SHERTALLAI RANGANATHA SARMA IN MUSIC ACADEMY (MINI) HALL-6/3/19

[CRama]

Dr. Shertallai Ranganatha Sarma presented a Syama Sastry special concert in the Kastruri Srinivasan Hall of the Music Academy at 6 PM duly supported by S.Varadarajan on the Violin and Shertallai Ananthakrishnan on the Mridangam. List of songs.

• Mahilo Amba Neethu Mahima- Anandabhairavi (S)
• Neelayadakshi- Paras
• Kamakshi naato vada- Begada (R,S)
• Parakela nannu- Kedaragowla
• Janani Natajana paripalini- Saveri (R,N,S)
• Tani
• Parvathy ninnu ne- Kalgada
• Devibrova samayamithe- Chintamani- (R)

Ranganatha Sarma is a safe bet for unhurried music bringing out the core values of unadulterated music without resorting to an iota of gimmickry. Each one of his concerts reinforces my conviction about the purity of his music. Two days back, his music for the Sivarathri was also on the same lines.

Not all the compositions of Syama sastry have attained stage popularity. The kritis have heavy bhakthi oriented intense telugu sahithyam- mostly pleading to Mother Kamakshi to protect him, many in Mishra chapu talam and who has employed the swara sahithya format in many of his compositions. The three swarajatis alone stand tall among the all time great compositions of Carnatic Music. It is difficult to present an all Syama sastry kritis concert and sustain audience interest throughout as all he compositions are in vilamba kalam and the musician can not have the liberty of tempo variation within a concert. Ranganatha Sarma, with his sincerity, vidwat, devotion, adherence to the authentic patanthara and due support from the pakkavadyams conducted the concert in a highly aesthetic manner.

The opening song in Anandabhairavi and the main song n Saveri are very rare compositions to appear in a concert. The song in Anandabhairavi was decorated with kalpana swaras in two kalams. The raga alapanas of Begada and Saveri were succinct, following the characteristic pidis of the ragam, revealing the multi hued colours of the ragams. The Begada composition Kamakshi used to be sung by Vijaya Siva. I have not heard from any other musician. The song Parakela is very much passed as a Syama Sastry kriti- but I have heard in two lec dems that it is a composition of one Kakinada Krishnaswamy Iyer. Neverthless the song has entered into the hearts of rasikas and will remain there. The Saveri kriti Janani Natajanaparipalini is supposed to be the first composition of Syama sastry- Ranganatha Sarma announced. I have heard elsewhere also. The raga alapana of Chintamani for the song Devi brova was captivating as also the kriti. The concert had an abrupt ending- at sharp 8 PM. The concert could have ended with Kanakasaila viharini- and Kamakshi Loka sakshi in Madhyamavati or Karuna joodu in Sree ragam- a matter of another 10 minutes. The house full audience would happily sit through the entire concert. But it is Academy and they are strict with the timings. They could have given two and half hours for the concert as it is given for the season concerts in the evening.

S. Varadarajan was simply outstanding in his raga alapanas and swara returns. The pleasing tone, thick and thin shades, proportion and manodharmam got revealed abundantly and lifted the concert remarkably. Ananthakrishnan was a strong support in his Mridangam in following for the kritis and during the thani avarthanam. An excellent concert for two hours.

[rajeshnat]

The house full audience would happily sit through the entire concert. But it is Academy and they are strict with the timings. They could have given two and half hours for the concert as it is given for the season concerts in the evening.

Academy mini hall in a non season over the last 15 years is strictly 2 hours . I thought the start of 6pm can push to 2 and half . But they did not give time . I have personally attended IIRC one of GV and another by Vijayalakshmy subramaniam of exclusive SS krithis , atleast we can have more content with a swarajathi as a submain and may be a Palinchu kamAkshi or say a rare thamizh eeneramum un namam in poorvikalyani. But with 2 hours this is all we get. Thank you Crama for your lovely review. I had No chance to make it to this concert on this particular working day.

[Sivaramakrishnan]

I too attended the above concert organised by the Music Academy under the endowment of Alibhoy Haiderbhoy Chitalawala Charitable Trust - a name which I was hearing for the first time. The first impression was perhaps the best impression going by the theme and a refreshing recital by Sharma.

CRama and Vijay Siddharth were the other rasikas forumites I could meet at the venue.

1. When Renganatha Sarma sang swaraprastara at the Pallavi for the Anandabhairavi kriti, I felt whether the opening piece needed swaras but soon realised he had a point to demonstrate. The pallavi starts with a plain Madhyama note (also a swarakshara)and it is not that easy to frame swaras for Anandabhairavi with take off at a plain Ma. It is usually the Panchama or Shadja that eanables a comfortable eduppu for most Anandabhairavi kritis. (Manasa guruguha / Pahitarakshupuralaya / Tyagarajayogavaibhavam). Sharma as well as Varadarajan ended the swara links with Ga for a suitable link to Mahilo. A good attempt at it.

2. Sharma sang the kalagada kriti Parvathi Ninnu with the suddha dhavata scale. (Chatushruti dhaivatha variant is also prevalent).

3.Well, Renganatha sharma could have concluded with at least a Madhyamavathi raga refrain if not a kriti! But it was overall a very pleasing recital. A beaming Mrs Mohana Sharma who recently qualified for a Ph D in music from the Madurai Kamaraj Univertsity was also present. His daughter - a student of the advanced school of music of the Academy-played the Tambura. Vocal support was provided by Sharma's son.

I remebered the Tamil film song "Nalladhoru Kudumbam, Palkalai kazhagam''

[sureshvv]

Has he moved to Chennai? Seeing a lot more of him on stage of late. Hope that is the case.

[CRama]

Yes. He has taken retirement and shifted to Chennai. Good for us aswe can hear him very often.