Sri S Kasthuri Rangan at Vani Mahal, Dec 16th 2013

[sangeethadasan]

Intha Chala mu - Begada Varnam (S)
Shobillu Saptaswara - Rupakam, Thyagaraja Swami
Ramanukku Manan - Hindolam, Arunachala Kavi (R,N,S)
Mamava Madhava - Neelambari, Narayana Theerthar - adi
Ranganayakam - Nayaki - Adi Dhikshithar
Kamalambam Bhajare - Kalyani - Adi (R,N,S,T) Dhikshithar
Thillana - Hamsanandi - HMB
Nirupamana Sami Ninne - Behag - ??

It was a fantabulous 2 hours that I spent in my life all these years. This is the first time I am listening to a concert by Sri Kasthuri Rangan. The moment the screen opened, the concert began with a majestic Begada Varnam. The varnam was rendered with complete justice done to Begada. There were crisp Swaras attached to the varnam that made the atmosphere even more vibrant. Sri Kasthuri Rangan moved on to Shobillu Sapthaswara in a lilting Kala Pramanam, with effervescent chiitai swarams, made the hall get filled with energy.The Sub Central Piece of the concert was emotion filled Hindolam. Many phrases that he sung had a lot of hindustani influence. I was reminded of listening to Pt. Bhimsen Joshi often in his Hindolam essay. And the composition that he handled was Ramanukku Manan Mudi tharithare, a composition of Arunachala Kavi Rayar as a part of his Rama Nataka Krithis. Clear and perfect execution of Neraval and Swaram was done in Pattam katta ethavan, a lot of Porutham-type swaras were placed at 3-Thalli from samam on 1-kalai Adi Thalam. The beauty of the whole effort was, the korvai. It was just a 5-10-15 korvai and was aptly matched with the sahityam. Next he rendered Madhava Mamava Deva in Neelambari in a very steady and unhurried pace. This was followed by Sri Ranganayakam in Nayaki which was sung for around 10 minutes. The thing that I have always appreciated about Sri TNS school is that they give the kaala pramanam high importance to reach the krithi to the audience. This krithi was sung in such a kaala pramanam, which reminded me of the Lord in his Anantha Sayana Thirukkolam. The Central piece for the day was Kalyani. Short and Crisp Alapana, bringing in all the essential phrases of the raga reminded me of the yesteryear Doyen Sri Ariyakudi. Kamalambam Bhajare was his choice to elaborate on. There was no neraval but to compensate that, he rendered the swaras so beautifully at the pallavi itself. MS Varadhan and Krishna, gave the concert their embellishments during the thani. The thani was followed by a Muthaiah bhagavathar Thillana in hamsanandi. All intricate laya nuances were exhibited in this thillana and the concert concluded with Nirupamaana Sami Ninne (sorry couldnt find who's composition it was ) on the whole it was a treat to my ears. WOW! is the single word to describe his concert. A Must follow Artist.

[Enna_Solven]

nirupamAna sAmini nA nilayamunaku rammanavE is by Ramanathapuram Srinivasa Iyengar.

http://www.karnatik.com/co1043.shtml

[Rsachi]

Sangeethadasan, thank you for a breathless narrative fully conveying your utter joy. On RasikOmeter, shall I put it as Awesome?
And accompaniments?

[sangeethadasan]

Yes Please. Accompanists were
Sri Anayampatti Venkatasubramaniam - Violin
Sri MS Varadhan- Mridangam
Sri Krishna - Ghatam

[kssr]

He has always been an excellent performer. Unfortunately IMHO he did not get his due with regard to popularity. They say it is because he sings like Sri.TNS. If someone can sing like Sri.TNS he deserves appreciation and following all the more. I hope that he gets his rightful place in the coming years.

[rajeshnat]

Kasturi has a real great throw in his voice , i have heard him few times where i have reviewed. One wish i have is to know how he sings taanam .

[sangeethadasan]

@Kssr, I feel that, when someone learns from a Guru, its because he/she likes that style and wants to sing like them. I feel that our music industry should definitely change the perspective that, someone should not sing like his/her guru. Its the singers wish to follow whichever style he/she wants.. I am in love with the way Sri Kasthurirangan sings, and yet subtly different from Sri TNS

[rajeshnat]

I am in love with the way Sri Kasthurirangan sings, and yet subtly different from Sri TNS

sangeethadasan,
Can you give few pointers on how subtly different that he is from Shri TNS please ? Just for my curiosity.

[sangeethadasan]

From what I heard in the other days concert, I feel that, the way he develops the ragas is different from that of his Guru. Even though there might be some pidis common but the structure of the raga that he takes the audience through is entirely his. Thats one. The way the swaras are rendered, unnecessary complications are not introduced just for the sake of displaying the laya intricacies but yet, power packed.. I feel these major differences are enough to differentiate from his Guru.

[HarishankarK]

I have listened to Kasthuri Rangan many times but never felt that his singing was just like TNS. I knew that he was TNS disciple when i listened to his rendering incidentaly of Nirupamanasami itself but i did not think it was an exact replica of TNS style or anything. For that matter i feel Gayathri Girish sings more like TNS but again she also uses that style in a beautifying appropriate way and not excessively.
More than anything i think the Kasturirangan's voice itself is much thinner compared to TNS roar (at times) and there is more sukha bhavam when he sings.
And i also feel that Kasthuri Rangan uses brigas moderately and only to beautify so i like his presentation of TNS bani more than TNS himself because i feel TNS can sometimes go out of control and not to mention his voice problems.

[thathwamasi]

I have memories of listening to Shri Kasthurirangan in the late 90's. He used sing a lot like TNS (with many laya intricacies. I also believe that for a shortwhile he learnt Mridangam from Palghat Raghu Sir.). Then a few years later, I heard him sing in different style (different good) and more concentration on bhavam and the experience rather than kanakku and vivaharam.

He is a very good artist and he surely must get more limelight in the forth coming years.

Regards
T

[HarishankarK]

Then a few years later, I heard him sing in different style (different good) and more concentration on bhavam and the experience rather than kanakku and vivaharam.
Regards
T

Fortunately i have heard him after this positive transition in his style. And yes he is very good and not at all an imitation of TNS, thankfully!

[grag]

Shri Kasturirangan's concert at Sastri hall on Dec 20th 2013 was streamed live. Available at youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48oIEgQW5eE