Sri Sandeep Narayan at Sastry Hall, Oct 12th 2009

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 17 Oct 2009, 02:17

Sandeep Narayan presented one of the more "intense" carnatic concerts I have had a chance to listen to in person for SAFE (Shanthi Arts Foundation) this week.

He was accompanied by:

V. Sanjeev
B. Sivaraman

Sandeep packs so much power and exhuberance in his presentation that the whole concert felt like a whirling vortex gripping you unawares and sucking you right in. It could be that the very competent concert featured prior to this by Malavika put the audience in the right mood to be taken away by Sandeep.

Starting with a lilting and soon to prove deceptive overview of Pantuvarali, Sandeep launched into Raghuvara delivered at just a slightly faster tempo than usual. Within minutes he was exploding into an intense neraval that elicited spontaneous applause from some in the audience and confused bewilderment in the more sedate sections. Raghuvara was followed by a slower and languid Paramakrupa Sagari very much reminiscent of his guru Sanjay's handling of the raga. Just as we were collecting our collective breaths, Sandeep began a measured alapana of Sarasangi. The alapana progressively revealed the arrogance and urgency of youth - pushing his voice and capability to the limit. Quite in contrast to the other creative Sarasangi from last week, this alapana was well within the inside border of Sarasangi and did not meander into neighboring territories. Kudos to Sandeep for venturing into the same raga and making it his own. Jaya jaya Padmanabha was the song chosen to elaborate and was sung in quite the traditional fashion. There appeared to be a couple of minor slip ups during the early single avarthana swaras, but nothing to knock Sandeep off his mission.

Sarasangi was followed by a rarely heard kriti of GNB in a raga that was also discovered by him: Manasu Radha in Sama kadambari demonstrating the homework that Sandeep did for this festival celebrating GNB.

The main raga of the evening was Hindolam. The alapana was methodical and unfurled the melody of the raga in an easy and majestic fashion. The kriti was another rare piece composed by GNB starting with Manava kula Bhushana as an ode to Thyagaraja Swamigal. Sandeep's enunciation was clear and impeccable revealing his mastery of Sanskrit.

Sanjeev was terrific in his returns and his alapanas were just as good except may be a tad long. Sivaraman was very appreciative of the audacity shown by this new comer and supported him well.

I had to take a call after the main. A friend's notes indicated that Jayathi Jayathi Bharatha Matha in Khamas was sung as a thukkada before the mangalam.

To sum up, the "Top Gun" has landed in Chennai in his B2. Aggressive, Brash, Cocky and Determined, he is on a mission to conquer the world of Carnatic Music.

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 17 Oct 2009, 02:57

Happy to read about yet another good concert by Sandeep. Keep it up Sandeep.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 17 Oct 2009, 08:25

Deepsand,
Time to show yourself to fellow-forumites and take a bow, I think! I know, silence is golden, but not for too long

From what suresh says, you must be learning sanskrit too.

prasanna.mr · Post by **prasanna.mr** » 17 Oct 2009, 09:43

1.raghuvarA nannu-pantuvarALi-Adi -Thyagaraja (N@manasuna nIkE,S)
2.paramakripA-yadhukulakAmbodhi -Rupakam -GNB
3.jaya jaya-sarasAngi -Adi -Swati Tirunal (R,S)
4.manasu radhA -samakadhambari -Adi-GNB
5.mAnavakula -hindolam -Misra Jhampa - GNB (R,S,T)
6.jayathi jayathi-khamAs-Tisra Nadai-Mayooram Vishwanaata Shaastri
7.pavamAna-saurAshtram-Adi-Thyagaraja

An excellent concert from the word go.The neraval for the first song set the tempo for the concert.The sarasAngi alapana was scintillating.Just as I was thinking this would be the highlight of the concert,I was immediately proved wrong when he traversed through Hindolam and outdid it .Sandeep ended the concert with one of my favourites, jayathi jayathi.The only disappointment was that it was a 1.5hr concert.I would have loved it to continue...However the music is still lingering in my ears .Have listened to Sandeep before but the arduous efforts put in for this concert was evident.Watch out for this extremely talented vibrant artist who is sure to go places.

(Sun)deep-The Rising Sun!!!

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 17 Oct 2009, 11:24

Have updated the last line in the review

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 17 Oct 2009, 11:52

prasanna.mr
Some time before I remember you mentioning you were grandson of manakkAl rangarAjan sir. By any chance did the doyen(B52 bomber) hear this top gun B2 bomber(sandeep)

prasanna.mr · Post by **prasanna.mr** » 17 Oct 2009, 16:47

@rajeshnat
Don't think he has heard him till date.

Rasika911 · Post by **Rasika911** » 19 Oct 2009, 14:47

sureshvv wrote:To sum up, the "Top Gun" has landed in Chennai in his B2. Agressive, Brash, Cocky and Determined, he is on a mission to conquer the world of Carnatic Music.

I really like this sentence

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 19 Oct 2009, 20:32

I should thank rajeshnat for inspiring this. Curious to see how our impressions compared, I revisited his recent review and the adjective that jumped out helped me rewrite the last summation line.