S.Aishwarya's Concert at TTD - Dec 20, 2014

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Vignesh Viswanathan
Posts: 30
Joined: 02 May 2014, 23:45

S.Aishwarya's Concert at TTD - Dec 20, 2014

Post by Vignesh Viswanathan »

“Sravanam”– TTD Information Centre
Venkatanaraya Road – T Nagar Chennai

S.Aishwarya – Vocal
Aishu Venkataraman – Violin
Vinod Venkataraman – Mridangam

6 45 pm to 8 00 pm

The song list

1. Sthapakayacha Dharmasya – Slokam – Yaman – Adi Sankara
2. Vande Vasudevan - Sri – Kanda Chapu – Annamacharya
3. Poojaya Raghavendra – Slokam – Khamas - Annamacharya
4. Dolayama – Adi – Khamas - Annamacharya
5. Okapari Kokapari – Kharaharapriya – Adi – Annamacharya (Alapanai, Neraval,Swaram, Thani)
6. Chediyaya Valvinaigal – Virutam – Hamsanandi - Kulasekara Alwar –
7. Srinivasa – Adi – Hamsanandi – Papanasam Sivan
8. Thaz Sadayum – Simhendramadyamam / Brindavani – Virutam – Pezalwar
9. Entamatramuna – Misra Chapu - Brindavani /Mayamalavagowla – An-namacharya
10. Nanati Brathuku – Revathi – Adi – Annamacharya
11. Bhavayami Gopalabalam – Khanda Chapu – Yaman Kalyani – An-namacharya
12. Kurai Onrum Illai – Adi – Ragamalika – Rajaji (on public demand)
13. Ksheerabdhi Kanyakaku – Khanda Chapu – Kurinji – An-namacharya
14. NinanePaduve – Ugabhoga – Behag - Jagannatha dasar -
15. Nanege Badavanu – Behag – Purandara dasar
16. Pavamanu – Saurashtram/Madhyamavati – Thyagaraja


Margazhi Season is at its Peak in Chennai but it was a special Rain of Mu-sic for Lord Balaji of TTD.

The Voice that comes from a Great Parampara that popularised Annamayya and Bhakthi!

Squeezing through the Rush of Ranganatha Street TNagar, I made my way to VenkataNarayanan Road and reached TTD.

Entering the Hall, for a moment felt a pindrop silence among the audience with a mild vibrations out of the Tambura

It was not Rain but a Harmonious SunSet on Stage.
It was like Sky in Blue and Yellow Shades...
Both Aishwaryas (The Singer and The Violinist) in the attire of Sunset filled the Stage with Confidence, Happiness and Shradhdha!

The Shades of her illustrious legacy was clearly visible in Aishwarya’s mu-sic
The Mannerism, The Perfection, The Shradhdha, The Shruthi Consious-ness, The Layam Pidimaanam, The Akshaya Patram of Kalpana Swaram, Raga Manifestation.

Aishu Venkataraman was was just superb in her following and the two Aishus together produced music of the highest quality. Especially when Aishu (the violinist) gave matching chords to Aishwarya vocal at appropriate moments in Kharaharapriya and Yaman Kalyan.

Dolayam! the Ever-Green Song set to Kamas made us to swing along with Annamayya's Composition on Dasavatarams of Lord Venkateshwara. We could visualize Perumal and Alamelu mangai in the Back Stage swinging Happily before us.

Aishwarya sang an out of the world elaborate Kharaharapriya Ragam – Starting at a slow and relaxed pace, she developed the Raga , caressing it all the way and finally concluding with high speed brighas which are the hall mark of her grandmother’s legacy.

Aishwarya was supported beautifully by Aishu. The Violin was “singing” the alapanai.Wonderful style of playing. First time I am hearing Aishu and I am highly impressed.
Aishwarya’s swara Kalpana was exquisitely creative.
Beautifully alligned Swarams with Combination and Permutations and pat-tern after pattern flowed from her.
The audience was highly appreciative of the two youngsters on stage who I am sure will be stars in the not too distant future

Rememberence of Papanasam Sivan is like Remembering the Great Artists like M.S.Subbulakshmi and D.K.Patttammal who popularised His Songs and brought to life!
Hamsanandhi makes us to feel like pleading to Lord at His Feet with a Di-vine Meaning! Yes! The same is felt while Aishwarya renders the Raaga with a Virutham."Cediyaaya Valvinaigal" that holds a depth Meaning. The Line "Kidanthiyangum Padiyaay kidanthu un pavala vaai kanbene" brings an immediate visualization of the Audience already as his Sanctum Step and seeing the beautiful Lips of Lord Venkateshwara beautifying the Back Stage!
Followed to the Virutham was "Srinivasa Thiruvenkatamudaiyaan". If a per-son close His Eyes with Pure Bhakthi for the Line sung by the Artist "Jagan naatha" would sure shed Tears of Bhakthi as if attained Janmasthabalyam by witnessing the Lord Himself!!!
Hats off !

"Enta Matramuna" made rendered beautifully made us to realize the es-sence of the Song!
"To which ever Form the soul thinks, Lord appears thy same".

Philosophical yet its the Reality! Every Day in our Life what we do is a Dra-ma, inside the Life of Drama and nothing is in our Hand. Between the Truth:Birth and Death, anything we do is Drama. Nanati Brathuku was ren-dered in pure MS style.

Yamuna Kalyani! Yes. Your Right it is "Bhavayami Gopalabalam". From be-ing spoken as M.S.Subbulakshmi's TradeMark with no doubts been copy-righted by Aishwarya now! Wow, The Song Renderition makes us to see the Navaneetha chora running before us with the glittering sound out of his jewels and anklet.before our Eyes. The visualization would make our Soul to smile unconciously.

Kurai Onrum Illai, Ksheerabdhi and Nanege followed by Mangalam ended a short but mesmerizing concert.

Vinod Venkatraman's Tani was highlight! His Mrdangam danced for Aish-warya's Voice!
Made my Day!!! Blessed! Refreshed!
Thanks to Sri Cienu for inviting me to the Concert!

A picture from my camera of the concert.
Image

appu
Posts: 443
Joined: 20 May 2007, 09:46

Re: S.Aishwarya's Concert at TTD - Dec 20, 2014

Post by appu »

Vignesh,

Nice writeup and a beautiful photo. It seems like a lot of songs for an hour and fifteen minutes. Was Kharaharapriya ragam and Kirtanam fairly elaborate? Where did she sing the Neraval? And lastly who has tuned the song "Okapari Kokapari"

Appu

rshankar
Posts: 13754
Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 22:26

Re: S.Aishwarya's Concert at TTD - Dec 20, 2014

Post by rshankar »

Lovely review...hope Cienu or Vinod put up some clips for pardEsi folks like us...

Vignesh Viswanathan
Posts: 30
Joined: 02 May 2014, 23:45

Re: S.Aishwarya's Concert at TTD - Dec 20, 2014

Post by Vignesh Viswanathan »

Hi Appu

Indeed! Only at End I could realize it was an hour and fifteen minutes.
It was like why not one more song, why not one more bhajan kind of Heart Cravings going on in every Audience been present.
Kharaharapriya Ragam was wonderfully elaborated beautifying the charm of Lord Venkateshwara through her Aalapana.And the Kirtana explained the beautification while Neraval at "Jegatheka pathimena" and swara kalpana brought the Lord's beauty before eyes of Audience just as Annamayya explained!

Vignesh Viswanathan

Vignesh Viswanathan
Posts: 30
Joined: 02 May 2014, 23:45

Re: S.Aishwarya's Concert at TTD - Dec 20, 2014

Post by Vignesh Viswanathan »

Hi Appu

Sorry for delayed reply.
I just learned from cienu mama that the kirthanam "Okapari Kokkkapari" was tuned by "Sangeetha Kalanidhi" Shri.Nedunuri Krishnamurthy.

Vignesh Viswanathan.

HarishankarK
Posts: 2217
Joined: 27 Oct 2007, 11:55

Re: S.Aishwarya's Concert at TTD - Dec 20, 2014

Post by HarishankarK »

dunno whether this is a concert for Lord Srinivasa or a tribute for MSS? So typical a list! If i want to listen to MSS songs i have CDs and other sources. MSS is truly great and inimitable. From the reviews i have read of this artiste she sings mostly MSS songs - she should perhaps break from that mould and try to establish her own image.

appu
Posts: 443
Joined: 20 May 2007, 09:46

Re: S.Aishwarya's Concert at TTD - Dec 20, 2014

Post by appu »

HarishankarK

Why the negativity in your tone. Nothing wrong in starting off imitating ones own great grandmother. After all the necessary resources are available so close at hand. On the flip side this artist is barely 19. She has a long way to go to develop her style and stamp. Lastly MSS repertoire was extensive and exhaustive. Being able to sing a fraction of those at such a tender age speaks volumes of her sadagam and perseverance. Let us not dampen the spirits by being way too critical.

HarishankarK
Posts: 2217
Joined: 27 Oct 2007, 11:55

Re: S.Aishwarya's Concert at TTD - Dec 20, 2014

Post by HarishankarK »

Am not prejudiced against the artiste in question. I have not commented on the quality of singing either. Look at the list of songs! I was irritated seeing the list. It's just directly out of the commercial recordings available of MSS amma. I hope the young girl will be allowed to think for herself and sing from her choice and feeling. Maybe she will excel in singing songs which were not the usual for MSS. It is possible.

Vignesh Viswanathan
Posts: 30
Joined: 02 May 2014, 23:45

Re: S.Aishwarya's Concert at TTD - Dec 20, 2014

Post by Vignesh Viswanathan »

HarishankarK wrote:dunno whether this is a concert for Lord Srinivasa or a tribute for MSS? So typical a list! If i want to listen to MSS songs i have CDs and other sources. MSS is truly great and inimitable. From the reviews i have read of this artiste she sings mostly MSS songs - she should perhaps break from that mould and try to establish her own im-age.
Well, when one makes a pilgrimage to Tirumala, one gets to hear the voice of MSS from all directions from dawn till mid-night. :) So maybe the Lord desires it that way.
On a serious note however, normally one follows the tradition of one’s guru in a concert. It is but natural for Aishwarya to fill her concert list with the MS repertoire which by the way is huge. Compositions which have been sung and popularised by her grandmother, she sticks to the Patantharam 100%. Considering that she is still a teenager, she still has a long way to go (maybe another 10 years of so) before she decides to “break the mould and establish her own identity”.

Nevertheless Aishwarya has stamped her individuality in her own unique manner. The links are demonstrative of that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3cYwEGTrkA - Dharamavati Ragam - Absolutely original.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orknAP3QV4o - Raga, Neraval and swarams in Lathangi. This is her own style.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikj9Lfsv0E8 - Tisram in Ata Tala Varnam.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIV3vRIM5Zo - Ethavunara in Kalyani. Handled superbly

HarishankarK
Posts: 2217
Joined: 27 Oct 2007, 11:55

Re: S.Aishwarya's Concert at TTD - Dec 20, 2014

Post by HarishankarK »

[quote="Vignesh Viswanathan"]Nevertheless Aishwarya has stamped her individuality in her own unique manner. The links are demonstrative of that.
/quote]
If that is the case, then am sincerely happy for her and i hope she continues in that direction.

VK RAMAN
Posts: 5009
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 00:29

Re: S.Aishwarya's Concert at TTD - Dec 20, 2014

Post by VK RAMAN »

There is nothing wrong in singing her Great Grand Mother's best renditions and it is a blessings that one is able to do that. Instead of encouraging a budding artist, why would you guys go on a rampage?

pattamaa
Posts: 750
Joined: 22 Nov 2009, 10:24

Re: S.Aishwarya's Concert at TTD - Dec 20, 2014

Post by pattamaa »

Folks, these are special occasions, so, nothing wrong in singing from MS amma's repertoire... I have attended her other concerts, Aishwarya has her own stamp in manodharma part, she is very strong in laya aspects and she showcases them boldly...... The songs are very much intact with MS amma patantaram...That's a good sign...

appu
Posts: 443
Joined: 20 May 2007, 09:46

Re: S.Aishwarya's Concert at TTD - Dec 20, 2014

Post by appu »

Vignesh, thanks for the info on Okapari Kokapari. I personally think the vocal/violin combo with the two Aishu's will be something to watch for as they mature in style and technique. With S. Aishwarya's strong voice and clarity in diction and Aishu Venkataraman's strong bowing and raga bhavam it would amount to a sensory feast.

Both carry serious patandaram and both Aishu's (I hope) are willing to work hard. It will be a hard combination to beat. I wish them the very best.

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