RAMANA BALACHANDRAN AT KGS-2/8

[CRama]

I just gate crashed the Kamakoti Hall of KGS at about 4.45PM when the divine Veena concert of young Ramana Balachandran was going on. Gosh! What a concert it was. Although midway, I was in the right time. He was just starting Mukhari- a very detailed one building the edifice brick by brick- It took about 10 minutes and then tanam followed. Tanam in Mukhari is very rare, but this young vidwan played with good maturity and gnanam. I thought this is going to be the main song and shortlisted various songs in my mind as to which song will fit a main one. Suddenly a pallavi- a visheshamana pallavi came. He sang the pallavi. The words are

Vishesham athi vishesham nam vedam kalaivadu
Ramanan sannidhiyil vishesham

The pallavi was unique- from the normally heard namavali type or murugan centred pallavis or bharathiyar kavithai pallavis. Really a visheshamana pallavi. I think he is stationed in Tiruvannamalai. That speaks for the theme of the pallavi. The pallavi was Khanda triputa- 2 kalai. He sings also- his pitch exactly in sync with the Veena. It was absolute brilliant. He has a beautiful flow of ideas and sounds very engaging. Such a pure, flawless and fantastic playing by a lad of about 14 years. Amazing. I think he follows Karakudi tradition. Elaborate neraval and swaras with raga malika swaras in Behag, Varali and Bahudari was most reflective of his vidwath and manodharmam and sadhakam.

He rounded of the concert with a bhajan in Madhuvanthi and Lalgudi tillana in Durbari Kanada. L.Subramaniam on the Mridangam and H.Sivaramakrishnan on the Mridangam provided appropriate support.

[Rsachi]

CRama,
Ramana is easily rhe most "happening" teenage vidwan around. I see him and his parents often at many concerts and events in Bangalore. I think his father is his main guru.

I would strongly recommend Ramana focusses on his veena. I don't know his mridangam play. If he wants to sing during veena play he will need a proper mike collared in close proximity to his voice/chest.

Ramana is a charming and devoted upcoming artiste and i wish him and his parents all the best.

[gardabha_gana]

Agree with Sachi sir. Hopefully, sabhas and the public support him. BTW, I believe he is home schooled.

[kvjayan]

Perhaps the first line of the pallavi is:

"Vishesham athi vishesham nam vesham kalaivadu"

Instead of "vedam kalaivadu"?

[CRama]

kvijayan. yes. you are correct.
RSachi. In this concert a mike was available to him. He sang the pallavi and the first line of the bhajan. He is following the Karakudi tradition- singing a few lines while they play.

[Rsachi]

Yes, CRama, i know how Rajeshwari Padmanabhan used to sing so well as she played. Also Mr Mudikondan Ramesh in Parivadini YT sang so well..
http://rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php? ... lit=Ramesh

[Sivaramakrishnan]

Thanks CRama for the remarks. Anyone could suplmnt the pre RTP items? Eager to know.

[Sivaramakrishnan]

Thanks CRama for the remarks. Anyone could suplmnt the pre RTP items? Eager to know.

[balavenu]

Namaskarams. Am Ramana's father Balachandhran. I was referred to this post by a friend.

On the other compositions played at KGS before RTP: Bahudari varnam (Lalgudi sir), Ganarajena rakshithoham (Arabhi, Dikshithar), Sripathimiha nandagopagruhe (Khamas, Narayana theerthar tharangam), Sri Kanthimathim (main, Hemavathi, Dikshithar), Theratheeyaka radha (Gowlipanthu, Thyagaraja).

Thanks to all here for your kind encouragement. Btw, a small correction. We live in Bangalore & keep traveling to Chennai & Tiruvannamalai.

regards,
Bala

[balavenu]

Some small corrections/additions. He played Nagaswarali after the pallavi (which sounds similar to Bahudari). Ramana is learning vocal from Vidushi Smt Neela Ramgopal mami and mridangam from Vid Sri Ranganatha Chakravarthy.

[VRV]

Balachandran,

Welcome to the forum. Very nice list. Keep up the good work. Ramana has an awesome musical future. nurture it.

Vinod Venkataraman

[Ranganayaki]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWWF6iuFx5g

This was hardly difficult to find, but is wonderful to share : a nice rtp in Darbari Kaanada. What a beautiful child! Nice singing too, I wonder if he would also consider vocal music as an additional option.