ADITYA PRAKASH IN VANI MAHAL- 8/9

[CRama]

Accompanists- Dr.R.Hemalatha-Violin
Arjun Ganesh- Mridangam
Nerkunam Sankar-Ganjira
List of songs
Devadeva kalayamide-Mayamalavagowla- ST (N,S)
Sumasayaka- Karnataka kapi- ST (R)
Seethapathe- Khamas- T (R,S)
Tharum ithamma-Gowlipantu- SS
Sree Krishnam bhaja manasa- Thodi- MD (R,N,S)
Thani
Jagadodharana-Pilu
Mangalam

I heard the spectacular performance of this young vidwan Aditya Prakash yesterday in Vani Mahal. Hearing him for the first time, he kept the listeners mesmerised for two hours plus. Adithya is endowed with a very energetic and emotive voice, solid patantharam, rich manodharmam, stage presence, all aspects necessary for a successful concert artist. After the concert, nearly 20-30 people went upto him and wished him, and inquired about his Guru- for he was novice to all. Many people sought his phone no and visiting card. He informed that his Gurus are P.S.Narayanaswamy and Pala C.K.Ramachandran. He was in U.S and now he has settled in Chennai. Because of his sojourn with a variety of genres, his concerts had been sporadic in Chennai for the last few years. He had given a concert for OLI series last year. Later I searched his website and I give below the extracts for your information about the artist.

Aditya Prakash is an American-born Indian classical vocalist best known for his powerful voice. Although firmly rooted in South Indian classical (Carnatic) music, his style is heavily inspired by North Indian classical music, Sufi music, Western classical, jazz, flamenco, and hip hop, which he brings out in his collaborative projects. Aditya grew up in a household filled with music and dance; his mother Viji Prakash is the founder and director of the esteemed Shakti Dance School of Bharatanatyam (South Indian classical dance) in Los Angeles, and his sister Mythili Prakash is a well-known Bharatanatyam dancer. Through these influences, Aditya began his vocal training at the age of 8 and performed his first solo vocal, two-hour debut performance at the age of 12. Aditya began spending every summer and winter break (from age of 12 till the age of 23) undergoing advanced training in Chennai, India. Aditya Prakash also sings for his elder sister Mythili Prakash's dance recitals.

Aditya has had the fortune of performing, touring with Ravi Shankar and his daughter and disciple, Anoushka Shankar, as the lead vocalist in Ravi Shankar’s "Festival of India III" ensemble, Since age 14, Aditya has been performing in the celebrated December Music Festival in India, performing at the most esteemed venues such as The Music Academy (Chennai),
I give below a link to a very good Janakiramana available in the you tube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz0tp9kTP3Q Janakiramana-Sudhaseemanthini

Coming to the present concert
In the first song itself, he seized the attention of the audience with his strong, powerful voice which had an amazing range. The neraval and cracker swarams received repeated cheer from the audience. The alapanas - Kapi, Khamas and Thodi were very much original with lot of akaaram, well rounded gamakas with fast brighas in lightning speed thrown here and there and there was a gusto and energy that filled the hall. The Kritis were on the authentic patantharam in the SSI bani, for both his Gurus belong to that lineage. The neraval at Jatharoopa for Devadeva kalayamide and Pankajasanaadi deva mahitham for Sree Krishnam bhaja were handled with riveting tempo that he maintained and the flow of creative patterns during the neraval as well as kalpanaswaras, pointed towards the high musical acumen of this young vocalist. The cracker swaras had freshness in the construction with many yathi patterns which were intelligently coined. It is suffice to say that Aditya Prakash captured the hearts of rasikas at Vani Mahal with his wonderful concert. He satisfied my longing to hear Sree Krishna bhaja manasa also.

Accompanists- Dr. Hemalatha ‘s violin solo was superb and she was a good match for the virtuosity and creativity of the vocalist. Arjun Ganesh and Nerkunam Sankar played with good anticipation and understanding and the team gelled well. Prof C.V.Chandrasekhar, dance Guru and Mridangist Neyveli Narayanan stayed till the end and very much appreciated him. In fact not a single rasika left the concert in the middle.

I wish Aditya Prakash give more space for Carnatic Music in his schedule and he should be given more opportunities in the Madras Carnatic Circuit.

A new find for me.

[rshankar]

Aditya's accompaniments for his sister are some of the most awesome performances - his deep voice and her ethereal grace form a wonderful experience that should be experienced.

[Rsachi]

Great to hear all these words from you both!
They are my wife's nephew and niece!