Mridangam Arangetram of Vishal Setlur

[rsridhar]

Namaskaram. I am posting the following review sent to me by Rasikas from the Shada Samskrutika Sangha, who happened to attend the Mridangam Arangetram of Chi Vishal Setlur on June 28 2015 in Bengaluru:
************************************************************************

Sri. NSG for Mridangam Arangetram of Vishal Setlur(Sarvalaghu Percussion Art Center) 28/June/2015 - Bangalore
===================================================================
Concert details were as follows:

Central Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee Vidwan Neyveli Sri. R. Santhanagopalan--Vocal
Vidwan Sri. R. Raghul--Violin
Vidwan Sri. S.V. Ramani—Ghatam
Vidwan Sri. Ajay Namboodiri—Vocal Support and Tamboora
Chi. Vishal Venkat Setlur -- Mridangam (Disciple of Sri. Ramesh Srinivasan, Founder - Sarvalaghu Percussion Art Center, San Jose, CA)

Chief Guest: Vidwan Rudrapatnam N. Tharanathan
Guest of Honour: Sri. Lakshmi Keshava


WHEN

Sun, June 28, 2015 at 3:00 PM

WHERE:

KEA PRABHATH RANGAMANDIRA
C A Site No.1, 8th main road,
2nd cross, Kamalanagar,
Bangalore - 560 079
[email protected]


Brochure and Details:
http://pubhtml5.com/vsxb/ajyg
http://pubhtml5.com/vsxb/jxgt

On Sunday, 28th of June 2015, the connoisseurs of carnatic music as well as elite vidwans in Bangalore had an occasion to listen to a fine mridangam arangetram concert organized by Sarvalaghu Percussion Art Center (San Jose, California) at the KEA Prabhath Rangamandira, Kamalanagar, Bangalore. It was a debut concert performance that lasted a little over 3 hours plus where Chi. Vishal Venkat Setlur (aged 12) who learns from Guru Sri. Ramesh Srinivasan (Prime Disciple of Sangeetha Kalanidhi Late Sri. Vellore Ramabhadran),  provided mridangam accompaniment to leading vocalist Vidwan Neyveli Sri. R. Santhanagopalan together with Vidwan Sri. R. Raghul (Disciple of Sangeetha Kalanidhi Dr. M. Chandrasekaran) on the violin and Vidwan Sri. S.V. Ramani (Disciple of Sri. Guruvayoor Dorai) on the Ghatam and Vidwan Sri. Ajay Namboodiri (a student of Vidwan Neyveli Sri. R. Santhanagopalan) providing vocal support as well as handling the tamboora. Adding to this star line up on stage luminaries in the audience included, the Chief Guest of the event Vidwan Sri. R.N. Tharanathan (younger of the Rudrapatnam Brothers) and the Guest of Honour of the event Sri. Lakshmi Keshava (a well known and capable organiser for music events in Bangalore such as the Rama Mahotsava by Sri Vani School) were present for the entirety of the event. Vishal was blessed with the presence of renowned musicologist Vidwan Tirumale Srinivas  & many other popular musicians and rasikas who were assembled to bless the young one.

The concert began with Sri. Santhanagopalan's own composition - a varnam in Atana. The concert was packed with variety of compositions by various composers in a multitude of ragas and talas. The ones chose for elaboration by Sri. Santhanagopalan, namely, Meru samaana - composed by Thayagaraja in Mayamalavagowla, Shankari shankuru - composed by Shyamashastri in Saveri, Bhajare re chitta - composed by Muthuswami Dikshitar in Kalyani and the Ragam Tanam Pallavi in Kapi garlanded with beautiful ragamalika swaras gave a true melodic and esthetic feeling to the audience assembled whereas the combination of talas selected, namely, Adi tala in Chatushra and Thishra nadai, Roopaka tala, Mishra and Khanda Chapu tala, Khanda nadai Triputa tala posed a particularly challenging task for the percussionist duo, especially to the young Vishal who, very interestingly and surprisingly indeed, responded to this challenge admirably and won the appreciation of one and all. Vishal's following for the kritis was excellent and showed his knowledge and intimate understanding. It was interspersed with smaller yet beautiful compositions such as Sri Shankara Guruvaram - Nagaswarali, Manavyalakinchara - Nalinakanthi, Govinda Ghataya - Bhairavi, Manasa Sancharare - Sama, Chandrachooda Shivashankara - Darbari Kaanada,  Tullumada (Thirupugazh) - Hamsaanandi not to forget the Niroshta Thillana and Mangalam!!. It was fascinating to see the skill exhibited by Vishal during the Thani avartanam where he played in Mishra Chapu talam by first starting  adeptly in konnakkol displaying patterns of 8 in various nadais and then played a korvai displaying various combinations of 3s and 5s and showing this in two different speeds after which he transitioned well into a trikalam korvai followed by a korvai in which each phrase in the poorvangam was played in Chatushra gathi as well as Thishra gathi mela kalam. He then showcased Khanda, Mishra, Thishra nadais. The Koraippu started in Thishra nadai and moved Chatushra nadai with a mix of both in the middle by the budding vidwan along with Sri. S.V. Ramani chiming in appropriately on the ghatam was one of the highlights of the Thani.  Through the entire length of the Thani, Vishal displayed constant rhythm & clear sound of the mridangam which was commendable for his age and was a feast to the eyes and ears of everyone in the audience and at the same time very noteworthy. The different rhythmic intricacies as well as the Sarvalaghu patterns which Vishal so ably displayed in a style of playing the Mridangam which is truly native to his school was a treat.Young Vishal very neatly yet confidently went about his job. It was very satisfying to see Vishal give us a lingering experience of his fingerings. The strokes he played were decisive, melodic and with sustained strength from beginning to end. In total Chi. Vishal Venkat Setlur has made full use of the best opportunity provided to him by his family and Guru by putting forth his unstinting efforts.

Surely, with continued learning, practice and listening (kelvignyanam) to maestros of yesteryears, Chi. Vishal would rise to greater heights and become a star mridangist. Budding artists like Vishal will hopefully get many more such opportunities and encouragement from his Guru in similar fashion.

Both Vidwan Raghul and Vidwan Ramani provided excellent violin and ghatam accompaniment, respectively to Vidwan Neyveli Santhanagopalan, thus supporting Chi. Vishal to do his best and provide a wholesome appeal to the concert. They both specially felicitated Vishal at the end of the concert in their own way for his endearing performance. The senior artists did not compromise the level of their concert playing and in fact challenged Vishal to his fullest potential. Sri. Santhanagopalan acknowledged Vishal’s anticipation (at one point in the concert he commended how well he had been taught by his Guru) and sincere dedication towards the art of accompaniment and wished him success in his future endeavours as a mridangam vidwan.

Vidwan Sri. R.N. Tharanathan and Sri. Lakshmi Keshava had gracious words to bless Chi. Vishal Venkat Setlur & the team.  Kudos to Vishal’s parents for having found his interest in mridangam at such a young age, and his Guru for nurturing him to be a capable artist in this divine art form over the past 6 years.

- B.V. Ramakrishna
- K. Sundareshwara
- A. N. Ananthanarayana
SHADHA SAMSKRUTIKA SANGHA, Basaveshwaranagar, Bangalore.

[blorepercussion]

Hello,

Below is the youtube link of Chi. Vishal Venkat Setlur's mridangam arangetram videos for your viewing pleasure. You can also search "Vishal Mridangam Arangertam" on youtube and you should find them.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... iC6pmjAGRm

We are particularly thankful and fortunate to have had the expert guidance and leadership of renowned vocalist Vidwan Neyveli Sri. R. Santhanagopalan who took Vishal under his wing and helped guide him for his maiden stage performance along with exquisite violin support from Vidwan Sri R. Raghul and wonderful percussion support from Vidwan Sri S V Ramani on the ghatam as well as able vocal and tumbura support provided by Vidwan Sri. Ajay Namboodiri. Vishal is indeed blessed to have so many well wishers and we hope that with all of your blessings, he will continue to pursue this great art form.

Thanks

Niraja and Arvind Setlur

[HarishankarK]

Glad to see that NSG's voice is cooperating. His mannerisms encouragement and enjoyment are fun to watch. Such a knowledgable vidwan but his voice is impairing him from expressing all his gnanam. What a shame ! I always like NSG's bhava sangeetha. Nagaswaravali was good.
The young boy did well. Good luck and Blessings to him.