the Tanam and Smt Sudha continued from that point.
I thought it was novel idea to link the 10the melakartha ragam to the ten avatars of lord Vishnu. Her technical prowess was seen during the pallavi rendition and she rendered the pallavi with utmost confidence.. she sang ten ragas in the ragamalika and the ragams included Hamsanandhi, Reethigowla, Arabhi, Rasikapriya, Hamsadhwani, hindolam, Vasantha, tilang, kamboji and madhyamavati.
She sang the ragams in reverse order and finished it off with natakapriya. She wound up her concert with two brisk pieces.
Tani was played during the RTp and a big bale to Patri and Raman. If you would have noticed through my write up didn’t mention about his accompaniment. I think a separate paragraph is needed for the percussionists of the day. Patri elevated the concert to a whole new level while accompanying each krithi witout obstructing the main vocalist, same with Raman. The gumkis and the subtle touches that Patri gives enhances the rendition and the vocalist gave a big sabash every now and then.
Overall my holiday season started on a bright note
and the Sangita Kalanidhi gave a stellar concert.