Vid Neela Ramgopal, accompanied by Vid R K Shriramkumar on the violin, Vid Patri on the mridangam, Vid Dr.Kartik on the Ghatam at Sri Rama Lalitha Kala Mandira, Bsk 2nd Stage, Bangalore at 530 PM on the 29th (Sunday) - this weekend.
Thank you, Jayan!
Glad to know you were in town to make it to the concert.
There are always a song or two in her list which I haven't heard before!
Hope a review follows.
Arasi - it was a most awesome concert - we're still engulfed in a feeling of well-being that generates after such a concert! And Neela Mami's forte has always been in getting rare pieces to the audience....
The solidity of the concert was established with a brief sketch of begada followed by an all-time favourite varnam, intha chala…the nattai thyagraja kriti (rare piece) had real interesting swara-patterns; Gaurishaaya namasthe – I’d like to believe that mami has been the one who popularized this kriti; and then there was the majestic Sahana - inimitable ‘pidis’ in the alaapanai, not to mention the wonderful neraval, and kalpanaswaras.
I almost jumped up with joy hearing the commencement of todi – what a glorious alaapanai! If I thought the alaapanai moved and excited me, the neraval was something else! The neraval line was *superb* and when mami sang “lokanaayaki†– the audience was indeed moved to tears – Shubha Sampath, one of the sponsors of this concert – turned around and said “there’s no one who can sing neraval the way Neela Mami does!†how true indeed! Pertinent to mention that Patri’s playing for the neraval was simply too good – his anticipation, accompaniment honestly uplifted the concert and mami could really bring to the fore her entire range!
The Pallavi was in Hemavathi – and I think it was tishra-jambai (mishra nadai) – great pallavi!
Needless to mention the percussion dept was outstanding with Patri and Dr.Karthik duo. Shriram Kumar is probably one of the most respected violinists in this forum - and I don't think I would mention anything more that we wish we could hear such concerts more often!
I understand that Neela Mami is singing at the IIT Music Club (Chennai) sometime mid-September !
Gardabha_gana: I don't think any 'formal' recording was done - a couple of Neela Mami's students could've recorded, but the quality may not be great.
Ravi,
Thanks! Google search has also given me some leads. In fact, one of them is a discussion on our forum in Oct 2009, about Neela Ramagopal's another concert where she has sung this krti. The rAga in which she has sung has not been mentioned in that thread either!