Ganesh Kumaresh at Bharat Kalachar on 01/01/2012

[priyaravi1998]

Song List

1. Varnam – Thodi
2. Sidhi Vinayakam – Mohana Kalyani
3. Abhimanamennadu – Begada
4. Latangi – Swamiye charanam
5. Idhu Baghya – Hindolam
6. Sari Evvaramma – Bhairavi
7. RTP – Suryakantam
8. Kann Kalangude Madhi Maangude – Saaranga – Compostion of Shri Kumaresh
9. Ramabadra Rara –Shankarabharanam
10. Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma,
11. Harivarasanam
12. Nagumomu Ganaleni – Last three songs in Madhyamavathi


Shri Ganesh and Shri Kumaresh started off with a brisk varnam in Thodi. They then proceeded to “Sidhi Vinayakam” in Mohana Kalyani.

A beautiful sketch of Begada was played by vidwan Shri Kumaresh which was followed by the song “Abhimaanamennadu”. Then, there was a brief sketch of Latangi and the brothers played a kriti “Swamiye Charanam”. The song was alternating between Tisra Nadai and Chatusra Nadai.

The first half of the next song “Idhu Bhagya” in the raagam Hindolam was in Kanta Nadai. It was a beautiful composition.

Vidwan Shri Ganesh played a brilliant, comprehensive Bhairavi alapanai. It was followed by classic kriti “Sari Evvaramma”

Next was a beautiful RTP in the raagam Suryakantam. The Thaanam was excellent. Just loved it. It was followed by a brilliant thani by Shri Patri Satish Kumar on the mridangam and Shri Thanjavur Govindarajan on the Thavil.

Shri Ganesh sang a beautiful composition of Shri Kumaresh “Kann Kalagude Madhi Mayangude” in the raagam Saaranga. The lyrics were excellent, soothing and very meaningful. It was rendered very well by Shri Ganesh.

Shri Ganesh proceeded to sing Badrachalam Ramadasar’s composition “Ramabadra Rara” in the raagam Shankarabharanam. The brothers have composed their own tune for the song. A very nice composition indeed.

The concert concluded with three songs in the raagam Madhyamavathi.

It was very nice to see them all dressed in white clothes, enjoying each other’s playing. The brothers have a very good stage presence. They make sure that the audience enjoy to the core.

Shri Patri Satish Kumar and Shri Thanjavur Govindarajan accompanied them very well. It was a great team.

The New Year started off on the very High Note !!!!

[Natakurinji]

Yes, I too attended the concert. It was a concert of a very high quality. Bhairavi was classic and so were the lyrics of Kumaresh's composition. Didnt know that it was composed by Kumaresh until I saw this review. Excellent composition. Infact, I heard another excellent composition of Kumaresh rendered by Abishek Raghuram in Margazhi Mahautsavam (Karpanaye - raagam Saama)

[mahesh3]

Both of these songs are rendered by Abhishek. The song in Shyama was recently performed in his Jaya TV concert.

[rshankar]

Both of these songs are rendered by Abhishek. The song in Shyama was recently performed in his Jaya TV concert.

Not surprising for him to perform his "cittappA's" compositions!

[mahesh3]

Oh wow, I did not know that

[rshankar]

Mahesh - I think it was Mahavishnu who clarified that Smt. Jayanti Kumaresh is Sri AR's citti (mother's sister)...

[mahavishnu]

Mahesh - I think it was Mahavishnu who clarified that Smt. Jayanti Kumaresh is Sri AR's citti (mother's sister)...

Yes, Abhishek's mother is the older daughter of Lalgudi Rajalakshmi (sister of LGJ). And Jayanthi Kumaresh is the younger daughter, which makes Kumaresh his chittappa. Although, Jayanthi decided to take up veena and learned from her aunt Smt Padmavathi Ananthagopalan, instead of learning violin from the mother. There are many who assume that she is Smt PA's daughter (since they perform together) which is incorrect.

Both Jayanthi and Kumaresh have been playing a major role in shaping Abhishek's performing career. Two albums of his are released under the label "Home records", a Bangalore based company run by the J-K couple.

This song in Saranga was composed by Kumaresh for Jayanthi Kumaresh's narrative opera called "Shri Ragam" that premiered in KGS last December. Abhishek sang it then, he has also sung this song a couple of times during the season and in his concert in New Zealand (as reported by MV here).

[Sindhuja]

A G-K concert without ragapravahams? I'm rubbing my eyes. Did they announce anything about their concert plan here and say anything about why this "traditional" (note quotes) format?

[sankark]

My thought was that "ragapravahams" are nothing more than alapanai's. Is it something else?

[Ranganayaki]

Seem to be kritis without sahitya.. you listen to it and it is structured like a kriti, but there is no sahitya. The focus is on the raga.

Ramesh, very interesting info..

[Sindhuja]

Ragapravahams according to them are neither just aalapanais nor structured like a krithi - Ranganayaki, what you're referring to is in fact what they call "krithi darpanam". Ragapravahams have no words, they're simply instrumental compositions with both melody and rhythm.
Anyway, would have been lovely to listen to this...

[Ranganayaki]

Hi, Sindhuja, didn't we meet in another thread about these artists? You are perfectly right, and I must have been sleepy. It was the last thing I did before going to bed - should teach me not to get too relaxed in a public forum. Yes Kriti Darpan.. the name is apt and is self-explanatory.. Sankark, my own post last year refers to it, along with what they said about their views:

http://www.rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=16234

Sorry for the carelessness, and thank you for the correction.

[priyaravi1998]

Sindhuja, No Ragapravaham this time. Not a traditional GK concert

[Sindhuja]

Ranganayaki: yes we did And what a discussion that was!
Priya: "Not a traditional GK concert" Amen.