ABHISHEK RAGHURAM AT IFAS- 31/12

[CRama]

Accompanists. H.N.Bhaskar-Violin
R.Sankaranarayanan-Mridangam.

List of songs.
Natakurinji varnam
Vathapi- Hamsadhwani- MD (S)
Balambikayah param nahi re- Kanada- MD (R)
Nee dayarada- Vasanthabhairavi-T (R,S)
Tyagarajaya Namaste- Begada-MD (R,S)
Karunanidhi ilalo-Thodi-SS (R,N,S)
Thani

Even though I missed the major share of this year’s season, I am happy that I signed off my 2015 with this concert of Abhishek Raghuram. The concert of Abhishek Raghuram yesterday was absolutely mesmerising. By now, we know Abhishek- the master of creativity, youthful exhuberance, voice power and master of laya also. The start up Natakurinji varnam was rendered as a pada varnam. I have heard this as Pada varnam only from Alathur Brothers and Mani Krishnaswamy. Nowadays nobody sings this as pada varnam. Next came Vathapi- nowadays a rarity on the concert stage. Elaborate swaras in two kalams rendered at the pallavi line made it very lively. The first alapana was Kanada, though brief, brought out the essence of the raga. Without leaving for violin, he started a rare composition of Dikshitar- Balambikayah param nahi re. The next alapana – Vasanthabhairavi was also brief- for about 3 minutes and he started the song Needayarada from the anupallavi. The cascade of swara prastarams at pallavi was icing on the cake.

Two ragams- Begada and Thodi were taken up for elaboration. I have never heard such an elaborate treatment of Begada in recent times in any live concert. Ten minutes of Begada alapana with flooding of ideas from all the corners- time tested sancharams and many rare pidis made this Begada an unforgettable affair. And the song- Tyagarajaya Namaste is my favourite too. He sang chittaswarams also- I have not heard chittaswaram for this song so far. He presented very intelligently crafted swaras at Sakalaagama manthra thanthra. The entire song took 30 minutes.

The alapana of Thodi was simply out of the world. 30 minutes of indulgence in every sense, with the gushing manodharmam, sheer voice power and spontaneity of delivery. The song Karunanidhi ilalo, the magnificent edifice of Syama Sastri with its inner laya flow was presented with minute sangathis and elaborate neraval at Komalamridu bhashini and the cascade of swaras that followed were fabulous. He exploited all possibilities of that ragam in the manodharmam segments- neraval and kalpana swaras- mel kalam, keezh kalam, different nadais , laya exercises etc. He made it highly sensational. The entire song took one hour and ten minutes.

H.N.Bhaskar was a perfect match for Abhishek in his manodharmam and energy. His alapanas of Begada and Thodi were highly creative and his support was unobtrusive for Abhishek. Sankaranarayanan also gelled well with the creativity of the rest of the team. Thani was brief as it was already 9.20 when Thani started. There was no upa pakkavadyam (The concert started at 7 P.M). I left after the thani. Another fabulous concert of Abhishek.

[Rsachi]

CRama,
What a beautiful way to sign off 2015. Not only are you back with a bang but also with such a "rich" Abhishek experience. Henceforth I will refer to Abhishek's sessions with the word experience. It describes it better for intensity, creativity and audience connect at a level deeper than entertainment.
Bravo!
Happy 2016 to one and all

[Sivaramakrishnan]

I am reminded of a Begada which Nityasree delineated during the early nineties (IIRC) at a season concert in MFAS. It was simply great. The kriti was Naadopaasana.

(Begada is rather a 'difficult raga' for detailed handling. Only the talented can really impress)

[rajeshnat]

If there is one raga that I like abhishek the most - it can be possibly vasanthabhairavi. Looks this todi is one of a kind - quite a few of my musical friends who dont write in the forum are talking about. I dont think i have heard abhishek and HNB - miss on my part.

[Vocalist]

I am reminded of a Begada which Nityasree delineated during the early nineties (IIRC) at a season concert in MFAS. It was simply great. The kriti was Naadopaasana.

(Begada is rather a 'difficult raga' for detailed handling. Only the talented can really impress)

I remember Nithyasree detailing it in subsequent years for Syama Sastri's krithi "Kamakshi". It was too good and was for a similar duration.

If there is one raga that I like abhishek the most - it can be possibly vasanthabhairavi.

Me too. I feel the raga oozes out so naturally from his voice.