Dr Pantula Rama-RamasevaMandali,FHS,16th April 2014

[arvenky]

After Kokilapriya, Kosalam (Sanjay sang here) and Sooryakantam, Naganandini (OST sang in Seshadripuram), a refreshing concert this one to hear rare ragas like Vakulabaranam (executed very nicely), Phalamanjari (came as a filler), Narayani etc.
Moving away from usual Kalyani,Kambodhi,Karaharapriya and fillers as Khamas,Hindolam this concert was really enjoyable. No offence meant here
Another concert started without a Varnam (OST started with Harikambodhi, Dinamanivamsa) though am not complaining the vocalist went on to present a neat concert. Very enjoyable. Being a long weekend starting not much crowd but most of them stayed till Tani, as I walked out when the speech started it was already 9.35 PM fearing lack of bus facility due to election next day.
PS : I personally felt Tani was too long
01 Manavi nAlakicha rAdhaTE-NaLinakAnthi (T)
02 BaNTu rIthi kOlu vIyavayya rAma-HamsanAdham (T) (A, S)
03 E-rAmuni nammitinO nE-VakuLAbharaNam (T) (A, S)
04 SanAtanA paramapAvanA-Phalamanjari (T)
05 Parama pAvana rAma-PUrvikalyANi (PoochiSrinivasaIyengar) (A, N, S)
06 PalukavEmi nA daivamA-PUrNachandrika (T)
07 RTP-NArAyaNi (Tani)
Swara ragamalika in Sahana,Darbari Kanada,Varali

[rshankar]

Nice!
Was this recorded? Also, what was the pallavi sAhityam?

[arasi]

arvenky,
Welcome to Rasikas.org!
Thanks for the review. Hope you will write more.
I assume Murthy played the violin. Who were the other accompanists?

The song list is a typically Panthula Rama one--an interesting one. Wish I had been there to hear her--that Narayani pallavi too.

[girish_a]

I was there.

After the RTP and the speech (around 10 minutes, with the garlanding, shawl-wrapping and all), she sang a short Thyagaraja composition (I can't remember which) and then a Swati Tirunal Hindi composition in Sindhu Bhairavi. It was 9.50. "The Mangala is coming", I thought.

And then, after humming for a brief moment, she sang the words "Mamava Pattaabhi Rama". My heart skipped a beat. "Aah!" said many people simultaneously.

Maamava Pattaabhi Rama is a perpetual favourite of mine. It unfailingly touches a devotional chord in me every time I listen to it. The song,full of vivid imagery, also seems full of divine power.

I have listened to many renderings of this song by several artists, including DKP, DKJ, MSS, Chembai etc. What can I say, Panthula Rama sang it in such a way that Hanumaan himself would have come there to listen to it. It cheered, consoled, inspired and brought the listeners in touch with their diviner selves. I felt blessed.

And the Mangala did come next. Pavamaana it was.

But Panthula Rama is obviously not one to reduce anything to a mere formality. She did not hurriedly sing just two stanzas as they always do. She sang all the charanas, as that Mangala should be sung. Why don't all artists do that? Only once have I heard someone sing it fully, and that was years ago, and the artist was Neyveli Santhanagopalan.

It was a perfect concert. "This is how a concert should be" and "Maamava Pataabhi Rama was the icing on the cake" were some of the comments I overheard from a couple of members of the audience as I made my way out.

This was my first Panthula Rama concert. I entered with great hope. I wasn't disappointed, and I left as a die-hard fan.

Even now, I am enjoying the blissful aftertaste of yesterday's beautiful concert. I wish you were there too.

[arvenky]

Pallavi lines were " ramanIvE brovavayya sadA varamolasagi srI" hope I got it right.
She was accompanied by M S N Murthy, H S Sudhindhra and B R Ravikumar on Ghatam.
Infact one of her concerts during December season in Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan still lingering in my mind.
She did sung a majestic Gaula and Super Suddha Saveri (Darini telusukonti) and Dhenuka RTP in that concert.
Her greatest asset being "Mandrasthyai" and clear diction.

[badari]

Pallavi Line is indeed " ramanIvE brovavayya sadA varamolasagi srI"

After RTP... she sang... rAma rAma rAma sItA husEni rUpaka tyAgarAja

[harimau]

This was my first Panthula Rama concert. I entered with great hope. I wasn't disappointed, and I left as a die-hard fan.

For all of you who are defending Carnatic Music Lite and the singing of tukkadas from far-off lands as attempts to draw in fresh groups of rasikas, here is proof that pure classicism combined with earnest and sincere delivery and respect for the intelligence of the audience is sufficient to generate a dedicated fan base.

Sri Girish, I bow to you, sir. :ymapplause:

[arvenky]

Nice!
Was this recorded? Also, what was the pallavi sAhityam?

Hello Mr Shankar
Write to me if you need records?
Rgds