Smt.Suguna Varadhachari at NGS(mini) {Spl.Concert}

[karaharapriyajanyam]

Smt.Suguna Varadhachari presented a special concert for Carnatica yesterday at Narada Gana Sabha Mini Hall. The topic was 'Various forms of Carnatic Music'. It was a delightful concert where she sang an ata tala varnam, a pada varnam, a swarajathi, a duritha kala kriti, a chowka kala kriti, a ragamalika, a padam, a jhAvali and a thillAna in that order. The accompanists for the evening were Smt.Hemalatha on the violin and Sri. Trivandrum Balaji on the mridangam. The songs that were presented are as follows:

1) samukha - nAttai - ata - Thanjai Vadivelu Nattuvanar
This varnam was very nice and different. The usage of shatshruthi dhaivatham was predominant in this varnam. Excellent piece to begin the concert.

2) pada varnam - dhanyAsi(sketch)
Sorry. I don't remember the starting words exactly. I think it started like ' E maguva'. It was another rare pada varnam from a largely unheard composer. Smt.Suguna announced it but I forgot.

3) bhairavi - swarajathi - one of the Thanjavur Quartette (sketch)
This was a thamizh swarajathi that roughly started with 'thAye...neelAyadhatchiyE'. It was a superb swarajathi with a lot of beautiful gamaka oriented phrases, swaraksharas and other nuances presented in the most sublime manner by Smt.Suguna.

4) paralOkabhaya - mandhAri - Adi - Thyagarajar
This kriti was sung in duritha kAla. It is a favorite of the Musiri School. Fine example of a speedy kriti.

5) shankarAchAryam - shankarAbharanam - Adi - Subburama Dikshithar (RNST)
The main piece of the evening was the chowka kAla kriti. This was presented with a hair-rising Alapana, that so beautifully covered the scope of shankarabharanam in a short time. Violinist also played very well. The kriti was presented followed by a splendid neraval at some place in the charanam, I think. I don't seem to remember. Maybe if someone could kindly provide lyrics, I can tell. The swarakalpana was also very good. Thani was entertaining. Successful accompaniment by both the artistes helped enhance the concert.

6) rAgamAlika in 7 rAgas - tOdi, pUrvikalyAni, bhairavi, varAli, kAmbhOji,kalyAni and mukhAri(not in order) and 7 thalams- dhruva. matya, rupaka, jampa, triputa, ata and eka composed by one of the Tanjore Quartette. This was a tamizh rAgamAlika and was extremely classical, in 7 rAgas and 7 thAlas. Rarely heard and superb.

7) padam - kAmbhOji
I don't remember the starting words. But, it was a different and nice padam. Sounded more like a kriti, IMHO.

8 ) jhAvali - surati
I think it had the words 'mariyAda theliya...'

9) thillAna - parAs
Enticing thillana in paras. This was the last piece in this extra special, one-of-its-kind concert!!

Kudos to Carnatica, for organizing Series like these. It was very educating and entertaining as well.

[prashant]

The varNam in dhanyAsi would be 'E maguva bOdhinCarA' a composition of maisUr sadAshiva rAu.

The swarajati in bhairavi is 'nI aruLAyO tAyE'.

[rajeshnat]

6) rAgamAlika in 7 rAgas - tOdi, pUrvikalyAni, bhairavi, varAli, kAmbhOji,kalyAni and mukhAri(not in order) and 7 thalams- dhruva. matya, rupaka, jampa, triputa, ata and eka composed by one of the Tanjore Quartette. This was a tamizh rAgamAlika and was extremely classical, in 7 rAgas and 7 thAlas. Rarely heard and superb.

I have heard few years back the same ,IIRC the name of this masterpiece is sulAdi tAla rAgamAlika. The composer is Tanjore Ponniah Pillai. The lines were ninAinduOOTu ...dhuruvam???

7 ragas in succession with a mini round of cittaswaras with tAlam getting changed. I remember that day mannArkOil balAji played with his forum id,this day it was trivandrum balAji, in short 'balAji special'.

[Nick H]

It was a good concert. My attention span does not really extend to two consecutive concerts, and I had attended the previous performance by Sumitra Vasudev, which I enjoyed enormously.

The accompanists played for both performances, with no sign of physical discomfort, tiredness, lack of inspiration --- quite a marathon. Judging by the number of times I see her name in The Hindu listings, Hemalatha needs no recommendation --- but she is just about my favourite accompanist. Her playing is so beautiful, but, above all, she adjusts amazingly according to the style of the main artist. Her solo concert a month or so ago was excellent, and I very much hope to see more of her centre-stage in the future.

[Lakshman]

The rAgamAlika is by K.Ponniah Pillai. Here are the lyrics:

ninaindODi vandEn. rAgamAlikA. dhruva tALA.

(rAgA: tODi)
ninaindODi vandEn ninmalanE ninaduruvam kANa viraindu E
(rAgA: pUrvikalyANi)
manamagizh pUrvakalyANi maTTiyambakkETTAi manurugiyE
(rAgA: bhairavi)
ghana rUpam pIri bhairavi tan adhipatiyE karudaru poruLE
(rAgA: kalyANi)
vanamAm kalyANi OrpAl virumbiya vangAra mArbA vAsam paindAr
(rAgA: kAmbhOji)
tina madhuNDE girImrIm rIm enAt-tripuTayoDu kAmbhOji
(rAgA: mukhAri)
munagiDAd-inid-isaikkavE manam urugiyE haTayOgi enavumE amarndAi
murai iduvAgumO pughavillaiyO iduvE migha mukhAriyil
(rAgA: varALi)
enadu kuraiyEga EttuginrEn varALiyil peruvuDaiyAnE unnai

[karaharapriyajanyam]

The varNam in dhanyAsi would be 'E maguva bOdhinCarA' a composition of maisUr sadAshiva rAu.

The swarajati in bhairavi is 'nI aruLAyO tAyE'.

Yes, indeed these were the pieces rendered.

[MV]

5) shankarAchAryam - shankarAbharanam - Adi - Subburama Dikshithar (RNST)
The main piece of the evening was the chowka kAla kriti. This was presented with a hair-rising Alapana, that so beautifully covered the scope of shankarabharanam in a short time. Violinist also played very well. The kriti was presented followed by a splendid neraval at some place in the charanam, I think. I don't seem to remember. Maybe if someone could kindly provide lyrics, I can tell. The swarakalpana was also very good. Thani was entertaining. Successful accompaniment by both the artistes helped enhance the concert.

The charanam for Shankaracharyam is 'Parama Gnana Lataala Vaalam' - perfect place for Neraval! And it sounds like a great list of songs