Bombay Sisters at Unnati, Bangalore -13th Aug 2011

[shreedarshan]

Vocal: Bambay Sisters [Smt Saroja and Smt Lalita]
Violin: Usha Rajagopal
Mridanga: K R Ganesh
Ghatam:H Sivaramakrishnan

1. Jaya Jaanakitanta - Nattai - Purandaradasa [S]
2. Gaanamurthe - Gaanamurthy - Tyagaraja [S]
3. Brocheva - Khamas - Mysore Vasudevachar
4. Hanumantha Devanamo - Poorvikalyani - Purandaradasa [ A, N, S]
5. Orajupuchu - Kannadagowla - Tyagaraja
6. Aalokaye Rukmini - Kambhoji - Naarayana Theertha [ A, N, S,T]
7. Ramakrishna Govinda - Bhadrachala Ramadasu
8. Ettanai Koti - Subramanya Bharathi
9. Krishna Ena Baarade -Raagamalika - Purandaradasa
10. Ugabhoga - Raagamalika followed by Neene Dayaalo - Purandaradasa
11. Thillana - ??
12. Mangalam.

A wonderful concert by Sangita Kalanidhi's -Bombay Sisters. The concert went on for a long time - close to 3.5 hrs. Kudos to them to sing for so long at their age with such a lively spirit. Pronunciation - perfect, presentation - neat -- i fall short of words...
Am glad that i attended their concert for various reasons. Firstly i enjoyed the whole concert. Nattai was lively with brisk swaras. Gaanamurthe was sung in great detail and swaras in the raaga were most welcome.
They proceeded with Brocheva after a brief raaga alaap by Smt. Lalitha. Smt Lalitha continued with Poorvikalyani alaap which was followed by a composition of Sage Purandaradasa which has been made quite popular by the sisters. Nerval at Hanumatha Devanamo and swaras were impressive. Kambhoji was elaborated in detail by Smt Saroja followed by a composition of Naarayana Theertha.

Post thani on request Bombay sis did speak for a couple of mins.. Smt Saroja expressed that it was indeed a blessing for them to have received "Sangitha Kalanidhi" title in the presence of their Guru Sangitha Kalanidhi Sri T.K Govinda Rao. [ They pointed out that it was indeed the first that Shisya(Bombay sis ) ever recieved the title in the presence of Guru(Sri T.K Govinda Rao- who is a "Sangitha Kalanidhi")]
They continued that their fruitful career spanning 5 decades is only because of the efforts of their father , gurus and support of various music lovers...
Post thani compositions were very enjoyable.. A wonderful concert which went on till 9.30 pm...
Great support on violin by Usha. Ganesh and sivaramakrishnan complemented each other as well.

[arasi]

Great to hear that the sisters sang for three and a half hours! Did they say anything about their guru's health? Is he feeling better?
Was the opener jaya jaya jaya jAnaki kAnta?
ettanai kODi inbam vaittAi nI: Subramania Bharathi

[shreedarshan]

Yes it was Jaya Jaanaki Kanta..They usually sing this composition as an opener..
Thanks have made the change --[ subramanya bharathi...]
They did mention about their guru's health. They were almost in tears when they mentioned about their guru Sri T.K Govinda Rao's health.
They were choaked with emotion mentioning that he was bed-ridden..

[rajeshnat]

Shreedarshan
Can you squeeze your memory to tell us what ugabhooga they sang. A rare submain and main.

[shreedarshan]

Rajesh-- here's the ugabhoga in dots ... and dashes
1. Puneetanadeno Mannisi salahaiyya ... Kalyana karivarada
2. Nijamatiyaagi paapagala maadi ---- samayadalli kesu .....
Krishna yendu ariyade ... Narayana yendu Ajaamilanu koogidaakshanave Appa Nee Anjabeda.Ninna naamava nenedu
puneetanaadeno
3. Rajasvalayada Draupadiya tandu Paapi Duryadhana... Maana Kedisuva Samayadalli krishna vijayasaarathe dwarakavaasa Aho
Purandara Vitthala Yendu Draupadi Koogidaakshanave .. Amma nee anjabeda...
This is all i could jot down as quickly as i could.. My apologies if there are any errors..

[srikant1987]

They pointed out that it was indeed the first that Shisya(Bombay sis ) ever recieved the title in the presence of Guru(Sri T.K Govinda Rao- who is a "Sangitha Kalanidhi")

But SSI would have graced MSS, TNK or KSN's "sadas" (or whatever it used to be called then). MVI might have also been present at SSI's.

[KSJaishankar]

Can think of a few more guru's possibly present at their shishyas' sadas (the gurus were definitely alive at the time of the sadas of honoring the shishya):

1) SSI - TMT
2) DKP - DKJ
3) Dr Pinakapani - Nedunuri garu
4) Possibly T S Sabhesa Iyer - Musiri

[rajeshnat]

MSS has learnt from Musiri too , in 1968 Musiri may have graced the occassion to wish MSS on her sadas.

On an interesting note,perhaps only Smt MSS had this uniqueness:
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Cienu said sometime before that MSS learnt few krithis of spencer venugopal from DKJ and she also learnt few krithis from KVN.
MSS may have graced DKJ and KVN during their SK years , but actually as a BIG sister , guru and celebrity, though she learnt as a sishya few krithis from DKJ/KVN .