Chitraveena N. Ravikiran at Sri Thiagaraja Sangeetha Vidwat Samajam: 09.01.2016

[Sivaramakrishnan]

N Ravikiran : Chitraveena
(Traditional instrument)
Pitch: G (5 kattai)

Accompaniments:
Vinjamuri Kamalakiran: Violin
Neyveli Narayanan: Mridangam
Krishna: Ghatam

06.30 – 09.00 p.m. A dedicated gathering of around 50.

The Vidwat samajam situated close to the Madhava Perumal temple in the busy Mylapore area in the heart of Chennai has a sanctity of its own. The Tyagaraja sannidhi gives it a ‘Tiruvaiyaru atmosphere’ and the perfectly maintained vintage settings lend certain divinity. As I was visiting the place after along break, the ‘writing on the walls’ appeared new and informative. Starting from Sangita Kalanidhi Tiger Varadachariar, the list of stalwarts associated with the Samajam affirmed that it is a landmark of Carnatic Chennai which no music lover shall miss. The annual Tyagaraja Aaraadhana here is considered only next to the Tiruvaiyaru event in importance.

(As I had almost missed the ‘Season’ due to my work outside Chennai, Ravikiran’s concert on a holiday gave me an excellent opportunity to compensate and it was highly satisfying. ‘Show me the audience, I’ll tell who the artist is’ seemed to be true in the case of Ravikiran as saw the audience on entering the venue about ten minutes late after battling heavy traffic from far away Chromepet up to Luz corner and therefrom ‘running’ to the venue through the narrow lanes to avoid further snarl!).

List of kritis:
(Though it was already known that the concert would contain compositions of Tyagaraja and Oothukadu Venkatasubbaiyer, the kritis were presented in pairs imaginatively with introductory remarks)

1. Sree Ganapathi nee-Sourashtram-T
2. Chinthippavar Ninaiviliruppavar-Naata-OV

3. Kanakanaruchira-Varali-T (Pancharatna)
4. Madhava hrid- Kalyani- OV (Saptaratna)

5. Daasarathe-Todi-T
6. Rasikamahothama-Sarasangi-OV (Mishra chapu)

7. Paahi Ramadoota- Shadvidhamargini-T (Roopaka)
8. Pavanakumara-Vasantha-OV
9. Mangalam-T
(followed by Aarati at the sannidhi)


Sree Ganapthi gave a smart start. The second sangati for the charana word ‘Panasa’ had ‘PaMaDha’ notation which was enlightening. The swaraprastara at the Pallavi contained some cute challenges to the ‘violin boy’ who met them quite successfully. OV’s Vinayaka kriti in Tamil has the madhyamakaala sahitya in charana sprinkled with several words having ‘Ksha’ (or ‘tcha’ in tamil like saatchi, kamatchi etc)- quite interesting.

Kanakanaruchira- perhaps the ‘most difficult and note-ated’ among the T Pancharatnas- was rendered religiously with care on meetu for the sahitya passages. The Kalyani (OV Saptaratna) is descriptive of the Radha-Madhava sankalpa. (IIRC, Ravikiran said OV has composed both Rugmani Kalyana & Radha kalyana operas).

The grand Todi aalaapana had grahabheda on Rishabha expressive of kalyani. Daasarathey is in praise of Lord Rama described as an avid sangeetha rasika while OV’s kriti in Sarasangi (in an energetic Mishra chaapu) anoints Krishna as a Rasika mahotthama. The tani was for the latter and Neyveli Narayanan beautifully dovetailed the multi-patterned tisra kuraippu of the swaraprastaara segment to a fitting finale. The young Ghatam vidwan rose to the occasion.

Paahi Ramachandradoota and Pavanakumara were the kritis to celebrate Hanumath jayanti day.
Only the mangalam did not have a OV counterpart!

The Samajam Organiser’s brief speech (I couldn’t get the gentleman’s name) was a model one. He gave an additional information that there is another kriti of OV ‘Brindavana Radhey’ in Reetigoula and sang the Pallavi. A Vidwat Samajam indeed!

The Violinist and ‘Ghatamist’- it was told –were called in at the last minute to substitute Nagai Sriram and Sree Sundarkumar. The concert must have been a ‘shot in the arm’ for both! And Ravikiran extolled them to bring out the best. Revered Sri Chitraveena Narasimhan who continues to monitor the Kirans’ performances was keenly noticing from the audience, the happenings on stage. A true Godfather!

After the concert, I talked to Ravikiran about the excellent debate on OVK going on in rasikas and he was in full praise of forumite bhakthim dehi. The discussion had to be put on hold due to the busy season and would continue to arrive at valuable conclusions, he said.

I could identify only NickH of our forum among the audience and we exchanged New Year greetings.

[Nick H]

I could identify only NickH of our forum among the audience and we exchanged New Year greetings.

It was really nice to see you, and I am so sorry that I did not immediately recognise you. It has been a while since out last meeting. My wife and I had to leave before the end, or I would have met with you again before going home. Another time at another concert, I hope.

I have seen the ghatam player a few times. In fact, I have watched him, over a number of concerts from arrangetram, through hesitant performance, to a suddenly-blooming confidence which he has shown the last few times I've seen him. My brain cells are dim, but his name might be Krishna.

It may be a day to day thing, but that day, there was a little too much swaraprastara for my taste. Otherwise, I enjoyed the performance as much as I always enjoy Ravikiran's performances --- a lot