Swati Sangeethotsavam 2015
10 Jan 2015
Ashwath Narayanan – Trivandrum Sampath – Sumesh Narayanan – Vazhapalli Krishnakumar
Swati sangeethotsavam brings together veterans and upcoming artistes in equal measure. For a Sanjay, there is an Ashwath Narayanan; for a Perumbavur Raveendranath, there is a Sandeep Narayanan. Song list:
Sarasija nabha – Khamboji varnam
Maamava sadha – Kaanada
Gopanandana – Bhooshavali
Deva deva Jagadeeswara – Poorvikalyani
Aandholika vahane – Anandabhairavi
Vandhe sada padmanabham – Navarasakannada
Sumasayaka – Kaapi
Bhogeendrasayinam – Kuntalavarali
Rama Rama gunaseema – Simhendramadhyamam
I had to leave at this stage and hence could not hear the post-tani phase.
Although the authorship of the varnam is debated, one can not but agree with Mysore Vasudevachar who said that this varnam is the final word in Khamboji. Ashwath did well to commence his Kuthiramalika debut with this majestic piece. Ashwath Narayanan had already made his appearance at the last Navaratri mantapam series. The rest of the items he reeled in quick succession were all –too- familiar pieces. As an youngster making his maiden appearance at Kuthiramalika, he could have taken the initiative and trouble to learn a couple of not-so-often-heard pieces and delivered them. I understand that Sandeep Narayanan who performed the next day did present a few rarely heard pieces. That was however to be expected because his guru Sanjay himself chooses to learn and deliver at least one new item every year.
Individually all the four artists on stage performed excellently. Nevertheless, the effect of the “Whole” in this concert could at best be described as EQUAL to the sum of individual effects. The level of total excellence emerges only when the effect of the Whole is greater than the sum of the individual effects (see my post on Amrutha Venkatesh). Over time, when this combination performs in a sustained manner, the chemistry will develop.