Sumitra Vasudev : A veteran youngster!! at the Academy 22.12

[sivapriya]

Sumitra Vasudev , is a young lady with a veteran’s mind and approach to singing.
Classicism, creativity, control, fostered manodharma are some of the hallmarks of her singing. She did her guru Sangita Kalanidhi Smt.R.Vedavalli proud by her brilliant singing today at 1.45 in the afternoon at the Music Academy.

Her music flowed like a cascading waterfall . Her intuitve ability, innovation, raga mapping, neraval manodharma, are fabulously lofty and reminds one of a very senior veteran’s music.

The Bhairavi Ata Tala varnam by Pachimiriyam Adiappa ,was sang with the third swara in the charana and the anubandha, as given in the Sangita Sampradaya Pradashini. After Samrane Sukhamu, a beautiful Khamas raga followed with Seetapate and the quick swaras, told us immensely of Sumitra’s grip over the raga.

Varali raga had brilliant sancharas and covered all the possibilities of delineation . Maa mavaMenakshi , a Dikshitar masterpiece was sung wonderfully with innovative swaras.

The major credit goes to Sumtra for her RTP in Begada. What a raga alapana!
There was not a single unexplored phrase of Begada left. The Taanam needs a special mention . She correctly maintained the "madhyamakala"

[prashant]

Apart from what sivapriya has mentioned, there was a sparkling and brisk rendition of shri kALahastISa which left a deep impression. The set list is below:

Smt. V. Sumithra - Vocal
Sri Arunachala Karthik - Violin
Sri R. Sankaranarayanan - Mrudangam

1. viribONi - bhairavi - khaNDa aTa

2. smaraNE sukhamu - janaranjani - adi [S]

3. sItApatE - khamAs - adi [R, N at 'prEmajUCi nApai pedda manasu jEsi', S]

4. mAm ava mInAkshi - varALi - misra CApu [R, N at 'shyAmE shankari digvijaya pratApiNi', S]

5. shri kALahastISa - husEni - khaNDa CApu

6. rAgam.tAnam.pallavi - bEgaDA - khaNDA jhampa [2] 'rAmA nI mahima teliya taramA', eDuppu 3 aksharas from samam. Swara rAgamAlikA in rItigauLa, pADi, kuntalavaraLi, Tani Avartanam. Pallavi setup:

ma - 1 hi - 2 ma - 4
te - 1 li - 2 ya - 4
ta - 1.5 ra - 1.5 mA [arudi] - 7
rA - 4 mA - 2
nI - 2

7. viruttam 'AlamAmarattil ilai mEl' - shaNmukhapriyA, kEdAragauLa, sAvEri, bAgEshri + konjum silampoliyum - bAgEshri

[venkatr]

Really a wonderful concert - Her Begada was brilliant . I reached late but just in time to catch up with RTP. Clear diction, voice and good manodharama characterised the RTP rendition. The virutham at the end was excellent especially the bageshree.

[Nick H]

I had been watching for her concert --- and missed it. Very sad.

[srinivasrgvn]

-

[sivapriya]

If choosing the accompanists is in our hands , especially for upcoming artists singing in big institutions, then we would be in a Utopian world , srinivasrgvn. Also only a few will get chances to play again and again !!

Konjum Silamboliyum in Bagesri - is an Ambujam Krishna composition , tuned by my esteemed guru, Smt.R.Vedavalli. I am sure you would have noticed the exquisiteness of the approach .

[Nick H]

I am unable to see her sing on 31st, but I learnt from her, today, that she is singing on 28th, somewhere in Adyar, in the afternoon.

I expect it will be in the paper, but if anyone has the details, do please post them.

[rsn.mridangam]

@sivapriya
I think you didn notice the mridangam artiste playing in thani else you pls accept the fact that you didn understand what he plays. Dunno what made you to mention that he fails in thani avardanam??? Or you would have failed to notice that he played korvais for both first and second part of pallavi's placement. And dwikala tisra mohra korvai which played exclusively for the kanda jampa tala is rare. It is very clear from your post that you have failed to notice these things !