Carnatica's Rasika Forum

Concert reviews -27th 26th 25th December2007
[b]
Etthanai kEttaalum pOdhum enbadhE illai-–
TNS on 27-12-2007 at Naradagana Sabha-
M.Chandrasekharan –violin- KVPrasad mridhangam-BSpurushottham –kanjira.

The above lines of the song sung by TNS during the concert depicts the feeling of the rasikas on hearing TNS sing at Naradagana sabha on 27th.

The concert started with ,’undethi ramudokkdu,’ a Thyagaraja krthi in harikambodhi, followed by a brief dhanyasi with the krthi ,’dhyaaname varamaina gangaasnaaname’ of Thyagaraja. Neraval svaram was at ‘dharanuvelayu sriramuni,’ and the svaras were in quite quaint format and ‘apoorvam” as MC remarked. The feeling one got from listening to the svara was that of plunging in the water of Ganges, ’muzugi muzugi ezundhiruppadhu pOl.’ It was a svaraganga snaanam.

The ranjani that came next was rasikamanoranjani, the raga and the svara being fantastic. The krthi was ‘dunmargachara,’ of Thyagaraja, TNS singing the line as dunmaragachara adhamulanu, splitting the word correct to the meaning. The svara prasthra was exotic.

After the mukhari krthi ‘kshenamaina’ of Thyagaraja TNS indulged in Kambhodhi which was too grand to describe in words. All the grandeur of the raga was delineated fully not only in the alapana but also by the sahithya of the krthi ‘subramanyaaya namasthe,’ of Dhikshithar. The way of singing the neraval- svaram reminded one of the stalwarts of yesterday which made MC exclaim that TNS must have heard Ariyakudi singing the song in his early years. The old bani was presented of course with the addition of the embellishments by his characteristic manodharma. Those who have heard TNS sing the krthi on that day could never forget it. It was the main piece of the concert and TNS ended the pallavi of the krthi singingit in 4 kalapramana like that of a pallavi of an RTP.

The next song looked like the reflection of the feeling experienced by the rasikas on hearing him. It was the oothukkadu composition, ‘etthanai kEttAlum pOdhum enbadhE illai,’ in bhairavi. This was exactly how his rasikas must have felt that day.

MChandrasekharan on the violin was exceptionally good as always, and KVPrasad and BSPurushottham were adding the necessary poshanam to the music.

TNS sang the ashtapadi ‘sancharathaDhara suDhaamaDhuraDhvani,’ in shyam kalyan, which was not only a maDhuraDhvani but also portrayed the mohanamaDhuripu roopam. It is always a delight to listen TNS singing the Hindustani ragas, which transports one to the land of Drupads. The concert ended with thiruppugaz and the sloka ‘Sriyahkaanthaaya’ in sriragam.

Concert on 26-12-2007 at Sriram samaj, chromepet.

TNS was accompanied by Nagai Sriram on the violin, Trichur Narendhran on mrdhangam and Madippakkam Murali on ghatam.

The concert strated with the kanada krthi of Thyagaraja, sukhiyevvaro,’ which was accompanied with a short yet sweet alapana and svaraprasthara that made one feel like answering the question “sukhiyevvaro?” with ‘one who listens and appreciates to such music.’

After a krthi in malayamarutham .dhanyudevvado,’ of Patnam Subramania ayyar, TNS started a beautiful delineation of kalyanavasantham which was followed by a pasuram, ‘kondal vaNNan,’ and the song of Ambujam Krishna in kalyanavasantham, ‘endhamukham ninaindhaalum.’

TNS sang the day’s navagrhakrthi next, budham asrayami in natakurinji with a short svaram and ‘bagaayanayya ‘ of Thyagaraja in chandrajyothi and started thodi and the alapana lasted for half an hour. Though the rasikas of TNS know only too well about his thodi to describe it in words, it presented to the mind the picture of ‘thodeekrtha sThooNaavirbhaava,’ of the Lord coming out splitting the pillar. The krthi was (not neene doddavano!) but ‘kaddhanuvaariki,’ of Thyagaraja. It is just as well because there is a legend that, to reassure Sugriva Rama showed Narasimha inside him. To those who have heard TNS sing this krthi, there is no need of saying how it was. The raga alapana contained grahabhedha into flashes of kamhodhi and sankarabharanam and the svara prasthara was simply magnificent.

After a thani TNS ended the concert with ‘ramanama,’ in Desh and ramasumara , a bajan.


Concert of TNS at The Music Academy on 25-12-2007 [/b]

The accompanists were M.chandrasekhar on violin, Gurvayur Dorai on mrdhangam and Thiruchi Murali on ghatam


TNS started with varnam in sriraga which was followed by the krthi of patnam Subramania ayyar , ‘abhimanamenndu,’ in begada with beautiful svaraprasthara short but delightful.

Then TNS sang suruti raga next and it was , ‘angarakam,’ of Dikshithar and the neraval-svara at ‘deenarakshakam’ portrayed suruL suruLaana suruti, rolled into reels of ‘ri.’

Next was ,’etijanma,’ in varali which he always sings with bhava, (Etijanmamithi haa ee geetha rasa viheenulaku!)

Then came the two kohinoors that shone in the diadem. The first one was kharaharapriya the raga alaapana was just exquisite with grahabhedham in thodi, The raga was dancing along the royal road with all its splendour and it was indeed ‘sakkani raajamaargaamu’ as shown by Thyagaraja. Yes, it was ‘sakkaniraja,’ with all the intricacies of the krthi nicely woven into the manodharma of TNS and the svaraprasthara was at ‘kantiki sundara ,’ and it was sundarathama, most enchanting.

The second kohinoor was hamsanandi RTP, with pallavi ‘guha muruga shanmukha nee vaa vaa kaavaavaa kove .’ TNS usually employs svarakshara method in singing svara s and even in this it was beautiful prayoga such as ga ma dha nee ‘vaa’ etc. Hamsanandi is one of the most attractive ragas of Muthiah bhagavathar school and TNS always does full justice to the tradition. It was a pleasure to listen to the kharaharapriya and hamsanandi that day.

Ther is no need of mentioning about M.Chandrasekharan who is a rasika as well as a seasoned accompanist of TNS. Guruvayur Dorai also is so. This triumvirate never fails to delight the rasikas and to day was no exception. GuruvayurDorai excelled in his thani with whom Thiruchi Murali joined in a befitting manner.

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TNS concluded the concert with the thiruppugaz , ‘erumeyileri,’in raga malika and mangalam.