kalyaanapuram Aravind 10 th dec vani mahal

[Rasigapriya]

Abhogi Varnam - Adi (Swaram in Charanam)
Vandanamu Raghunandana - Sahana - Thyagaraja Swami
Sri RamA Saraswati - Nasikabhushani (Ragam) - Muthuswami Dhikshithar
Pankaja Lochana - Kalyani Swathi Thirunal (Ragam, Neraval, Swaram, Thani)
Rama Sumar - RAgheshri, Khabir


I was very apprehensive to attend afternoon concerts at sabhas. But took a chance to attend one at Vani Mahal at December 10th at 1:00pm

I should say that it was a correct decision that I took to attend this particular concert. The concert opened with Gnanananda Mayam Devam and Abhogi Varnam which was rendered in 2 speeds and few rounds of fast and effervescent swarams. I feel that the habit of singing swarams in the varnam will enhance the concert atmosphere and it did do to Sri S Aravind.

Next he cleverly chose Vandanamu Raghunandana in Sahana to give a different mood after a karaharapriya Janya (abhogi). The Krithi was rendered with absolute bhavam and the rakthi feel of sahana. Then came a 5 minute crisp alapana of Nasikabhushani. Nasikabhushani being a vivadi ragam, Aravind dealt it with all ease and showed the true color of the ragam to the rasikas. The sancharas at the Thara Sthayi were amazing and brought out the feel of the raga very aptly. The Krithi he chose was Sri RamA Saraswati Sevitham of Dhikshithar and did justice to the composition.

The Main piece that was chosen for elaboration that day was Kalyani. An Shukhaanubhavam was given by Sri Aravind in Kalyani Ragam and to mention specially, the sancharas at Thara Madhyamam were unique and heart touching. I was guessing whether it would be nidhi chala sukhama or Kamalambam Bhajare. But, to my surprise, it was Pankaja Lochana of Swathi Thirunal. A very dheergha Kala pramanam was chosen and the krithi was rendered with great diligence and bhavam. Nearval Swaras were done at Vrindhavanantha kritha 4 thalli from Samam. One who sings keezh kalam and Mel Kala Neraval with a Sarva Laghu pattern can be justified as a true vidwan and Sri Aravind did that with great ease. He tried to bring out all the nuances of Kalyani in the vilamba Kala swara prayogas. The Korappu was restricted to Samam not to the edam probably I feel because the Mridangist was non co operative. Mridangam literally pushed & pulled the vocalist according to his whims and fancies by not sticking to one particular tempo. But Sri S Aravind did do justice to the korappu and Korvai to 4 thalli in misra chapu thalam. Thani Avarthanam was very hasty and not remarkable.The Mridangist needs to take care of his layam while accompanying any vocalist because, it shows to the audience very obviously that the team is not syncing with layam. Kalyanapuram S Aravind has a strong sense of layam & hence managed to maintain the same kaala pramanam till the end.

The Concert concluded with a bhakthi filled Khabir Bhajan Rama Sumar in Rageshri tuned by Sri TNS (his guru) I think. It was rendered in a hindustani drupad. I think he listens a lot to Sri Voleti who is an expert in rendering bhajans. A lot of inspiration was seen.

Violinist Gyan Dev did accompany Aravind in a very subtle way and did justice to his job. An Amazing concert by Sri Aravind. An artist to be noted by rasikas and a must listen artist. From next year I think sabhas must consider giving him longer slots. 1 hour of a concert is insufficient for vocalists like him.


accompanists -
Sri Gyandev pappu - Violin
Sri Arvind Shankar - MridanAbhogi

[rajeshnat]

Thank you for the crisp review . I just googled to find out he has also learnt from both TNS and Kasturirangan too. He is also from the family of renowned Harikatha Exponents with kalyaanapuram names. MAy i know where is kalyaanapuram???.
Googled to find out more in the below url
http://www.kutcheris.com/artist.php?id=4056

[semmu86]

MAy i know where is kalyaanapuram???.

About 7-8 Kms to the north of thanjAvur, when you go towards thiruvaiyyAru.

[kssr]

Thiruvaiyyaru is on one bank of Cauvery. Kalyanapuram is on the other bank . Nice village with a beautiful Srinivasa perumaL temple. The street in front of the temple is called Rettai theru, meaning houses on both sides of the street! A row of public wells are there along the centre of Rettai theru. Cosy quiet neat place. Kalyanapuram aravamudhan, harikatha exponent is from this place.

[sangeethadasan]

From the link that @Rajeshnat gave I found that Kalyanapuram Sri S Aravind is also from the family of Sri Aravamudhan I think!