Malladi Bros @Nadasurabhi Festival, Bangalore on 09/11/2011

[squims]

Vocal: Malladi Brothers; Sri. Sriram Prasad & Sri. Ravikumar
Violin: Sri. H.K. Venkatram
Mridangam: Sri. Tumkur B Ravishankar
Ghatam: Sri. Shashishankar

1. Tharuni ninnu (Varnam) - Kamboji - Adi - Ponnuswami
2. Panchamatanga mukha [R S] - Malahari - Rupakam - Muthuswamy Dikshitar
3. Munduvenuga - Darbar - Adi (2 kalai) - Tyagaraja
4. Swaminathena [R S] - Brindavana Saranga - Adi - Muthuswamy Dikshitar
5. Teliyaleru Raama - Dhenuka - Adi - Tyagaraja
6. Venkataramana - Lathangi - Rupakam
7. Kamakshi Amba [R N S T] - Bhairavi - Misra chapu - Syama Sastry
Neraval and Swarams @ SyAma krSNa sahOdarI Siva SankarI paramESwarI
8. RTP - Charukeshi - Adi (2 kalai)
Pallavi line: manamOhana harE mAdhava, madhusUdhana pAhi
Ragamalika: Dhanyasi, Malayamarutham, Abheri, Mohanam
9. Brahma Kadigina - Mukhari - Adi - Annamayya
10. Venkataramanane baaro - Behag - Adi - Purandaradasa
11. Maa Ramachandruniki jaya mangalam, followed by, Mangala shlokam in Mahdyamavathi

Listening to the brothers after a while, and they did not disappoint. It was a very well balanced selection of songs.
Throughout the concert, the raaga aalaapanais were the strongest feature, be it even the very brief sketch of Malahari.
The swarams in Bhairavi could have lasted a wee bit longer perhaps. No gripes otherwise.
The highlight of the concert (for me) was the Brindavana Saranga aalaapanai by Sri. Ravikumar. It was soulful singing.

About the accompanists:
H.K. Venkatram was dependable as always. His responses embellished the concert further.

Ravishankar and Sashishankar were adequate in their parts. I found the mridangam slightly intrusive during the Bhairavi swarajati, but otherwise, it was good accompaniment. The thani was good. Not much nadai bedham.

Overall, a very good concert. Looking forward to more such concerts (hopefully) at the same venue for the rest of the week!

P.S. I'm sorry to say the audience was the worst kind. People were chit chatting non-stop and there were people with uncontrollable kids. Not to mention old aunties and uncles who think it is fine to hum along loudly with the artistes. No amount of glaring at any of the above specimens helps.
And I found the help-desk kind of thing INSIDE the hall a glaring distraction. People kept going over to it during the performance to ask for one thing or the other. The organisers themselves sat there and talked at the top of their voices. I expected better from the likes of nadasurabhi. I hope that desk/table is shifted outside or at least to the very back of the hall.

[srikant1987]

Listening to the brothers after a while, and they did not disappoint.

Just like your "report" after a while does not disappoint.

The list is really beautiful! Wish I could have made it to the concert!

[kssr]

I liked the Bhairavi best and what a composition ! Hats off to the Great Trio (English for Trimuthi - with great obeisance.) A very large hall. I chose a "back seat" to avoid the predictable disturbances.