S.Kasturi Rangan @ Sarvani Sangeetha Sabha, MA mini hall, We

nightingale · Post by **nightingale** » 23 Jan 2009, 19:18

Kasturi Rangan gave a brilliant, soulful rendition for the above mentioned sabha.

I went in when he started Durmargachara. He went on to sing Evarikkai and Sari Evvare, all gem hits of his Guru , Sri. TNS.

He then sang an extensive Kamboji , followed by O Rangasayi., which was followed by Thani avarthanam by Ganapathyraman on the Mridangam and A.S.Krishnan on the Morsing. Violin accompaniment was by Varadarajan. I had to leave after the thani and so do not know what he sang as tukkadas; nor, the songs before Durmargachara. But I am sure I heard the weighty portion of the concert as it peaked.

The overall concert was of a high class level with such solid pakkavadyams and Kasturi also ensured that he did his best to keep up the spirit of the concert. Varadarajan is an expert in transforming himself , as a second voice of the main artiste. He was completely in sync. Ganapathyraman and Krishnan , added a lot of zest and colour to the rhythm and kept up the tempo.

What marks Kasturi's singing , is his clear gambeeramana voice, good stage presence and bhava. He has made efforts to internalise , his Guru's approach to singing. Especially , the way he renders the lyrics of the composition, is completely in keeping with his Guru's ideals, where the menaing of the word and import of the song is brought out beautifully. Both in Durmargachara and in Sari Evvare, one could feel that he was absorbed in the composition and the overall feel of the song.

Another aspect he has internalised from the Guru's tradition is the neraval singing. In Bhooloka Vaikunta, he explored all the possibilities of presenting the line, with different aspects of Kamboji and the intertwining of the words, Bhooloka and Vaikunta. Even the way he sang swaras, were dedicated to his school. The arithmetic of the swaras were measured and without any loss of melody.

On this particular day, I felt that he was completely dedicating all that he sang to his Guru, from whom, he too as a good sishya, has imbibed quite a bit. There was a melodious, harmonious blend of gamakas and brigas in his singing.

What however Kasturi could work on a little more, is , singing Raga Alapana . Here too he explored many facets of Kamboji, exactly the way he has been taught, but however, sometimes, there was a slight ( v. minimal) discontinuity in the build up of the raga. He is capable of briga singing, which however, needs some more polish.

One wishes, that, he sang more, with so many plusses to his credit.

revanthv552 · Post by **revanthv552** » 23 Jan 2009, 20:53

Kasturirangan is a real good vocalist.got to hear him last year in Hyderabad. His Varali and Shanmukhapriya were simply superb...!!

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 23 Jan 2009, 22:57

nightingale
thank you for the review , I wanted to make it to this concert (not heard him yet in a live concert).Being the 5th day he must have sang entaro in shree rAgam which you might have missed.

gobilalitha · Post by **gobilalitha** » 28 Jan 2009, 07:48

Extremely happy to read about his rare concert. It is a pity that even during the gigantic music season, most of the sabhas ignored him , A VERY TALENTED ARTIST of very high standard . Probably he is yet to learn the art of 'crow catching' gobilalitha

kuzhalosai · Post by **kuzhalosai** » 28 Jan 2009, 09:25

I agree with gobilatha, kasturi rangan is a very good artist having good standard who sings exactly in the Bani of Sangitha Kalanidhi Sri T.N.Seshagopalan Sir,

Some performing artists of today proclaims to be TNS's Student but they dont seem to have absorbed his asthectic content , Kasturi Rangan has imbibed the nuances from his great Guru, i have also heard him singing tough intricate pallavis.
Ya he is yet to learn the art of crow pulling.