Yesterday was a concert to remember, by Smt Vijayalakshmy Subramaniam. The concert was organized by Shanmukhapriya sabha and the accompanying artistes were Akkarai Kum. Subhalakshmi on the violin, Sri. B.Ganapathiraman on the Mridangam and Sri. B.Purushotham on the Ganjira.
The song list for the evening was as follows
1. Varnam - Sarasijanabha - Kamboji - Ata talam- Swathi Thirunal
2. Baagaayanayya - Chandrajyothi - Adi - Thyagaraja - S
3. Seethamma Mayamma - Vasantha - Rupakam - Thyagaraja - R , N , S
4. Sivakama Sundarai - Mukhari - Adi - Papanasam Sivan - R
5. Sri Maathrubhootham - Kannada - Misra Chaapu - Muthuswami Diskathar - S
6. Bhogindra Saayenam - Kunthalavarali - Kanta Chapu- Swathi Thirunal
7. Ethavunara - Kalyani - Adi -Thyagaraja - R , N , S , T
8. Naan Enna Thavam Seidheno - Kamas - Adi - Oothukadu Venkata Subbaiyer
9. Virutham - Vizhiki Thunai - Saveri , Mohanam , Shanmukhapriya, Suruti , Sucharitra - Velum Mayulume - Adi - Koteeswara Iyer
10. Karuna Suno Shyam Mori - Bhageshree - Eka Talam - Meera Bhajan set to tune by Smt. Vijayalakshmy
11. Senthamizh Naadenum - Ragamalika - Adi - Subramaniya Bharathiar
12. Thillana -Brindavana Saranga - Adi - Dr.M.Balamuralikrishna
The concert was off to a grand start with the Kamboji Ata tala varnam by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal, embellished with brigas in the charnam line ‘Sarva bouma Sakala Lokabirama’ . This was followed by Baagaayanayya in Chandrajyothi , with kalapana swarams ending in different sangatis of the pallavi. Next came majestic Vasantha, and the beautiful rendering of Seethamma Mayamma. The neraval at Charanam line ‘Dhara Nija Bhagavadagre’ and the exchange of swarams between the vocalist and the violinist was thrilling to listen to. Following this was a soulful rendition of Mukhari and Sivan’s Sivakama Sundari. There cannot be more apt ragam than Mukhari for this song, and the rendition bejewelled the devotional content of the kriti. This was followed by Sri Mathrubhootham in Kannada, with kalpana swarams in the Madhyama Kala phrase of the charanam ‘Suvasita Nava Javanti’ (This specific line is challenging to take up for kalpana swarams, as it is at half a beat before the Samam) .This was followed by a fast paced Bhogindra Saayenam before the main piece.
Next came a detailed, excellent rendition of Kalyani by both Guru and the violinist, with excellent flashes in the madyama and thara sthayi. This was followed by the Thyagaraja composition Etavunara with Neraval at Charanam line ‘SriKarudagu Thyagaraja’ . The kalapana swarams in Dhuritha and Madyama kalams were rendered in Chatuswaram and Thisram nadais, thus making it an exciting experience for the performers as well as the audience. Following this was a brisk Thaniavarthanam by the percussion artistes.
The thukkada portion included an interesting line up, starting with Oothukadu’s ‘Naan yenna thavam’ in Kamas. This was followed by a Slokam from Arunagirinathar’s Kandhar Alangaram - ‘Vizhiku Thunai Thiru men-malar paadhangal’. The choice of Ragams as well as the rendition captured excellently, the lyrical beauty of the verse which describes each of the Lord’s features as a salvation to worldly sins. The song rendered was Velum Mayilume in a ragam not often sung- Sucharitra (Mela 67). This was followed by a Meera Bhajan tuned by my Guru
(in Bhageshree) and Bharathiyar’s Senthamizh Naadenum in four ragams - Behag , Gowda Malhar, Atana, Hindolam. The quick paced Thillana in Brindavani was a fitting finale to the grand concert