This was a unique sabha concert, because it was organized, not by the popular and well established carnatic music sabhas of the city, but by the Gandhinagar Club, Adyar, at its premises. The setup was that of a chamber music concert (though with microphones). The accompanists for the evening were Akkarai Kum. Subbulakshmi on the violin, senior vidwan Madirimangalam Shri S. Swaminathan on the Mridangam, Trichy Shri Murali on the Ghatam.
The song list for the evening was -
1. Varnam - Hamsadwani - Adi
2. Gajavadana - Sri Ranjani - Adi - Papnasam Sivan - S
3. Sada Chaleswaram - Bhoopalam - Adi - M. Dikshithar
4. Paralokha Saadhaname - Poorvi Kalyani - R , S - Thyagaraja
5. Rama Nannubrovara - Harikamboji - Rupakam - Thyagaraja - R , N, S
6. Nandagopala - Yamuna Kalyani - Adi - M. Dikshithar
7. Kamala Charane - Amritha Behag - Adi - G.N.B
8. Innamum Sandega - Keeravani- Gopalakrishna Bharathi - Misra Chapu - R , S , T
9. Slokam - Shanthakaram Bhujaga Sayanam - Charukesi , Dhesh , Madhuvanthi - Namo Narayana - Adi - Annamacharya kriti set to tune by Vijayalakshmy Subramaniam
10. Tumko Meri Laaj - Peelu - Eka Talam - Thulsi Das Bhajan - set to tune by L Krishnan
11. Thillana - Brindavana Saranga - M Balamurali Krishna
The Hamsadwani varnam set good pace to the concert, and this was followed by the popular Gajavadana in Sri Ranjani. The excellent dialogue between Guru and the violinist during the swarams, finishing in different sangathis of Gajavadana was a delight to listen to. This was followed by a listener’s choice - Sada Chaleshwaram, a Dikshithar masterpiece.
Poorvikalyani was elaborated in style, with excellent phrases around P - D - P - S. The rendering of Paralokha Saadhaname was true to the lyrics of the songs - meditative and serene. The sub-main ragam, Harikamboji and Thyagaraja’s Ramanannu brovara were beautifully rendered. The Nereval of the phrase - 'Meppula Kai Kannatavu' ending with different brigas of ‘Meppula’, and the kalpana swarams in medium tempo with fantastic communication between the vocal and violinist bejewelled the masterwork. Following this was Nandagopala by Dikshithar, a kriti not very often heard in concerts. There cannot be a more apt ragam than Yamuna Kalyani to tune these lyrics, and the rendition with beautiful glides around G - N left the audience in bliss. This was followed by the fast paced Kamala Charane by G.N.B.
The main ragam for the evening, Keeravani, was elaborated beautifully around the Madhyama Sthayi with the accompanists enjoying each phrase of the rendition. The song chosen, ‘Innamum Sandega Padalaamo’ by Gopalakrishna Bharathi culminated with kalpana swarams in slow and medium tempo. This set the stage for the Thaniavartanam by the Vidwan Shri Swaminathan, disciple of the legendry Palani Subramaniam Pillai, ably accompanied by Shri Murali on the Ghatam.
The main piece was followed by an excellent rendition of the slokam verse from Vishnu Sahasranamam in three ragams, each with a unique beauty, culminating into the divine Namo Narayana in Madhuvanthi which has been tuned by my Guru. Following this, Smt. Vijayalakshmy paid homage to Music Composer Shri. L.Krishnan, All India Radio, Chennai. Shri L Krishnan has set to tune, innumerable compositions for devotional music albums, and the song rendered on Sunday was Tumko Meri Laaj, a Thulasi Das Bhajan, set by the composer in Peelu . The fast paced thillana in Brindavani was a grand finale to the concert.