Rasikas.org S.K. Balasubramanian Memorial Concerts, December 29 2014

[kamalamba]

REPOSTING SRIDHAR-RANGA'S REVIEW


Postby sridhar_ranga » 30 Dec 2014, 12:46

Thank you Kamalamba and family for the wonderful musical and culinary treats, a fitting tribute to GBL who was a connoisseur of both HM and CM, and, as we were told, a foodie as well. His warmth towards fellow forumites which we all have experienced here on Rasikas was seen once again from all the gracious hosts.

I entered listening to the wonderful strains of marubehag from the shehnais of the pandits duo and their team, who also presented a couple of HM vocal numbers. After a short round of bhajans by Swathi and the other performer (apologies for not noting the name), we were treated to a very nice violin concert, music much inspired by Aishu's gurus: sri TNK and Sri SRJ, as explained by her. With great support from her dad sri Vinod and sri Tripunithura Radhakrishnan, young Aishu maintained a great tempo with some fast numbers interspersed with heavier uruppaDis. Here is a brief list:

1. kaanada ata varnam
2. niravadhi sukhada
3. kalyani + amma raavamma (S)
4. Nenarunchinanu annitiki
5. kiravani + tanamalika (kiravani sahana subapantuvarali kapi mohanam and reverse - in typical TNK style as explained by Aishu)
kaligiyunte kada (S@ pallavi, tani)
6. chinnanjiru kiliye
7. bhagyada lakshmi baramma

There was rain pounding on the sheet metal roof for most of this concert as well as the next one by Suryaprakash, but the musical presentations were so engrossing that hardly anyone was distracted.

Before the next concert, it was time for providing some warmth for the audience shivering from all the wet weather and chilly winds: we were treated to jangiris, hot samosas and steaming cups of coffee/ tea. A well thought out break!

The grand concert by Sri Suryapraksah and team followed, and what a wonderful concert it was! We had H S Smitha from Bangalore on the violin and Sri Rajesh Srinivasan on the Mridangam accompanying Suryaprakash. It was a great presentation showcasing the best of CM and HM in a true tribute to GBL, with whose family Suryaprakash has been friends for over thirty years. Here is the list:

1. vallabha nayakasya - begada - rupakam - D (S)
2. evarani - devamritavarshini - Adi - T
3. vishnupriya + baalasubramanyan paadame tunai - Adi – Thanjavur Sankara Iyer
4. ardhanareeshwaram - kumudakriya - rupakam - D (S)
5. sarasa saama daana (S @ hitavu maaTalento with some MMI touches)
6. tODi + chEsinadella - Adi - T (R, NS@ raama sri raja....prema, tani)
7. RTP Ragesri (a GBL mama special as he was a connoisseur of HM and raga based Hindi film songs as well, said Suryaprakash)
We had some taanam raining from Surya & Smitha and real rain pouring overhead which was very intense now
p: mandagamani sadaa veenaa vaadini | saaradE maam paahi in khanda jaati tripuTa 2 kaLai
(S in ragesri, kaanada?, ghor kalyan, multani - thanks to Suryaprakash for announcing the last two as well as Ragesri! my HM ken is near zero)
8. veLLai taamarai poovil iruppaaL - bhimplas- Adi - Subramania Bharati
9. maayee saavare rang raachee - meera bhajan - Sindhu Bhairavi
10. mangalam

Overall it was a very pleasant afternoon/ evening with some fantastic music. The GBL family intends to make this an annual event. Jan 6th will mark the anniversary of our dear GBL's passing. There was a vote of thanks by GBL's daughter. Smt Lalita (Mrs GBL) presented tokens of appreciation to all the artistes who performed on stage.

It was great to meet old friend Arasi and new friend Mohan aka Kamalamba. I also got to shake hands with coolji for the first time.

[rshankar]

Mohan (or Arasi)...can you post the song lists (and reviews) of the concerts before Sridhar was able to arrive?

[kamalamba]

Sridhar did not attend Smt. Gayathri Girish's concert.

I will give the song list below (I might have missed 1-2 amidst all the action in the day including organizing all logistics). But, I am sure Arasi, who attended GG's concert, will give the missing details.

Smt. Gayathri Girish (vocal)
Sri. Mysore Srikanth (violin)
Sri. Neyveli Skandasubramaniam (mridangam)
Sri. Guruprasad (ghatam)

1. Karunimpa varnam in Sahana (Tiruvottiyur Thyagaiyer)
2. Mokshamu Galada - Saramati (Thyagarajar)
3. Marivere Gati - Anandha Bhairavi (Syama Sastri)
4. I don't recollect the short kriti
5. Chakkaniraja - Kharaharapriya (Thyagarajar, RNST)- This was a very elaborate main.
6. Bhavayami Raghuramam Ragamalika (Swati Tirunal)
7. Chinnanchiru kiliye - Ragamalika (Mahakavi Subramania Bharathi)

[mahavishnu]

Mohan, I am so happy to hear that the kutcheri(s) went well amidst all this inclement weather. My parents were deeply touched by your dedication for this event in memory of your father and how all the artistes rose to the occasion with appropriate song choices and high-quality performances.

My great regret is that I could not attend the event in person. My namaskarams & best regards to all the forum members/other well-wishers who were able to attend. And special thanks to all the artistes, junior and senior that performed.

[rshankar]

Thank you Mohan!

[cienu]

Dear Mohan
I sure Sri GBL would have been delighted with the concerts in his memory watching from the heavens. My congratulations to you and your family members for making this happen.

[rajeshnat]

mohan,
On sunday night, Monday whole day and tuesday morning - I was out of town on a personal urgent trip. Sorry I could not make it .It looks you all had fun . Your appa celebrated music and you all followed that dictum.

[kamalamba]

Hi Rajeshnat, we certainly missed you and hope we can see you in a future event. I will make sure it is on a public holiday when we do this next year.
Mahavishnu, it was really nice that your parents could come all the way from West Mambalam to Kalakshetra Colony, braving the rain.
Thanks Cienu, NickH, and rshankar for the messages.

Kamalamba

[kamalamba]

Complete list of GG's songs (generated with help from family members)

Smt. Gayathri Girish (vocal)
Sri. Mysore Srikanth (violin)
Sri. Neyveli Skandasubramaniam (mridangam)
Sri. Guruprasad (ghatam)

1. Karunimpa varnam in Sahana (Tiruvottiyur Thyagaiyer)
2. Mokshamu Galada - Saramati (Thyagarajar)
3. Venkataramana-Lathangi (Papanasam Sivan, R,N,S)
4. Marivere Gati - Anandha Bhairavi (Syama Sastri)
5. Telisi Rama - Purna Chandrika (Thyagaraja)
6. Chakkaniraja - Kharaharapriya (Thyagarajar, RNST)- This was a very elaborate main.
7. Bhavayami Raghuramam Ragamalika (Swati Tirunal) (my own request, since this song hardly gets sung in concerts these days)
8. Om Namo Narayana- Karnaranjani (Ambujam Krishna)
9. Chinnanchiru kiliye - Ragamalika (Mahakavi Subramania Bharathi) (request from one of the attendees)
10. Thillana -Sindhubhairavi (Oothukadu Venkatakavi).

A wonderful concert with a very good spread and had something for everyone in the audience.

[arasi]

Mohan,
I have issues with my computer and this is the sixth time I'm trying to post

Your mother, sisters, your wife and bro in law, the epitome of hospitality...

Sheets of rain, flooded roads, professional artistes arriving on time, Mahavishnu's parents braving the weather, being with Mr& Mrs Nick, Sridhar, seeing Varsha and Kedar...

Gayathri's heart felt, meticulous concert, Aishu, Vinod, Thiruppunithura's excellent concert defying the deluge, Bhuvana's singing, the HM duo, Surya's sparkling concert, gathered friends and relatives--GBL's kind of day, all in all.
GBL, our adorable friend...

Took a long while to type this telegraphic message...

[kamalamba]

Thanks Arasi madam, as always it was a pleasure to see you and glad to see your post as well.