Nithyasree Mahadevan in VANI MAHAL 12/12

[Vocalist]

Nithyasree Mahadevan, Dr. R. Hemalatha, Tanjore Murugabhoopathy & H. Sivaramakrishnan
Dec 12th, 6:30pm

Swami Nan (Varnam) - Nattaikkurinji - Adi - PS (o)
Theliyaleru Rama - Dhenuka - Adi - T (S)
Yendukitu Chapalamu - Mandhari - Misrachapu - PSI (R,S)
Yaro Ivar Yaro - Bhairavi - Adi - AK (o)
Kanjatalayadakshi - Kamalamanohari - Adi - MD
Kanugontini - Bilahari - Adi - T (R,N,S,T)
Ragathil Sirandha - Ragamalika - Adi - Kadaloor Subramaniam
RTP - Sivaranjani - Khanda Triputa (Ragamalika swaras in Bhoopalam?, Hindolam, Sama, Anandabhairavi, Ranjani, Hamsadhwani, Kambhoji, Hamsanadam, Dhwijavanthi, Nalinakanthi, Behag, Revati, Madhuvanti, Surya, Nattai, Gowla, Arabhi, Varali, Sri & of course Sivaranjani)
Sada Santhosham - Bhageshri - Eka - Ulundurpettai Shanmugam
Enniya Mudidhal (Viruttam) followed by Bharatha Samudhayam - Tilang - Adi - Subramania Bharathiyar
Pavamana - Sowrashtram - Adi - T (Madhyamavathi sketch)

Voice was shaky to start, but after Dhenuka, things started looking up. NM's Mandhari alapana was pleasant and enjoyable, even when her voice went in the higher octaves. Then came Arunachala Kavi's composition; this was the first time ever I felt her struggling through the Bhairavi raga or that composition for that matter (her rendition was always of the highest standard in the years preceding her husband's death) - her voice was not as commanding as it once was, and it felt as if even at the slower tempo; it was really not the right choice at all and below par. Kamalamanohari did seem to help stabilise her voice again, and in the customary DKP style, was rendered in the slower tempo which was interesting. Bilahari was taken for the main and handled well, but it was obvious that any people who previously complained her voice was too shrill could no longer really make that complaint anymore. Her nereval and swaras at "Bharatha Lakshmana" in the main were respectable, but the joint responses from violinist R. Hemalatha & ghatam player H. Sivaramakrishnan deserve special mention. Murugabhoopathy on the mridangam reminded me of her father's playing for most of the first half of the concert, but his playing packed a bit more punch during the thani avarthanam.

She seemed to render "Ragathil Shirandha" at a much slower pace than she did in previous years (back when the piece was the signature with which she would regularly conclude her concerts). It did not seem to have the same effect on the audience this time, and it was a very average rendition. But she made up for this in the next 40 minutes - an RTP in Sivaranjani. I could not get enough of the great alapana by both her and R. Hemalatha. Her voice modulation seemed less pronounced than in sketches of the raga I've heard her sing in previous years, but that's just an observation - not a complaint. This was the treat I'd been waiting for, and it was worth the wait - her voice was pitch-perfect. Tanam was good; niraval and swaras were very good and were sung for the pallavi line: "Shree Maathaa Shivaranjani Namasthe, Chithkalaamaalini". Ragamalika swaras were short sketches but were more detailed and less rushed than what I expected (in earlier years, it was TNS style - where there was hardly time to even write down the names of the ragas). Though again, this change is not a complaint, and it was enjoyed by all. I felt her attempts in the higher octaves of Ranjani, Kambhoji, Dhwijavanti and Madhuvanti are no longer within her reach, but other than that, I found the RTP fare very enjoyable. Bhageshri was sung well too , but her smile during the first part of the pallavi "Sadha Santhosham" was unusually lacking every time. Following the Viruttam in Tilang, her voice became shaky again but the concert quickly came to an end shortly afterwards anyway.

Some hits and misses during the 3 hours, and although I thought there were less hits than in her pre-2013 concerts, I'm not ready to totally dismiss her as a leading performer.

[Vocalist]

On a final note, while there are emerging artists taught by Lalitha Sivakumar or from the same "school" who try to use the same gestures or vocal style or choices as NM (to the point of artificial mimicry at times), what is lacking is that their singing is not pitch perfect - I am referring to Niranjana Srinivasan in that example.

That said, I didn't feel that was an issue when hearing Dr Nithyasree's niece Lavanya Sundararaman. Apparently she has her own show called "Thenamuthu" on Makkal TV, and I've recently seen her in a Makkal TV trailer for this year's Deepavali special, which contains some rare footage inside the DKP household. Wish I'd seen the full telecast at the time.

[rajeshnat]

vocalist
you are posting after a long break, welcome. I have never heard this bilahari krithi kanu gontini being taken as a main krithi.

[Ramasubramanian M.K]

Rajeshnat: As usual a very candid and incisive review!! keep it up!! (Would you mind sharing the review with NM--she is a very humble and sincere lady who could benefit from mature rasikas like you!)
The Kanu Kondini piece in Bilahari is a legendary krithi of Thygaraja which he composed with ecstasy and joy after he "found" the Vigraha of Sri Rama in the river thrown by his brother jalpesan--
I agree not many musicians sing this krithi these days--The late Nedunuri K used to sing it-listening to him you could palpably sense How the Saint must have felt!!!l

[rajeshnat]

MKR Sir
I did not write the review , vocalist wrote it.

[Vocalist]

vocalist
you are posting after a long break, welcome. I have never heard this bilahari krithi kanu gontini being taken as a main krithi.

Thanks rajeshnat. It was a refreshing and very appropriate Bilahari choice that day. I think it is a rarity as I've not heard anyone except BMK and NM singing the krithi as a main before.

[Ramasubramanian M.K]

Vocalist: My sincere apologies!!! It was still an excellent review!!!

[arasi]

Vocalist,
Echoing Rajesh's sentiments--good to hear from you--with a review at that!

Loved DKP and her family, but have to say this: yes, Nithyasri's dad's playing does not help. I have heard Murugabhupathy several times and think that he's good. Wonder why you think that he sounded like Sivakumar...!

The other day, when Suryaprkash sang at the Academy, his concert followed Sudha's and so I went a bit early to listen to her. Dr. Hemalatha's accompaniment was very good, and I thought how well her violin sounded. It has a flute like quality in sound.

[Vocalist]

Vocalist: My sincere apologies!!! It was still an excellent review!!!

MKR sir, no need to apologise at all; I am very honoured by your kind words - and that you even for a moment thought it came close to the lovely reviews rajeshnat posts. Thank you so much. Incidentally, I wouldn't mind if it is shared with NM - if she does get to read this review, I hope she will appreciate it also.

[rajeshnat]

The other day, when Suryaprkash sang at the Academy, his concert followed Sudha's and so I went a bit early to listen to her. Dr. Hemalatha's accompaniment was very good, and I thought how well her violin sounded. It has a flute like quality in sound.

For sudha concert at academy the violinist was charumathi raghuraman and not Dr hemalatha.

[arasi]

Rajesh,
Good that you police us seniors
Now, do you think what I think about Charumathi Raghuraman's violin sounding like a flute makes any sense?

[Vocalist]

Vocalist,
Echoing Rajesh's sentiments--good to hear from you--with a review at that!

Loved DKP and her family, but have to say this: yes, Nithyasri's dad's playing does not help. I have heard Murugabhupathy several times and think that he's good. Wonder why you think that he sounded like Sivakumar...!

The other day, when Suryaprkash sang at the Academy, his concert followed Sudha's and so I went a bit early to listen to her. Dr. Hemalatha's accompaniment was very good, and I thought how well her violin sounded. It has a flute like quality in sound.

Thank you arasi (I almost couldn't risk saying madam ) - it has been very long time indeed.

Yes I should qualify that bit about Murugabhupathy - I've heard him play for NM previously and didn't feel that at all that time - I too think he was quite good. I just got that sense from his playing in this particular concert, but it was very unusual.

Actually, in October this year, NM was in great form - I could simply not believe how amazing her voice sounded again (and that too in a briga-laden Kashiramakriya was the main). I'm not sure if her accompanist - Neyveli Skandasubramaniam - may have also elevated the concert then. His playing and the very sound of his mridangam is just stellar generally, and that day in October was no exception.

I haven't heard Dr Hemalatha play in a long time, but it was from this concert that I came to realise what a long way she has come in that time as well. The sound quality of her violin has always been very good though - even in the RTP album she released quite a few years ago.