R.K.Padmanabha @ Nadasurabhi, Koramangala on 21.3.2010

[kssr]

Gaana Kala Bhushana Vidwan R.K.Padmanabha Vocal
Vidwan C.N.Chandrasekar Violin
Vidwan C.Cheluvaraju Mridangam
Vidwan M.A.Krishnamurthy Ghatam

List of Songs

1. Slokam - Sarvo vidya vivardha – Abhogi
2. Varnam- Evari bodhana – Abhogi
3. Anandamrutakarshini – Amrutavarshini
4. Enta veduko – Saraswati Manohari
5. Ninna daya iralu nanage – Sambhodyuti - RKP
6.Talachi Nantane – Mukhari - Main
7.Ganabhaktiya Shivashaktiyu - Shivashakti – RKP
8.Mokshamu galadaa – Saaramati
9. Hanave Ninnaya Gunavenu - Mohanam – Vadiraja
10. RTP – Panthuvarali -
11.Tani Avartanam
12. Slokam - Jwalat kaanti manthram – Ragamalika
13. Shringa Purandheshwari Sharade
14.Papavimochani paavani – Revathi – RKP
15.Slokam- Shruti smriti puranam – Hamsanandi
16.Thillana – Hamsanandi- RKP
17.Ellanu balle – Madhyamavathi – Purandara Dasar
18. Mangalam

It was a power packed concert . A rich and scholarly presentation of Vidwan R.K.Padmanabha enthralled the packed hall at the Indian Heritage Academy. The artist developed a rapport by communicating with the audience ,the speciality and intricacy of each composition. The amount of learning and training that must have gone in, to be able to make such an impactful presentation was evident during the concert. Sri. Padmanabha was generous to give credit to the great masters from whom he has learnt many of the present concert's attributes, either directly or through listening to their performances- Titte Krishna Iyengar, Musiri Subramani Iyer, and Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer. The deep resonant voice with flawless adherence to Sruti, will be long remembered by the august assembly of rasikas.

The artist gave a vibrant start to the concert by opening with the Abhogi varnam Evari Bhoda and singing in four speeds. After passing through two popular kritis Anandamrudakarshini and Entaveduko, Sri. Padmanabha presented his own composition on his maanasika guru Vadiraja in the rare raga, Sambhodyuti. Then he plunged into a bhava laden elaborate (too elaborate??) presentation of Mukhari alapana followed by Talachi Nanthanenaa of Thyagaraja. One more own composition on Shiva in the raga Sivasakthi was the next piece. One Vadiraja composition for which explanation was given, was followed by the main piece, a detailed RTP in Pantuvarali. The thaanam is probably one of the most extensive ones, one could have heard in recent times. The different types of taanams namely Mayura thaanam (peacock dance with its wings spread out), Rudra thaanam (Shiva thandavam), Ghanta thaanam(Bell) , Ashwa taanam (Horse trot), Shanka thaanam (blowing of the conch), Markata taanam (Jumping), Bhringi taanam (buzzing of the bee) and Naabhi taanam (deep sound from naabhi) were demonstrated, as part of this taanam presentation.Rudra and Bhringhi taanams are his own creations. A quick succession of ragamalika swarams were embedded in the Pallavi. The thani avarthanam was followed by a few Devarnaamaas.

The concert was definitely an impressive one with both its variety and depth. Violinist Vidwan C.N.Chandrasekar gave gentle support to the powerful vocalist. Veteran percussionists Sri. Cheluvaraju and Sri. M.A. Krishnamurthy had to work hard not to lose steam and to keep pace with the long strings of high speed sangathis, neraval, thaanam and swaraprasthaarams of the main artist, which they did admirably.

[rajeshnat]

..
6.Talachi Nantane – Mukhari - Main
10. RTP – Panthuvarali -
The thaanam is probably one of the most extensive ones, one could have heard in recent times. The different types of taanams namely Mayura thaanam (peacock dance with its wings spread out), Rudra thaanam (Shiva thandavam), Ghanta thaanam(Bell) , Ashwa taanam (Horse trot), Shanka thaanam (blowing of the conch), Markata taanam (Jumping), Bhringi taanam (buzzing of the bee) and Naabhi taanam (deep sound from naabhi) were demonstrated, as part of this taanam presentation.Rudra and Bhringhi taanams are his own creations.

kssr
Why you have used a small font in your review , by mistake did you select the small font size.
# Talachi nantane is a rare mukhAri of T. I knew this number for the first time only a year or two back ,where was the neraval
# Also am interested to hear different tAnams that you described. Would it be possible to get either the recording for free or in a commercial CD.

[rajaglan]

Looks like a good concert. Songlist looks great , many unusually heard songs.
Are you planning to attend all Fort high school concerts and write reviews.

[kssr]

Looks like a good concert. Songlist looks great , many unusually heard songs.
Are you planning to attend all Fort high school concerts and write reviews.

I wish I could. But that is very unlikely. If luck could have it, may be a couple of good ones. Let us see.

[kssr]

kssr
Why you have used a small font in your review , by mistake did you select the small font size.
# Talachi nantane is a rare mukhAri of T. I knew this number for the first time only a year or two back ,where was the neraval


# Also am interested to hear different tAnams that you described. Would it be possible to get either the recording for free or in a commercial CD.

1.Interesting that you noticed it. Actually I had written the review as a text file, copied and pasted on this page. The font looked huge, so I reduced the size. But I guess it was not a bad idea. The review is quite long and with the normal size, no one would have probably bothered to read it!!

2.Neraval and Swara @ Naada Brahmananda Roopa.

3.I have made a crude recording. If you want, I can make a CD and send- your address may be sent to [email protected].

[kssr]

# Also am interested to hear different tAnams that you described

3.I have made a crude recording. If you want, I can make a CD and send- your address may be sent to [email protected].

Or is there a way to upload an mp3 or wav file from this site itself? What can be the max size of file? Pls advise.

[rajeshnat]

# Also am interested to hear different tAnams that you described

3.I have made a crude recording. If you want, I can make a CD and send- your address may be sent to [email protected].

Or is there a way to upload an mp3 or wav file from this site itself? What can be the max size of file? Pls advise.

If artists permission is there one can upload(if at all you can approach RKP and gives his consent it is ok), other wise it is best not to use this forum to share the recording.

[kssr]

I am fully aware of this. If there had been a problem, I would never have even mentioned about the recording (once again I repeat, not of good quality).

[dikshitarbhaktha]

rk padmanabhan has a great voice.
sometimes i feel he is not making best use of it by overdoing all these tanams - which i dont enjoy personally.
his viruttams are emotional and classy though.
great musician....

[kssr]

sometimes i feel he is not making best use of it by overdoing all these tanams - which i dont enjoy personally.

Interestingly RKP himself mentioned that these taanams are difficult to sing and sometimes also difficult to listen (!!). But it is the duty of artists to "educate" the audience. OK. Will take it as it is.

My impressions from this concert under review is that
a. he is improving very much from each time to the next.
b. he has got terrific imagination. On one occasion, he mimicked the sound related to a particular animal or bird appearing in the sahitya that he was singing, all as part of his singing itself. Quite nice.

What his concerts miss probably is a "characteristic" of its own. It is like bits and pieces from different good singers put together. Also, as if to prove the point that he is as good if not better than all other vidwans, he goes on and on with ragas, swaras, neravals, to the point it really becomes a bit tiresome.
But as all would agree he is a great musician and his concerts are definitely worth going to.

[bkishore]

any audio link pl