Mridangam Arangetram of Manish Subramanian Mahadevan, student of Sarvalaghu Percussion Art Center, Aug 2018

[Kritika]

The Mridangam Arangetram of Chi. Manish Subramanian Mahadevan, student of Laya Kala Ratna Sri Ramesh Srinivasan of Sarvalaghu Percussion Art Center, was conducted on August 11th, 2018, at Dakshinamurthy Auditorium, PS High School, Mylapore, Chennai.

Concert was performed by:
Carnatica Brothers Sri. K.N. Shashikiran and Sri. P. Ganesh (Vocal)
Sri. B.V. Raghavendra Rao (Violin)
Chi. Manish S. Mahadevan (Mridangam)
Sri. S.V. Ramani (Ghatam)

The event was presided over by Padhma Bhushan awardee, Sangeetha Kalanidhi, Bharat Sangeeth Samrat Sri. T.N. Seshagopalan. Special Distinguished Guest was Dr. Yella Venkateswara Rao, Padma Shri awardee and Asthana Vidwan of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. Dr. Premeela Gurumurthy, Vice Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Music and Fine Arts University was the Chief Guest and Dr. R. Kannan IAS (Retd.), Former Additional Chief Secretary to Tamil Nadu Government was the Guest of Honor. Cleveland Sri V.V. Sundaram, Violin sisters Lalitha and Nandini, relatives and friends graced the occasion and blessed Manish.

Sri. Ramesh Srinivasan is the leading disciple of Mridangam Maestro Sangita Kalanidhi Sri. Vellore G. Ramabhadran. Manish, aged 15, is a high schooler in Burlingame, California and has been learning from Sri. Ramesh Srinivasan.

Order of songs in the concert:

1. Vanajaksha Varnam, Reethi Gowlai Ragam, Khanda Jathi Ata Thalam, by Sri. Veenai Kuppaiyer
2. Chinna Naadena, Kalanidhi Ragam, DeshAdi Thalam, by Sri. Thyagaraja
3. Ardhanareeshwaram, Kumudakriya Ragam, Rupaka Thalam, by Sri. Muthuswamy Dikshidar
4. Enna Punniyam Seiydhayo, Huseni Ragam, Mishra Chapu Thalam, by Sri. Shivanamayogi
5. Shri Dhakshinamurthe, Shankarabharanam Ragam, Misra Jampa thalam, by Sri. Muthuswamy Dikshidar (Mridangam Thani Avartanam 1)
6. Ambaparadevathe, Rudhrapriya Ragam, Khanda Chapu Thalam, by Sri. Krishnasami Ayya
7. Main song – Saragunapaalimpa, Kedaragowla Ragam, Adi Thalam (Retta Kalai), by Sri. Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar (Mridangam Thani Avartanam 2)
8. Ragam Thanam Pallavi – Sabhapathi, Keeravani Ragam, Khanda Jathi Thiruputa Thalam (one akshara eduppu), (Mridangam Thani Avartanam 3)
9. Tillana – Nadhr dhim, Hamsanandam Ragam, Misra Chapu Thalam, by Sri. Chitraveena N. Ravikiran
10. Harivarasanam Viswamohanam, Madhyamavati Ragam, Adi Thalam, by Kambangudi Kulathur Srinivasa Iyer
11. Neethathuvam aaghi (Thirupughazh), Sankeerna Chapu Thalam, by Sri. Arunagirinathar

Sharing a review received from an attendee:

The concert started off with the beautiful Khanda Jathi Ata Thala Varnam. Manish closely followed the Charanam and Chitaswarams on the Mridangam, adding impact to the Varnam. The Varnam was followed by the Desadi Krithi, Chinnanadena, by Saint Thyagaraja in one of the Ekaika ragams, Kalanidhi. The kalapramanam chosen for the krithi was apt for the placement of that song in sequence. It was very well supported by Manish in the Sarvalaghu style. This was followed by the Dikshidar krithi in Kumudakriya, Ardhanareeswaram. The expressive short raga sketch by Sri. Ganesh showing all the nuances of the raga was particularly enjoyable. The Niraval at ‘Agamadi Sannutham’ for the Roopaka Thala Krithi followed by Kalpana swarams by Sri. Shashikiran and Sri. Ganesh at all octaves, equally guided and supported by Sri. B.V. Raghavendra Rao, was delightful to the ears.

Manish’s prowess in accompanying for Vilamba Kala Krithis was clearly seen in the Shivanamayogi’s Huseini krithi in Misra Chappu, Enna Punyam Seithayo. This was followed by Muthuswami Dikshithar’s krithi Sri Dakshinamurthe in Sankarabharanam set to Misra Jampa Thalam which was very well accompanied in the right kalapramanam by Manish. This krithi was well suited for this occasion, invoking the blessings of the Guru. It was very befitting, since the concert venue was the Dakshinamurthy Auditorium. Manish performed his first Thani avartanam of the concert for this song. The thani had chathusram and khanda nadais. It began with two chathusram korvais. He then transitioned into Khanda nadai. He played two khanda nadai korvais which blended chathusram and khanda nadais in order to reach the ara atheetha eduppu. Vidwan Sri S.V. Ramani provided great complementary support on the ghatam with amazing dexterity which enhanced the whole experience.

The next khanda chapu krithi chosen was Ambaparadevathe, a rare krithi in the ragam Rudrapriya composed by Krishnaswami Ayya. Manish’s energetic involvement in the concert was conveyed through his careful focus on the singers. This song, which marked a change of pace for the concert, was matched very well by Manish. Sri. Ramani’s guidance and support on the Upapakkavadyam was evident in the concert.

The main Krithi chosen for the concert was SaragunaPalimpa in 2 Kalai Adi thalam composed by Poochi Srinivasa Ayyangar. Sri. Ganesh and Sri. Raghavendra Rao’s elaborate alapana of Kedara Gowla was brilliant. Sri. Ramesh’s training on how to match the energy levels of the singers was displayed by Manish in every song. Manish also demonstrated his knowledge of the song by closely following the singers on the chittaswaram. Challenges presented in the intertwined nadais in Kalpana swarams was very well received and accompanied with the ease of a professional mridangam artist.

This was followed by the highlight of the day, the main Thani avartanam. It was done for the samam eduppu at ‘Shatadruthi poojitha’. The Thani featured three nadais - chathusram, tisram and misram each individually played by both percussionists. The thani began with a chathusra nadai korvai. Manish’s skills in konnakol was also demonstrated by saying the abhiprayam for a chathusram thisram nadai korvai followed by playing it in Mridangam. Following that, thrikalam was played in thisram keezh kalaam and melkaalam and chathusram keezh kalam and mel kalam. This served as a transition into the thisram portion which also consisted of a korvai. This was followed by misra nadai korvai and misra korraippu. The exchange between the mridangam and ghatam during the Thani was delightful to witness. The Thani ended with a power packed mohra and korvai which was very well applauded by the audience.

Next was the RTP in ragam Keeravani set to Khanda Jathi Triputa thalam. Ragalapana and fast Thanam phrases by singers and violinist added vigor to the concert. Manish matched the speed of the singers for Kalpana swarams in varying kalams. The brilliant korvais with nadai changes presented by the Carnatica Brothers in Ragamalika swarams was very well responded to by Manish. This was also followed by a short and crisp Thani with a prelude where Manish recited the Pallavi in trikalam. The final korvai was a combination of thisram and chathusram nadais. The first two rounds of the korvai was played in thisram, the final round was played in chathusram which culminated perfectly to the ara edduppu.

Final pieces for the concert included a Thillana in Hamsanadam composed by Chitraveena Shri N. RaviKiran and the soothing Harivarasanam, the ashtakam which is recited at Sabarimala before closing the temple door every night. The concert ended with a soulful rendition of Thirupugazh.

The distinguished guests blessed Manish during their speeches. Padmabushan awardee, Sri T.N. Seshagopalan, recalled his multiple interactions with Sri Ramnad Eswaran (Manish’s great grandfather). He quoted the famous Tamil epic, ‘Kambaramayanam’, to describe how the accompaniment should resonate with the singer like two small children hugging each other. He felt Manish’s accompaniment was of that caliber depicted in the sarvalaghu style in an easy manner (‘Sarvalaghu style - sarvamum laghu’). He stated Manish’s intrinsic talent had blossomed thanks to the expert tutelage of guru, Sri Ramesh Srinivasan. He wished that Manish would become an established Mridangam artist across the Atlantic.

Padmashree awardee, Dr. Yella Venkateswara Rao recalled his association with many great artists and praised Manish’s intrinsic Mridangam skills and felt his thalam and layam were very good.

Dr. Premeela Gurumoorthy reminisced about her first Music Academy performance in Chennai with Sri Ramesh Srinivasan accompanying her on the Mridangam. She was very impressed with the Konnakol recital and Manish’s polished performance.

Dr. R. Kannan felt Manish’s performance was one of an established artist and wished him very well in his future academic and musical career.

The link to the concert videos is provided below.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... Yddrz4hdoV

[rajeshnat]

Kritika,
Kudos to Manish performance,are we going back to chembai bhagavathar arengatram days where there is 2 to 3 rounds of tani. Appears another student of Ramesh is giving an arangetram.Best wishes for Manish to become the california nadhabadran.

[bhasi]

Thanks for the excellent review and the video playlist!

[Kritika]

Thank you so much for your kind words and good wishes for Manish. We hope and pray that with God's grace, Guru's and elders' blessings, Manish will be able to continue learning and performing this great art form.