GAYATHRI VENKATRAGHAVAN- BSU- 6/11

[CRama]

Acc. B.V.Raghavender Rao- Violin
K.V.Prasad- Mridangam
Alathur Rajaganesh-Ganjira
List of songs.
• Sree Kamakoti peethasthithe-Saveri-Mysore Sadasiva Rao (S)
• Ananda Natam aduvar-Poorvikalyani-NS (N)
• Enati nomu bhalamu-Bhairavi-T (R)
• Narayana-Sudhadhanyasi-PD
• Hariharaputhram-Vasantha-MD (R,S)
• Ninnuvina namadendu-Navarasakannada (T)
• Rama Rama Guna seema-Simhendramadhyamam- ST (R,N,S)
• Thani
• Vanathin meethu-Maund (Ramalinga swami)
• Enthamathramuna-Ragamalika –A
• Pagha Gunghuroo-Meera bhajan
• Maithreem bhajatha

Being billed as MS Special concert, GV presented some of the songs popularised by MS Amma, almost confining to the patantharam of MS Amma. My hearty thanks to the vidushi for she chose to present many of the monumental kritis sung by the legendary singer- without leaning too much on bhajans or light pieces. This is a disturbing trend I am seeing in many places and discussions. One can never overlook the elaborate alapanas or awe inspiring neravals of MSS, or four kalai pallavis for that matter, which are overlooked by many writers and speakers and focussing on the devotional and light pieces sung by MS Amma. They were never light- that is another matter though.

GV opened the concert with the song which is synonymous with MS Amma- for very few others have sung this song. The most attractive part of the song is the neraval, on Kadamba vana nilaye- sung by MSS in her inimitable manner. GV skipped this neraval which was disappointing for me. She sang swarams though. Also Gayathri could have begun the concert with the slokam sung by MSS as a prelude to this song. Similarly, the slokam before the song Enthamathramuna was also skipped. When it is MS Special concert, we expect these things.

The alapanas of Bhairavi, Vasantha and Simhendramadhyamam were replete with time tested sancharas mostly on the lines of the MS Amma alapana. Enati nomu bhalamu also is synonymous with MS. In the Kutchery set of 3 LPs released in 1960s, the alapana of Bhairavi is simply classic- step by step build up- with ample elaboration on key swaras which was one of my earliest enjoyment of this ragam. GV rendered the song excellently. Ninnuvina- MSS was one of the very few vocalists who could effortlessly sing all the sangathis which are normally played on the flute and GV also rendered the song excellently. Rama rama guna seema- It can be said that this song got its popularity due to the frequent handling of this song as the main song by MSS in a number of concerts and GV did ample justice to the song on the various aspects- alapana, neraval, swarams etc.

All other songs brought nostalgic memories of the innumerable concerts of MS Amma I have heard (live and recorded). I have heard three or four concerts of MS Amma live.

The accompanists played their role effectively with full coordination and embellished the concert significantly. An excellent concert for two hours.

[rajeshnat]

Acc. B.V.Raghavender Rao- Violin

Crama
Thank you for your concise review . I do know you have a lot of fondness for MS amma music . You recollecting that in this concert is very nice .
The violinist is B V Raghavendra Rao .

[cienu]

Dear Sri C Rama,
Thank you for the wonderful review of Smt GV's kutcheri.
Glad to hear that the concert was excellent

[rshankar]

CRama - thank you for a lovely review. One small correction- the bhairavi kRti should be EnATi nOmu phalamO and not bhalamO - and other than the AlApana, the most amazing part of Smt.MSS' version was the spellbinding nereval at sundarESa suguNa bRnda daSaratha nandana pAvana.

[CRama]

rshankar, fully agree with you. We can have a long list of spell binding neravals of MSS. I avoided it because I did not want to elaborate further.