Pattabhiram Pandit at Kabinahitalu, Dharmasthala

mridhangam · Post by **mridhangam** » 11 May 2009, 15:27

Pattabhiram Pandit-Vocal, Vittal Ramamurthy-Violin, Eswara Bhat-Mridangam

Pattabhiram Pandit gave a robust vocal recital at Dharmasthala on 9th May 2009.

The song list is as follows :

1) Ninnukori-Varnam-Mohanam
2) Raghuvara Nannu-Pantuvarali
3) Hecharikaga-Yadukula Kambhoji
4) Brovabarama-Bahudari
5) Ninnenammiti Nayya-Simhendramadhyamam
6) Jagado Dharana

Pattabhiram Pandit an illustrious disciple of Shri KVN gave an excellent recital filled with robustness and ease of delivery. He started off with Ninnukori Varnam and went on with brisk Raghuvara with intricate swara patterns in Manasuna Neekai. (Still remember excellent rendition of Raghuvara by DKJ with Raghu sir wherein Raghu sir played muktayees at the ending point of Manasuna Neekai with varied varieties). Suddenly Pattabhiram calmed the electric atmosphere with a contrasting Yadukula Kambhoji Alapana followed it up with "in-between" speed rendition of Hecharikaga in Khanda Eka Tala showing his skills in rendering kritis in slower tempo with the same felicity as he did Raghuvara. Brovabarama provided an excellent filler before launching on Simhendramadhyama raga vistara. Simhendramadhyama was dealt in wide variety and he was composed in traversing through the octaves as his voice was very co-operative and congenial to his thought process. His unhurried expressions mixed with chaste paatanthara shuddha made a definite highlights in the concert. Through his robust voice he was able to produce both "SOUND" renditions as well as "COMPOSED" renditions which is verily an asset to him and he used the mike very well to adjust to his own voice's sound level to suit to the demands of the occasion. His manodharma is of high calibre and also his renditions were sophisticated appealing to both the layman as well as a serious rasika.

Vittal Ramamurthy, the local hero-under whose organisation this concert was organised, showed his excellent bowing techniques both in Yadukula Kambhoji and Simhendramadhyama. His replies to the laya varieties shown in Misra Chaapu Tala in Ninne Nammiti Nayya drew wide praise.

Eswara Bhat who also belongs to Dharmasthala provided able accompaniment.

Now about the whole programmes :
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kalaimamani Vittal Ramamurthy, Violinist disciple of Smt.T.Rukmani and Lalgudi Shri.G.Jayaraman started organising events as these about 9 years ago and his service to the remote areas of Dakshina Kannada should go as the greatest service in the annals of Carnatic Music History. Every year he invites more than 100 music students in and around Mangalore, Shringeri, Dharmasthala and many other places of remote Karnataka and imparts them training through great masters of Carnatic Music. Lalgudi Jayaraman sir, Neyveli R.Santhanagopalan, Shri.N.Vijaysiva, Smt.Shankari Krishnan and a host of other musicians have imparted training to many a young and budding students numbering to more than 100 and the number is growing as the years progress.

This year Shri.Vittal invited a great vidhushi from Mumbai, Smt.Kalyani Sharma to his Hamlet wherein Madam taught the children 7 or 8 kritis in strict Patanthara Shuddha way and all the children rendered these kritis on 9th May before the concert of Pattabhiram Pandit. We must sincerely applaud the efforts taken by Vittal and also the teachers in dedicated teaching to these children making them sing in tandem and also seeing that they do achieve perfection by sitting with them through innumerable rehearsals.

For all these arrangements Vittal takes care of their stay at his small hamlet in Karumbithil, Kabinahithalu, Dharmasthala (i dont know the district, taluk village and all) His residence is called Karumbithil and the place is called Kabinahithalu and it is 10 kms away from Dharmasthala and about 85 Kms from Mangalore. He also takes care of their food and accommodation facilities. Whole family of Vittal descends to this hamlet, which is also his childhood home now maintained by one of his relative, and they also perform Sathyanarayana Puja and Durga Puja after everyday.

On 8th May Smt.Kalyani Sharma sang an excellent concert to the accompaniment of Vittal and myself on mridangam with able vocal support given by her disciple Ms.Chinmayee, who is Vittal's sister's daughter from Mumbai. She was also responsible for imparting training to the children during their rehearsals. She is one youngster to watch who has a great commitment towards patantara sangeeta without compromises.

On 9th May morning Shri.G.R.S Murthy, Vainika and disciple of Shri.G.N.Dandapani,(Grandfather of Shri.S.P.Ramh-Carnatic Vocalist) gave a sterling performance to my accompaniment. G.R.S.Murthy has many years of learning and experience in the field of Veena Playing though relatively unknown in the music field due to many personal reasons. Now he has entered the field again and many people who are YACMites surely know Murthy's calibre as a veena player and i accompany him on most of his concerts. (INFO: Murthy is playing a concert for Nadopasana on 7th June 2009 at 5.00 PM at Dakshinamurthy Auditorium to the accompaniment of myself and B.S.Purushothaman).

After G.R.S.Murthy's concert the students rendered the kritis that they learnt in the retreat for about an hour. After lunch there was a violin duet by Dixit and Mrs.Rajaram.

Evening before the concert of Pattabhiram Pandit Smt.Kalyani Sharma was honoured by Vittal Ramamurthy on her years of dedicated service to Carnatic Music in a small function organised for the purpose.

The entire programme on 9th was arranged in a nearby Ganesha Temple which has a Hall adjacent to it. The Ganesha Temple also needs a special mention in the sense that it doesnt have a roof over the main Deity's idol. Vittal fondly recalls his childhood days when he used to cross a river and come daily to perform puja there and put Vastram for Lord Ganesha, the presiding Deity. Even now the temple is without the roof, be it rain or shine the Lord remains there blessing his devotees.

The crowd response was excellent with enthusiastic Children and their parents.

Vittal clearly emerged out as the hero of the whole show as his arrangements were flawless, his co-ordination was excellent and his family members responded to his call in a timely manner and rose to the occasion to make the occasion a memorable one and a pleasant one.

Mannarkoil J.Balaji

appu · Post by **appu** » 12 May 2009, 09:46

Thank you Shri Balaji for the wholesome analysis and yeomen service by Vittal Ramamurthy. It is indeed great to hear this from a fellow musician and colleague. Please keep up the good work Shri Vittal.

maithree · Post by **maithree** » 12 May 2009, 10:07

Really nice to know about the great initiative and service rendered to the cause of Carnatic music.

Very well written Shri Balaji. Thanks a lot for writing about this.

vs_manjunath · Post by **vs_manjunath** » 12 May 2009, 14:37

Really nice to know the noble services rendered by Shri Vittal.

Thanks for the excellent coverage -mridhangam.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 12 May 2009, 20:30

Nice to hear vittal's services. But why am I not seeing him at all as a violin accompanist in chennai or bangalore(assuming bangalore), does he shuttle between US and dharmasthala only. Unlike vocalist who get sidelined , violinist are always in demand , that being the reason why am I not seeing him performing much as a support violinist.
Does any one have an answer to my query?

erode14 · Post by **erode14** » 13 May 2009, 00:13

Great service...

Rajesh, vittal played for Dr. Ganesh (I played mrudangam) at BVB Mini Hall for SivarAthri and he recently played for Sikkil Gurucharan at ayOdhyA maNdapam with UKS Sir.

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 13 May 2009, 07:21

Sreeni Rajarao · Post by **Sreeni Rajarao** » 13 May 2009, 07:36

Congratulations and thanks to Sri. Vittal Ramamurthy!

Great work like this needs to be recognized and published. Thanks Balaji sir!

shriranjani · Post by **shriranjani** » 13 May 2009, 12:10

Wishing him all the best in his endeavour & may it grow from strength to strength.Not many are aware of the great service being done by this self-effacing musician, to nurture classical music in the right spirit.Hope many others give back to music what music has given them,to ensure music continues to live on, in its pristine form.Thank you, Vittal Ramamurthy & all the great teachers who have helped him in his effort, to take music to the remote areas.

violinrasika · Post by **violinrasika** » 17 May 2009, 19:51

Congratulations and wishing him all the best.
I read an article about this in TMK's website two years ago - WORLDS APART YET SO CLOSE in the Articles section.
Here's the link: http://www.tmkrishna.com/archivearticles.html Scroll down the page to see.
Pictures from the Karunbithil Shibira 2008 - Posted under Gallery section of www.violinvittal.com