Aishu Venkataraman at Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal

[appu]

Swar Pravas Festival
Jan 4th, 2013
Time: 6:30 to 8:15 PM
Venue: Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal

Aishwarya Venkataraman (Violin)
Vinod Venkataraman (Mridangam)
Anooj Sampath (Tanpura 1)
Avinash (Tanpura 2)

As part of the Swar Pravas 3 day festival, Aishwarya Venkataraman was the featured artiste inaugurating the festival. I must say a lot of care was taken in stage arrangements, lighting and miking. In attendance were the famous drupad singers Gundecha Brothers who inaugurated the festival and felicitated the artistes with a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a shawl.

Aishu began the evening with an Adi Tala Varnam composed by Patnam Subramaniya Iyer in ragam Kiravani. A beautiful piece that set the pace for the concert. The next piece was a beautiful unfolding of Vegavaghini ragam. Vina Pustaka Dharini in all its flavor was beautifully rendered with a lot of sowkyam and a brisk round of kalpana swarams were delivered.

The main piece was a RTK in Mohanam. The mohanam ragam was about 16 minutes long. She began in the lower stayi and developed the ragam one note at a time taking ample care to play full notes with extremely long bows. I had the feeling that she was trying to bring in a lot of N. Rajam like technique in her ragam due to the presence of the Gundecha Brothers who were thoroughly enjoying the concert. Once Aishu hit the upper SA, she took off like a rocket with a hole bunch of brigas flowwing effortlessly winding down to the lower strings and ending the ragam.

The tanam was approx 13 minutes long with a tanamalika in Mohanam, Sahana, Subapantuvarli, Kapi and back to Mohanam. A lot of cutting bows in the tanam was the highlight.

Nannu Palimpa Tyagaraja Kirtanam was rendered with ample Sowkyam. I definitely was expecting Bavanutha, as Aishu in the onset had dedicated the concert in memory of the late MSG Sir. Nannu Palimpa had kalpanaswarams in two speeds and ended with a beautiful koruvai with 5, 7 and 9 pattern.

The concert concluded with an Anamacharya Kriti in ragam Kapi set to Tisra nadai.

Mridangam accompaniment was adequate with a less than 2 minute tani avartanam which definitely had the stamp of the Palghat Raghu school. The nadam of the mridangam needs special mention. In another thread a discussion on Kappi/Kutchi mridangam is going on.

Mahavishnu, I checked with Vinod and he stated that he performs on a Kappi mridangam too. Lastly I must say the fine blend of the electric sruthi box and the two full size tanpuras on stage elevated the music.

[rajeshnat]

Thanks appu
Could not attend the one concert that Aishu had in thiruvanmiyur during season. We have had concert review from fairly closeby nagpur. This is the first time I am hearing a carnatic concert in bhopal in internet/print medium.Just curious how many rasikas are there to attend this concert.

[appu]

Thanks appu
Could not attend the one concert that Aishu had in thiruvanmiyur during season. We have had concert review from fairly closeby nagpur. This is the first time I am hearing a carnatic concert in bhopal in internet/print medium.Just curious how many rasikas are there to attend this concert.

Rajeshnat,

This seemed like a big event. A lot of press, media coverage. Live telecast on Bhopal radio ( I think) as there was a akashwani narrator/announcer. Three to four newspapers covered the event the very next day with pictures etc. The reviews in the newspaper were in Hindi. Bharat Bhavan has a step seating in the front with Gaddi/pillows on the floor and about 50 to 75 chairs. I would guess about 300 people were in attendance.

[rshankar]

Appu (Aparna) thank you for the review!

Best wishes to Aishu! Seems to have been a fantastic concert! Any chance of a recording?

Vinod, good to know that you have recovered sufficiently from the experience.

[arasi]

Aishu,
Happy to hear that you performed in such a venue and were appreciated by rasikAs and prominent musicians.
I missed listening to you in Chennai. Hope you will share a clip from such a special concert with us.

[mahavishnu]

Congratulations to Aishu on another successful performance!
Appu, yes it would make sense that VRV plays a kappi instrument given his lineage.

[VRV]

Any chance of a recording?
Vinod, good to know that you have recovered sufficiently from the experience.

Shankar,

A very harrowing experience the accident. Back home and recuperating. Still in pain on the broken ribs. Hallelujah to pain meds. In regards to the recording, we were unable to record as Bharat Bhavan made the recording for radio and TV. Hopefully I will receive a copy.

Regards

VRV

[Nick H]

Vinod, when I met yuo and Aishu briefly at the Academy, you seemed amazingly cheerful for a man who had just had his leg set in plaster as a result of a road accident! I don't recall if you mentioned ribs, perhaps you weren't aware until later.

Sorry I could not get to see Aishu play. Wishing you fast recovery, and looking forward to seeing you both again whenever you may come here.

[arasi]

Vinod,
Sorry to hear about the mishap
Wishing you, from now on, a healthy, pain-free year!

[PUNARVASU]

VRV, happy to hear about Aishu's concert. Happy to hear that you played mridangam inspite of rib injuries. Hope they heal soon. Take care. Best wishes to Aishu.

[rshankar]

Vinod - my sincere wishes for a speedy recovery! These injuries are all so much more difficult to deal with as we grow older...But, the good news is that earlier and better mobilization helps faster healing and with pain control as well!

[appu]

Here is a write up about the event on the local newspaper

[arasi]

Aishu,
Very nice to read a review of your concert in Hindi!

Appu,
Thanks for posting it.
How do I see the picture which is adjacent to the write up?

[balakk]

http://i48.tinypic.com/2h2oae0.jpg

[arasi]

Thank you, balakk!
Now I see the picture...