Imagine you have come to know about a family of engineers- in chip design, EDS and biotechnology. They live in India's tech capital, full of malls and mega multistorey apartment townships. When you do go and visit their home, you find something astonishing. A world of old world splendour. Full of period furniture from Malabar, traditional paintings and artefacts, a kitchen set up like Grand Ma would love it and aromas of the best temple town fare. Wouldn't you be astonished? So was I, in the same state after hearing Aishwarya this evening.
Life is all about choices. If one is a budding musician in her twenties, she can look up to many role models from a generation of high achievers in CM still reigning. They bring out originality, innovation, style, packaging, social networking skills, and a global round the year travel schedule. They have a huge repertoire full of neo-composers and alternative genres. Fusion and innovation. Rivetting presentation.
Aishwarya has chosen not to emulate them, it seems. She instead has gone back for inspiration to SSI, KVN, MMI, MSS, MLV. She seems content to give you all the classics in classic format. She has a voice that I imagine MLV had in her prime. It has robustness and range, and no nasality. Perhaps lacking in sweetness, it nevertheless is her asset as she traverses range and presents ideas effortlessly. She takes every musical idea straight on and has nothing tentative about her singing. Full-throated, full of ideas, and smilingly strong in her demeanour from start to end of the concert. She simply looks like one who is having a whale of a time singing authentic Carnatic music.
She began the concert with a flourish of a Bhairavi intro to Viriboni. The second song was Telisi Rama. By then I was smiling at her level of comfort with what one would describe as vintage repertoire. I was then won over by an emphatic Dhanyasi, and the song Meenalochana Brova. She negotiated this very beautiful but difficult raga (to present in the cheerful rather than poignant shade) with great finesse. The song was rendered with wonderful neraval and swaras.
The main raga was Kharaharapriya. Chakkani Rajamargamu in all its glory followed. Aishwarya loves to do neraval and swaras. She Is strong in both departments.
Aishwarya was ably accompanied by Aditi on the violin, Dr. V. Krishna on the mridangam, and Sukanya on the ghatam. They all gelled well, the Unnati ambiance was great, and the audience thoroughly enjoyed a fine concert by a rising star, cast in the classic mould of yesteryear greats.
Congrats and best wishes to Kum. Aishwarya!
Viriboni
Telisi
Dhanyasi - meena lochana
Harikambhodi - Dinamani
Ahiri-Mayamma
Makelara
Chakkani Raja
Tani
Shloka-Kalyanollasa sriman -Sahana, Varali, Jonpuri
Sapashya
Krishna née begane
Mangalam
