MRIDANGAM ARANGETRAM OF ASWIN SURYA, STUDENT OF SARVALAGHU PERCUSSION ART CENTER, SEP 03 2018

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Mridangam Arangetram of Chi. Aswin Surya, a student of ‘Laya Kala Ratna’ Sri Ramesh Srinivasan of Sarvalaghu Percussion Art Center (SPAC) was held recently on Sept 3rd, 2018 in the city of Milpitas, California.

Artists for the day:

Sangita Kalanidhi Dr. M Chandrasekaran - Violin
Vidushi Bharati Gopalakrishnan - Violin Support
Chi Aswin Surya - Mridangam
Vidwan KV Gopalakrishnan - Kanjira
Kumari Sathya Ramesh - Thalam

Date: Sept 3rd 2018
Time : 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Venue: India community Center, Milpitas, CA

Chief Guests for the evening:
Sri Ashok Venkatesan, Consul General of Indian Consulate, SFO
Sri Cleveland VV Sundaram

Songs performed:

Maha Ganapathim- Ragam: Nattai, Talam: Adi, Composer: Mutthuswami Dikshitar
Ramabhi Rama -Ragam: Darbar, Talam: Misra Chapu, Composer: Thyagaraja
Bhajana Seyave- Ragam: Kedaram ,Talam: Rupakam, Composer: Anai Ayya
Entha Muddo- Ragam: Bindumalini, Talam: Adi, Composer: Thyagaraja
Nannu Palimpa; Ragam: Mohanam, Talam: Adi, Composer: Thyagaraja
Manavyala- Ragam: Nalinakanthi, Talam: Deshadi, Composer: Thyagaraja
Pallavi- Ragam: Shanmukhapriya/Simhendramadhyamam, Talam: Khanda Jathi Triputa
Theruvil Varano-Ragam: Khamas, Talam: Tisra Nadai Adi, Composer: Mutthu Thandavar
Eppo Varuvaro-Ragam: Shenjurutti, Talam: Deshadi, Composer: Gopalakrishna Bharathiyar
English Note/Nottuswaram-Ragam: Sankarabharanam, Talam: Tisra Nadai Adi, Composer: Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavathar
Baro Krishnayya-Ragam: Maand, Talam: Adi, Composer: Kanaka Dasa
Suttum Vizhi Chudar Than Kannamma; Ragam: Sivaranjani, Talam: Tisra Nadai Adi, Composer: Subramania Bharati


Detailed review

On a bright afternoon on Labor Day weekend, 12-year-old Aswin’s arangetram event kicked off in style with Prayers, Homage to the Guru, a short bio, followed by introductions to the famed violin duo Sangeetha Kalanidhi and prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (Akademi Ratna Sadasyata) awardee Dr. M. Chandrasekaran & Vidushi Smt. G. Bharathi along with Sri. K. V. Gopalakrishnan on the Kanjira and Sathya Ramesh keeping thalam on stage. Honorable Consul General of India Mr. Venkatesan Ashok graced the occasion as the Chief guest and Sri. Cleveland V. V. Sundaram as the Guest of honor at the India Community Center, Milpitas, USA. The concert hall was blessed by the presence of multiple musicians, Vidwans, Vidushis and Gurus of the Bay Area. It is pertinent to mention that Aswin has been learning Mridangam for 4 years under the tutelage of Sri. Ramesh Srinivasan, the Director of Sarvalaghu Percussion Arts Center of California USA, the prime disciple of Mridangam Maestro Sangeetha Kalanidhi Late Sri Vellore G Ramabhadran. The proceedings started with a prayer invocation song by Aswin himself.

Dr. M. Chandrasekaran sir and Smt. G. Bharathi started the concert with “Maha Ganapathim” in Nattai with Adi talam. The swarams of Nattai were flowing from Chandru sir’s violin that was very well latched on by Aswin.

After this, the violin duo played Ramabhi Rama in Darbar. Chandru sir, known for his on the spot creativity, enthralled the listeners with the Chittaswaram that sounded so wonderful with faster brigas. The percussion team of Aswin and Sri. K.V. Gopalakrishnan kept up with the pace with bouncing swaras and brighas.

Following this, Chandru Sir picked up the faster paced Bhajane Seyave in Kedaram by Anai Ayya. The mridangam and kanjira support jelled to the fast-paced song very well. Despite the niggles with sound system, Aswin played the mridangam without being affected or distracted. Next came Entho Muddo set to Bindumalini - Tyagaraja masterpiece. Chandru sir delved into faster swara patterns to keep the momentum of Bindumalini bringing out the uplifting emotion of the sahityam of this masterpiece.

After having the audience go through the roller coaster ride of Bindu Malini, Chandru Sir mellowed down with a pleasing and enchanting Mohanam with another Tyagaraja classic Nannu Palimpa which was the main song. Aswin and Sri KVG demonstrated a wonderful tani with pancha kala and 2-nadai korvais. Dr.MC moved on to the popular Nalinakanthi Kriti of Tyagaraja Manavyala Klincha which was very soulful. The kids really enjoyed the part when Sri Chandru Sir brought in the folk touch. Aswin demonstrated his deftness and clarity in his accompaniment in these soulful kritis. His vocal training helped him anticipate neraval and swara pattern sangaties which is the hallmark of Sarvalaghu accompaniment by Late. Sri Vellore G. Ramabhadran.

The highlight of the day was the Ragam Tanam Pallavi in raga duo Shanamughapriya and grahabhedam into Simhendra Madhyamam. A very innovative way to look at the pallavi rendition. It was full of raga bhavam, laced with divine neraval strings and sarvalaghu swarams. Aswin demonstrated his konnakol abilities with full force, when he accurately rendered the trikalam of the pallavi in precision.

After the RTP was complete, Sri. M. Chandrasekaran sir moved on to padams, jawali and bhajans. Chandru Sir started with a piece in Kamas and then delved into the ever popular Eppo varuvaaro followed by "English NOTE".. One often remembers Sarvalaghu Great Madurai Mani Iyer for these kritis. Yeppa Varu Varo rendition by Chandru Mama was melancholically melodious and slow from a vocal/violin perspective. However the explosively fast mridangam accompaniment by Aswin's with super speed and clarity in "tha din din din" and "than-kiTa thakajuNu" just stood out and enhanced the song significantly. This was a fitting climax to the musical extravaganza for the evening. Sri Dr.MC concluded the concert with a Suttum Vizhi Chudar dhaan penned by Mahakavi Bharathiar.

In his concluding address, Sri Cleveland Sundaram remembered some of the stalwarts including Sri. Flute Mali, Smt. T. Brindamma and many yesteryear giants whom Dr.MC accompanied and established his presence. He showered Aswin with gentle praise comparing Sri. Dr. MC to the mighty Garuda flying disdainful of the terrain, and Aswin to his faithful shadow that always kept up. He also explained the Subhashitham, “ācāryāt pādamādatte pādaṁ śiṣya svamedhayā pādaṁ sabrahmacāribhyah pādaṁ kāla krameṇa ca” -
“One gains ¼ of the knowledge from the Acharya (the teacher), ¼ from his own self-study and intellect, ¼ from his classmates and the remaining ¼ is gained as a person becomes matured as time passes.” He also reserved praise for Sri K.V.G who supported phenomenally and also Sathya who he mentioned, had the wonderful opportunity to enjoy, listen, observe and learn.

Chief Guest, Honorable Consul General of India Sri. Venkatesan Ashok congratulated Aswin and artists Dr.M. Chandrasekaran, Vidushi. Bharathi and Vidwan. KV Gopalakrishnan for a wonderful concert and complimented Guru Sri Ramesh Srinivasan for the excellent tutelage. He further added, “When I was coming here, I wanted to share with you the External Affairs of Government of India is introducing under a new program through Indian Council of Cultural relations, thereby students of Music & Dance from outside India get to participate in Guru-Sishya parampara program and get to train under established Gurus with a scholarship. After hearing the performance today and seeing the excellence embodied here from today’s performance, I firmly believe we have all the wisdom here in United States. It is amazing that we have retained so much of our culture despite being far away from India. Sometimes, I do wonder, perhaps the culture is retained more here in United States than back home in India. “

Sri Ramesh Srinivasan, Director of the Sarvalaghu Percussion Arts center paid a gratifying homage to Late Sri. Vellore Ramabhadran in sustaining the Sarvalaghu Bani in this Arangetram of Chi. Aswin Surya. He added that the key ambition of the center was to ensure the students competed with themselves to be the best they could and congratulated the dedication of Aswin and his parents in his musical journey. It was also a very special day for Aswin as it was the marriage anniversary of his parents and the excellent arangetram performance was truly a fitting anniversary gift from Aswin to his parents. Chandru mama along with other attendees wished Aswin's parents Venky & Srimathi all the very best and Aswin's performance truly made it memorable!

The program ended with a vote of thanks from Aswin’s parents followed by dinner. Overall, it was a great evening for all and they were full of praise for Sri. Ramesh Ji’s guidance and encouragement for Aswin to achieve many more milestones in his musical journey.