Shri Sikkil Gurucharan in London

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 18 Aug 2008, 05:17

Over the past week or so, rasikas in the London area have been treated to some excellent music from Shri Sikkil Gurucharan, who is currently here. I attended four concerts in the span of 8 days, and it's been an exhilirating experience so far. My mind is still in an ecstatic mode, so I will have to wait to come down to ground earth before writing a review! This note is just a heads-up, shall write a review during the coming week.

anandabhairavi · Post by **anandabhairavi** » 18 Aug 2008, 15:05

Are u going to review all 4 concerts? wow.I heard him in Kolkatta in June and was impressed by his style.Looking forward.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 18 Aug 2008, 23:18

Looking forward Jayaram - good to hear from you after a while!

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 28 Aug 2008, 02:27

Apologies for the delay in posting the reviews as promised. I have been traveling on work...
Below is list of items from the four concerts I attended. Overall, the concerts were of top quality.

Some of the highlights were the Manirangu, Shanmukhapriya, Ahiri, Devamanohari, Karnaranjani, and the wonderful SKR kriti in Sindhubhairavi with grahabhedam ragamalika in Tilang and Behag.

SIKKIL GURUCHARAN: LIVE IN CONCERT (SOUTH INDIAN SOCIETY, 10 AUG 2008)
Vocal: Sikkil Gurucharan
Violin: Dr. Jyotsna Srikanth
Mridangam: Somaskanda Sharma
Morsing: Sidambaranathan
Venue: Feltham Sports Hall, Feltham, London, Sun 10th August 2008
01 Jalajaksha (Varnam) - Hamsadhwani - Adi - Manambuchavadi Venkatasubbaiyer
02 Viruttham & Nekkurugi - Abhogi - Adi - Papanasam Sivan (S @ Mukkan Umai Eendra Magane)
Viruttham - VAkkundAm Nala ManamundAm - Avvaiyar
03 Sriman Narayana - Bowli - Adi - Annamacharya
04 Santhana Gopalakrishnam - Khamas - Rupakam - Muthuswamy Dikshitar
(RN @ Sri Rukmini Sathyabhama Sametham)
05 Ganamurthe - Ganamurthi - Adi - Thyagaraja (S @ Ganamurthe)
06 Viruttham & Guruvayurappane - Reethigowla - Adi - Ambujam Krishna
Viruttham - Kulam Tharum Selvam Thanthidum - Kulasekhara AzhwAr Pasuram
07 E Nati Nomu Phalamu - Bhairavi - Adi - Thyagaraja (RNST, NS@ Sundaresa Sugunabrunda)
08 Mahadeva - Revathi - Adi - Thanjavur Sankara Iyer
09 Krishna Nee Begane Baro - Yamunakalyani - Misrachapu - Vyasarayar
10 Suttum Vizhi Sudar - Raagamalika - Adi - Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar (Rathipathipriya, Sahana)
11 Bruhi Mukundethi - Kurunji - Adi - Sadasiva Bramendrar
12 Kurai Ondrum Illai - Raagamalika - Adi - C. Rajagopalachari (Sivaranjani, Kapi, Sindubhairavi)
13 Thillana - Khamas - Adi - Patnam Subramanya Iyer
14 Mangalam
============================================================================

SIKKIL GURUCHARAN: LIVE IN CONCERT (AVARTHANAS, 15 AUG 2008)
Vocal: Sikkil Gurucharan
Violin: A. G. A. Gnanasundaram
Mridangam: Kripakaran
Ghatam: R. N. Prakash
Venue: Pinner Village Hall, Fri 15 Aug 2008 - Varalakshmi Vratham
01 Ninnukori (Varnam) - Vasantha - Adi - Tachur Singachari
02 Siddhi Vinayakam - Mohanakalyani - Adi - Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavathar (S)
03 Mayamma - Ahiri - Adi - Syama Sastri (S)
04 Senthil Andavan - Kharaharapriya - Adi - Papanasam Sivan (RNS, NS@ Velan Vadi Velan)
05 Ninnade - Kannada - Adi - Thyagaraja
06 Sri Varalakshmi - Sri - Rupakam - Muthuswamy Dikshitar
07 Adiya Padame - Varali - Adi - Gopalakrishna Bharathi (RNST, NS@ NAdu Puganzhthidum)
08 Viruttham & Kaliyuga Varadan - Brindavana Saranga - Adi - Periasamy Thooran
(Viruttham - En Thayum En Thanthaiyum - Sindubhairavi, Mohanam, Revathi, Brindavana Saranga)
09 Kasthuri Thilakam Narayanam - Abheri
10 Thillana - Rageshri - Adi - Lalgudi G. Jayaraman
11 Mangalam
===========================================================================

SIKKIL GURUCHARAN: LIVE IN CONCERT (MANASAMITRA, 16 AUG 2008)
Vocal: Sikkil Gurucharan
Violin: Dr. Jyotsna Srikantha
Mridangam: Bangalore S. V. Balakrishna
Venue: Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Leeds
01 Sarasuda (Varnam) - Saveri - Adi - Kothalavasal Venkataramana Iyer
02 Jaya Jaya Padmanabha - Manirangu - Adi - Swathi Thirunal (S @ Pallavi)
03 Ananda Natanamaduvar Thillai - Purvikalyani - Rupakam - Neelakanta Sivan (N @ PAdi Madhi Jyothi)
04 Evarikai Avathara - Devamanohari - Misrachapu - Thyagaraja (RS @ Pallavi)
05 Giripriyam Gangadharam - Kadanakuthukalam - Adi - Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavathar
06 Ekamresanayakim - Shanmukhapriya - Adi - Muthuswamy Dikshitar (RNST, NS @ Pallavi)
07 Chinnan Chiru Kiliye - Raagamalika - Rupakam - Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar
08 More Ankhon Mein Murali BhajAyon (Bhajan) - Pahadi - Adi - Meera
09 Kandanil Azhaginil - Sindubhairavi - Adi - Thanjavur S. Kalyanaraman
(Gruha Bedam to Thilang in Anupallavi, Gruha Bedam to Behag in Charanam)
10 Thillana - Desh - Adi - Lalgudi G. Jayaraman (Followed by Mangalam)
========================================================================

SIKKIL GURUCHARAN: LIVE IN CONCERT (MENONS CHAMBER CONCERT, 17 AUG 2008)
Vocal: Sikkil Gurucharan
Violin: Lakshmi Jayan
Mridangam: R. N. Prakash
Morsing: Sandayan
01 Valachi (Varnam) - Navaraagamalika - Adi - Patnam Subramanya Iyer
02 Ramabhakthi Samrajyam - Suddha Bangala - Adi - Thyagaraja (S)
03 Sobhillu Sapthaswara - Jaganmohini - Rupakam - Thyagaraja (NS)
04 Vanchathonu - Karnaranjani - Adi (Tisra Nadai) - Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavathar (R)
05 Kalyanarama Raghurama - Hamsanadam - Adi - Oothukkadu Venkatasubbaiyar (RS)
06 Brovavamma - Neelambari - Rupakam - Syama Sastri
07 Hiranmayim Lakshmim - Lalitha - Rupakam - Muthuswamy Dikshitar (N @ SangIta VAdya VinOdini)
08 Makkelara - Ravichandrika - Adi - Thyagaraja
09 Karthikeya - Thodi - Adi - Papanasam Sivan (RST)
10 Bhavayami Gopalabalam - Yamunakalyani - Khandachapu - Annamacharya
11 Aadum Chidambaramo (Viruttham) - Behag - Adi - Gopalakrishna Bharathi
(Viruttham - Veyurutholli Pankan (Kolaru Padhikam) - Thiru Gnanasambandar - Hamsanandi, Kedaragowla, Kapi, Behag)
12 Thillana - Basanth Bahar - Adi - Maharajapuram Santhanam
13 Kurai Ondrum Illai - Raagamalika - Adi - Rajaji
14 Mangalam

sappri · Post by **sappri** » 28 Aug 2008, 11:05

Seeing the enthusiasm - if I may, there are several roaring young talents - currently there's a festival at Blr with people like Pattabhirama Pandit, G Ravikiran (personally I'm a big fan of his), Sredev from Kerala and, R Raghavendra from TN, Guha from AP etc performing ... there're also several talented young women - one of them Amrutha performing in the prestigious Navrathri mandapam

revanthv552 · Post by **revanthv552** » 28 Aug 2008, 13:24

Thanks a lot for posting the review....
amazed to know there is a composition of syama sastry in the ragam neelambari...

saravanan · Post by **saravanan** » 28 Aug 2008, 15:55

Good song selections.Lucky londoners.Such a vaiety in the 4 concerts.Thanks for the postings

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 28 Aug 2008, 16:05

Thanks Jayaram,

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 01 Sep 2008, 23:47

jayaram wrote:SIKKIL GURUCHARAN: LIVE IN CONCERT (MANASAMITRA, 16 AUG 2008)
...
09 Kandanil Azhaginil - Sindubhairavi - Adi - Thanjavur S. Kalyanaraman
(Gruha Bedam to Thilang in Anupallavi, Gruha Bedam to Behag in Charanam)

I think there's a kriti "Kandanin Azhaginil" that is a composition of Guru Surajananda, in Sindhubhairavi. Does anyone know whether Shri Kalyanraman made a modification to this kriti, or is there another similar sounding composition by SKR?
Perhaps Shri Lakshman can help clarify? Thanks.

andynags · Post by **andynags** » 02 Sep 2008, 18:16

HI Jayaram,

Would you have any info on upcoming carnatic concerts in and around London? I am not able to find much info websites. Please help.

Regards,
Andy.

sanvenk · Post by **sanvenk** » 02 Sep 2008, 20:09

jayaram wrote:
jayaram wrote:SIKKIL GURUCHARAN: LIVE IN CONCERT (MANASAMITRA, 16 AUG 2008)
...
09 Kandanil Azhaginil - Sindubhairavi - Adi - Thanjavur S. Kalyanaraman
(Gruha Bedam to Thilang in Anupallavi, Gruha Bedam to Behag in Charanam)
I think there's a kriti "Kandanin Azhaginil" that is a composition of Guru Surajananda, in Sindhubhairavi. Does anyone know whether Shri Kalyanraman made a modification to this kriti, or is there another similar sounding composition by SKR

This song was only tuned by SKR. It was written by Guru Surajananda.

Lakshman · Post by **Lakshman** » 02 Sep 2008, 20:16

The song is by Guru Surajananda.

kandanin azhagil. rAgA: sindhubhairavi. Adi tALA.

P: kandanin azhagil bhaktan mayakkam anda bhaktanin bhaktiyil kandan aDakkam
A: shentamizh mozhiyE kandan vEdam anda shentamizh pOTrum kandan pAdam
C1: kavinjnanin manadil kavi aDakkam anda kaviyin poruLil guhan aDakkam
vidhiyin piDiyil bhuvi aDakkam andavidhiyE avan pAda nizhal aDakkam
2: sattiya vAkkinil avan aDakkam perum shaktiyE avanadu uDal aDakkam
muktiyin muDivil AduginrAn nalla bhaktanin manadai nADuginrAn

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 02 Sep 2008, 23:09

A lovely composition, Lji.

Minor correction in the last line of C2: muktiyin muDivil ADugirAn...

Lakshman · Post by **Lakshman** » 03 Sep 2008, 00:27

Thanks rshankar.

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 03 Sep 2008, 02:57

Lji, rshankar,
ADuginRAn
and
nADuginRAn.

ksrimech · Post by **ksrimech** » 06 Sep 2008, 03:49

jayaram wrote:Viruttham - Kulam Tharum Selvam Thanthidum - Kulasekhara AzhwAr Pasuram

Sir, This pAsuram was sung by tirumangaiyAzhvAr (kaliyan). Thank you.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 06 Sep 2008, 08:37

Krishna,
I was looking for you and your help somewhere else too. Good to see your post!

sunaada · Post by **sunaada** » 17 Sep 2008, 00:36

Hi andynags...

If you live or work in London...it may be worthwhile to pop into the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (http://www.bhavan.net/) at West Kensington (couple of minutes from the tube) for information on upcoming events.

The events hosted or organised by them alone are posted on the website- but in the front office they always have tons of leaflets on most other Indian events happening around town.

Regards.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 17 Sep 2008, 13:29

Do we not have a thread for upcoming London concerts? I remember that, when we used to post on ForumHub, we did.

I think it is an invaluable part of bringing people in touch with the music. There is so much in London, but most of it is organised by and attended by the Tamil community, and is not much advertised outside of that community and the Tamil/South-Indian temples. That is not to say that 'outsiders' are not made welcome when they do stumble across the concerts; in my experience, they are made very welcome.

I don't know if anything has changed, but even Bharatya Vidya Bhavan is hard to find if you don't know it is there. Suggestions that they should, at least, advertise their concerts in the local free-listings publications fell on deaf ears when I last tried them.

sunaada · Post by **sunaada** » 18 Sep 2008, 02:25

I couldn't find a London thread... maybe I'll start one soon as I hear of the next good concert.

Which free listings in particular did you have in mind, Nick? I could give it a shot too. Ofcourse, as far as the Bhavan goes, the last few concerts (Sanjay's, Rudrapatnam brothers' and Balamurali sir's) have been completely booked up weeks in advance!

Although, I really do wish we had bigger halls for venues with more people from out of the subcontinent as the audience.

ksrimech · Post by **ksrimech** » 18 Sep 2008, 10:51

arasi wrote:Krishna,
I was looking for you and your help somewhere else too. Good to see your post!

Sorry, I have been busy with my research since my comprehensive exam (for PhD) is coming up in a couple of months. But I'm at service of the rasikas here any time.