Dr. Vijayalakshmy Subramaniam KS-11@NGS 06-Apr-2012

[Sundarnrao]

Dr.VS’s KS series is always a sheer celebration of musical art focusing on the fullest cultural/creative/classical ambiance on each of the chosen theme/sthalams andKS-11 dished out the spirit, size, spread and substance of guruvayur as its specialty segment. Incontrovertibly, it requires colossal audacity to choose this theme on Guruvayur, as the compositions are rare & limited. It was truly heartening to see effortless execution of this complex theme by smt.VS and her ensemble.

Heralding the importance of Guruvayur, Dr.Chithra Madhavan benevolently laid out exciting anecdotes to supplement her eminent speech. Notably, Gajarajan Kesavan story was mindblowing.

The concert ensemble (Shri. VVS. Murari on violin; Shri. Erode Nagaraj on Mridangam; Shri. Trichy Murali on Ghatam) led by smt.VS propelled themselves with a colorful Suprabatham (bhoopali-todi followed with an arabhi yoke) and continued with Sharanam Sri guruvayurappa (aarabhi) as their first presentation. Smt.VS ingeniously developed cosmic devotion right from her first musical note and her volley of aarabhi-chalans was an extended listening pleasure for all rasikas.

Second recital "guruvayurappane (ritigowla)" bedazzled all the rasikas due to the exemplary sense of clarity and effectiveness that Smt.VS highlighted on the lyrical value and artistic statements (meend-maands, inexhaustible amalgamation of raga-frameworks within the bandishes and behlawas). Smt.VS further accentuated her creative spurts in puryadhanashree based karunakaram and ably reflected her improvisational malleability through affirmative alaap, bol-baant, swift-taans developed through striking strokes of key-phrases, sargams, behlawas etc.

Smt. VS appealing vocal range was attested strongly during her detailed elaboration on the fourth performance “guruvayur kanna (kalyanavasantham)”. Her exquisite rendition created a transcendental experience for all the rasikas.

Smt. VS illustriously offered her fifth recital “narayaneeyam (it was a raagmala; piloo was extremely divine) followed by Pahi pankaja (Husseini)” with fullest depth and details on both the semantic & emotional contents of presentation. Alluringly, the thunderous applause revealed the enhanced listening levels of all rasikas on this presentation.

As a gratified inheritor of Late.Shri.S.Rajam tradition, Smt. VS marked classy virtuosity in her own rights on the sixth presentation “Sri Krishnam (todi)” and expressed a great deal of mesmerizing imagery on manodharmas ( alaap, bolbanav, gamaks, meends, sargams and behlawas). Seventh recital by Smt. VS “Paavanaguru (sohini) was vibrant and had a string of ornamented raag-ki-chalans to the joy of all rasikas.

It takes a strong voice culture to effortlessly change gears from strong <-> soft <-> silky tones to harmonize varied characteristics( emotional/spiritual/racy/expressive) in a given execution and the singer-mastero, Dr. VS, was divinely at her best to reflect multi-color rigor as part of her eight presentation karuna cheyyan (yadhukula kambhoji) . Smt. VS then concluded the concert with a dazzling finale “Panchakam” (raag-mala).

Sangathkars were extraordinary today. Shri. Erode Nagaraj was enjoying his play and added exceptional creative rhythmic-colors at every possible avenue. His vibrancy and energy invigorated Trichy Murali also to compete creatively and effortlessly. Shri VVS Murari also manifested phenomenal phrases during each of his improvisational quota and harmonized his presence to complement smt. VS.

[classicallover]

A review of salient points communicated by the speaker, Ms. Chitra would be very much welcome please.

[satyabalu]

* Pahi pankaja-Huseni-Swati Tirunal-following Narayanneyam in ragamalika -the rapid swara passages Pa ni da ni sa.. ni da ma..firmly established Raga characteristics .
* The time management was evident in truncated Raga alapanai Sree krishnam Bajamanasa-Todi- More emphasis was given to diction more particularly "Pankajasanadi deva-------Sri Guruguha vihitham......Gurupavana puradeesam Lokesam".Befitting the occasion the tani was brief &appropriate.
*Pavana Guru-Hamsanandi-lalita Dasar- (popularised by Chembai/yesudas) Dr.V.S. acknowledged it was tuned by one PG krishna Iyer (If I had heard it correctly).
*karunai cheyyuvann enthu tamasam -Song in yadukula kamboji of Irayuman Tampi was the next no.
*She signed off with "Guruvatha pureesa panchakam"of Brahmasri Senkalipuram Anantha Rama Dikshidhar bringing back old memories of the exponent reciting "kalyana roopaya kaloujananam......narayana...(In mohanam) during a break for having milk closing the face with an angavasthram giving time to the vounteers to collect coins/token offerings . He is believed to have got rid of his acute ailment he was afflicted with by surrendering before 'Guruvayoorappan" (his photo is also exhibited opposite to ayyappan sannidhi) - he used to narrate that HE is the panacea for all ills.All these interludes narrated are not to divert the focus /dilute the efforts&passion of the artist to communicate on the kshetras so far 11 in no.

[HR]

Dr. Chithra Madhavan's commenced her educative and interesting talk with a few details on the architecture of Kerala temples -- the extensive use of wood and the sloping roof, unlike temples in Tamilnadu (or for that matter , most temples in the rest of India) . She then presented the history of the temple - how lord Vishnu himself chose the spot for the temple , on the banks of Rudratheertha and how the word Guruvayoorappan was coined (guru + vayu ) . She then went on to describe in detail , the salient features of the temple , the discipline with which rituals and pujas are performed everyday , right from 4:30 AM , and details of the special rituals on Ekadasi day. Mention was made on how Guruvayoor - called Dakshina Dwaraka is the fourth most visited temple in India and about the 'Thulabaaram' tradition that is followed in this temple.

The presentation then moved on to saints who have composed on this Kshetram - Meppathur Narayana Bhattatiri , and spoke breifly about Narayaneeyam - the number of verses , how it was composed, and the text being a condensed version of the Bhagavatham. She then spoke about the temple's dance form 'Krishnattam Kali' -- how it was composed and choreographed, the ten sections of verses it comprises, the differences in headgear between Krishnattam and Kathakali , and the discipline that is followed in preparing for the dance presentation. Following this was the touching story of the temple's sacred elephant - Guruvayoor Kesavan - how year after year, he won the race that decided which of the elephants would carry the Lord on the annual procession , the surprising and startling events that took place in the two years that Madhavan lost the race , and how he carried the Lord with dignity , humility and pride even when old age and ill health struck him. The moving incident was read out by Dr. Chithra Madhavan from a book. She summed it all up by mentioning that this Kshetra has such a depth of history , information and sthalapuranam and it is very difficult to contain eveything in one talk . The presentation was supported by photographs for visual aid ( Dr. Chithra mentioned that all the photographs were taken from the Internet, since the temple did not allow cameras of any form to be taken in)
The talk set the stage for a fantastic concert to follow -- a very unique combination of composers , rare compositions, and moving hymns

[CRama]

Pahi pankaja nayana- this song was sung in Abheri by Thrissur Ramachandran in many Gokulashtami concerts in Bangalore and also in Navarathri Mandapom.

[satyabalu]

*Pavana Guru-Hamsanandi it is to clarify- The song was composed by TG Krishna Iyer-- who wrote as Lalitha dasar. He was a vaggeyakara.

[HR]

@Crama -Pahi Pankaja Nayana is set to tune in Huseni , as given in Sri.T.K.Govindarao's book on Swati Tirunal Compositions

@classicallover - hope you had a chance to read through the earlier post covering Dr. Chithra Madhavan's talk

Will post the song list of the programme soon...

[HR]

Given below is the complete song list of KS 11 - Guruvayoor

• Verses from Guruvayoor Suprabhatam followed by Sharanam Sri Guruvayoorappa - Arabhi - Adi - M.P.Sivan
  Guruvayoorappane - Ritigowlai - Adi - Ambujam Krishna
  Karunakaram Srikaram - Pantuvarali - Rupakam - Tulasivanam - R , S
  Guruvayoor Kanna - Kalyanavasantham - Adi - Kalayaar Kovil Shanmukhasundaram
  Verse from Narayaneeyam - Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri followed by
  Pahi Pankaja Nayana - Huseni - Adi - Swati Tirunal - S
  Sri Krishnam Bhajamanasa - Todi - Adi - Muthuswami Dikshitar - R ,N , S , T
  Pavana Guru - Hamsanandi - Rupakam - Lalithadasar
  Karuna Cheyvaan - Yadhukula Kamboji - Adi - Irayaman Thambi
  Mangalam - Guruvathapureesa Panchakam sloka of Anantarama Dikshitar

The song list comprised rare compositions and contemporary composers. Guruvayoor Kanna in KalyanaVasantham included a beautiful chittaswaram - a crisp and pure essence of kalyanavasantam in 2 lines! The Mangala slokam - Kalayana Roopaya Kalaujanaanaam was sung to rhythm, with Sri. Erode Nagaraj and Sri. Trichy Murali accompanying . One other notable point was that the song list included two songs in Malayalam - Sharanam Sri Guruvayoorappa, and Karuna Cheyvaan.

[CRama]

Sharanam Sree Guruvayoorappa is a devotional song sung by Jesudas in 1960s. I have never heard this in any concert. Kudos to VS for bringing this song to the concert stage.

[satyabalu]

Sharanam Sree Guruvayoorappa is a devotional song sung by Jesudas in 1960s. I have never heard this in any concert. Kudos to VS for bringing this song to the concert stage.

What is the expansion for M.P.Sivan. Harini!

[sreebeecane]

Sangathkars were extraordinary today. Shri. Erode Nagaraj was enjoying his play and added exceptional creative rhythmic-colors at every possible avenue. His vibrancy and energy invigorated Trichy Murali also to compete creatively and effortlessly. Shri VVS Murari also manifested phenomenal phrases during each of his improvisational quota and harmonized his presence to complement smt. VS.

Thanks for the review, sir. Where was this held? Was this a part of Naya Gujarat Samaroh?

PS: Do you work for The Hindu, sir?

[HR]

You may find this interesting

http://www.sabhash.com/blog/2012/04/19/ ... ticking-2/


and one more

http://www.sabhash.com/blog/2012/04/18/ ... amaniam-2/

[classicallover]

HR,

Your review of Dr. Chitra's speech was good. But can you get hold of a recording of the entire day's proceedings ? I would like to see that.