ALAMELU MANI IN RAGASUDHA HALL- 27/4/18

[CRama]

RAMNAD KRISHNAN CENTENERY CELEBRATIONS CONCERT
Accompanists
R.Hemalatha- Violin
Ganapathyraman-Mridangam
Vocal Support- Aruna Ranganathan
List of songs.
• Durbar Varnam- Adi
• Sree Manini manohara- Poornashadjam- Adi-T
• Neebhakthi bhagyasudha- Jayamanohari-Rupakam- T (S)
• Thyagarajaya Namaste- Begada-Rupakam- MD (R,S)
• Mummoorthulu-Athana-Adi-T
• Biranabrovaide-Kalyani-Adi (tisra nadai)- Tarangampadi Panchanada Iyer (R,N,S)
• Brovabharama-Bahudari-Adi- T (R,S)
• Paritapamu ganiyadina- Manohari- Rupakam-T
• Ninne namminanu- Thodi-Misra chapu- SS (R,N,S)
• Thani
• Padam- Pantuvarali
• Mariyada teliyagane-Suruti- Javali
• Mangalam

Before the concert Mami mentioned that it is her great fortune that she got an opportunity to be part of the Centenery Celebrations of the great Ramand Krihnan. She is like Ekalavya- who has learned the songs immortalised by Ramnad Krishnan from his tapes. She remembered the 1956 concert of RK in Shanmugananda- the first concert of RKL in Mumbai. Her (late) husband was the Director of Shanmugananda music school and she got the recording of the concert and would have heard 1000s of times and learnt many songs out of it.

The concert was true to the lineage she belongs to. Her voice showed some strains due to age. But there was absolute sruti sudham, kalapramana sudham and patanthara sudham. Most of the songs were synonymous with the great Ramand Krishnan. In the two and half hours concert, she presented four alapanas- Kalyani and Thodi- elaborate for about 8 minutes and Begada and Bahudari wholesome- for about 5 minutes each. The songs were presented in the authentic patantharam she has internalised from the great masters- with all the sangatis in tact. The neravals for Kalyani at Neepada pankajamu neranammina vadu gada and Thodi at Kamakshi Kanchadalayadakshi were very elaborate- in intensity and manodharmam reminding me of the neravals of Suguna Purushothaman. Swaras were also elaborately rendered with a flying manodharmam. The long avarta panchama shadja varja swara in Kalyani were much delectable.

I could not get the sahithyam of the padam. It was new to me and was rendered in the typical Brinda Mukta style. Vocal support was provided by Aruna Ranganathan- but it was audible only to her Guru. Aruna Ranganathan is an accomplished singer. She could have partnered in the neraval/swarams. That would reduce the strain of the main singer.

Dr. Hemalatha embellished the concert with her unobtrusive accompaniment. Her alapanas and returns were reflective of her experience and rich manodharmam. Ganapathyraman was a great support to the concert. His accompaniment to the padam was noteworthy. Thanks to the organisers for arranging this absolutely pristine concert.

[thanjavooran]

C Rama avl,
As usual very nice review bringing out details of vidushi's manasika Guru and efforts put in to learn Ramnad's pani. Excellent song selection. Begada, kalyani and thodi in line.
With wishes,
Thanjavooran
28 04 2018

[Nick H]

It was a very fine concert of very pure, sweet music, enhanced by both Hemalatha and Ganapathyraman.

For those who missed, she is singing again today somewhere in Kalakshetra Colony: please see the ad in The Hindu

[kvchellappa]

The concert:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qIUUZVgZwk

[Sivaramakrishnan]

Vocal support was provided by Aruna Ranganathan- but it was audible only to her Guru. Aruna Ranganathan is an accomplished singer. She could have partnered in the neraval/swarams. That would reduce the strain of the main singer.

Fully agree.
Though I did not attend the concert, it is noticeble in the video link.