Sudha Ragunathan - KGS and Parthasarathy Swami Sabha

[revanthv552]

Chennai during the music festival is something else altogether! I have happened to be there for a brief three days and got to attend a couple of concerts. I wanted to share my thoughts about two of Sudha Ragunathan's concerts this week.

December 25, 2018
Sri Krishna Gana Sabha
(accompanied by Sri R K Shriram Kumar, Sri K V Prasad,
forgot to note the upapakkavadyam artists' name (apologies))

1. Nalinakanthi Varnam
2. Endaro Mahanubhavulu-Sri-Tyagaraja
3. Darini Telusukonti - Suddha Saveri - Tyagaraja [S]
4. Seshachalanayakam-Varali-Dikshitar [R,N,S]
5. Eti Yochanalu - Kiranavali - Tyagaraja
6. Srinivasa Tava - Kharaharapriya - Papanasam Sivan [R,N,S,T]
7. Nee Iranga - Atana - Papanasam Sivan
8. RTP - Amruthavarshini
9. Virutham followed by Enna Thavam - Kapi - Papanasam Sivan
10. Ayiram Ayiram - Charukeshi - Nila Ramamurthi
11. Parkadal Alaimele - Ragamalika - Udumalapettai Narayana Kavi

December 27, 2018
(accompanied by Sri Embar Kannan, Sri Sai Giridhar and Sri Raman)

1. Kalyani Ata Tala Varnam
2. Karunanidhiye - Bowli - Papanasam Sivan [S]
3. Palimparavadelara - Arabhi - Pallavi Sesha Iyer
4. Ikanaina Na - Pushpalatika - Tirupati Narayanasami [R,N,S]
5. Arul Seyya - Rasikapriya - Koteeswarayyar
6. Koluvamaregadha - Thodi - Thyagaraja [R,N,S]
7. RTP - Dharmavathi
8. Arumo Aval - Mand - Kannan Aiyangar
9. Ugaboga followed by Hari Smarane Mado - Yaman Kalyani - Purandaradasa
10. Appane Ayyappane - Nadanamakriya - Dr. Krishnaswami Iyengar
11. Brahmammokate - Bowli - Annamacharya [on request]
12. Mangalam


This is the third time in a row that I made it a point to definitely attend her KGS concert, because the spirit of the place just brings out the best in the team that day. The acoustics are beautiful, the ambiance is inspiring and as she shared, the fact that the time slot was MLV amma's earlier, also seems to contributes to the inspiration to the artists. The varnam was rendered with perfection and then someone walked up requesting for "Endaro Mahanubhavulu" Listening to a well presented "Endaro" is a joy in itself. The effect her sangathis had on this grand song enhanced the feel and brought to life the bhavam of the song. The complex sangathis and the kalpanaswarams in "Dharini" were flowing with such ease and beauty. The treatment of the Varali raga was also definitely worth mentioning. Usually one would expect the Varali would lead to "Karunajudavamma" or "Ka Va Va", instead she chose the Dikshitar's master piece with a beautiful neraval and swarams at the classic lines, "Aravinda Patranayanam". After a bright Kharaharapriya and before chits of requests started flowing in, she presented the Amruthavarshini RTP. The pallavi lines were "Madhava Keshava Hare Govinda Nidham Unnai Ninaindhiduven" She presented short rounds of ragamalika swarams in Valaji, Dharmavathi, Brindavana saranga before obliging to the request audience had. Of course, needless to say, the accompanying artist did a stellar job to add to the over-all perfection of the concert.

In Parthasarathy Swami Sabha, the way she presented the Arabhi krithi is worth mentioning. The song in itself is a masterpiece and MLV's rendition of that is just unforgettable. In her simple ways, she played around with sangathis. The Pushpalatika was presented elaborately, the neraval and swarakalpana displayed her vidwath again in handling a raga of this nature. She chose the lines, "Karuninchi Vega Kapadaledha" which seemed more appropriate for a detailed neraval. Personally, her Thodi has a special place in my heart. The last I heard her sing an elaborate Thodi was in 2007 when she performed in Hyderabad. The moment she picked up Thodi, the invisible child in me jumped out of joy in the seat. And what a rendition that was!! The kind of prayogams she had in her alapana demonstrated the depth in her knowledge of the raga. The brigas, the treatment in the higher notes, the phrases just brought the life of the raga! With such ease, she did graha bedham to Suddha Saveri, Mohanam and Hindolam at three different points leading to a round of applause in the hall. She sang the grand, "Koluvamaregadha" and personally I felt she is one of the few artists who sings this song in the right way and does not batter the lyrics. After a detailed neraval and amazing patterns of swaras in different gathis, she moved to a short and a beautiful RTP in Dharmavathi. It was set to Chatusra Ata Talam, the lines were "Parthasarathe Pavanapadhe Tulasipathe Sripathe Santhatham Pahima Varade" Honestly, its been more than twenty four hours since the concert, the pallavi is still haunting me with its beauty. After a round of swarams, she presented a ragamalika of Begada and Kalyana Vasantham. Despite the wonderful song selection and excellent presentation of the team here, nothing could help the poor acoustics and the off-balance sound system. Despite multiple requests from the artists, technicians or the organizers could not do much (or should I say did not?) While I completely understand the challenges involved in a venue of that nature which may not be designed for concerts and performances, it is hard to digest the effect it has on the mood of the concert. Despite the initial sound glitches causing trouble to the feel, the momentum of the concert picked up right from Arabhi and then the team was just unstoppable.

I thoroughly enjoyed both the concerts. What I love about Sudha Ragunathan's music is her creativity, her innovation, her discipline and the melody that embraces her music. If she chooses to sing a raga for eight minutes, she brings all the beauty of the raga with her effort. There is no unnecessary extensions of raga or random meandering. Her choice of krithis and the balancing different ragas within the concert is another thing that I believe adds to the wholesome effect of it. And I absolutely loved her pallavis. Be it the ragam which brings out all the shade and effect within the duration she presents it, the impeccable patterns in the thanam and of course the well framed, well phrased pallavis. (by which I mean no surprising raga choices, no meaningless lines or force-fit raga mudras in the pallavi lyrics) Her concerts are a perfect offering to the knowledgeable rasikas and the ones who are just familiar with the bare minimum basics of Carnatic music. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience in both the concerts.

[Madras-Talkies]

Thanks, Revanth for the detailed review of both these concerts. I attended these two concerts as well. It is sheer happiness to attend Smt. Sudha's concert. Let me share my likes and dislikes:

Partha
Likes:
1. Loved the lengthy thodi ragam elaboration with sangatis showing nadaswaram bhani. The three raga gruhabedham was a surprise to me. The hindolam gruhabedham was longer and brilliant.
2. Dharmavathy was soulful.
3. Harismarane made- Just one word would suffice to sum up this rendition magnificent. Few audiences were engrossed and shed tears while enjoying this rendition.
Dislikes:
1. The audio was really bad at Parthasarathy Swami Sabha

KGS
Likes:
1. Loved the sangatis and azhutham in Varali. This is the first time I am hearing her sing this song.
2. Clarity of enunciation and care for sahithya were discernible in this portrayal of Sreenivasa by Papanasam Sivan in Rupakam.