Ranjani and Gayathri at Krishna Gana Sabha-15 Aug2010

[CRama]

Ranjani and Gayathri presented an excellent concert on the Independence Day at Krishna Gana Sabha. They were supported by Charumathi Raghuraman on the Violin, K.V.Prasad on the Mridangam and Trichy K.Murali on the Ghatam.
The list of songs is presented below.
1.Varnam- Abhogi
2.Umayor paakane- Natai, Papanasam Sivan (S)
2.Sree Rajarajeswari-Poornachandrika- Deekshitar
4.Namakusumamula-Sree-Thyagaraja (R)
5.Kotinadulu-Thodi-Thyagaraja (S)
6.Ninne nammithinayya-Simhendramdhyamama-Mysore Vasudevachar (R,N.S)-Thani
7.RTP-Kambodi -Thanneer vittaa valarthom Sarvesa ippayirai kanneeraal anro kaathom

In fact this is the first live concert I am hearing of them. Right from the start, it was spirited, but not hurried. The selection of songs, ragas were very good. The natai song, I thought it was Neelakanta Sivan's, because of the structure of the song. Later the sisters announced that it was of Papanasam Sivan's. But the alapana of raga Sree was not clear. Only when the song started, I could get the raga. The song was rendered well. When you hear the song Namakusumamula, you will remember Semmangudi who has made this song immortal. Kotinadulu was taken straight without alapana and elaborate swaras in second kalam was done in the pattern of Ariyakudi. Simhendramadhyamam alapana was rendered in a very structured manner with every minute detail embedded into it. The alapana and the violin response were very good. Neraval at Pannagendrasayana and elaborate swaras were rendered. The tani was also very engaging. Later the raga alapana for the RTP was shared by both the sisters and it was done excellently. After the tanam, the pallavi line was appropriate for the day - a line from the poetry of Mahakavi Subramanya Bharati, about the independence. Ragamalika swaras included Hamsanadam, Mukhari, Bageshree and Desh. The hindustani ragas were handled very beautifully. The violin response for the swaras were very apt.
I left after the pallavi.

[rajeshnat]

7.RTP-Kambodi -Thanneer vittaa valarthom Sarvesa ippayirai kanneeraal anro kaathom
...
The pallavi line was appropriate for the day - a line from the poetry of Mahakavi Subramanya Bharati, about the independence.

mahakavi(Dr Sub)
Can you recollect the poetry of bharathi in this line please? Does this not come in kappalOTTiya thamizhan.

[mahakavi]

rajeshnat:
Thanks for asking. It is always a pleasure for me to dwell on the MAHAKAVI's works.
The first line of the song titled "sudantirap payir" goes as:
taNNIr viTTO vaLarttOm? sarvEsA! ipppayiraik kaNNIrAR kAttOm; karugat tiruvuLamO?
What a magnificent opening line to describe the yearning for independence! Most crops need water to grow. But the crop of independence requires a different kind of water--salty water. Not seawater but the one which comes from the tear glands! Why not sweat? That is also salty, right? No, sweat only involves labor. But tears come from agony, an inner yearning which knows no bounds. Normally saline water is detrimental to crops. But the crop of independence as Bharathi saw it required tons of salt water---TEARS! Bharathi prays to god that the crop should not be allowed to wither (karugudal).
The whole song goes on to wring tears from your eyes.

Yes, rajeshnat, the song was featured in the movie kappalOTTiya Thamizhan.

[mahakavi]

Incidentally there is another song starting as "enRu taNiyum indac cudantira tAgam?" in which Bharathi addresses his request to RAma.
The last line of that song, "venjceyal arakkarai vITTiDuvOnE! vIra sigAmaNi! Ariyar kOnE!" refers to RAma.

[Abhishek]

Wow, looks like a great concert. The pallavi in kAmbOji must have been amazing.
I read somewhere that kAmbOji is one of their favourite rAgams. Do you remember what tALam the pallavi was set to?