Trichur Brothers @ Toronto - April 17, 2010

[Abhishek]

April 17, 2010
BhArathi KalA Manram, Toronto

Vocal: Sri.Srikrishna Mohan & Sri.Ramkumar Mohan
Violin: Sri VV Ravi
Mridangam: Sri Trichur Sri. Mohan
KanjIrA: Sri. KArthik VenkatarAman

1. Neranammi - VarNam (KAnada - Khanda JAthi Triputa TAlam - Poochi Iyengar)
2. GajAnanayutham (ChakravAham - Adi - Dikshitar) [S]
3. KAmAkshi - Swarajathi (Bhairavi - Mishra ChApu - ShyAmA SAstri) [outline, N]
4. SadhAchalEswaram (BhUpALam - Adi - Dikshitar) [RS]
5. Sujana JeevanA (KhamAs - Rupakam - ThyAgarAjar) [N]
6. KA vA vA (VarALi - Adi - PApanAsam Sivan) [RS]
7. Cheta Sri (DwijAvanthi - 2Kalai Rupakam - Dikshitar) [S]
8. ShObillu (JaganmOhini - Rupakam - ThyAgarAjar)
9. RAgam TAnam Pallavi (KalyAni - 2 Kalai Adi) Followed by Tani
Pallavi Line: harE rAma gOvindha murArE, mukundha sowrE murahara
RAgamAlika Swarams: Ananda Bhairavi, Valaji, BhAgeshri, KApi
10. EnnEramam - (DEvagAndhAri - 2Kalai Adi - GopAlakrishNa BhArathi)
12. VandE MAtaram (DEsh - Adi - Bankim Chandra Chatterjee)
13. TillAnA (BehAg - Adi TAlam Tishra Nadai - LAlgudi JayarAman)
14. PavamAna (Sowrastram - Adi - ThyAgarAjar) Followed by a slokam in MadhyamAvathy

This was an outstanding concert by the brothers. I heard them live for the first time last December, at the MylApore Fine Arts Club in Chennai, but I was way more impressed this time. Probably because they had more time here, they were able to relax and fully show their talent to their audience. Because they were performing for the first time in Canada, they started the concert with a varnam in rAgam kAnada. The swarams in chakravAkam were brisk and energetic. They sang this in their MFAC concert too. The beautiful swarajathi in one of my fav rAgams, bhairavi, was rendered with complete bhAvam and melody. As expected, they did neraval at shyAma krishna sahOdari. Both brothers truly excel in neraval singing, I wonder why they don't sing it so often. I remember in their MFAC concert, they didn't sing neraval at all.

The elaborate bhUpAlam alApanai that followed went a bit into the HindustAni style, which wasn't very appealing to me. I also heard nishAdam in a few places, but everything else was fine. The brothers made up for their alApanai when they sang swarams at the pallavi. The brothers have incredible speed, I don't know how they manage to sing swarams so fast. Next was one of my favourites, sujana jeevanA in the uplifting rAgam of khamAs. They did neraval in ChAru netra, with some very beautiful phrases of khamAs. The only thing I noticed in their neraval was that they were using the kAkali nishAdam, which is not apparent in this song. Can the kAkali nishAdam be used even if it's not there in the original song? I would be grateful if someone could clarify.

An elaborate alApanai (Carnatic style this time) of varALi brought out their clarity in akAram and brighas. When I spoke to one of the brothers after the concert, he told me that they do akAra sadanai every day. The hard work has really paid off. Swarams in kAvAvA were amazing, ending in kAvAvA, murugAvAvA, and pazhani malai urayum murugAvAvA. They did swarams in thishram for a while too. The ending korvai, which the brothers have created themselves (I clarified this with one of the brothers after the concert) was lovely, and gave a fitting finish to the song.

DwijAvanthi, as usual, had the power to melt our hearts. The swarams were dealt with great care, and seemed very peaceful. The RTP in KalyAni was the main piece of the concert. The AlApanai and tAnam were shared by both. They did greha bEdham by going into thOdi, from nishAdam to nishAdam. Their father played the mridangam for the tAnam, which wasn't so appealing at first, but grew into me later. The pallavi was simple, yet beautiful. Because the concert was already well beyond 2.5 hours in duration, they cut the pallavi short by only singing swaram. Without going into mEl kAlam, they went straight to the rAgamAlikA swarams, and gradually went into mEl kAlam. The younger brother did valaji, which sounded amazing. TrikAlam was done at the end. EnnErAmam and vandEmAtaram were completely soul-stirring, and the tillAna gave a nice finish to the whole concert.

Overall, this was a truly remarkable concert. Accompanists were all in great form. My pick of the concert would certainly be the neraval in bhairavi, and probably the swarams in varALi. If they could avoid going into the HindustAni style in alApanais, they should be able to come up to the top in no time. I look forward to hearing more of their concerts in the future.

-Abhishek Iyer.

[rajeshnat]

1. Neranammi - VarNam (KAnada - Khanda JAthi Triputa TAlam)
12. VandE MAtaram (DEsh - Adi)
....
Because they were performing for the first time in Canada, they started the concert with a varnam in rAgam kAnada.

neranammi is by poochi iyengar(I am sure you know that) and vandE mAtaram is by bankim chandra chatterjee(just may be you did not know that).

For your age of 2 power 4 , you are writing a fanta fabulous review , When the trichur brothers perform the second time in canada, they may next start with the rAgam kannada(in thamizh you write the country canada as kannada right).

[mahavishnu]

good one, Rajesh.
Abhishek, thanks for another wonderful review.

[arasi]

Abhishek,
Thanks for the review.
Rajesh,
Wonder if it was bArati's vandE mAtaram enbOm in tamizh...

[cacm]

I wish to comment on the Raga Alapana Style. After a very long time- actually afterKVN- I feel these brothers are the perfect ones to counter the argument that South Indian Vocalists do not have what it takes when it comes to Sruti&Swarasthana Suddham. They are so IMPECCABLE it came as a shock to me that two persons singing together can ACTUALLY maintain PERFECTION thru' out the concert. Naturally their background enables them to present the kritis with true understanding& diction also in a superior fashion.
I strongly feel that they should present their Alapanas with North Indian INFLUENCES like being able to dwell on individual Swaras perfectly because VERY FEW OTHERS CAN! It makes the music reach a FAR HIGHER level sonically&technically. I heard them first in Cleveland & congragulate the CAC on discovering such Extra-ordinary talent.
I feel they can blossom into a great pair raisng the LEVEL of music being currently delivered. VKV

[cmlover]

Good point VKV. We can debunk the notion that shruti shuddham is the prerogative of HM only.
These youngsters are going places as I have already heard raving reviews about them. It is so nice of CAC to have brought them to NA. Let us also compliment the youngster who has done the review who also sings. Another fine NA talent to watch for..
Apparently Toronto is getting some fine CM performers this year who are getting inspired by the milieu. Bodes well for CM in Canada...

[Abhishek]

....
neranammi is by poochi iyengar(I am sure you know that) and vandE mAtaram is by bankim chandra chatterjee(just may be you did not know that).

For your age of 2 power 4 , you are writing a fanta fabulous review , When the trichur brothers perform the second time in canada, they may next start with the rAgam kannada(in thamizh you write the country canada as kannada right).

Thanks for your appreciation sir! I must say, for review writing, you are definitely my inspiration. Everyone looks forward to your detailed and interesting reviews!

Thanks for the corrections. Mahavishnu and cmlover, thanks once again for the warm appreciation.