GAYATHRI GIREESH AT KGS ON 27 JAN

[CRama]

In the series of Sahithyarasanubhava concerts, Smt Gayathri Gireesh presented the concert on 27 Jan. She was accompanied by Shri.V.V.Ravi on the violin, Shri Poongulam Subramaniam on the Mridangam and Shri.Madipakkam Murali on the Ghatam. The concert started at 6.30 PM. The concert consisted of exclusively Thyagaraja Kritis. Before each song, Smt GG explained the significance of the song, message contained in the song and she pondered into the feelings of the Saint while composing the songs. Thyagaraja expresses bhakthi, anguish, happiness, craving for nearness to God, and many a time treats God as a close friend too and converses with him. Raga alapanas, kalpana swaras were given less importance. I am sharing with the rasikas the comments as told by her to the extent of my capability for the benefit of the rasikas who could not attend the concert. The list of songs
Entharaaneethana-Harikambodi
Raaraamaintidaka-Asaveri
Sugunamule cheppukonti-Chakravakam
Sarvabhowma Saketharama - Ragapancharam
Nenenduvedakuthura - Karnatakabehag
E ramuni nammithivo- Vakulabharanam
Mamavasathatham- Jaganmohini
Enthanuchu- Yadukulakambodi
Ennalu oorage- Subhapanthuvarali
Chalamelara- Margahindolam
Dasarathe- Thodi
Badaleekatheera - Reethigowla
Etulaina bhakthi- Sama
Thavadasoham- Punnagavarali
Mangala slokam composed by Thyagaraja's disciple Walajapet Venkataramana Bhagavathar. - Shanmugapriya, Kanada, Begada, Sahana, Hindolam, Mohanam and Suruti.

She started the concert with a shlokam:
Ramachandra gunaaswaaada paramaananda nirbharam
Thyagaraaja yogendra desikam thwam upasmahe.

The shlokam was rendered in a captivating manner in Harikambodi, and her choice of this raga was most appropriate since it was Thyagaraja who showed the various contours of the raga through his magnificent compositions. Then she said that in the following song, Thyagaraja expresses his longing for the companionship of Lord Rama. The song rendered was Entharaneedana. In the song Thyagaraja says that Devas, Paramasiva, Adiseshan etc were fortunate to be in your company. Why you are denying me that fortune of being with you.

The next song, Raaraamainti daka in Asaveri is about Keertanam- singing the praise of God. Tyagaraja says I do not know anything in this world other than singing your glory. She quoted a pasuram of Nammalwar which also expresses this thought. In the next song Sugunamule Cheppukonti in Chakravakam, Thyagraja expresses his longing for conversation with the Lord. He says I am living with the fond hope of meeting you one day and talking to you. She presented brief alapana and a few rounds of kalpana swaras for this song. Next song was Sarvabhowma Saketharama in the rare ragam Ragapancharam.

In the next song, Nenenduvedakuthura in Karnatakabehag, Thyagraja considers himself as a great sinner and pleads the lord to save him form all the sins.

Thyagaraja uses the medium of his compositions to express various emotions towards his ishtadeivam Lord Rama. He expresses a doubt whether Rama will forgive his sins and save him. The song taken up was E ramuni nammithivo in the ragam Vakulabharanam. She presented a short but sweet alapana of the ragam. In this song, the composer says you have saved Seetha by killing kaakaasura, and you have given refuge to Vibheeshanan and Sugreevan. But which Rama will give me protection- he expresses his doubt. In the very next song, he expresses his firm conviction that Rama will come and save him. The song was Mamavasathatham in the ragam Jaganmohini, rarely heard in concerts. She also gave reference to a Nammalvar pasuram with the same meaning.

In the next song, Enthanuchu in Yadukulakambodi, Thyagaraja pleads for his mercy. At times, he also gets frustrated and fights with the lord taking full liberty. The song chosen was Ennalu oorage in Subhapanthuvarali. She presented a nice alapana for this song. In the next song rendered, Chalamelara in Margahindolam, Tyagaraja expresses his disappointment- I have gone through the path of Bhakthimargam and why have left me. If you did not save me, where shall I seek protection. Next song Dasarathe in Thodi was taken up for main. Raga was well elaborated for 5 minutes. The song and neraval at Bodhinchina Thyagaraja was rendered and elaborate swara prastaras using attractive swara combinations were presented. Thani for 5 minutes followed.

Thyagaraja also expresses humour at times. In the song Badaleekatheera in Reethigowla, Thyagaraja says that you had so much sufferings in your life and you must have been exhausted by now. Come and take rest in my mind. Thyagaraja, again and again, tells his mind to dwell upon Ramabhakthi. For this the song chosen was Etulaina bhakthi in ragam Sama. At the end Thyagaraja portrays daasabhavam to the Lord in his composition Thavadasoham in Punnagavarali. The song was rendered with all the charanams very beautifully. She concluded the concert with the Mangala slokam.

In was a very enjoyable and enlightening concert. I was hearing the songs in Ragapancharam and Sama for the first time. GG had made enough preparations for disseminating the message contained in these gems of Thyagaraja and deserves all appreciation for her dedication and hard work. There was reasonably good crowd for a concert on a working day evening. The accompanists played their role effectively. VV Ravi's violin was very good- good support and playing through the kritis- No excess. The Mridangam and Ghatam artists also understood their role in a special thematic concert like this and played suitably.

I feel that more and more rasikas should attend such concerts as it will facilitate a better appreciation of Thyagra kritis. We should be grateful to KGS and Obul Reddy Foundations for sponsoring this series.

[rshankar]

Thank you for that review. It must have been a wonderful experience, especially, with Smt. Gayathri's crystal clear enunciation of the sAhitya, as is her wont.

[arasi]

Thanks, CRama.
A typical Gayathri Girish list--varied and interesting.

baDalika--I only know the one in MOhanam.

[arunk]

baDalika--I only know the one in MOhanam.

arasi - you should check this one out (perhaps the MDR version - not sure if it is on sangeethapriya - site seems down now. It is a another beautiful one from T. Beautiful lyrics, and beautiful meaning.

Arun

[CRama]

Badalikatheera is sung by GNB in his inimitable manner in a few concerts in circulation

[srikant1987]

Arasi,

I think this rItigauLai baDalika dhIra was a favourite of GNB's. TVR also sings it sometimes ...

[semmu86]

I remember listening to a lovely version of "baDalika" by KVN with UKS sir @ Vidwath Samajam sometime in the late 90's. And to my great surprise,i found out that the DVD of that concert is brought out by Swathi Soft solutions.

[arasi]

Thanks, Arun and Semmu et al.
Will get KVN's CD and listen to it.

[semmu86]

This is that KVN concert http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuouA51FGMI

[arasi]

Thank you, Semmu!
Delicious sampling of all the songs. Will get to savor them fully by ordering it