Dr Vedavalli & disciples - Ramanavami prog DD Podhigai

[Rsachi]

Dear all,
I hope you watched on Ramanavami this excellent program on DD Podhigai. If not, you can watch the entire hour-long program, thanks to Mr TVG, by clicking on the pic below - it takes you to the You Tube playlist with 13 parts:


Dr Vedavalli and disciples presented an IMPECCABLE program. The vidushi made highly appropriate, succinct introductions to each of the Utsava sampradaya krithis selected. The visuals of Rama pattabhisheka icons on the stage and the temple abhisheka images were extremely beautiful. The singers were seated In a beautiful arc on the left and they all sang with a very high level of musical sensitivity and devotion. Even the voices selected for individual lines were very well done. Each singer modulated her voice the right way. The right side arc had Sri RK Shriram Kumar on the violin, Sri Ashwin Anand on the Veena, Sri Arun Prakash on the mridangam and Sri Guruprasad on ghatam. The percussion support was subdued as befit the occasion. The violin and particularly Veena musical introductions to each song were melodious.

The sound settings for all the vocals and instruments were done beautifully. The camera work was exquisite.

I can say this is perhaps the FINEST television program I have seen on DD. Full marks to Podhigai.

I had an unforgettable Ramanavami thanks to the Sangeetha Kalanidhi Dr R Vedavalli.

[vasanthakokilam]

Thanks Sachi. I am on it. The flower decoration in the middle of the stage is so tastefully done.

[CRama]

Yes. it was a wonderful program. It had some not so commonly heard Utsava sampradaya kritis also - like Aragaimpave, Mangalm in the ragam Ghanta, Another mangalam in ragam Nadanamkriya. RV was not the lead the singer. She was the narrator- which added extra mileu to the music poured so devotedly by her disciples.

The music prog of Balamuralikrishna in the Chennai A channel in the morning slot was also a fitting Ramanavami aradhana, albeit repeat broadcast.

[sappri]

Sincere thanks to RSachi for sharing this wonderful program - I had no idea that this was being telecast by DD-Podugai

[vasanthakokilam]

On a tangential note, when the conversation about TMK's unconventional concert format was raging on, there was some good-natured snickering like 'What is next, is he going to start the concert with a Mangalam?'. I wanted to mention at that time that TMK may have the last laugh even if he does that. Because, the current day universal thinking and unshakable belief that the Mangalam should only be sung as a closer is baseless. And same is the notion that Mangalam should not be sung as the closer if that is not the last concert of the day. But I was not going to stick my neck out then.

In the above program Smt. Vedavalli says the same thing.

Now that it is settled, let us hear Pavamana in the middle of a concert with niraval and kalapanswaras. Just to shake things up a bit!

[vichu1947]

Sincere thanks to RSachi for sharing this wonderful program - I had no idea that this was being telecast by DD-Podugai

You have to mainly thank Sri TVG who took the pain of recording and uploading the programme

[Rsachi]

Vichu,
You're so right.
I had arranged to get a DVD recording of the program and intended to upload it on YT. It was on its way, Meanwhile half expecting Sri TVG the ever diligent and alert man that he is, to have archived it either in SPriya or YT, I searched in SPriya and then YT. I was happily surprised to see the playlist last night. I lost no time in sharing it here. I think I did mention him right at the top.
Last night the viewers # was 113. Just now (12 hours later) it is 328. So sharing it here, on FB and elsewhere has helped many to watch it I think.
Of course several thousands would have watched it live:)

Indeed we have to thank Saint Thyagaraja, Dr. Vedavalli, DD, TVG... So many.

[eesha]

All video uploads of Sri TVG are available through this link:
http://www.sangeethamshare.org/tvg/VIDEOS/

[raviraj]

.........................
In the above program Smt. Vedavalli says the same thing.
Now that it is settled, let us hear Pavamana in the middle of a concert with niraval and kalapanswaras. Just to shake things up a bit!

VK

I like Smt RV's tongue in cheek, in-the-concert repartees, a la SSI . In Dec 2013, Nada Inbam concert, she started off with the nAgapattinam VirusAmi pillai composed Kalyani Adi tAla varna "vanajAkshi". As she was about to end the varnam after singing the last ettugada svaram, she started a neraval on the carana line 'nIluparAnI', catching everybody off guard including, if I am right, the accompanists Sri RKSK and Mannargudi Eswaran! As if to answer everyone who was gaping, she went to say with an impish grin, in chaste tamizh - "Some may say that what I am doing is innovation.....actually its not. My gurunathar ( the great Sangita Kalanidhi Mudicondan Venkatrama Iyer) used to sing neraval for quite a few of the varnas ( provided they were amenable to a neraval) & it would be so beautiful. What I am doing now is just doing what he did ( following tradition)". She went on to complete a short/sweet neraval on "niluparAnI" topped it with a few rounds of delectable kalpana svaras ( highlighting the different shades of Kalyani ni) before rounding off the opener

Ravi

[Aditto]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47CuipHl2EA

This is the concert !!

[T.V.GOPALAKRISHNAN]

I got a personal mail that Podhigai TV might repeat it tomorrow after-noon (may be during their normal telecast timing of Isaicharal timing between 3-05 pm to 4-30 pm) of this 55 minutes programme. TVG.

[kunthalavarali]

It was certainly a very good program.

In fact there are very many good programs telecast by Podhigai. Unfortunately, there is no email address for sending immediate comments. We still see the archaic post cards being read on their "Edhorali" program!!

[Rsachi]

Kunthalavarali,
You will be tickled if I tell you that DD Blr and AIR Blr FM are equally inaccessible. I had to go to extraordinary trouble to give them feedback.
Sometimes I think it is a conspiracy of private channels to block off all scope for dialogue and improvement.
You may recall I had offered 1M USD for anyone to give us the Naad Bhed finals telecast schedule last year. It went unclaimed. I gave it to OBAMACARE.

[Rasikapriya2013]

These Utsava sampradhaya kritis which are so melodious, simpler and rich with lyrical meanings was so meditative when rendered by Smt.Vedavalli and her disciples. Thank you so much for sharing.

[sappri]

@vichu1947 - Shri TVG's service to the cause of music and rasikas is known to everyone - truly exemplary - however, the fact that this was uploaded in youtube was brought to (atleast) my attention by RSachi - else I would not have been aware of it
Incidentally - Ashwin Anand - vainika (and Vedavalli mami's student), mentioned that this would be re-telcast on DD-Podugai this Saturday as part of Isai-Chaaral.

[Nick H]

would be re-telcast on DD-Podugai this Saturday

This Saturday I will be seeing Sumithra sing live.

Tonight: Usha Padmanabhan;
Tomorrow: Sumithra Vasudevan;
Wednesday: R Vedavalli;
Following Sunday: R Vedavalli.

We are having a good time here for RV School lovers )

[arasi]

Grand time for you, Nick.
I don't expect RV to sing 'God save the queen' in the middle of the concert with neraval and svarAs, even in jest--not that you are going to go for it

As for Podigai's set for the concert, it was very agreeable. None of those 'extra bit of everything' which they crowd the set with for no reason.

[Nick H]

I would not even expect her to sing English Note, although, if she did, she would of course raise it above being a rather tedious piece of music.

Somehow, our mutual friend Suryaprakash always manages to do just that, and entirely bypass my dislike of it.

[T.V.GOPALAKRISHNAN]

Those who are online now can watch the above programme now in Podhigai TV (3-05 pm).
Regards,

TVG.

[Sivaramakrishnan]

Pranaams TVG Sir, for your commitment to propagate good music!