Madurai TNSeshagopalan in Vani Mahal on 30 Dec 2009.

CRama · Post by **CRama** » 31 Dec 2009, 11:33

Another outstanding concert from the great master during this season. He was ably accompanied by M.Chandrasekaran on the violin, Vellore Ramabhadran on the Mridangam and V.Suresh on the Ghatam. The list of songs is given below.
1.Varnam-Begada with swarams
2.Mariverdik evvaro- Latangi, Khanda chapu, Patnam Subramania Iyer
3.Ungal puzhakkadai-Andal Thiruppavai, Anandabhairavi
4.Kaa Vaa Vaa- Varali, Adi, Papanasam Sivan
5.RTP-Sankarabharanam- Pallavi in Khanda triputa
6.Sancharathara-Ashtapadi-Suddhasarang

The concert started late, at 7.15 P.M. TNS started with the Begada varnam and round off with swaras. Next he took up Latangi for a detailed alapana covering the entire gamut of the raga which was followed by Mariveredik evvaro. I was hearing this for the first time from him. The song was well executed in the appropriate kalaparamanam and swaraas in two kalams including tisra nadai was sung for the pallavi. This was followed by Ungalpuzhakkadai- the thiruppavai. As always, he enjoys and sings the thiruppavai with great involvement. He sang the line "pangayar kannanai padelor empavay" with a series of astounding variations which elicited a heavy appaluse from the audience. After this, he took up varali for a detailed elaboration. He painted a most colourful picture of the raga in all its contours and followed up with Kaa Vaa- another favourite of him and his rasikas. The song was rendered most beautifully and swaras were rendered at the pallavi. The swaras were rendered in various eduppus -
Kaa Vaa Vaa
Muruga Vaa Vaa
Shanmugha Vaa Vaa
Malaiurayur muruga vaa vaa
Pazhani malai yurayur muruga vaa vaa

The audience remained mesmerised by his creativity. Swaras were rendered in Khanda nadai also. May be because of lack of time, thani was brief - for about 6 minutes. This was followed by the RTP. Sankarabharanam was handled with ease and aplomb for about 15 minutes and elaborate thanam was rendered. the pallavi was "Chandrakaladhara Samba sada siva''. Trikalam was done along with the neraval which was very scholarly. Elaborate swaras were rendered in two kalams and various nadais. Ragamalika swaras were rendered in the following ragas- Ahiri, Hamsanandi, A hindusthani raga which looked like Bageshree, Neelambari and Kapi which was quite mind boggling. Again there were a plethora of swaras in Sankarabharnam ending at rgmag, in the upper octave which was handled most effortlessly with customary kuraippu. The entire exercise was awesome. After the RTP, he took up sancharathara and I left after this item.

About the accompaniments. Chandrasekar played in his usual supportive and effective manner. But the mike was kept at a low volume in spite of repeated requests by himself and TNS. This affected the enjoyment of the concert. Vellore Ramabhadran and Suresh played their role very effectively giving a very good support to TNS and never overpowering him.

A most enjoyable concert which will linger in the minds of his rasikas for a lomg time.

smriti · Post by **smriti** » 31 Dec 2009, 11:48

I was just going to write about this concert and CRama beat me to it! We had originally planned to attend Sanjay @ MA but some confusion with transport took us here instead!! It was an absolute stunner. Like CRama I loved the variations in Kaavaavaa. We had to leave after the RTP. TNS rocks!!!