Naada Neerajanam NZ 29/5/15-Pantula Rama

[MV]

Smt Pantula Rama - Vocal
Shri HN Bhaskar - Violin
Shri Ravichandira - Melbourne

1) Gajavadanam Ashraye- Kedharam-Adhi (KS)
2) Sriman Narayana
3) Bhogeendra Shayinam - Kunthalavarali (ST)
4) Srinivasa Thiru -Hamsanandi (R, KS)
5) Sogasujooda Tharama - Kannada Goula
6) Nannupalimpa - Mohanam ( R, N @ Nannupalimpa, KS, Thani)
7) Govinda Hari - Mand
8) Anjanathanayudaina - Kadanakuthukalam-Adhi
9) Brahmamokate
10) Jo Achyuthananda
11) Mangalam

Though Sri Balaji Temple Trust (Hamilton) has had 3 fundraising concerts in the past, this was an inaugural concert in temple premises immediately after Kumbhabhishekam. In that sense, it was filled with serenity and peace. The audience was mixed and Pantula Rama chose well to keep her brood happy. The brisk Kedharam with a few swarams in the end was a perfect start for the evening. Our usual sound man was absent and the youngster rose gallantly to the occasion adjusting to the artistes requests. The ever-popular Sriman Narayana in Bowli had to happen, and it did, and well.

Kunthalavarali is a very catchy raga but also fraught with technical pitfalls. Rama's sketch of Kunthalavarali for another popular krithi Bhogindra was very pleasing and her kalpana swarams exploited the nadais without slipping into mathematics. Hamsanandi is again an oft-heard raga and song. But it never fails to appeal and it was so well-suited to the place and time. It was easily the show-stealer. Bhaskar of the nimble fingers was on mettle all evening but owned this one.

The main for the evening in Mohanam was handled in-depth with some beautiful turn of phrases by Rama in all the manodharmam aspects. This one was for the musically-inclined in the audience and none of the three artistes skimped on the content. It was a sumptuous feast of Mohanam. Ravichandira from Melbourne capped it with a brisk Thani.

The next 2 Annamaya kirtanas have been set to tune by Pantula Rama herself and were very well received. It fanned the religious fervour amongst some present. A request for Thandana had to come I guess, and was delivered with style. Rama then forsook the modern Kapi and rendered the original Jo Achythananda by Annamaya himself. It was a gentle lilting procession of the Lord. The concert ended with Mangalam, Arathi & Prasadam for all present.

[rajeshnat]

Malathi,
Pantula could have gone more with her lilting music to hamilton ears , but looks like lilting procession of the Lord, mangalam and Prasadam came on the way.

[arasi]

Thanks for the review prasAdam, MV More in way of victuals were there, making Rajesh drool, I'm sure. Nothing like perumAl kOyil prasAdam!

I can see why there wasn't an RTP and a sub main, and but for mOhanam, no heavy rAgAs. It must have been mostly a kumbAbhishEkha attending crowd. She made the music-minded attendees very happy too, nonetheless!