Jaya TV's Margazhi Maha Utsavam

[tiruvarur]

It was very heartening to see the substantial spike in Jaya TV's coverage of music this Margazhi (still ongoing). Their extended festival spanning Carnatic music and devotional music is definitely a welcome trend and we can see a positive revival especially of the latter. The burgeoning crowds for Harikatha is another positive sign. Kudos to Subhashri Tanikachalam and V K Manimaran for their outstanding work! I also liked the fact that the 30-minute segment in the morning was fully devoted to one artiste instead of being split into two 15-minute segments featuring two artistes.

Coming to the Carnatic segment of this year's Margazhi Maha Utsavam, I felt that the rising (or in many cases risen) stars who were featured in the morning did far better than the reigning stars like Aruna Sairam, T M Krishna, S Sowmya et all. Most of them performed below par. The exceptions to this were probably R & G and Abhishek, who were at least tuneful. Sowmya seemed to be nursing a bad throat the entire season and except for her charming skills in speech, she was totally off-color in her Jaya TV performance. Sanjay and NIthyasree were literally shouting through many of their songs while TMK was his usual pompous self. The less said about Aruna and Sudha, the better. I also came to the conclusion that the outcry against O S Arun was totally justified.

The morning programs were of consistently high standards. Good sruti and vocal aesthetics prevailed throughout. This morning I was pleasantly surprised to hear Suryaprakash (Rajeshnat, I now get why you are such a fan). What pleasant stage manners and matching music to go with it! Among the others I managed to hear I thought Kiranavali, S Shankaranarayanan, Bharath Sundar and the Carnatica brothers were very good. I hope to catch the ones I missed on Youtube soon. I find It almost impossible to sift through the irrelevant junk that Google and Youtube dumps on you for every search, but it would be great if someone can provide links here!

[kssr]

I am not sure if there was a listing of the MMU kacheris anywhere. Then we were not aware of the morning relays. We accidentally came to know of some of them. As part of the elaborate arrangements made towards the event and its immense success a more systematic "announcement" mechanism would have helped us not to miss important ones. (Not a complaint but a suggestion, in the hope that some one from the organisers would be reading this column.

Today I came to know of Amrutha venkatesh's programme. Probably it was a morning relay. I heard four songs on youtube. Many thanks to vkailasam who has uploaded them. As usual they were very satisfactory pieces. Aadikondaal andha veidikkai kaana kan aayiram vendamo- superb with swaras. Vaasudevayani with neraval and swaram. A short folk song Kannan varuhindra neram. A BMK thillana.

She has for once dropped her usual athi-viLamba kaalam as a hot potato (!) and took on a brisk pace for all the songs which her voice is very well suited. Hope she continues the pace. The comfort level with which she sings is simply amazing - smiling, enjoying her own music, taking pakkavaadyams and audience along with her. Strain- free higher octave singing. The accompanying artists, too (esp. violin) gave such understanding and effective support that the overall programme has become so impressive.

Good that the organisers have identified AV for a slot in this season. Wish her the very best of luck.

[srikant1987]

Would anyone be knowing the name of today's singer -- she sang with Padma Shankar and Trivandrum Balaji ... I was impressed with the viruttam in brindAvana sAranga ...

[rajeshnat]

Would anyone be knowing the name of today's singer -- she sang with Padma Shankar and Trivandrum Balaji

I did not get up to see this , but my amma said she was vidushi Nisha rAjagopal

[kssr]

Today I came to know of Amrutha venkatesh's programme. .....
Good that the organisers have identified AV for a slot in this season. Wish her the very best of luck.

For those who have missed the original here are some of vkailasam's youtube links


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr-RlVcRowI


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIlQrkEum1A



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSzaC70LqW8



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGc3PVLebSg

[knarayana]

[quote][/quote]

[VK RAMAN]

Amrita Venkatesh captivates the audience with her renditions.

[csuresh]

Among the others I managed to hear I thought Kiranavali, S Shankaranarayanan, Bharath Sundar and the Carnatica brothers were very good. I hope to catch the ones I missed on Youtube soon. I find It almost impossible to sift through the irrelevant junk that Google and Youtube dumps on you for every search, but it would be great if someone can provide links here!tiruvarur

Posts: 21
Joined: 19 Dec 2011 15:54


Tiruvarur,
It is V.Shankaranarayanan not S.Shankaranarayanan as you have mentioned.V.Shankaranarayanan has sung two fresh songs in this concert. ,1. "sAmi_kandhasAmi" in "bilahari "and 2.one rare tamil composition of "shyAma shAsthry "in "purvikalyani","ennEramum_un_nAmam".
Both are good.
Can any one of the rasika community give some details about this ss tamil composition?.

[kssr]

Among the junior lot I heard on TV one evening when Bharat Sundar and Raghavendra shared the time. I felt Raghavendra very fluent with swaras and manodharma aspects. BS is getting a lot of opportunities in Bangalore. Heartening to see many youngsters doing very well. Of the young Bangalore artists, I found Aishwarya Vidya Raghunath very mature during her rendering in TTD channel. I do not know if she performed in this year Jaya TV junior slot.