Dr. Hemalata (V)
Mannarkoil J Balaji (M)
K V Gopalakrishnan (Kh)
Nayaki, 16-Jan-2010 6:15 PM (ACC Hall, Kotturpuram)
1. ? (missed. probably a varnam)
2. tuLasI daLamulacE - MMG - T (?, S)
3. janani ninnu vina - rItigowla - Sub Sastri (R)
4. piravA varam tArum - latAngi -PS (R, NS@piravA varam)
5. cEtah SrI bAlakrishNam - dwijAvanti - D (S)
6. nArAyaNAya namO mAdhavAya - madhyama rAvali - NT
7. bAlagOpAla - bhairavi - D (RST, S@neela neerada)
8. iduvO tillai cidamabara kshEtram - sindhu bhairavi - GKB
9. tillAnA - ?
10. pavamAna - sowrAshTram - T
It was a very good and relaxing concert by the mother-daughter duo with excellent support from all around. Both the vocalists have superb voices, but I have to admit I found the youngster's voice a tad sweeter and highly energetic. I was late by 10 minutes or so; entered in the middle of kalapana swaram for tulasi dala. Not sure if there was an AlApana in MMG and what they sang before that. I tried best but couldn't identify the raga of the tillana that wnt 'tarana dhirana dheemta dhirana'. Smt Lakshmi thankfully announced the raga of the Narayana Teerthar song but I have never even come across the name 'madhyama raavali' before!
All the manodharmam portions were shared equally between Lakshmi, Subhiksha and Hemalata, with good contribution from all three. Mother and daughter seemed to know well when to continue from each other, except on a couple of occasions in the non-manodharmam part when daughter tried jumping to the next line while mother was doing one more repetition of the previous line. Their smiles said it all
The violinist's support was very good through out and she gave superb returns. Mridangam support was good throughout without being excessive at any point. I felt the Khanjira artiste could have played some more, he seemed very restrained. The alternating support by Mridangam and Khanjira for the Neraval & swara rounds by Lakshmi/Subhiksha/Hemalata provided for different combinations (each of the three being accompanied by Mridangam for one round and Khanjira the next) was very pleasing to the ears. The tani was short and sweet and without gimmicks.
The organizers announced the mridangist's name as 'mannargudi J Balaji' but I assume it is our fellow forumite mannarkoil!
The concert venue is compact with a chamber-feel, with comfortable and noiseless air conditioning and a good sound system with just the right volume levels. The audience was thin - perhaps some 40 folks. Everybody around seemed to be past their 50s except for me, the sound technician and the artistes on stage!