MADURAI T.N.SESHAGOPALAN AT NCA ON 19 /12

[CRama]

Sangeetha Kalanidhi TN.Seshagopalan presented an awesome concert for the Nungambakkam Cultural Academy at Ramarao Kalyana Mantap Hall in Habibulla Road on 19 Dec. M.Chandrasekharan, Thrissur Narendran and H.Sivaramakrishnan (Ghatom) were the members of his team. The list of songs.

Nadopasana,Begada,Adi, 2 kalai,Thyagaraja
Nadaloludai,Kalyanavasantham,Roopakam,Thyagaraja
Venkatasaila vihara,Hameerkalyani,Subbaraya Sastri
Vanchathonunaa,Karnaranjini,Adi (Tisranadai),HMB,
Sree Kamalambikayah Kataakshithoham,Sankarabharanam,Roopakam (2Kalai),Deekshithar,
Slokam-Sancharadhara-Ashtapadi,Sudhasarang
Thillana,Dhanasree,Adi,SwathiThirunal
Mangalam

TNS was in top form today and nobody can make a crib about sruthi lapse, voice not cooperating etc. Blessed were those who attended this concert.

The concert had a sprightly start with Nadopasana without spending time on starters. This song can be judged as the touchstone for Begada and he did ample justice to the raga bhavam and melodic content of the raga. It was rendered in the appropriate kalapramanam and some very attractive swaras were rendered in two kalams for the pallavi. Next he took up the alapana of Kalyanavasantham. This was a surprise for me as he rarely takes up this ragam for elaboration. Probably he would have chosen this ragam seeing Vidwan Maharajapuram Ramachandran who was in the audience. The raga was rendered elaborately for about 8 minutes in all its splendour. The alapana contained lot of brighas, jaru prayogas all in their places. Neraval was done at Varamoudulupaasinchare. The entire gamut of the raga was covered by the exhaustive neraval in two kalams and swarams also rendered in two kalams. There were many swaraaksharaprayogams in sa daa and sa daa was presented in three octaves during the kalpanaswarams. While executing koraippu nearly 50 avartanams were done anchoring around daa. It was an amazing feat.
After Veankatasaila vihara, Karnaranjini was taken up for elaboration. A raga which has been given shape by TNS himself in the eightees. After detailed alapana for 7 minutes the song was presented which brought nostalgic memories of his concerts of eightees.

Sankarabharanam was chosen for the main song and it was explored with all intrinsic prayogas for about 15 minutes, his voice fully under his control facilitating to present a vast panorama of the ragam. The third Navaavarana kriti of Deekshitar was chosen for giving the richly deserved majestic treatment. This song is rarely heard in the concerts. The song was presented in a leisurely kalapramaanam. The song itself is so structured that nobody can alter the pace of the song. Neraval was done at Ananthagolkandha naayaka Sankaranaayikayaam. It was really marvellous - a high class experience for those who were fortunate to attend. Rasikas sat mesmerised at the neraval. After the final round of neraval, when MC was to take up his turn, he kept the violin down and said"Neenga ippadi paadinathukkappuram naan enna vasikka". To which TNS replied "Neenga vaasikka naan ketkanum. Neengal vaasikkanumnnu thaan naan ippadi paadinen". Swaras in two kalams were rendered and most of the sancharams hovered around mel ga as his voice was totally at his control. The koraippu were intelligently and aesthetically done. The thani lasted for 10 minutes. After the thani, he started the slokam in Sudha sarang which also was very elaborate with all its nuances- nearly 7 minutes which was a treat in itself. The concert ended with the thillana.

Regarding violin, MC's accompaniment was enthralling as he always does. His alapanas for Kalyanavasantham and Sankarabharanam added colour to the concert. His swara replies, neravals all were aesthetically presented and he was the first rasika of TNS music. Thrissur Narendran also played exceedingly well, closely following the main singer, never intrusive at the same time showing his skills at the appropriate places. The thani by himself and Sivaramakrishnan was of a high order. There was very good team spirit visible in the stage which sometimes eludes. On the whole, a wonderful concert experience.

[Sivaramakrishnan]

Thanks CRama for the marvelous report. It's a consolation for those who cudnt make it to the programme.

(Even if you are in Chennai during the season, it is a difficult task to choose the concert to listen and only good reviews of 'missed concerts' comfort us!)

You have not mentioned whether TNS rendered Hamirkalyani aalaapana / swraprastara for the kriti. MC too is fond of the raga.

[Tharangam]

"Ananthakotyanda naayaka shankara naayikaya"
was the line where neraval was done.

A phenomenal concert!! Still ringing in the ears, the navavarnam

Hamir kalyanai krithi was sung without raga alapana.

And CRama, how coulld you miss mentioning the swift sparkling tillana

[CRama]

He did not render raga alapana or swaras for Hameerkalyani

[CRama]

Tarangam, Yes, he presented so many nadai variations in the thillana which added sparkle to it. I was about to leave when he started the thillana so I did not note down. Hence I forgot to mention. Thanks for reminding about it.

[mohan]

Seems like a grand concert with the crown jewel being Sankarabharanam. Thanks for the review.