Sunday last was an interesting day for Cricket lovers - millions of people all around the world witnessed IPL 2009’s exciting final match. Sunday was a memorable day also for the Carnatic music lovers of Tiruppur, as they witnessed a lively concert by my Guru, Smt Vijayalakshmy Subramaniam. The concert was organized as part of the ‘Eppadi Paadinaro’ series, by Sri Krishna Sweets, which hosts monthly concerts in Coimbatore and Tiruppur. This programme was held at the famous Eshwaran Kovil, where the presiding deity is Lingeshwarar, and the accompanists for the evening were Smt Usha Rajagopalan on the violin and Sri B. Ganapathiraman on the mridangam. The song list for the evening was as follows
1. Varnam - Ninnekori - Vasantha - Adi - Tacchur Singaarachari
2. Moola Dhaara Moorthy - Hamsadwani - Adi - Papanasam Sivan (S)
3. Dhaarini Thelisi - Suddha Saveri - Adi - Thyagaraja (R)
4. Shambo Mahadeva - Panthuvarali - Rupakam - Thyagaraja (R, S)
5. Thanigai Valar Saravanabhava - Thodi - Kanta Chapu - P. Sivan (N , S)
6. Eppadi Paadinaro - Karnataka Devaganthari - Adi - Suddhanandha Bharathi
7. Sarasa Saama Dhaana - Kaapi Narayani - Adi - Thyagaraja
8. Kapaali - Mohanam - Adi - Papanasam Sivan (R,S,T)
9. Kaliyuga varadhan - Brindavana Saarangaa - Adi - Periyasaami Thooran
10. Abhang - Chandrakauns
11. Visweshwara dharshan - Sindhi Bhairavi - Rupakam - Swathi Thirunal
12. Thillana - Kamas - Adi - Patnam Subramaniya Iyer
13. Mangalam
The performance commenced in brisk pace with the Vasantha varnam rendered in dhuritha kaalam. This was followed by the popular Moola Dhaara Moorthy, where madhyama kaala kalpana swarams with interesting phrases were rendered at the pallavi line. Following this was a crisp outline of Suddha Saveri and rendering of the evergreen kriti Dhaarini Thelisi. Next in line was a contrast to the concert with the presentation of Panthuvarali ragam, with very soulful phrases around Ma - Da - and Ni - Sa - Ri - Ni. Shambo Mahadeva marked the end of the prelude of the concert and next came the fantastic kriti in thodi - Thanigai valar (my favourite in the ragam!), rendered in the right pace with beautiful sangatis. The phrase taken for neraval was the first line of the charanam - ‘Thulli Vilayadi Varum thogai mayil mele’ and one could actually visualize the playful and graceful dance of the peacock during the rendition.
Thodi was followed by a listener’s request - Eppadi Paadinaro with unique sangathis in the pallavi and anupallavi. The interlude was Sarasa Saama in madhyama kaalam and this was followed by a detailed rendering of Mohanam, the main ragam for the evening. The kriti rendered was Kapali , apt for the venue. The interesting exchange of kalpana swarams between Guru and the violinist in Panthuvarali as well as Mohanam added beauty to the renditions. The main piece was made complete by a brisk Thani, paving way for the postlude of the concert. Kaliyuga varadhan, another audience choice for the evening delighted the gathering, and this was followed by a soulful presentation in Chandrakauns. Visweshwara in Sindhu Bhairavi brought goose bumps to me. The fast paced thillana in Kamas was a fitting finale to the grand concert