T.R.SUBRAMANIAM REMEMBRANCE DAY- 4/10

[CRama]

Maarga in association with Sri Chandrasekhara Gurukripa had arranged a Sangeethanjali to Prof Late T.R.Subramaniam in Arkay Convention Centre at 5.30 PM on 4 Oct. TRS left for his heavenly abode on the same date two years ago. This function was organised by his senior disciple Delhi V.Muthukumar, himself a Carnatic musician trained under TRS and TNS. The function commenced with an invocation by Nishanth Thyagarajan, a disciple of Muthukumar. He very appropriately rendered a composition of Thanjai Naalwar- Guruguhamurthyke ne sishyudai unnadura in the ragam Denuka. The chittaswaram for the song was set by TRS. This was followed by an audio visual presentation about TRS- the great musician cum teacher. The Arkay hall was house full. That confirms the affection and respect TRS commanded among the sangita rasikas. The presentation was excellently compiled – focussing on the various aspects of music that TRS handled with aplomb and consummate skill- neraval, swaras, pallavi, porutham, his bhasha gnanam, his benevolence in imparting knowledge etc. The anecdotes and sharing of experiences by Kamalakar Rao, TNS, M.Chandrasekaran, Delhi Sundararajan, Cleveland Sundaram and NVS were very honest and touching. Among the clippings shown, the swarams for Sogasuga at three places-soga suga, mridanga and talamu with appropriate poruthams were a lesson for the music students. Similarly, the long avartanam swaras in Anandabhairavi for O jagadamba was awe inspiring. Cleveland Sundaram, in his speech also mentioned the earlier practice of singing swaras brimming with raga bhavam sans any koraippu or korvai and without the anxiety to land at the edam, of course, they did land at the edam. We can hear such swarams in many concerts of MMI, Semmangudi etc.

An incident narrated by Cleveland Sundaram is worth quoting in this context. In the early 1970s, Rangaramanuja Iyengar was staying in Cleveland Sundaram’s house in US. Iyengar respected only musicians who lived half a century earlier and he did not appreciate any musician of his times, except probably those from Dhanammal family. VVS asked him, when he is so critical of everybody, who are the young musicians of his times who have the calibre to blossom into a great musician, to which, Rangaramanuja Iyengar had only two names- TRS and TNS. It is a strange coincidence that it was TRS Memorial function and they had arranged for the concert of TNS (albeit, he could not perform as he was indisposed.).TNS and TRS held each other in very high esteem. I will quote two instances. Muthukumar in his speech said that when TRS heard any good TNS concert, he even copied and gave it to Muthukumar. I have one personal experience to narrate in this context. IN the early 80s, TNS visited my house in TVM. I had very little collections at that time. I had only one TRS concert at that time which TNS sat with me and listened with great enthusiasm.

VVS also mentioned about TRS attending the concerts of all young musicians and encouraging them. Kamalakar Rao mentioned that TRS, took it as his mission to take Carnatic Music to each and every remote village in Andhra when he was in that State. He was instrumental in forming many Sabhas in AP.

The function was followed by the concert of TNS Krishna accompanied by M.Chandrasekaran on the violin and Thrissur Narendran on the Mridangam and Nerkunam Sankar on the Ganjira. List of songs.
1. Varnam-Kalyani, Ata talam.
2. Yarukku than theriyum avar mahimai-Devamanohari-GKB
3. Tulasidala-Mayamalavagowla-T (S)
4. Thanigaivalar saravanabhava-Thodi –PS (A,N,S)
5. Sobillu-Jaganmohini- T (S)
6. RTP-Hemavati- Khanda Triputa- 2 kalai.
Pallavi-Mahamahopadhyayam Pranamamyaham
Sree Subrahmanyam
7. Slokam-Thirupathi Venkataramana- Hamsanandi

The concert started only at 7.15 P.M. Not a loss because the audio visual of TRS gave as a satisfaction of hearing two TRS concerts. Krishna, very appropriately chose to render Yarukku than theriyum avar mahimai- Even though the composer sings about Lord Siva, this is relevant for TRS also for many people did not fully understand his vidwat. The alapanas of Thodi and Hemavati were very elaborate, built up step by step, his voice in fine mettle traversing through all the three octaves with finesse. The long akara alapanas with well rounded gamakas at appropriate junctures were brilliantly executed and his voice was just rolling with brigas with utmost ease reminding of the young TNS we are discussing in another thread. Thanigai valar song is not heard in concert stage nowadays. It was refreshing to hear this song with neraval at Aniyum navamani panigal dagadagavena (Anupallavi). While rendering kalpana swarams, TNSK sang many phrases with poruthams as popularised by TRS which was a testimony to his manodharmam, abundant intelligence and laya expertise and excellent voice control. The pallavi was on TRS, specifically coined for the occasion. It was rendered very majestically with all the ingredients of pallavi properly factored in. There were many aha moments in the entire RTP which the audience continuously cheered. Krishna, like his illustrious father is adept in composing thematic pallavis to suit specific occasions. The pallavis he rendered in Samudhra Anniversary and Pallavi Durbar are still fresh in my memory. The concert concluded at 9.15.

The accompanists- Thrissur Narendran and Nerkunnam Sankar embellished the concert with good anticipation and understanding. But MC chose not to play for majority of the concert. He simply asked Krishna to continue singing. During pallavi, whenever Krishna sang Mel kalam or keezh kalam, he simply told Athellam neeye paarthukko. This is not in the same tenor of his telling TNS Neengale padungo which we have heard in many concerts. I think he was not well or may be due to old age. Any how it was a tough time for TNSK at certain points.

Thanks to Delhi Muthukumar for organising the function in a well dignified manner. But other disciples of TRS (except- Sri. Ramakrishnan, the senior most disciple of TRS and Ushalakshmi Krishnamurthy) were conspicuous by their absence.

An excellent concert of TNS Krishna which will be remembered for long.

[Sivaramakrishnan]

Thanks CRama for the excellent report filled with information & anecdotes and a detailed review of TNSK's concert.

[Gadolinium]

Thank you, CRama, for this very detailed and beautiful summary of the proceedings.

I wanted to let rasikas know that the entire function and the concert is available here

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

[arasi]

CRama,
As always, you bring the evening to us 'live'! Thanks.

Gladinium,
Glad that you have given the link. Will go have a look...

[rajeshnat]

CRama
Thank you for the coverage. Has TRS mama ever sung thanigai valar in todi. I dont have TRS mama recording of thanigai valar with me.

[CRama]

I also do not have.