P. Unnikrishnan - Vocal
Embar Kannan - Violin
Arjun Kumar - Mrdangam
Date: Sun May 23, 2010
Time : 3:00 PM -
Venue: Hindu Temple of Atlanta, Riverdale, GA
Song List
1) evari bOdhana (varnam) - Abhogi
2) dEva dEva kalayAmita - mAyAmAlavagowlai -
(neraval at jAdarUpa)
3) purushOthamadani - rEvagupti - - annamayyA -
4) banTu rIti kOlu - hamsanAdham -
5) rAmachandram bhAvayAmi - vasantA
6) RTP - shanmukhapriyA - khanda jAthi triputa
priyE, gIta priyE, sangIta priyE, sadA shanmukhapriyE
(hamsAnandi - kApi + varAli _ bahudari)
7) rama rama rama sitA ramA enirO - thilang
8 sri chakra rAja simhasanEswari - rAgamalika
9) sri vallabha sri valsangita sri vaikuntapathE (Malayalam) - ?
10) pibarE rAma rasam - ahIr bhairav
incomplete
I went to this concert with not too much expectation but it went better than expected. Although Unnikrishnan's voice was slightly gruffy in higher ranges, he put enormous effort to sound right and bring in bhavam. The whole atmosphere and the experience was very energetic. The unprecendented crowd would have been inspiring for any performer I should say. It is very rare to see so many in audience for a carnatic concert. I think quite bit of credit should go to the organizers for attracting so many people. The cause and the Unnikrishnan' name (any association with movie sure sells) would have been the other factors. But anyway coming back to the concert, although he sang simple numbers, he sang them very well. He shone in hamsanAdham and the RTP.
Embar Kannan was playing a bit restrained I thought till RTP. He really came into his own and showed his skill in the entire RTP.
I have to specially mention Arjun Kumar. He played so well that it almost seemed that the violin and vocal were accompanying. Such was his anticipation and playing exactly to what was being singing and played. Normally I do not like the Mrdangam being loud. But on this occassion I did not mind it being slightly on the louder side. Mrdangam certainly rised the level of cutchery several notches that day.
After the RTPs, the chits really started pouring in . I made out from Arjun Kumar's gestures using his fingers to Embar sitting across, while glancing at a chit, meaning - not one, not two, not three but four requests in the same chit. I had to leave as the tukkadas were being sung and my song list is incomplete.
Overall, a very good concert. A little more time could have spent in weighty numbers instead of so many tukkadas.
Thanks Mahakavi