Sudha Raghunathan for Rasikas NZ 17/3/12

[MV]

I thought the organisers might want to review this one, but here I am.

Vocal - Sudha Raghunathan
Violin - BV Raghavendra Rao
Mridangam - Tiruvarur Vaidhyanathan

1) Jalajakshi - Hamsadwani Varnam
2) Siddhi Vinayakam (KS @ Prasiddha Gana)
3) Nee Irangayenil - Atana
4) Nannu Brovu - Lalitha (R,N @ Ninnuvina Gati, KS)
5) Bhavayami - Ragamalika
6) Chakkani Raja - Kharaharapriya (R, N @ Kantiki, KS, Thani)
7) RTP - Mohanam, Kamavardhini and Ananda Bhairavi in Khanda Jathi Triputha
8 ) Jagadodharana - Kapi
9) Vishamakara Kannan
10) Katriniley
11) Sai Ram Bhajan in Behag
12) Thillana

[MV]

Right from the varnam, there was no doubt that we were looking at a veteran with quite a few concerts under her belt. A quarter beat or three-fourths push to a swara (kaal, mukkaal adi) gave it unbelievable punch and made for a crisp start. Her Kalpana swaras for mukkaal thalli @ Prasiddha was superb and well-matched by violin and surprisingly mridangam as well. I loved the niraval for Lalitha and also how she prefaced Ninnu vina Gati yevaru with N.S.D. swaras for her kalpana swara eduppu. I was surprised with Bhavayami-not sure what I thought of it sitting there. Kharaharapriya was the tops. Beautiful ragam, great reply, lovely kriti and a spectacular thani. The RTP in tri-raga and 20 mis because of time??? I enjoyed the superb flow of ragam and thanam. I personally didn't settle to a pallavi in 3 ragas in one avartanam -just as you were flowing with a lovely Pantuvarali, Ananda Bhairavi was knocking on the door. She did manage it by holding the raga for 1 thalam cycles as it progressed. But the way she handled the trikalam etc in the three ragas was brilliant. Wow.

She playfully teased the audience for applauding the thani more than her and the violin. I thought maybe the spotlights were on her face too much so she couldn't really see the audience and guage their response. There was a long and loud applause for Jagado and she spoke in Kannada promptly. But I am a Tamizhacchi, so I have to say I enjoyed Vishamakara and its lyrics-yet again! There were occasional wobbles in the voice but she reined it in very effectively by stopping at tara shadjam and carried on as if nothing had happened.

I have 2 words for her-'Consummate Professional' Right from how she presented herself, to her interaction with her accompanists, the crowd etc. She has visitied NZ 3 times and yet again I didn't get to meet her. Looking forward to the day!

[mahavishnu]

thanks for your review, MV. Consummate professional she is. And quite the global traveler too.
What tillAna did she sing?

[rasikasnz]

Thanks MV for posting this and getting ahead of me You have mentioned all of the highlights beautifully and the only correction I wish to make is. . .this was Sudha's 4th visit to NZ.

[rasikasnz]

Will post the Wellington concert list soon. That was another amazing concert too that I thouroghly enjoyed. . . in a more relaxed manner

[arasi]

Sam would chime in too, I guess...

[mohan]

A quarter beat or three-fourths push to a swara (kaal, mukkaal adi) gave it unbelievable punch and made for a crisp start.

Thanks for the review MV. What did you mean by the above line? Did she sing the varnam with the talam not starting on samam or did she sing kalpana swaram at such a position?

Also, which tillana did she sing?

[MV]

I think the Thillana was in Ragesri by LGJ. Not sure. I haven't heard it before. Mohan reading the above I can see how vague it is. I'll try and explain. For eg G;R;S; are all in samam, she sang some places as G; ,R, S; which suddenly highlights the thalam, the swara etc. It was quite interesting

[MV]

Thanks MV for posting this and getting ahead of me You have mentioned all of the highlights beautifully and the only correction I wish to make is. . .this was Sudha's 4th visit to NZ.

Oh.. one more miss. I don't think I was even in the country for that.

[Sam Swaminathan]

Arasiji...on the same day, I had to accompany for a dance concert. So I missed the Sudha's concert completely. Hopefully, I will get a recording ( if that had been allowed) and I have to be satisfied with that.....Did talk to her and the accompanists....