Concert review of Smt Parasalla B Ponnamal at Swati Fest 200

HarishankarK · Post by **HarishankarK** » 13 Jan 2009, 16:44

Can some good member be kind enough to list the songs and perhaps write a detailed review of the Concert of Smt Parasalla B Ponnamal at Swati Fest 2009. It will be beneficial for those who did not attend the series to at least imagine 'how it would have sounded'

If possible a single review thread can review the concerts of all the artistes from Sanjay sir to Bombay Ranjini and Gayathi ji

Thanks a lot
Harish

devi · Post by **devi** » 13 Jan 2009, 22:01

The concert was indeed a blissful experience. Being in Smt. Ponnammal's presence itself is an awesome experience. Personally, the day being the day of Aardra Darshanam, with moon shining over the palace and the ethereal music made it a wonderful evening to cherish.

Smt Ponnammal was provided with vocal support by Smt. Seethalakshmi Ammal and Smt. Bhama Kannan. Dr. Hemalatha, the violinist, excelled in her role and Sri Kallekulangare P Unnikrishnan (mridangam) and Sri Kannur Santosh (morsingh) entralled the audience with their sensitive and rich pakkam, especially the Morsingh Man gave a very inspired performance!

A song list is given below is a song list whatever my music illiterate in general and tala ignorant in particular, self could catch. Forgive omissions and mistakes

1. Daani samajendra - Thodi - Varnam
2. Paahi taraksu puralaya santhatam - Jaganmohini
3. Paramapurusham - Lalitha Panchamam
4. Bhaavaye sarasanabha - Keeravani
5. Palayamamayibho - Khamas
6. Paahi jagat janani santhatam - Vachaspathi (?) beautiful ragalapana and Dr. Hemalatha's violin responded so tastefully. Sublime music! Niraval was at 'Somabimba madapaha' which I felt was very nice because of the full moon shining above us looked quite defeated by Devi's beauty and Smt Ponnammal's potrayal of it.
7. Santhatam samsmaramiha - Neelambari
8. Parvathi nayaka - Bowli (duly corrected Thanks to rajeshnat)
9. Sanandam kamalamanohari - Ragamalika consisting of ragas Kamalamanohari, Hamsadhwani, Revagupti and Tarangini with ragamudras woven into the sahityam.
10. Manassi dussahamayyo - Ahiri
11. Theliviyalum mugham - Punnagavarali
12. Smarathinumaam - Behag
13. Adha tadaneem (?) - Sindhubhairavi (she sings this often and I presume its from one of the Upakhyanams of the Maharaja)
14. Mangalam (bhujagashayino) - Yadukulakambhoji

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 13 Jan 2009, 22:08

devi wrote: 8. Parvathi nayaka - Bhoopalam

devi
This krithi is in bowli. How long was the concert?

devi · Post by **devi** » 13 Jan 2009, 22:20

Rajesh Thanks for the correction! The concert started around 6.20pm and finished around 9.15. A three hour concert approximately.

prashant · Post by **prashant** » 14 Jan 2009, 09:57

Is pAhi tarakshu purAlaya the krithi in Anandabhairavi?

ignoramus · Post by **ignoramus** » 14 Jan 2009, 10:22

Prashant

it looks like the anandabhairavi one. have not heard this around for a long time personally. I have an Alathur brothers rendering of the same, would you be interested?

prashant · Post by **prashant** » 14 Jan 2009, 10:32

Of course, ignoramus! Thanks in advance. There are a couple of SSI recordings on Sangeethapriya...

ignoramus · Post by **ignoramus** » 14 Jan 2009, 12:16

Prashant
here it is
http://rapidshare.de/files/41343191/Paa ... a.mp3.html
hope you like it. Happy Pongal/Sankranthi etc

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 14 Jan 2009, 13:52

BHale Ignoramus! Thanks a ton!

ramanathan · Post by **ramanathan** » 14 Jan 2009, 13:59

"pAhi tarAkSu purAlaya santatam" is very much in Jaganmohini. The Anandabhairavi kriti popularized by SSI & Alathur Bros is "pAhi tarAkSupurAlaya mAmayi pAvanatara carita...". Both kritis are in Adi tALam and are in praise of Lord mahAdEva of the magnificent temple at Vaikom (near Kottayam) in central Kerala

prashant · Post by **prashant** » 14 Jan 2009, 14:04

Thanks ramanathan. I was not familiar with the jaganmOhini krithi hence my question. The Vaikom temple is indeed awesome. Hope to sing one of these when I visit there next...

gowri narayanan · Post by **gowri narayanan** » 14 Jan 2009, 14:30

Harishankar

Yes it would have been proper to have had all the concert reports of Swathi Utsavam in one thread. Now it is split. Me culpa - anyhow, take a look at Amrutha Venkatesh's concert report in a topic titled "A basketball player...".

I could not attend Smt. Ponnammal's concert. On Devi's post and the comments thereon, please be informed that there are 2 krithis starting with Paahi Tarakshupuralaya one indeed in Jaganmohini as Devi has reported with a (?) the next word being santhatham and ANOTHER in Anandabhairavi the next word being maamayi. This Anandabhairavi song was rendered by Kunnakkudi Balamuralikrishna at Swathi Utsavam on Tuesday 13 Jan. Incidentally Tarakshupura refers to Vaikkom near Ernakulam.

Song list of Balamuralikrishna's concert:

Chalamela - Khamas - Varnam
Paalaya Maadhava Maam Anisam - Asaaveri
Ahaha naiva jaane - Amruthavarshini (R S) - the original ragam of this piece is Yamunakalyani but is sung in Amruthavarshini for the last few years
Santhatham bhajami - Bilahari (R S) - repetition of what Amrutha Venkatesh sang the previous day, but sounded "more masculine" as Varmaji would like to describe
Paahi tarakshupuraalaya maamayi - Anandabhairavi (R S)
Maamava Jagadeeswara - Saraswathi manohari
Raama raama gunaseema - Simhendramadhyamam (R N S T) - During the entire series so far Prathimadhyamam has only made rare guest appearance !!
Smarahari paadhaaravindham - Saama
Idu saahasamulu - Saindhavi - Padham
Kalakanti - Neelambari - Padham
Mangalam - Yadukulakhamboji

There was nothing exciting to write about - the vocalist sang adequately, the violin seemed to create unnecessary gimmicks with a jerk of the bow too often but sounded well minus those patches, the percussion was just OK.

devi · Post by **devi** » 14 Jan 2009, 15:21

There! I have removed the (?) given along with Jaganmohini !

And both Paahi taraksu puralaya are the compositions of Maharaja Swathi Tirunal.

HarishankarK · Post by **HarishankarK** » 15 Jan 2009, 12:02

Oh Smt Parasalla B Ponnamal's concert is sure a treat to the ears and mind.
What about Bombay Ranjani and Gayathri - Hope there concert woould have also been exciting??