Pranav Kikkeri Wins Hearts at Nadopasana

[PRnath]

One of Dallas Fort Worth area's finest young vocalists, Pranav Kikkeri won the hearts of the audience today, when he performed for Nadopasana at the DFW Hindu Temple. The concert was further greatly enhanced by his team, drawn again among from the area's finest, his father Narasimha Kikkeri on the violin and Poovalur Sriji on the mridangam.
The Items were:
1) Swami daya, Kedaragaula, varnam in adi talam.
2) Gananayakam : Poornashadjam: Very nice kalpanaswaras for a raga that is not heard that often.
3) Pantuvarali alapana leading into Sarasasaksha in adi talam. Kalpanaswaras were presented for this
4) A short and sweet Asaveri raga alapana, revealed the depth of knowledge in one so young. This was followed by Vijayatē Gōvinda, composition of OVK in Misra chapu
5) Himadri sute pahimam in Kalyani and Rupaka talam: He performed neraval at Shyamakrishna sodari. There was a melodious swara kalpana exchange
6) Straight rendition of Marubalka in Sriranjani and adi talam.
7) Pranav really grabbed the audience attention with an inspired Begada alapana that was well matched by his father on the violin. Kriti rendered was
Nadopasana of Thyagaraja in 2 kalai adi. Neraval was performed at vēdōddhārulu and he stunned every one with his faster speed improvisations for this. Kalpana swaras were presented with great flair and panache like a seasoned senior vidvan. Everyone beamed on hearing such wonderful improvisation from a 12 year old
8) Masterful tani by Poovalur Sriji
9) Tukkada section started with the javali , Parulana maata in Kapi
10) Pranav presented a tillana in raga Katyayani, composed by his guru Chitravina Ravikiran.Katyayani, the young man told us, consists of only 3 swarams, namely, s,g m. The tillana was in tisra jhampa.
11) Pranav wound up with Srikamalambike, in Sriraga and khanda ekam before wrapping up with the mangalam.

Pranav's guru, Chitravina Ravikiran, graced the concert till the Begada alapana was complete. Another noteworthy observation, is the professionalism in this 12 year old boy. Due to vagaries of the power connections, the speaker kept picking up interference from a talk radio station and that kept going on in the back ground; despite the efforts of many to fix it. The young performer did not let that bother him in the least. Yes, thankfully, it was talk and not music interference, as Sriji noted, when he spoke a few words in praise of today's young performer.
For those of us who have seen Pranav since he was a baby, on occasions such as this, we all utter a prayer that the almighty continues to bless this young vidwan, who is certainly off to a great start in his musical journey!

[rshankar]

Very nice review. I hope a few sample tracks will be uploaded. Best wishes to the young vidvAn!

[Rsachi]

A very interesting report. A concert song list that would make the best of present-day artistes proud. A 12 year old boy. Texas. Father on the violin. Begada main. A tillana in a raga with just three notes in the scale! And the guru is Ravikiran.

And sound disturbance.

Best wishes to the artistes. Did the recording also capture the radio talk? This problem appeared in DD Bharati telecasts for some time recently, too! Worth a technical forensics.

[Sreeni Rajarao]

Very nice to read this report!

I hope Vasundhara (proud Mother of Pranav) will be able to share a recording with us!

[thanjavooran]

Excellent song list. Nice to go through the review. Nadopasana in Begada must be quite enjoyable. Hope Shri Sreeni Rajarao's request will be fulfilled. Blessings to Pranav Kikkeri.
Thanjavooran
06 05 2015

[KVasundhara]

Namaste,

I kindly request 15 minutes of your precious time to listen to Pranav and bless him. Please click on the following
link.

https://youtu.be/TNPS0m1SnmI

and

https://youtu.be/yHrt0tOn6GA

Thank you so much,
Best Regards,

Vasundhara Kikkeri

[Rsachi]

Thank you. Pranav seems to be a good student. Best wishes to him as he discovers himself and explores music's vast vistas growing up!

[pattamaa]

heard both sriranjani and begada.... melodious... best wishes to pranav... may his illustrious guru show him the path and guide him always...salutes to guru ravikiran sir also..

[Sreeni Rajarao]

Thank you for the videos! Very happy to see Pranav's progress!

Best Wishes!

[thanjavooran]

Excellent rendition! Niraval and swaraprastharam in Begada is yet to enjoy. Blessings to Pranav. BTW Poovalur enjoys every bit by nodding his head at appropriate pidis and sangathis.
With wishes,
Thanjavooran
08 05 2015

[KVasundhara]

Namaste,

Requesting your blessings for Pranav with your listening to kalyani and Pantuvarali, thanks.

https://youtu.be/rJi8BK2n6wk

https://youtu.be/_Ytu7wNQ7fU

[vasanthakokilam]

Pranav: Excellent Begada Alapana, Good luck and Best wishes

[arasi]

Yes, Pranav makes us proud and proves that NA kids can do very well in CM, far from the land of this ancient form of music. They have their parents supporting them (in Pranav's case, in more than one sense -- his father supporting him on stage as well!). Pranav's bEgaDa is very good. I also listened to his kalyANi and liked it even more. Need I add? Our kids are impressive in their pronouncing the words correctly in any language they sing in!

Way to go!