BOMBAY JAYASREE RAMNATH AT BHARAT KALACHAR-18/12

[CRama]

Accompanists- HNBhaskar, Manoj Siva, Anirudh Athreya(Ganjira)

List of songs
Varnam-Sudhadhanyasi-HMB
Sree Balasubramanya-Bilahari –MD (R,S)
Anumane samikkintha-Malayamarutham-AK (R,N,S)
Kamalacharane-Amritabehag-GNB(S)
Rakshabettare-Bhairavi T (R,N,S)
Thani
RTP- Kunthalavarali- Vasantha
Thanam and swaram- Ragamalika- Kunthalavarali, Vasantha, Navroz, Nadanamakriya
Pallavi-Varuvay varamarulvay uyirinam uruki(Kunthalavarali)
Nandagopakumara (Vasantha)
Dehimudam dehi-Bharathiar-Desh

It was a awe inspiring concert from the word go. Her voice in fine form. It used to be light earlier. Now she is singing with more weight and azhutham. I also feel that she is singing with more vigour. Her sruti alignment, poise, grace, impeccable diction, right grouping of words, visranthi wherever required, capacity to stay on one note for extended time all result in heavenly music.

The raga alapanas of Bilahari, Malayamarutham, Bhairavi and Kunthalavarali and Vasantha, Desh were elaborate with time tested sancharas as well as some innovative sangathis. Malayamarutham alapana stood tall for her imaginative portrayal which lasted for 10 minutes. Many artistes do not spare this much space for this ragam (except if it is taken up for RTP). Bhairavi was treated with the required gauravam. The alapana ran to 15 minutes- her voice very comfortably traversing the three sthayis. The swaras had very imaginative patterns. The RTP alapana took 15 minutes and the entire RTP took 35 minutes with proper display of the manodharmam aspects. I am giving the time details as a reply to the discussion going on in another thread.

Her choice of words for neraval also is appreciable- She ensures that the meaning is complete in the lines taken up for neraval.

The accompanists- HNBhaskar was excellent in his raga elaborations and replies. Manoj and Anirudh embellished the concert with their anticipation, never intruding in the imagination of Jayasree. Mrs YGP paid rich accolades to Jayasree and her team.

My usual crib. She could have taken a bigger ragam for RTP- at least like Amritavarshini, Hamsanandi etc. There was heavy crowd who lavishly applauded the great music and who sat unstirred till end. With this appreciative crowd and availability of ample time (The concert started at 6 PM), she could have gone for a bigger ragam for the RTP. I am sure I will get that in another concert.

A memorable concert indeed.

[VK RAMAN]

Thanks for the great review CRama. Bigger ragams and smaller ragams - a new terminology - we should have a separate discussion on this under that title.

[HarishankarK]

Ehi Mudam Dehi - Narayana Teerthar

[venkatraghavan.1955]

I attended this concert and left with a sense of having listened to a great concert. Her music is very different in approach but the entire impact that it creates is amazing and should be experienced. Hope she would sing more in chennai and not just during the season. I was skeptical when I went after hearing she cancelled two of her previous concerts but this was amazing. HN Bhaskar enthralled with his ragam and thanam sections and served as a perfect foil for BJ. Manoj Siva and Anirudh played a delectable thani while also enriching the concert with their sensitive beats. Overall it was a great concert.

@CRama - I agree with VK Raman that we should have a separate discussion on this, but Vasantha is definitely a bigger ragam than Hamsanandi and Amruthavarshini even if Kunthalavarali might fall in the same category as these.

[grsastrigal]

When I went to VAni mahAl last week, her programme was cancelled. I felt very sad because going to vAni mahAl from anywhere is difficult because of evening traffic. Having reached half an hour late and found the concert cancelled was more irritating. This programee is postponed to 2nd Jan.

Happy that BJ has come back and gave a concert. Nice review. She has a class. By reducing her concerts, she has more rasikas yearning for a good music

[CRama]

Harisankar, This Dehi mudam dehi is of Bharathiar. This has been sung by Radha Jayakshmi in Khamas in a LP record. There is another of Narayana theerthar with the same start.

Venkatraghavan, IN this RTP, Vasantha was sung for 5 minutes only. Yes. it can be sung very elaborately. The small ragam I referred to is definitely Kunthalavarali.

Neverthless a wonderful concert.

[Lakshman]

Harishankark:
dEhimudam dEhi by Bharatiyar is different from Ehi mudam dEhi by Naratana Tirtha.

dEhi mudam. rAgA: khamAs/dEs. Adi tALA. Subramania Bharati.

P: dEhi mudam dEhi shrI rAdhE rAdhE
C1: rAga samudrajAmrtE rAdhE rAdhE rAjnI maNDala ratna rAdhE rAdhE
bhOgAdi kOTi tulya rAdhE rAdhE (jaya jaya) bhUdEvi tapaha phala rAdhE rAdhE
2: vEda mahA mantra rasa rAdhE rAdhE vEda vidyA vilAsini shrI rAdhE rAdhE
Adi parA shakti rUpa rAdhE rAdhE atyadbhuta shrngAramaya rAdhE rAdhE
3: kAdalenum tIvinilE rAdhE rAdhE (anru) kaNDeDutta peNmaNiyE rAdhE rAdhE
kAdalenum shOlaiyilE rAdhE rAdhE (ninra) karpakamAm pUttaruvE rAdhE rAdhE
mAdarashE shevap-peNNE rAdhE rAdhE vAnavargaLin inba vAzhvE rAdhE rAdhE

[venkatraghavan.1955]

@CRama - Sorry that I misunderstood you. Thank you very much for the clarification.

@grsastrigal - That cancelled programme at Vani Mahal is what I was referring to as well. It ended up being a fusion presentation by Embar Kannan and Troupe. Hopefully there are no more cancellations from BJ.