ABHISHEK RAGHURAM-KUNNAKUDI BALAMURALI- BSU-01/11

[CRama]

Bharat Sangeet Utsav always gives us pleasant and welcome surprises by presenting unique combos. I think this festival is designed to present innovative formats which are not possible in the Season concerts. The credit should go to K.N.Shashikiran. Thank you Shashikiran for presenting this unique combo of Abhishek Raghuram and Kunnakudi Balamuralikrishna. The accompanists were Akkarai Subbulakshmi on the violin, Anantha R Krishnan on the Mridangam and Sree Sunderkumar on the Ganjira. List of songs.

• Moyyar thadam- Poorvikalyani-Thiruvembavai (R,S)
• Kannathandri napai-Devamanohari-T (R,S)
• Ninne namminanu- Thodi-SS (R,N,S)
• Thani
• Hariguna gavat -Meera bhajan
• Jagadeesa Pancha- Nadanamakriya- ST

This was a unique combination- Two vidwans of sound individual standing and fan following performing for the first time as duos. Both vidwans belong to the same Gurukulam. But when I saw the list I was skeptic- to be very frank here. For we know Abhishek- the master of creativity, youthful exhuberance, voice power and all that. Kunnakudi BMK is also a musician of good vidwath and manodharmam , but of late has problems with his voice and I wondered how he will be a match for the indulgence of Abhishek. But I was proved wrong and the joy of failure is mine.

Oh What a concert it was. Absolutely mesmerising. There was ample coordination among Abhishek and Kunnakudi. The format was neatly drawn- Abhishek will start the alapana take it up to Sa and leave to Kunnakudi to carry forward . In the end, Abhishek will join for the winding up. No interference otherwise. The alapanas were breathtaking. Abhishek’s voice at his best, he built sangathi after sangathi around all the key swaras in a methodical fashion like an expert architect constructing a magnificent Gopuram. Kunnakudi also was equally awe inspiring in his alapanas, imagination and voice power. The concert was a celebration of flow. A flood of ideas flying at you from all the artistes on stage. The alapana of Thodi was simply out of the world. The song Ninne Nammi nanu is also one of my favourites in Thodi. The magnificent edifice of Syama Sastri with its inner laya flow was presented with minute sangathis and elaborate neraval at Kamakshi Kancha dalayathakshi and the cascade of swaras that followed were fabulous. That way- all the three alapanas, Poorvikalyani, Devamanohari and Thodi were well crafted and presented with the best of coordination and imaginatiion. I take this opportunity to wish that Kunnakudi BMK sings with the same verve and voice power and imagination in all his concerts in the coming years.

Akkarai Subbulakshmi was a perfect match for the brimming manodharmam and virtuosity of the vocalists. A lesser violinist could not have followed this concert with the grace, quietude and anticipation as Akkarai. Percussion- Anantha and Sunderkumar- Very strong strengths for the vocalists. Anantha delivers powerful strokes matched by speed and sensitivity. He is always inclined to embellish the music concert without drawing attention to himself. Sreesunderkumar proved that he is a perfect match for Anantha in his anticipation and filling up the gaps with his powerful strokes.
An awesome concert which will remain in our memory for long. This concert is available in YT.

[pperumal]

Balamurali is a brilliant musician who, thankfully, is back after resolving whatever voice challenges he was facing.
He is a complete and a 'well equipped' artist!!!
Welcome back!!!!

- PP.

[rajeshnat]

I had a chance to hear the concert in YouTube , the youtube recording is not of that high quality- possibly my judgement of YT may have been different than those who heard in NGS.

I certainly did not find any mesmerizing experience . The ideas were there yes but still the aural experience was not that great. I felt Abhishek kind of underplayed a lot . MBMK voice is better now than the last 4 years or so .He used to have a lot of breath control problems where there was noticeable exhalation that was picked up too frequently by the microphone . But I still find his voice has got a bit more roughness which i hope like pperumal will go away soon.

I am guessing PSN mama is the karanakartha for this presentation combination.

[thathwamasi]

I wanted to attend the concert, but the incessant rains played spoilsport.

As much as I credit carnatica for organising this concert, I am also obliged to point out that this idea is not new. The same duo, sang together in 2000 or 2001 for YACM. The idea came from YACM's then office bearers Palghat Ramprasad and T M Krishna. There was another similar concert - Saketharaman and Gurucharan if I remember right. Infact, after the concerts were well received, someone in the audience requested Ramprasad and TMK to sing together for this event and they responded that they will not sing under YACM's banner as they were office bearers in the organisation.

Regards
T

[Rsachi]

CRama,
Congratulations on reviewing a concert with all your enthusiasm, choice of expressions and positive feedback to the artistes. I enjoyed the concert online (while it lasted - yanked off air last night) and felt very much the same thoughts.

When i read a review like this from you, I am happy I am a member of rasikas.org!

One special word about Akkarai. She taught a masterclass the way she played with a rare resonance and poise, to match the two rich male voices.

Anantha's mridangam sounded very good.

Congrats to KNS and team for a high quality livecast.

[CRama]

Thathwamasi- Happy to note that the duo have performed together long back. That period I was in Bombay and never knew the existence of these vidwans in the carnatic arena. Such combinations can be experimented once in a while, but should not be repeated frequently. They themselves will not agree to sing regularly as their freedom will be restricted.
RSachi, Thanks for your inspiring words.

[thathwamasi]

@CRama - Thanks for your response. I mentioned it just to put it on record

Regards
T

[grsastrigal]

C Rama and Rajeshnat -conflict of interest - is very "interesting"

AR and KBM, though from the same Guru, had different way of presenting their concert. How could they come together to present a concert ? It would have been a real challenge for both of them.

For a moment I thought- Abhishek raguram and TMK would have formed a "super jOdi" !!!

Last Sunday was a real treat for rasikas as Trichur Brothers, above concert and Malladi brothers (with Embar Kannan) were performing on the same day.
Rarely you get this on the same place, same day one after other.
Very unfortunate I could not attend.

[Venkataraman]

I did attend this concert.... had great expectations given that both of them were talented musicians. However the concert itself was lacking in energy. somehow i just felt both were disinterested. Some times try to show their superiority of voice over the other than any attempt of a smooth "jugalbandhi". I know 'm the sambar sadam, thair sadam variety but this concert was not appealing to me at all despite the fact that i actually was looking forward to this.

I hope they just stick to giving individual concerts rather than trying out such unnatural concoctions that just doesn't sit well. Sanjay's concert was easily the best in this BSU edition. Hard work and sticking to principles does pay off in the long run

On a positive note Balamurali's voice has recovered and we can look forward his music again. Personally i'm looking forward to his academy concert

[Rsachi]

I would not say disinterested. Such a combo "billing" demands them to be very watchful and give a good combined performance. In fact i would encourage this as they would only combine better as they perform more together. I found a nice complementarity in tonal qualities also. The accompanists did a good job of supporting the experiment well.

[CRama]

Some times try to show their superiority of voice over the other than any attempt of a smooth "jugalbandhi".

Far from truth. Both had very high degree of coordination. Abhishek never tried to win over KMBK and the other way also. That's what Rajesh wrote Abhishek underplayed.

[sureshvv]

On a positive note Balamurali's voice has recovered and we can look forward his music again.

Yes. But I am afraid he may be abusing it again, especially in parts of the Todi alap. Singing with Abhishek may not be the best way to safeguard one's voice.

[CRama]

Suresh, Don't worry. This is not going to be a regular format.