T.M. Krishna at Mudhra ON 29/12

[CRama]

TM Krishna presented a music concert which was appealing to a great mass of audience on 29/12 in the Infosys Hall, Ramakrishna Mission school. He was accompanied by Akkarai Subbalakshmi on the violin, K.Arun Prakash on the Mridangam and N.Guruprasad on the Ghatam. The list of songs.
Chakkaniraja - Kharaharapriya
Kuvalayakshiro- Padam in Gowlipantu
Cheraravademira-Reetigowla
Sree Mathrubhootham- Kannada
RTP - Kamavardhini
Pallavi: Paarthathum manam mayanginen
Paavayin paarvayai- Adi 2 kalai
Aaduvome Pallu paaduvome- Maund
Sarvam Brahma mayam
Narayana hari-Yamunakalyani

The concert started with the heavy weight Chakkaniraja as per his self coined katcheri paddhathi. The kriti was rendered with strict adherence to the patantharam of the song including the plethora of time tested sangathis. The song was decorated with elaborate swaras for the pallavi line in the first kalam only concluding with the marathon swaram. He then gave a brief outline of Gowlipantu, announced the name of the ragam and sang Kuvalayakshiro quite well. Next Reethigowla was taken up for alapana and he presented a well structured alapana for about 5 minutes. The kriti was presented well and sumptuous dose of swaras in second kalam was rendered. He then took up ragam Kannada for alapana. While the alapana was in progress, many times he made long pauses, scratching his head, beard, turning this side, that side, TO me, it appeared, he was thinking "whether i should continue this ragam or change to some other ragam". some how he finished that ragam devoid of any sparkle \of TMK. The song was rendered in a very slow tempo and after swaras in first kalam thani followed. The volume for Mridangam was low and in spite of shouting by the audience to raise the volume, the Mridangam was slightly of low volume which made the thani not enjoyable. I have heard Arun Praksh in many concerts and his thani will always be quite engaging. Yesterday it was not.

I was relieved that he did not take up varnam for the main song. After the thani, while I was fearing Vathapi Ganapathim, he started the alapana of Pathuvarali. I was happy at the selection of Panthuvarali for the RTP, which I had been waiting for long. No. It is Kamavardhini he corrected. This is not Panthuvarali. But I did not the know the difference between these two nor he explained. But I accept it as Kamavardhini as told by TMK. TMK and Akkarai finished the alapana in 7 minutes. Here also it looked thoroughly unprofessional. He sang for 1 minute and asked Akkarai to continue. While she was playing for just 2 minutes, he again started afresh and finished . Thanam was the best part of the concert. He rendered the thanam in his usual high decibel manner. The modern pallavi suitable for a love duet was taken and it fulfilled all technical requirements. Trikaalam, anulomam, pratilomam etc rendered twice. The neraval was rendered in ragamalika - Bilahari,Denuka, Yadukulakambodi,Ahiri, Behag and Sindubhairavi. Denuka was captivating. It was only RTP- not RTPS- yes, there was no swaras for the pallavi.

The concert received loud applause from the audience after each song. TMK even said, applause after each song puts us in a fix- whether really we have sung well. So you need not applaud for all the songs. BUt audience were so impressed that they showered applause. Now my opinion- The concert lacked the usual energy that you will see in TMK concert. The padam in the beginning was a dampener. The pallavi line- I can not relish the love duets as pallavis- I have read many of our forumites appreciate such pallavis - But I do not relish this. I can hear some of the forumites telling examples of old vidwans also indulging in non deiva paramana pallavis. But I think it might have been done before private audiences or during demonstrations. There was heavy rush as never for any of the earlier concerts. The sabha itself made a make shift canteen- which was not there earlier. The huge car parking space was not adequate for the large number of cars which arrived. The post thani pieces were requests. Some body in the audience shouted Yochana after Aaduvome to which TMK replied- You should have told me earlier. I shouted - of course TMK could not hear- When you can sing a padam in the beginning and Vathapi at the end, no harm in singing Yochana at the end.

Akkarai Subbalakshmi's violin was good in her solos and violin returns for neravals and swaras. The violin sounded extremely pleasant. But she faced some problems while executing trikalam and TMK helped her. Arun Prakash closely followed TMK with good level of anticipations. The Ghatam artist also played well. TMK was lavishly appreciating his team. I have heard very good concerts of TMK in the past. I cannot group this along with them.

[balakk]

May be it was Kamavardhini because of the Kama-licious pallavi

Somebody should do a dare to TMK - sing a concert with Why-this-Kolaveri as pallavi

[squims]

I asked him on FB about why he called it Kamavardhani and not Pantuvarali. His response makes it clear that it is indeed Pantuvarali(as we know it) but he feels that its name should be Kamavardhani only, and not Pantuvarali. Here is his response:

.it is wrong to call what we sing in compositions like appa ramabhakathi etc today as panthuvarali... it should be referred to as kamavardhini... panthuvarali means shuba/shiva panthuvarali with the lower Gandhara...in fact we are rendering most of the thyagaraja keertanas like apparama bhakthi which were in panthuvarali( meaning lower gandhara) as kamavardhini but still calling it panthuvarali which is completely erroneous... In the dikshitar sampradaya the raga that is equivalent to kamavardhini ( but NOT the same ) is Ramakriya... hope this makes sense...

[kunthalavarali]

CRama, You seem to have had a tense time imagining things before every piece

[Sivaramakrishnan]

I think TMK is a 'Flute Mali' in the making!

[Nick H]

I admit to not liking TMK --- but for purely unmusical reasons. I don't like the way he has chosen to project his image, including the sharp commercial edge, and I do not think much of his foray into writing and the self-publicity that went with it. Furthermore, I cannot forget that he took a sledgehammer to the simple nut of a rasika just possessing a recording, by threatening legal action.

But... he desires to innovate, and to enlarge the horizons of carnatic music, and it is very notable that there are few complaints about his musicianship. For this he gets attacked, browbeaten and attacked. On the other hand, one who presents the "right" songs in the "right" order but, to my ear (and I am not alone) massacres them in the way he sings them, is acclaimed by many here as the new blue-eyed boy of carnatic music.

It is not a fair world. But hey, nobody ever said it was...

[squims]

On the other hand, one who presents the "right" songs in the "right" order but, to my ear (and I am not alone) massacres them in the way he sings them, is acclaimed by many here as the new blue-eyed boy of carnatic music.

Who might that be? I'm genuinely curious.

[mahavishnu]

Squims, I believe Nick is referring to Abhishek Raghuram.
Although I agree with Nick on many things, on this issue I do not. I think Abhishek is the bee's knees.

While there are many things that I find objectionable about TMK's presence outside the music stage and his controversial and eccentric opinions, I actually really like his music (not necessarily the order in which he presents songs in a concert). There are few that handle ragams like Surutti as well as he does. Here I agree with Nick almost entirely.

I think it has very little to do with fairness. Just honest differences in taste. Life would be boring if we all agreed on everything. We could close the forum then and call it a day

[squims]

I might be in the minority that loves TMK's music (no comments on all the other things) and foresees very great things for Abhishek Raghuram.

[Nick H]

foresees very great things for Abhishek Raghuram.

Yep. I'm going to check back in 20 years, if still alive. His voice is superb, but I cannot listen to what he does with it at this time. A few decades may well change that

[uday_shankar]

superb, but I cannot listen to what he does with it at this time.

You and me both mate! Would include a few others in this category, old and new. More power to them but no thanks, leave me alone.

[pvs]

my thoughts, very much about AR. So... this is possible in the swaras that make Kalyani...but just because that's grammatically allowed doesn't make it a great act on stage (to my untrained senses). how many before now imagined it but eschewed trying the same on stage? also at times it feels like a one man jugalbandhi... (just bit over the top)
My support of TMK's lost Kutchery list is well known...
his public image and strong opinions are irrelevant to his music sometimes.

[grsastrigal]

Before we forget TMK, let me add one more valuable (!) discussion.

DIE HARD FANS OF TMK- PLEASE DO NOT PROCEED.

Recently, Mylapore music fraternity had a meeting to review of recent concerts where people expressed the concerts they attended. One of the famous comedy actors has also attended. One of the topics, was, as expected, TMK’s recent inventions/discoveries.
Discussion went on “how to control TMK /bring him down TMK’s “gimmics” (!) , the following ideas invented by the members. Reallllly enjoyable. Some Q & A session also there.

Idea 1 – We need to form ATMK (anti-TM Krishna) faction. This team (say 10 people) has to go all his concerts and sit in the 4th or 5th row, so that TMK can see us.

After he finishes the first kriti, all of them have to get up and exit. If TMK is asking why are u leaving, the reply- you start singing properly then only we will sit for the full concert.

Idea 2 – All the ladies (ladies are also invited to join ATMK) have to get up before he starts pallavi and exit. If TMK asks why – Reply will be “our husbands are yelling at us since we spent more money on our make-ups (???)”

3 Question – How to leave TMK’s concert in between ?
Very simple, middle of the concert, while singing rAga, TMK will go to sleep. This is the time to get out?

4 Review of one TMK fan and his question? – He rendered “entaro mahAnubAvulu” in rAga maliga in Shanmugapriya, karaharapriya, bhAvapriyA, ratipatipriyA and haripriyA ? It was mind boggling. In my life, I have never listened such 1 hour 30 minutes “entaro”. My small doubt is what is the janyam of “haripriya”
Reply from ATMK member- You have mis understood, my dear. In one of the rows, Priya sisters were sitting. So he created a rAga on the stage “haripriya” and rendered his “enta”row”

5. What is the while colour box, he is keeping in front of him ?
Apart from hiding his library of books from rasikas, he creates pallavi for his RTP and also get online instruction from Trichy sankaran on the topic Inventions/Discoveries in music.

6. Will he ever get sangeetha kalAnidhi – Question of a die-hard fan of TMK ?
Reply from ATMK- He will never get. SK is given only for those who start the concert with varNam and ends with Mangalam...

7. For invention/discoveries, Government gets Bharat ratna. Why can’t TMK get this because he has invented so many? – TMK’ Fan’s concern - (This question carries Rs. 1000)
Reply by ATMK- President refused because he informed that he will sing “English pallavi”- “you are beautiful, I have never seen a babe like you in my life” in the ceremony hall, before receiving the award. He refused to take the award without singing his “own” pallavi.

8. Why he slapped “Ghatam vidwan” in yesterday’s concert ?
He started the slowest kriti ‘Ososi” and sang for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Mridangam was just tapping and no job for Ghatam vidwan at all. So he went home to see sun TV serial for half an hour and returned. So, he was slapped.

9. Why Mridanga vidwan cried in yesterday’s concert ?
TMK started concert with “pavamAna” in madhyamavathi and immediately asked Tani to start.
Mridanga vidwan could not even align his sruti and he was still struggling to adjust the mike. Without knowing what to do, he cried.

10. Why Karaikkudi Mani gets more claps than TMK when both perform together
ATMK member – arE Bhai !!!! very simple, rasikas can understand what KM is playing !!!

11. Why Akkarai is always accompanying ?
Because she is the only rasikas who is showing akkaRai in his concert.
Non-tamilians – Akkarai is the place, akkaRai is Interest.

12. Why Dhanush was very happy after attending TMK’s concert ?
He understood the meaning of the word “kolai veRi di” (a recent blockbuster song_

13. Why nalli kuppusamy chetty walked about as soon as the Tani started.
Nalli asked TMK the following pallavi
navAratna pattu mukam unakku, navarasa vizhiyum unakku - (indicating the latest design of saree in nalli). TMK took some other pallavi.

14. Why did he drink hot water every 10 minutes in his recent MA concert ?
Because he could not "digest" his own "rendering of kritis"

and so on....Entertaining... laugh-riot

[CRama]

I do not think TMK will make any amendments in the recent times. SO, myself being an ardent admirer of TMK has decided to give a gap - say 4-5 years to attend his concerts- hoping that some change may occur by that time.

[uday_shankar]

grsastrigal
I am not a TMK groupie but as so-called "humor" goes, I didn't think it's that great. I think criticism of TMK should be more objective.

[vasanthakokilam]

Needs work grsastrigal, good humor should not be too mean.. but number 9 is a bit funny

[devan]

absolutely hilarious.his pallavi lines will be soon censored.it is getting more repulsive.

[PUNARVASU]

squims wrote:I asked him on FB about why he called it Kamavardhani and not Pantuvarali. His response makes it clear that it is indeed Pantuvarali(as we know it) but he feels that its name should be Kamavardhani only, and not Pantuvarali. Here is his response:

.it is wrong to call what we sing in compositions like appa ramabhakathi etc today as panthuvarali... it should be referred to as kamavardhini... panthuvarali means shuba/shiva panthuvarali with the lower Gandhara...in fact we are rendering most of the thyagaraja keertanas like apparama bhakthi which were in panthuvarali( meaning lower gandhara) as kamavardhini but still calling it panthuvarali which is completely erroneous... In the dikshitar sampradaya the raga that is equivalent to kamavardhini ( but NOT the same ) is Ramakriya... hope this makes sense...

[/quote]

I thought in the asampoorNa mELa paddati of Shri Muthuswamy Dikshitar, the raga equivalent of kAmavardhani is 'kASi rAmakriya'.

[thathwamasi]

I think TMK is a 'Flute Mali' in the making!

Hahaha.... This comment made my new year's day. Most genius' are eccentric. But most eccentrics are not genius.

Regards
T

[Rajagopalan_V]

Here's an addition to grsastrigal's list (post #13).

15. Q. Why is the little girl Arya (Vidwan Shri TMK's nursey school going daughter) upset?
A. Because her rhymes books are missing; apparently they are with her dad as he is practicing 'pallavis' for the 4 hr concert at Kalarasana next week. (As this news has somehow been 'leaked' and has gone viral in Facebook putting 'Kola VeRi' to shame, scores of his thrilled rasikas are eagerly awaiting "Old McDonald had a farm" in Chatusra-nadai Khanda-jati Ata tala and 'Hickory Dickory Dock" in thisra jati triputa tala).

[mahavishnu]

I am not the moral police, but the last comment was not in good taste. I was uncomfortable enough as it is with Grsastrigal's post. Perhaps, both VK and Uday alluded to this, but were being too subtle.

Please leave the singer's family etc. out of this. Let us keep our criticisms to the singer's music, musical choices and things that are done on the concert platform. Humor is complex, I get it, but poor taste is very simple, and poor.

[anandasangeetham]

Shri Rajagopalan.....Wow...that was class....

I also did like TMK earlier..particulary the one at Bharati Vidya Bhavan concert where he sang Janaki ramana (kapi) and a very brilliant Kamas..still ringing in my ears...but of late he seems to have gone astray.....his recent Jaya TV margazhi mahotsav was just pathetic...signing offkey most of the time....rendering in chowka kalam most of the time....probably reinventing himself? like CRAMA i think giving him a 4-5 year time may throw more light on his music.....every artist has a up and down turn ...probably he scaled the peak too fast....and he is on a downturn...a similar case of Unni....unlike the slow and steady Vijay and Sanjay....(with due respects to all of them)..

Mahavishnu...i differ...i dont think the last post was anything to do with the family of TMK..it was again on his music and choice only.....nothing derogatory was said on his family....

[Rajagopalan_V]

mahavishnu - I had responded to your post but somehow do not see it appearing. My sincere regrets to you and anyone else who had taken offense to my humour (well, that was the only intention and attempt from my end). I have utmost regard for a musician and his/her family and for that matter every rasika in this forum, his/her families and all the other families that live in the globe - 'vasudeva kutumbakam' (don't we all know that it's all Lord MahaVishnu's manifestation only?).

And that the reprimand coming from mahavishnu ("perumaal sonna maadhiri"), I assure everyone in this forum that I will exercise utmost restraint going forward before attempting ill-fated or insensitive humor which is in not so good taste.

Apologies. Sarve janaah's sukhino bhavanthu.

[mahavishnu]

Sri Rajagopalan: Thank you for your post and clarification. My apologies for the overreaction.
The mention of real names of real people made me uncomfortable. Please continue contributing to the forum...