Sri T N Seshagopalan @ Fine Arts Society, Chembur, Mumbai

[tyagarajadasa]

T. N.Seshagopalan - vocal
Nagai Sriram - Violin
R Ramesh - Mridangam
K.V.Gopalakrishnan - Kanjira

Sri TNS gave an amazing concert on 15th August. At the end of three hours, the list was as follows:

1.) mEru samAna - mAyA mALava gowLai - Adi - T (R, N,S @ gaLamuna)
2.) endarO mahanubhAvulu - sri - Adi - T (R,N,S @ rAmabhaktu)
3.) ADa mODi - chArukEsi - Adi -T (R,S @ mATalADa )
4.) nagumOmu - AbhEri - Adi - T (R,N,S,T)

Had to leave after tani so not sure what he sang after this.

The concert started on time. Sriram gave excellent support. Ramesh and KVG were brilliant, they could follow all the mathematical patterns that TNS sang. The best part of the kutcheri was the swarams at mATalAda mODi, due its rare eDuppu (27 aksharams talli). Although the patterns were vintage TNS ones, they sounded very fresh and interesting. Only a vidvan like TNS can handle ragas like Abheri without making them sound light. nagumOmu was brilliantly rendered followed by a very detailed round of neraval and swarams, which were again vintage TNS patterns! It felt as if I was listening to the TNS that I have heard on tapes! The tani was good, with many intelligent patterns in mishram and sankeerna naDai.

A special mention about the endarO mahAnubhAvulu. It was outstanding. The AlApana was the best I have heard for this rAga. The kalpana swarams and neraval were also very beautifully done. I got at least five messages from known people attending the concert that this was the most beautiful srI they had heard.

TNS sir is truly a legend. Had a nice evening. No shruti problems (my third TNS kutcheri in a row without such). Excellent acoustics and a sensitive audience. All in all, a kutcheri that made my weekend!

[squims]

Wow! Glad to hear TNS sir gave a kutcheri in his good old form. I've had bad experiences with him in the recent past.

And the song list is so interesting! Wonderful choice of raagams. I'm sure the Charukeshi would have been excellent. One of my favourite krithis.
And it's been a long time since I've seen Nagumomu on a song list, that too as a main piece. Wish we could have heard this!

Thanks for the report!

[tyagarajadasa]

@squims
Like I told you, it felt as if you were listening to the TNS of 70's -80's with a lower shruti that's all!

[CRama]

Very much delighted to hear about the TNS concert. The rasikas who were there were really fortunate.. Did he sing only 4 songs in the three hour concert? or some filllers are left out,
Charukesi he sings rarely. I have got two recordings. Simply fabulous. Did he sing Alapana, neraval and swaras for Endaro? If so, it should have been a treat.. My friends have told about a stunning Sree he rendered in Madras a few years back. Thanks for the review.

[tyagarajadasa]

It was supposed to be a 4 hour kutcheri, but from what I hear, TNS sang for 4.5 hrs!

And yes, exactly 4 kritis in 3 hours. My kid cousin brother was sooooo excited with this fact that he scribbled "Excellent kutcheri by Seshu Thatha " on his notebook

Normally I would get frustrated with anyone who sings charukesi and aabheri in the same kutcheri with detailed analysis, but yesterday was different. His aalapanas were very interesting. And the kalpana swarams and neraval were outstanding!

Could someone else who attended the concert post what he sang after the tani? Maybe a pallavi in desh ? Or a long rAgamAlikA viruttam??

[rajeshnat]

tyagarajadasa
Any specific reason of only T's krithis , was it because of you (tyagarajadasa) being there(just kidding). Singing just so few numbers requires an encyclopedic vidwat , incidentally I am sure you may have noticed that , just looking at the four rAgas from mmgowlai ^^^ sreee ^^^ chArukEsi ^^^ Abheri, he stepped up distinctly in aggression.

[tyagarajadasa]

rajesh,

Lets assume for the time being that what you said about why TNS sang only T kritis is true

Oh, his vidvat is unmatchable! Personally, I enjoyed Charukesi alapana more than Abheri. But kalpana swarams in both, the kanakku was simply outstanding. I understood most of it (because of its TNS stamp) and maybe Il post some time later.

[RRagini]

Seems to be a Merusamanam week in Mumbai!Tns sir sang in Fine arts,read here Gokul in Rasika ranjani and heard Saketraman sang it on 14th on Shanmukananda.

[jeyaar]

Sri.TNS sang an amazing RTP in Shubapantuvarali after the thani .No wards to express the experience!He ended the concert after a Ashtapathi and meera bhajan.the concert started at 5.35 and ended at 10.30P.M.

[squims]

Wow! A RTP in Shubhapantuvaraali! One of my all time favourite raagams! Is there even a tiny little chance that this concert was recorded?

[Jigyaasa]

What an amazing selection of ragas...! Is there any possibility that a recording of this concert can be made available with the artist and sabha's permission (if one was made that is)?

[Rasika911]

2.) endarO mahanubhAvulu - sri - Adi - T (R,N,S @ rAmabhaktu)

Would have loved to hear this. Sri Ragam is not elaborated much in concerts at all and has some closely allied ragas making it hard to render. Wish I could have been there

[RRagini]

Merusamanam week continues! Sriram Parashuram sang it yeserday in DD podigai in the program Ellame sangeethamthaan!

[Anandhabhairavi]

Truly 'Meru samana' is only TNS, is my opinion. With respect to the elaboration of raga sri, TNS had sung an RTP in sriraga way back in Bangalore for Carnatica.Still ringing in my ears.

[arasi]

Yes, so many mEru samAna-s within a few days! I recall at this moment the majestic mEru samAna sung by the veteran's guru himself. No wonder TNS is nspired every time he sings it!

[PUNARVASU]

How I wish I had stayed back for the wonderful Shubhapantuvarali. I left soon after the tani.My loss!
Anyway happy that I listened for 3 hours.

[KV.Gopalakrishnan]

Hello All,

it was a real wonderful concert and i'm so so glad that i had a part in that concert...

@ tyagarajadasa : thanks for starting the thread...

KVG