Master Pranav Kikkeri disciple of Sri Chitraveena Ravikiran, wins hearts in Bay Area

[Anitha Dilip]

Master Pranav Kikkeri disciple of Sri Chitraveena Ravikiran, wins hearts in Bay Area on 15th February at the Sri Rajarajeshwari Temple auditorium.

Noted Vidushi Smt Jayashree Varadarajan summarized the concert in an exemplary manner and blessed the artists as below. She said, "it was indeed a great pleasure to present youngsters because these children are the ones who are going to be torch bearers of our culture, tradition and our belief system". She recounted all the great vaagyekaras and saints from the North and the South of India and the wonderful bhakti filled music that they left behind as a legacy. She said music had to have laya, melody and bhakti and this was the tradition to be carried forward.

She said she was reminded of the song “Anuragamuleni” because what she saw in Pranav’s singing was pure love for Art, for Art’s own sake. She mentioned how a teacher can teach, but if the student is not receptive, the effort is wasted. When one goes to the teacher and surrenders one’s entire being to the guru with passion, reverence, love and with fire in the heart, soul and spirit, and grasps every detail that is imparted, then indeed it is a credit to the student, as it is in Pranav’s case.

Smt Varadarajan said what she had witnessed in Pranav was real love for the art, in his singing. He was unfazed by external distractions. Pranav sang for the sake of the art. His singing had impeccable Shruthi, proper laya and well-enunciated lyrics. The “pada Vichchedana” was at the right places. She credited his guru, Sangeeth Samrat Sri Chitravina N. Ravikiran for being a wonderful teacher and mentioned that Pranav had done a wonderful job and made his Guru proud.

Smt Varadarajan asked him to keep a level head and not let success make him lose sight of the responsibility that he had towards the art, whether it was working on creating a new raga like “Pranavswaroopini” or giving a new dimension to an existing raga.

As to the wonderful accompanists, Vidushi Jayashree mentioned how Rangashree did an amazing job on Violin accompanying with so much grace and maturity. She credited Rangashree for taking time off from her busy schedule in the medical field where she puts her love of music to use in finding therapies for mental stresses and strains that ail modern society. She credited Rangashree for finely demonstrating how accompanists are not competing with the main artist but a support the main artist. She knew exactly where and to what extent to play.

Coming to the Mrdangist Sathya Ramesh, the veteran teacher said “Like father like daughter”. She mentioned Vidwan Ramesh Srinivasan’s cheerful disposition and credited his daughter for imbibing that same tendency to generate happiness. Having been wonderfully trained by her father, Vidwan Ramesh Srinivasan, she did an amazing job. She credited Sathya for maturing into a wonderful artist. Just like Rangashree, she knew how much to play and what jatis to present, and the appropriate length for the Tani avarthanam within the limited time that she has allotted to her.

She said she blessed Pranav today with all good health, continued enthusiasm, undying energy, and unswerving reverence for his Guru”.
She encouraged Pranav to announce the items in the program so as to serve as an inspiration for other youngsters in the audience to learn as youngsters are more easily inspired by other youngsters

She emphasized that her role was not to squander praise but rather to give measured and constructive praise to youngsters.

Song List:
1) Varnam in Vasanta
2) Tatvamariya tarama in Reethigowla A and S.
3) Tulasidala in Mayamalagowla A and S
4) Sharanam Yami in Shahana by OVK Alapana
5) Ninnuvinaga in Poorvikalyani A,N, S
6) Bhogindrashayinam in Kuntalavarali
7) RTP in Shanmukhapriya
8) Modijese velara in Kamach
9) Vanajasana in Shree
10) Tillana in Sindhubhairavi by Sri Chitravina N.Ravikiran
11) Mangalam

[PRnath]

What an impressive list of songs only to be surpassed by the talent and devotion of the young artist! While it is a pleasure to bestow praises upon such talented upcoming youngsters, it is important and becomes a responsiblity for senior members in the field to provide guidance and words of wisdom to keep such youngsters motivated and at the same time grounded. Vidushi Smt. Jayashree Varadarajan's review of Master Pranav Kikkeri's concert is spot on! I have been fortunate in following this extremely talented artist from the time when he was a toddler. I have had the distinct pleasure of listening to him on various occasions in the local temples leading up to his arangetram and many other programs that followed. I can say that with every concert he delivers he demonstrates growth, and is nothing but a pleasure to watch and listen to. As one of his rasikaa, I surely am immesely proud of him and wish him the very best of luck. May God continue to bless this talented child and his ardent devotion to his Guru (Shri Chitraveen Ravikiran) and the music he seeks to learn and master.

[arasi]

Once again, Pranav makes us proud...

Any possibility of hearing clips from the concert of this dedicated, talented youngster--on you tube for instance?

Way to go, Pranav