Salem Sriram at MA

[SabashBale]

Salem Shriram (Vocal), Vaikom Padma Krishnan (Violin), Erode Nagaraj (Mrdangam), N. Rajaraman (Ghatam)
Monday, December 22nd, 2014 at 1:30 PM
The Music Academy
T.T.K. Auditorium (Chennai)
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Salem Sriram is an immensely talented vocalist - I would definitely club him with Sanjay and Abhishek when it comes to excellence in manodharmam and execution. Having heard his few excellent recordings in Sangeethapriya, I had concluded that it was perhaps impossible for anyone to sing any better. Today, at the MA, Sriram showed that the best can be bettered.
With the Surutti varnam start, he moved on to a brisk Smarane Onte Salade in Malayamarutham. He followed it up with a short sketch of Bhairavi and then sang Keesu Keesendru. After that he took up Bilahari. The alapana was out of the world. Sometimes you wish copyright, piracy and privacy laws didn't exist so that such gems could be recorded and re-experienced not by one but by many! Dorakuna was presented very well. The neraval was superb. After Sogasuchooda tarama, Chandrajyoti revealed itself through an RTP with the pallavi going something like - "chandrabimba jyotiyil availai kanden ..." (don't remember the full lyrics)- in 2 kalai adi. Again, an unrepeatable alapana which was all bhava and brikka; and a partially metered tanam, which had a comfortable gait to it. He concluded with Shanthi Nilava Vendum and peace returned after a thunderous concert!
The accompanists were brilliant. An amazing concert, but alas - he does not have any other concerts this season ...

[venkatraghavan.1955]

@SabashBale - Thanks so much for the detailed review. I was planning on writing about this concert myself but looks like you beat me to it. I definitely do agree that artistes like Salem Shriram must be given more opportunities to showcase his talent but putting them in the same league as Sanjay and Abhishek is a stretch. I in fact would not even put Sanjay and Abhishek in the same category, Sanjay being miles ahead in terms of music and maturity and experience. Nevertheless this concert was a cracker and I was so lucky to have attended it. I also hear that Salem Shriram is a student of Sanjay though the influence of the hallmarks of the SSI school seems unmistakable. Hope to hear him again very soon.

[rajeshnat]

Salem shriram has learnt from calcutta krishnamoorthy and I am told he learnt very minimally from sanjay. There are some great artists like salem shriram , sreevalsan menon , the one sabha that gives opportunity is Academy. Rest donot even notice such great talent. Tx sabash bale for your review , chandrajothi as a rtp would have been a great number, few years back he sang a lovely gowrimanOhari rtp. Shriram has a lovely briga control with a great voice. I wish this concert was not during a 01:30 pm slot on a working day.

[makham]

I think he is singing at TTD Nada Neerajanam TODAY (23-12-2014). yesterday's concluding announcement at Nada Neerajanam said he is from the USA

[PUNARVASU]

There is a nada swarm concert at Nadaneerajanam today.

[venkatraghavan.1955]

Sad that I wont be able to catch this youngster anywhere else this season.

[erode14]

the pallavi was chan,dhiran jOthiyil avaLaik kaNdEn;;; saraNam enRu pugundhu koNdEn. bhArathiyAr's lines. oLi changed to jOthi to bring name of the rAga

[rajeshnat]

erode
thank you for the pallavi line.Looks you are back after a gap. nice and lovely pallavi line by sriram- you being a poetic person must have enjoyed it bit more than more than many rasikas. Good luck - right now at half point in season.

[makham]

Am sorry. I heard the announcement the previous day and my wife also confirms that they mentioned Salem Sriram's vocal as the next day's program.