Sri S Kasthuri Rangan @ Ganakala Vidya Nilayam, 12 Oct 2014

[sangeethadasan]

Another blessing for me at Mumbai, when I was onsite for work yesterday. Sri S Kasthuri Rangan at Gana Kala Vidya Nilayam, Mumbai.
The List is as follows

1) Intha Chala - Begada - Varnam (S)
2) Ganamurthe - Ganamurthe - Adi - Thyagaraja Swami
3) Bhavasagaram - Shanmukhapriya - Adi - Gopalakrishna Bharathi (R,N,S)
4) Guruvayoorappane appan - Reethigowla - Adi - Ambujam Krishna
5) Saga Varam Arul Vai - Varamu - Misra Chapu - Bharathiar (announced by the artist)
6) Sri Rama Saraswati - Nasika bhushani - Adi - MD (S)
7) Ratna Kanchuka - Kambhoji - Misra Chapu - HMB (R,N,S,T)
8) Neene Anatha Bandhu - Shubapantuvarali - Rupakam- Purandaradasa ( Preceeded by Vrutham)
9) Ratna Jaditha Simhasana - Yaman - Abhang
10) Jagathotharana - Pilu - Adi - Purandaradasa
11) Thillana - Sindu bhairavi - Adi - OVK
12) Nirupamana Sami - Behag - Poochi

The 1st item itself gathered the tempo of the concert. I was reminded of his guru singing the same varnam to commence a concert. The weight of begada was fully potrayed. Swarams in begada were really a feather on the crown. Ravi anantharaman on the violin did add substantial contribution in playing the swaras. Ganamurthe set in the mood of the concert even more evidently. Next he geared up to present Shanmukhapriya krithi of Gopalakrishna bharathi. Breathtaking sancharas of the raga. Graha bedham to give nattai kurinji. It ws a brilliant treat to the ears. The ragam was essayed for more than 20 minutes. I was expecting a usual Siddhi vinayakam or Marivere. But to my surprise came in Bhava sagaram. KR is one artist with a lot of repertoire amongst today's contemporaries. Neraval at Bhakti panni paani was done with high level of precision. Swaras were executed with intelligence yet without much of complexity. This is a common trait I have observed with KR. Next came in a series of uruppadis.. Guruvayoorappan, Saaga Varam and Sri Ramah Saraswati.. KR aligned himself in exploring the beauty of these krithis without any extra vyavaharas. The Main choice of the day was Kambhoji. Ultimate vishranthi in the raga exposition and krithi rendition. Beauty of the kambhoji came out in its ultimate full colors. Ratna Kanchuka Dharini was rendered in a leisurely kala pramaanam. Neraval and swarams were out of the world..
Thani avarthanam was a treatise. Kanjira artist was not in form yesterday. He lost his layam at so many places. Sridar parthasarathy was awesome as usual. The most unexpected thing of the whole concert was the list of thukkadas. Abhang, Jagathotharana, Thillana.. etc., on the whole it was an amazing experience listening to KR. Hope he sings more in chennai season this year and looking fwd to listening to him..

Accompanists

Ravi A - Violin
Sridar - Mridangam
Hari S - Kanjira