TMK @ KGS 27/12/2011 More of the same...

[pvs]

More of the same high level stuff, I mean!

A packed audience. Packed stage. Bated breath. What is he going to pull out of his hat today? was on everyone's mind. My friend and I had many thoughts...Mangalam first? Thani first? Tanam only? Ragam tanam and no pallavi? The last almost became true! TMK sang an elaborate R and T and gave over the stage to thani! Sri. Karaikkudi Mani wove magic on leather in misrachapu with able replies from Sri. Ghatam Suresh. I was about to prepare mentally for the tukkadas ('irakkam varamal', 'ramachandram rajivaksham' etc). But TMK showed some irakkam and exploded into a pallavi following the last korvai. 'Senthil urai padam thannai valam seidhu pani seiga; murugane... guhane... balam thaa!'
Very well executed. Followed with ragamalika swaras in shamukhapriya, shyama, nilambari. very enjoyable. But he spoiled it for me, by saying a couple of words about it 'rendu vaarthai sollanumnu aasai padren'. Explained how the pallavi was composed by KM and was molded on the last korvai and how accompanists should also have a choice. Dampened the image of the maverick who doesn't have to explain his actions...
The friend says 'so you have justified your actions...'

The concert as a whole was very very good. Special mention to the violinist Mysore Srikanth.

Started with Sukhi Evvaro (Kanada). Was very good but my mind kept wandering to the Madurai Mani Iyer renditions...more so with his name in the background of the stage. I guess I have been spoiled by the 40s-50s-60s music tapes.
There was a very nice Bavanutha (Mohanam) with ragam, neraval and swaram.
After RTP There was saramaina (behag).

At the end when Mangalam was due, he burst into enta veduko (Saraswathi Manohari) and it morphed into mangalam 'Sriya Kantaayah' in the same ragam. Very well done.
Standing up, I overheard 'they only sing mangalam in madhyamavathi, surati or saurashtram, but here...' from a couple of gents in the row behind.
With due respect, the audience is too steeped in 'tradition', like abhangs etc. It will be uphill for the TMK's for the next little while until this becomes tradition!

(Someone please fill in the other items I am missing)

[squims]

My friend and I caught the streaming of this concert. Was very impressed. Loved the pallavi based on the korvai! Kudos to Mani sir and TMK!

[Ponbhairavi]

by giving thani to KM and then picking up the korvai format to sing a pallavi which is a composition of KM, TMK has given due public recognition and respect to the mridangist. Similarly at the PSS cocncert he gave recognition to the violinist by asking her to play the ragam and he continued with thanam and pallavi. In both cases the intention to give proper recognition to the accompanists as team mates on the concert platform deserves to be commended and would to some extent relieve the permanent grudge smouldering in all accompanists

[Thalaivarda]

Ragam Tanam Thani Pallavi. RTTP. ]

[MaamiAtHeart]

"...With due respect, the audience is too steeped in 'tradition', like abhangs etc...."

] Love the sarcasm!!! TMK's Mangalams are the best, he doesnt stick to the same old Pavamaana

[tiruvarur]

"...With due respect, the audience is too steeped in 'tradition', like abhangs etc...."

] Love the sarcasm!!! TMK's Mangalams are the best, he doesnt stick to the same old Pavamaana

Because Pavamana is actually 'Paavamana' mangalam in the hands of other musicians?

[rathipriyac]

.... Similarly at the PSS cocncert he gave recognition to the violinist by asking her to play the ragam and he continued with thanam and pallavi. In both cases the intention to give proper recognition to the accompanists as team mates on the concert platform deserves to be commended and would to some extent relieve the permanent grudge smouldering in all accompanists

I thought (at that time at least) that he had asked the violinist to play the ragam because he wanted to keep the RTP short (he started it at 9 p.m and ended by 9:30 pm).
Also, in the MFAS concert, during the swaram part in the RTP (or the main piece, I don't remember quite well), I think he asked Embar Kannan to play the swara patters which he then sang later. That's how it seemed to me at that time, other knowledgeable rasikas can confirm if my understanding is right.

[ksugavanam]

Went to TMK after a long time and with so much expectation.

TMK started off with a request on behalf of all the artistes not to record the concert. As an after thought, I thank TMK for it. Why? Please see the end...

After the first song, someone from the back said they could not hear the voilin... TMK asked for increasing the overall volume, so much so that all those sitting in the front rows (since there where no speakers in the centre of the hall), had blood coming out of their ears for the rest of the concert. On top of all this, as if rubbing salt on the wound, TMK told the man monitoring the sound, on the PA system, "pinnadi poya..." so much to respect.

Guru Mani Sir changed 4 Mirudhanghams during the first 4 songs...

The Raagam and Taanam was followed by Thani, which was followed by the Pallavi, which was in sync with the Korvai played at the end of the Thani. It would have been better if TMK had explained what they had planned before performing it; he, as his wont off late, left the audience confused, and later clarified what had been imposed on the audience. He said whatever they presented was musically correct, but might not have been in keeping with the kutcheri tradition. Having admitted this, he was "gracious" to leave it to the audience's choice whether to "like it or not".

I saw TMK talking to himself atleast twice during the concert - I wonder what's going on...

I have not written anything about the concert; as they say, there was nothing to write home about. I caught myself saying to another friend of mine - "Shewag, despite all his talent, was dropped from the Indian Team and left in the cold for over a year so that he could resurrect himself. I wonder if some such thing is possible in Carnatic Music?".

I thanked TMK for requesting us not to record the concert in the beginning; here is why. Bearing in mind the standards TMK had set for himself, this was a concert not worth hearing even the first time!!!

[Purist]

Quote: "I saw TMK talking to himself atleast twice during the concert - I wonder what's going on... "

Must be checking the latest score of "webcast" !!!

[rajeshnat]

Wow beaming from chennai to Madurai with the Lakshmi sundaram hall open for this . Also it is surprisingly free(should the webcast not have cost irrespective of geography)
http://www.thehindu.com/arts/music/article2760991.ece