Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Review the latest concerts you have listened to.
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sureshvv
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Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by sureshvv »

M.R.Gopinath
Ganapathyraman
A.S.Krishnan (morsing)

Walked in during varali alapana. Tough trek across town after an uncommon intense cloudburst
.
She breaks into aazhi mazhai kanna with neraval/swaras at vaazha ulagil. Totally worth it :D

sureshvv
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by sureshvv »

Thunai purindarul after a short haunting overview. New set of nice chitta swaras announced as composed by Vidushi Charumathi Ramachandran

Onto a sparkling Bilahari with tiny exploding sangathis.
Last edited by sureshvv on 16 Aug 2017, 19:44, edited 1 time in total.

sureshvv
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by sureshvv »

Spectacularly sculpted bilahari with MRG going toe to toe to match the outpouring of manodharmam. This music is so easily accessible but still contains so many semi concealed easter eggs for the motivated.

Smarasada manasa balagopalam

sureshvv
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by sureshvv »

A long sustained sweet single speed swara downpour at Garuda Thurangam matched by MRG. Maharajapuram Santhanam in the house.

2nd speed swaras starting with the ra ra venu gambit.

sureshvv
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by sureshvv »

Ganapathyraman generously playing an abbreviated thani.

Vande mataram in Sindhubhairavi, composition of Kesava Pillai.

sureshvv
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by sureshvv »

Chediyana valvinai viruttam in behag. The words offering so many possibilities. Nediyaana, padiyai, vaasal -- too numerous to mention.

Thiru kanden pon meni kanden in k.chapu.

sureshvv
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by sureshvv »

Tillana in Brindavani (MBMK)

Pavamana (mangalam)

Amazing concert.

Sivaramakrishnan
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by Sivaramakrishnan »

Thanks suresh for that excellent commentary.
You have more than compensated my longing to hear the concert. The welcome showers however played spoilsport for entertainments in the city.

Yes, Bilahari is a fine selection, so also the Swati kriti which was a masterpiece of KVN.

Must be KC Kesava Pillai's 'Vande maataram'. That brings memories of my life in Kerala.

Amruta has got not only an excellent Guru but also a resourceful guide in Prince Rama Varma.

sureshvv
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by sureshvv »

The viruttam was exquisite. Just the "gal" in "valvinaigal" was hovered over for a considerable stretch of time and it had Ganapathyraman in rapture. I have heard this viruttam umpteen number of times but never unraveled like this. The kriti that followed was totally new to me (pasuram?) and it made quite an impact even on first listening. I have to listen to something a few dozen times for it to even register. Lot of Sanjay inspiration in delivery.

Guru was sitting in 2nd row with cam thoroughly enjoying himself with vigorous headshakes and am sure is part of the tight feedback control system guiding the proceedings.
Last edited by sureshvv on 16 Aug 2017, 22:14, edited 1 time in total.

Sachi_R
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by Sachi_R »

Looks like an amazing concert by a highly accomplished and intelligent artiste who stamps every appearance with authenticity and appeal. How I wish I could get a recording! Thanks Suresh for taking us along!

kssr
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by kssr »

Would definitely like to listen to Chediyaaya valvinaigaL by Amrutha. Introduced to me by TNS hamsanandi. He has later sung it in many ragams depending on what kriti he was sing following the pasuram. During a Tv interview, TNS was asked. You are a specialist in thodi- can we hear a piece of that. Then came the brilliant Chediyaaya in thodi. What a great artist.

Maybe I will get an opportunity to request her towards end of this month.

arasi
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by arasi »

kssr,
Request now, so that she will sing it in her concert! Then again, you have known her from her childhood perhaps, and her sweet nature would make her consider even a stray rasikA's last minute request, I guess.

As for the guru--how I wish he would play vINA with her in a concert!

Sureshvv,
Inspired you are. So is she in her singing :)
Yes. How can you not think about Sanjay when it comes to viruthams? There was one concert where generous was he with several viruthams. If I'm able to hear him on our shores in October, I hope he gets generous again with a string of viruthams, kAnci Varadappan granting :)

In India in winter, hope Amrutha obliges too. Can't wait to hear her in concert, in person...

HarishankarK
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by HarishankarK »

Yes. She is so good. And I have noticed Sanjay style in her music too - hope she will drop that over time - her own style is more than enough and perfect.
This vrittam and same behag song she sang in her Nada neerajanam concert as well 08-march-2017. After tani. Its in YouTube. That whole concert is so awesome. Cannot stop listening again and again

R Vedavalli has sung same vrittam as well

HarishankarK
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by HarishankarK »

Is it pavala vaai kaanbene or pavazha vaai kaanbene? She pronounced as pavala

arasi
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by arasi »

Harishankar,
pavaLa vAi is fine. My book says the same. pavazha vAi is acceptable too.

Amrutha has heard Sanjay in concert from a very young age, wide eyed. She's inspired, let's assume!


arasi
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by arasi »

Sachi,
Thanks. I am listening to the concert now. From the sweet sounds of the starting moment, she is on a roll. She just finished the bahudhAri AlApane. bengalUrina huDugi (I'm not being regional, but TTD calls her that in the beginning shot displaying artistes' names!) explored the rAgA in such delicate detail. Simply delightful...

sureshvv
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by sureshvv »

arasi wrote: 18 Aug 2017, 08:43 bengalUrina huDugi (I'm not being regional, but TTD calls her that in the beginning shot displaying artistes' names!) explored the rAgA in such delicate detail. Simply delightful...
The way she makes the music accessible, I won't be surprised if she goes National and takes Carnatic Music to new audiences across the country.

kvchellappa
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by kvchellappa »

pavala vai is how it is printed and pronounced almost universally. Amritha is, I think, a Srivaishnavite and would know.

HarishankarK
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by HarishankarK »

[quote
The way she makes the music accessible, I won't be surprised if she goes National and takes Carnatic Music to new audiences across the country.
[/quote]

Yaay - hope that happens soon - she is THE best

sureshvv
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by sureshvv »

arasi wrote: 18 Aug 2017, 05:06 pavazha vAi is acceptable too.
Totally unacceptable :D

Like saying Natarajan when you are supposed to sing Natarasan!

HarishankarK
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by HarishankarK »

sureshvv wrote: 18 Aug 2017, 14:47
arasi wrote: 18 Aug 2017, 05:06 pavazha vAi is acceptable too.
Totally unacceptable :D

Like saying Natarajan when you are supposed to sing Natarasan!
Not so sure. Pavazham is coral. Pavalam is not right for coral. Pavazha vaai - if it refers to coral lipped - then it cannot be pavala vaai. Am I barking up the wrong tree here?

sureshvv
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by sureshvv »

HarishankarK wrote: 18 Aug 2017, 15:53 Not so sure. Pavazham is coral. Pavalam is not right for coral. Pavazha vaai - if it refers to coral lipped - then it cannot be pavala vaai. Am I barking up the wrong tree here?
I think it is the same word. Difference is the formal/colloquial or cultured/native pronunciation and spelling. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

sureshvv
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by sureshvv »

HarishankarK wrote: 18 Aug 2017, 04:17 And I have noticed Sanjay style in her music too - hope she will drop that over time - her own style is more than enough and perfect.
I didn't mean stage mannerisms or even anything to do with the mechanics of singing. The influence I was referring to has more to do with things like involving and getting inspiration from the accompanists or taking an obscure pasuram (less commonly heard if you prefer) and bringing it to stage with polish and refinement. See how softly MAK/Karthik accompany in the behag for example.
Last edited by sureshvv on 18 Aug 2017, 16:59, edited 1 time in total.

HarishankarK
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by HarishankarK »

sureshvv - the aspects you have mentioned are definitely worth keeping

kvchellappa
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by kvchellappa »

"I think it is the same word. Difference is the formal/colloquial or cultured/native pronunciation and spelling. Someone correct me if I am wrong."
It is correct. Nothing colloquial about it.
Even in pacchaimalaipol meni, it is pavalavai kamalachengan, there is absolutely no slip or mistake. That is how Azhwars intended and they are the authority here.

hnbhagavan
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by hnbhagavan »

I have seen her attend Sanjay's concert in Bangalore.I see some aspects of Sanjay's singing especially in ALAPANA.

arasi
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by arasi »

Coral is known as pavaLam and pavazham. In AzhvArs' time, pavaLam was the way they called it, I guess. Aesthetically, they both are agreeable. Ah, then there is the flow of lines where both might fit, or one of them. This applies not to ancient times but to modern compositions. Anyway, when atrocities in language are created by mispronouncing, there is no issue of differences in meaning in this instance.

sureshvv
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by sureshvv »

kvchellappa wrote: 18 Aug 2017, 18:44 It is correct. Nothing colloquial about it.
Even in pacchaimalaipol meni, it is pavalavai kamalachengan, there is absolutely no slip or mistake. That is how Azhwars intended and they are the authority here.
Colloquial does not imply slip/mistake. It means common usage. It might indicate a particular dialect or place of origin. I am sure it was intentional. I don't think Azhwars were anti colloquial.

Another instance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_ZIJ6KuYC8

pvs
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by pvs »

pavaLam is chaste Tamil indeed. It is the equivalent of pravALam in Sanskrit. pavazham appears to be a later version in Tamil.

kvchellappa
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by kvchellappa »

"col·lo·qui·al
1. (of language) used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal or literary."
Azhwars were not anti-colloquial, but were most of the time literary.
The point is pavalam is literary, not colloquial. I do not have the least intention to use colloquial in the pejorative. I love Bharathi and Kalki.

kssr
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by kssr »

There are plenty of pavazham uses in tamizh fim songs. that is the popular way to pronounce in day to day life.

Aazhwar has written as pavaLam only, whether it is in pachai maa malai pol meni or sediyaaya val vinaigaL.

We hear so many vaaLai paLams and koLambu rice in every day life we can get kozhambufied. Not that all La usages are incorrect and are to be changed to zha, as in the current case.

Mostly sanjay inspiration. As arasi says, in my opinion both are acceptable.

kvchellappa
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by kvchellappa »

'Pavazham' is more current like in pavazhaththeevu, pavazhakkara thery, etc., but where does Sanjay come here? Azhwars intended it as pavaLam and Sanjay could not have vitiated their Tamizh. By the way, one of the things that is said about Sanjay is his admirable uccharippu of Tamizh. Amritha too is good in her uccharippu.

kssr
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by kssr »

Sanjay is excellent in his tamil diction. No question about it. But in paasurams he can use the sanskritised version of certain words instead of the original tamil words. eg: paanjajanniyamum pallande instead of paanjasanniyamum pallande. I do not remember where his zha for La usage was.

kvchellappa
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by kvchellappa »

https://ta.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%AE%AA ... E%E0%AF%8D
பவளம்
https://ta.wikipedia.org/s/ak6
கட்டற்ற கலைக்களஞ்சியமான விக்கிப்பீடியாவில் இருந்து.
பவளம்
பவளம் அல்லது பவழம்

This article lists பவளம் first and throughout the long article, it uses only பவளம் .

It is a moot point how panchajanyam should be pronounced as cha and ja sounds use the same script in Tamizh. I would not know how Srivaishnavites pronounce ( I must yield here to you Sri KSSR) or much less how Azhwars pronounced it.
In a digression sort of, there is a tendency for revisionism as in ஆட்சி and காட்சி (two beautiful Tamizh words) where some people use ஆக்ஷி, காக்ஷி erroneously. Did something like that happen with பவளம்? ள is as good Tamizh as ழ. What was in vogue in the period of Azhwars?

kssr
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by kssr »

cha and ja sounds use the same script in Tamizh

Ja is a tamizh i with a suzhi below. cha, you know well. They are written differently in the paasuram book. I unfortunately do not have a good tamizh script keyboard.

Nothing to do about being or not being srivaishnavaite. These are devotionals written for all xxxxxites.

kvchellappa
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by kvchellappa »

I have the LIFCO edition of divyaprabandham which does not use ஜ at all.
My reference to Srivaishnavites is that they must know the tradition better than someone like me.
In this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRrU0ZB9MjM
the bhattars seem to say ஜோதி and பாஞ்சஜன்யமும்.

arasi
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by arasi »

One of Vishnu's five AyudAs--pAnchajanyam, my book says in its agarAdi (dictionary at the back). However, in the text of pallANDu, I see pAncha sanniyam. So, both are acceptable, I think...

arasi
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 1608-'17

Post by arasi »

Of the five, the chakra, bow, sword are weapons. The conch and the lotus flower are are also carried by him.

Sachi_R
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Re: Amrutha Venkatesh @ KGS 16-08-'17

Post by Sachi_R »

Sirs
Let me add to the debate ☺️

In Samskrita, it is prabāla, pravāla, prabāḍa.

It means a red gemstone, coral.

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