Chennaiyil Tiruvaiyaru
Kamarajar Arangam
Kumari S.Aishwarya – Vocal
Dr M.Narmadha – Violin
Sri B Sivaraman – Mridangam
Sri Nerkunam Sankar – Kanjira
Sri H Sivaramakrishnan – Ghatam
Song List
Om namah pranavarthaya - Dhyana shlokam – Adi Shankara
Namo Namo Raghukula - Naatai - Rupakam - Annamacharya - Swarams at Ahalya
Karacharana Kritham Vaa - Bowli – Virutham – Adi Shankara
Shambho Mahadeva - Bowli - Rupakam - Neelakanta Sivan
Sacchithra Shaayee - Kamboji – Virutham
O Ranga Shaayee - Kamboji - Adi – Thyagaraja R N S – Neraval at Bhuloka Vaikuntam
Shri Ranga Mangala Nidhim - Brindavana Saranga - Virutham - Ramanujar
Rangapuravihara - Brindavana Saranga - Rupakam - Dikshitar
Poonguyil Koovum - Kaapi - Adi – Kalki Krishnamurthy
Bhavayami Gopalabalam - Yaman Kalyani - Kanda Chapu – Annamacharya
Shediyaya Valvinaigal Theerkum - Hamsanandi Virutham
Vadavaraiyai Mathaki – Ragamalika – Ilango Adigalar
A first rate performance by Aishwarya. Right from the beginning the artist took control and her Namo Namo in Naatai was awesome. With the Virutam Karacharana Kritam Vaa she had the audience in a trance before she commenced Shambo Mahadeva.
Aishwarya sang a magnificient Kamboji Ragam like a seasoned Vidushi. The Kalapramanam for O Ranga Sayee was just too good. The neraval in Bhuloka Vaikuntam literally took one to Vaikuntam. I like the look and confidence on the face of Aishwarya when she sings swarams which reflects her enjoyment in singing different patterns.
Dr Narmadha gave fantastic support. She tunes her violin in a different style for Aishwarya and hence there is no shrillness in the upper registers. The Sruti Shuddham of both the MS and the Parur schools represented by Aishwarya and Dr Narmadha when combined is like milk and honey for the ears.
Sri B Sivaraman who regularly accompanies Aishwarya during the Chennai music season follows her music very similar to the MSS – T K Murthy combination of yester years. Sri Nerkunam Sankar on Kanjira and Sri Sivaramakrishnan on Ghatam gave delightful support. The Ghatam was perfectly pitched to 5.5 kattai.
The much awaited Tukkada section had Rangapura Vihara, Bhavayami, Vadavaraiyai and surprisingly Poonkuyil of the DKP School. The small Raga alapana which Aishwarya did in Yaman Kalyani before commencing Bhavayami Gopalabalam was so beautiful. When the concert finally ended there was a elderly lady from the audience who got up from her seat and cried out “ We want more” which appropriately summed up the feeling of the listeners.
Sri Cleveland Sundaram, Sri Shekar Viswanathan of San Diego and Lakshman of Lakshman Shruti congratulated Aishwarya after the kutcheri. Sri Viswanathan specifically mentioned the Kamboji and O Ranga Shayee of Aishwarya and said that it was a superb rendering which brought back memories of the famous Carnegie Hall concert.
A few highlights of the concert:
1.The way the teenaged Aishwarya confidently takes command of the stage. This must be the result of the hard work she puts in her music which inspires such confidence.
2.Aishwarya’s powerful voice and open throated singing which is her asset.
3.Sruti Shuddam – Reminds one of her legendary Great Grandmother and Grandmother.
The stage arrangements were truly world class. Lakshman Shruti deserves praise for this. I look forward to the telecast of the concert in Star Vijay in January next year.
A picture taken by me during the concert. The background is just Amazing.
