On American Independance day, sunday the 4th july Geetha rajasekar [ dau in law of late CS FM Govt of india] gave a concert accompanied by VVS Murari on vioin and young budding artiste Chinmayee raman on mirudhangam. The concert started at 16 30 hrs after the arrival of TKG [surprise visit] who is on vacation at his dau's place in sanjose. The other vips were Thiruvarur Bakthavatsalam and local artistes S/shri Mahadevan and Narayanan. The concert was mainly arranged for the platform of the very young budding mirudhangam player [ 10th std student] Chinmayee raman who is under the tutelage of TB since 90 days. The boy had his arangetram performed at chennai last year. TKG was requested to say a few words immediately after thani. He initially started speaking in English and later told that musicians are for music only and can express their feelings freely in their vernacular and started his speech in Tamil.
some of the important points noted are as below
Ms Geetha raja is a top ranking vocalist and also a kalaimamani receipient had her extensive training under DKP and DKJ. She is quite accomodative with the budding artiste, encouraging every now and then during the concert. She has grasped all the important techniques from all the stalwarts of yester years viz. , musiri and SSI to name few.
Forgetfulness is intensive and he is not able to recollect all important and sweet memories as he has turned 81.
He was the student union secretary in the college of CM when Musiri was principal. musiri and chembai used to call fondly as dasa vadhya rayar samasthanam as he was playing all the purcussion instruments including morsigh. Later musiri wanted him to master one particular art instead of pondering with other instruments. On the behest of Musiri he took up vocal.
Murari has come from a family rich in CM. His grand father Vadakkancherry vaidheeswara Iyer is known to him from TKG's childhood and infact he performed a concert at the wedding of VVS. Hence Murari is known to him from his birth.
He had an opportunity to to represent India as an ambassodor of CM at a conference near Mascow several years back. During, 20 mts allotted to India a lion's share was taken away by HM musicians. TNK and PR who were to join him at Delhi did not come for the reasons best known to them. As a single man he represented CM . During 5 mts slot he sang a kavadi sindhu assisted by the tabla player requesting him to play the sollu he taught him before commencing the foke music. The tabla player played the same sollu throught and everybody enjoyed with standing ovation for 5 mts.
VVS has accompanied him in more than 100 concerts . Manodharma is necessary for every vidwan. He mentioned that young chinmayee should listen more of stalwarts playing and practice well to achieve more honours. He was happy with the peformance of the boy and blessed him to attain more vidwath. His fingering techniques are excellent and his efforts are praise worthy.
Thivuvarur Bakthavtsalam
the boy is a 90days old premature baby and he shaped him to this level with lot of efforts. Infact he totally changed his fingering pattern to thanjavur pani and started the lesson right from the beginning. In a short duration he has grasped well and today's performance was good.
Mr Mahadevan
In his speech he praised the vocalist , violinst and also the guru TB . He mentioned that young chinmayee performed well and many more honours will come to him in future.
In general the whole performance was good and enjoyed by everybody. The boy has enough potential to shine in this vadhyam. As a senior, dependant on youngsters for pick up and drop could not stay back for the whole concert. The rasikas/guests were requested to register their comments on a seperate register which was quite new to me. All guests were given a casserole consisting of hot kesari and soft vadai.
song list
Begada varnam R
Bahudhari Bajamanasa vigneswaram
jagan mohini sobillu sapthaswara R, N and S
Lathangi marivera thikkevaraiya rama R, N and S
Sriragam Srikamalambikae N and S
Hindolam manasuloni ma S
Thodi Endhuku thaya radha R, N,S and T
Ms GR mentioned that since the yong boy wanted to play thani on misra chapu she has selected this song
Thanjavooran