SIKKIL GURUCHARAN AT VANI MAHAL-11/12

[CRama]

The concert of Sikkil Gurucharan accompanied by Dr.M.Narmada on the violin, Neyveli Narayanan on the Mridangam and Ramani on the Ghatam was held at Vani Mahal. List of songs.

Ninne bhajana-Nata-T (N)
Paripalayamam-Reethigowla-ST (S)
Thamadam thagathayya-Mohanakalyani-Lalgudi Gopala Iyer (R,S)
Anumane samikkintha adayalam-Malayamarutham-AK
Palimsu Kamakshi-Madhyamavathy-SS (R,N,S)
Thani
Orajoopuchedi nayayama-Kannadagowla-T
RTP-Varali- misrachapu

The concert was good from the word go. For the first song, elaborate neraval at Seethanatha sakalaloka nayaka thyagarajanutha compensated for the absence of kalpana swaras. Paripalayamam had sufficient dose of kalpana swaras rendered at the pallavi. Mohanakalyani, Madhyamavathi and Varali were rendered very elaborately. Thamatham thagathayya is not often heard in concerts. It was rendered well and the swaras had very interesting patterns. Madhyamavathy was rendered for 17 minutes bringing out the multi hues of the ragam and the song was also rendered with respect towards the sahithyam of the song. A forumite lamented a few days back about vanishing of this great composition from the concert platform. Gurucharan would have read that. I also longed to hear this song as the main song in some concert. I am happy about this selection.

I was craving or RTP in Varali. Very few artistes today choose Varali for RTP. Gurucharan rendered it excellently . This was the best piece in the concert. Full justice given to all the ingredients of the pallavi- ragam, thanam, neraval, swaras, trikalam etc. The sahithyam was Muruga Kumara Umayal maintha Saravanabhavaguha vadivazhaga. Ragamalika swaras were in Nalinakanthi, Sudhadhanyasi and Sivaranjini. Dr. Narmada was superb in her alapanas and returns. The percussion team significantly embellished the concert. A very good concert.

[arvenky]

He sung RTP Varali in last year Karthik Fine Arts cocert at NGS. Good one it was.

[Sivaramakrishnan]

I feel that Varali for RTP ( even for Main) may not impress because of repetitive phrases.
This is, of course, my personal experience/opinion.

[CRama]

Sivaramakrishnan, your opinion will change if you hear Semmangudi's and TNS RTPs.

[Sivaramakrishnan]

CRama,
Again it's been my personal experience that Varaali shines more as a sub-main. One could present it 'brief and bold'.
'Kaa Vaa Vaa' / 'Seshaachalanaayakam' for example.

[arasi]

Me too. Give me a main or sub-main in the rAgA than an RTP!

[sureshvv]

@arasi: Not curiously wondering what a tanam in varali would sound like? Why would you relegate any raga to the Non RTP bracket?

@Sivaramakrishnan: Many times RTPs are brief and bold given constraints of time

[arasi]

My personal musical experience colors this feeling! The only pallavi I have heard in varALi (TNS, Sanjay)...ambikai, jagadambikai varALidO) were excellent, but to me, the bhAvam in the rAgA needs more lines to bring out its full impact--not just a single line. Tanam, yes, can be nice to hear, but there are so many other rAgAs which sound even better in that form. ka vA vA, marakatha maNi varNA, and one of my favorites which is not heard at all is Ambujam Krishna"s engini selvEn, yAriDam solvEn mean something special to me.

Personal preference, no doubt.

[sureshvv]

The only pallavi I have heard in varALi (TNS, Sanjay)...ambikai, jagadambikai varALidO) were excellent, but to me, the bhAvam in the rAgA needs more lines to bring out its full impact--not just a single line.

OK... So, what you need is a Varali RTP in sankeerna jathi ata tala

[arasi]

Whatever that means, this ignoramus says

A short pallavi line isn't enough for me in varALi, I guess.

[CRama]

arasi, Pallavi will be short only unless it is a very lengthy talam. I am happy that you have heard this wonderful pallavi. Definitely it carries a meaning. Ambikai Jagdambikai varaalito srutiyodu layamum taraalito. What more is required. TNS has very intelligently woven the name of the ragam in varaalito. There are other pallavis also in Varali sung by TNS. Those who have not heard them will say Varali is not suitable for pallavi. Ariyakudi and Semmangudi also has sung RTP n Varali.

[Sivaramakrishnan]

Happy that 'arasi varalitho' to support me!

TO ME kritis in Varali are more impressive.
ARI's 'Seshachalanayakam' is more popular than RTP. All his sishyas have stood to propagate it.

I agree that one can sing RTP in any raga, but the element of 'AASWAADANAM' is not the same.

[pvs]

on the subject of Varali, TMK has imbibed quite a lot of fireworks from Semmangudi. The only drawback is that he may give you the Tanam alone in electrifying fashion or just the Ragam with nothing else to follow (he did that at the MA in 2011)!

Apologize for dragging this thread away from SGC who is a very strong performer.

[HarishankarK]

Neraval in Nattai is rare. Good choice for a surprise rather than singing run-of-the-mill predictable Nattai swaras.

Varali for RTP is rather hard to come by. But in case of ragamalika tanam singing or veena playing i have observed that Varali is chosen as one of the ragas frequently. Another such raga is Reethigowlai. I remember R Vedavalli amma's concert in MA 2006 (i think) where she sang Todi main and tanam in todi and varali and reethigowlai tanams and then back to todi and Dakshayani (Dikishitar krithi). The effect was superb!

Isn't this the ragam they say is not taught by the Gurus as it will lead to conflict between Guru and Shishya? Whatever that means? :-\

[Sivaramakrishnan]

Thanks HarishankarK for pointing out the suitability of Varali for Taanam in Veena. It's something unique.

Ok, now let's come back to the SGC concert!