Mridangam Arangetram of Chi.Shravan T. Ramanand

[ragtal2011]

Mridangam Arangetram (Debut Concert) of
Chi. Shravan T. Ramanand (Disciple of Guru Laya Kala Ratna Sri. Ramesh Srinivasan)

Carnatic Classical Music Concert
Sangita Kalanidhi - Ratna Sadasyata (Akademi Fellow) Dr. Sri M. Chandrasekaran (Violin)
Vidushi Smt. G. Bharathi (Violin)
Chi. Shravan T. Ramanand (Mridangam)
Vidwan Sri. H. Sivaramakrishnan (Ghatam)

Chief Guest - Cleveland Sri. V. V. Sundaram

The maestro played a beautiful concert through with essence of ragas shining through in every composition.
This being the mridangam arangetram, will focus on Shravan s playing.
Accompanied by Shravan Ramanand, on mridangam (on his arangetram ) and Vidwan H. Sivaramakrishnan, Maestro Dr. M. Chandrasekaran and his daughter Vidushi Mrs. Bharati Gopalakrishnan started the concert with the Mohana varnam of Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar..
Starting off with sarvalaghu phrases (typical of Vidwan Vellore Ramabadran sir's style) Shravan proceeded playing to specific phrases/patterns for the varnam.
Shravan showed his capability to play for the Misra chapu with confidence in the next item Sri Mahaganapathi ravathumam of Dikshithar in Gowlai. He sufficiently accompanied during the kalpana swara section for this item. This was followed by Bhajana seyava of Anai Ayya in Kedaram set to Rupakam. By this item Shravan had settled and one could see him listening to the krithi and also playing with anticipation.
A beautiful Ranjani ragam by Vidushi Bharati and singing of pallavi by Chandru sir, preceded the sub main Ranjani Niranjani, composed by GNB. Shravans playing for the sangathis of the pallavi and the initial avarthanams of anupallavi with clear gumukis needs mention here.
This was followed by an extempore rendition of thiruppavai, ongi ulagalandha, in Arabhi by maestro Chandrasekaran which was well accompanied by Sharavan.
The main piece was the majestic Evarimata vinnavo in kambodhi by St.Thyagaraja. The kriti followed a beautiful alapanai by the violin duo. The krithi was rendered in gayaki style where one could hear the words clearly. In the pallavi line, the way Shravan played for the ending phrases "bhalee bhalee" was good. A notable aspect was the way Shravan accompanied for the krithi following the krithi structure and employing chapu and gumukki at appropriate places. His playing for the neraval was beyond his experience, especially maintaining the kalapramanam...
The thani was a played well with cycles of nadai and the kuraippu with kandam and then arai avardhanam of 7's and also reciting the solkattu's. The mohra and korvai was crisp and executed well. Kudos to the Guru, Shri. Ramesh Srinivasan for putting together this thani.
This was followed by a RTP in Shanmugapriya and thalam kanda thripuda with eduppu at arai idam. The ragam and thanam was executed with a lot of bhavam. Shravan recited the pallavi in thrikalam and then went on with the second thani which was played well.
The next three items were Maamava Pattabhirama in manirangu (Chandrasekaran sir sang along), English notes and Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma.
Four things to note about Shravan’s play was his non-intrusive accompaniment to the main artist, his strokes, kalapramanam and confidence on stage (inside one does not know how he felt). The Guru deserves a lot of credit for shaping such a youngster; the sishya deserves the credit for taking this and presenting a sincere effort on stage.

[thanjavooran]

Great. Blessings to Shravan.
sK MC is the right Vidwan for the boy's debut. Constant efforts will lift him to higher level.
With wishes,
Thanjavooran
14 07 2019

[rbharath]

where did this happen? and when? found it little vague that the co-ordinates were no mentioned in the otherwise good write-up.

for some reason, one is reminded of the concert where TK Murthy mama narrated the story of his arangetram.

[ragtal2011]

The program happened in Feb at Tatvaloka, Eldams road, chennai....