Malladi brothers - 23-Apr-2016 - SRSM FHS, Bangalore

[ranjanimalavi]

Malladi Brothers - Vocal
Embar Kannan - Violin
K V Prasad - Mridangam
Giridhar Udupa - Ghatam

1. Vade Venkatadri - Vasantha - TA (OS)
2. Seetha Sametha Sahitham - Atana - T
3. Dinamani Vamsa - Hari Kambhoji - T (S)
4. Bhajana Seyarada - Dharmavathi - MV (RNS)
5. Makelara Vicharamu - Ravichandrika - T
6. Nee Chittamu - Dhanyasi - T (O)
7. RTP Sankarabharanam
8. Thani

It was a good concert, would have enjoyed more if the sound was better.
Too loud and overall a bad acoustic experience.

I attended Sanjay, TMK, Vijay Siva, the acoustics were good, no complaints.
This one was bad.

Raman

[thanjavooran]

Shri Raman
Thanx for the review. Excellent selection of songs. Dharmavathi would have been a treat. I used to admire their clarity in singing. All wound have enjoyed the Thani of the duo. KV Prasad nowadays not much seen.
with wishes,
Thanjavooran
24 04 2016

[hnbhagavan]

There is no way listeners to communicate the proper level of sound.just as the musicians on stage convey,there should be a method to give our feedback.

[ranjanimalavi]

In this case Sriram Prasad asked if the sound was ok, and KV Prasad was complaining throughout,
and audience complained its too loud.

But no organizers bothered to get the sound guys to come in the middle and check.
These are paid concerts, they have to have some accountability for the listening experience.
Can't take the audience for granted.

There are couple of people sitting outside the pandal in the car parking area, I felt I should join them as the noise level was worse.
It was pleasant outside, compared to pandal itself.

Its just my view, may sound harsher. I do appreciate the difficulties the organizers go through.

Raman

[gardabha_gana]

While the concert was full of classicism, I felt only 2 alapanas were below par for the concert, especially given their lineage and forte. Would have loved to hear their Dhanyasi! I don't know if they consider RSM as a light venue (announcing the songs and such). Enjoyed the concert very much. Traditional fare that I look forward to very much. Vade Venkatadri reminded me of Voleti's rendition. Enjoyed Dharamavati, Dhanyasi and SB very much as also the BD compositions at the end. Nice evening - would have been nicer with more Alapanas....

9. Speeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeech and parade of all the sponsors - what a waste of time.
10. Sowmitri Bhagyame - Kharaharapriya - Adi - Tyagaraja
11. Rama Rama Sita - Tilang - Rupakam - PD
12. Govinda Mohana - Dwijavanthi - Bhadrachala Ramadas - M.Chapu (?) (Sketch)
13. Ye Tiruginanu - Nadanamakriya - Bhadrachala Ramadas
14. Patiki Harathi - Suruti - Adi
15. Shriya Kanthaya Kalyana - Mangalam Kosalendraya (a ala Nedunuri)

Sound system == Loud system for most organizers

[ram1999]

While the concert was full of classicism, I felt only 2 alapanas were below par for the concert, especially given their lineage and forte. Would have loved to hear their Dhanyasi! I don't know if they consider RSM as a light venue (announcing the songs and such). Enjoyed the concert very much. Traditional fare that I look forward to very much. Vade Venkatadri reminded me of Voleti's rendition. Enjoyed Dharamavati, Dhanyasi and SB very much as also the BD compositions at the end. Nice evening - would have been nicer with more Alapanas....

9. Speeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeech and parade of all the sponsors - what a waste of time.
10. Sowmitri Bhagyame - Kharaharapriya - Adi - Tyagaraja
11. Rama Rama Sita - Tilang - Rupakam - PD
12. Govinda Mohana - Dwijavanthi - Bhadrachala Ramadas - M.Chapu (?) (Sketch)
13. Ye Tiruginanu - Nadanamakriya - Bhadrachala Ramadas
14. Patiki Harathi - Suruti - Adi
15. Shriya Kanthaya Kalyana - Mangalam Kosalendraya (a ala Nedunuri)

Sound system == Loud system for most organizers

Is it commenting for the sake of commenting. What makes one feel that rendering only 2 alapanas is below par or taking a venue as a light venue. Let the artists be given the freedom to choose what they have to than being dictated or targeted. What is the lineage got to do with this ???

They belong to the best school and have learnt from the greatest musicians of our times. Raga selection and kriti selection depend more on their mood of that day. Lets respect that and lets not pass judgement on every aspect ....

[rshankar]

Ram1999,
When did an opinion become a judgment?
It was G_G's feeling after the concert - and he's clearly stated that. Isn't that the idea of the so called review here - a very personal view?
If an opinion is a judgment, then your post could also be considered judgmental!

[gardabha_gana]

Is it commenting for the sake of commenting.

No. You may have seen my earlier posts. I do give out my opinion without getting personal.

What makes one feel that rendering only 2 alapanas is below par or taking a venue as a light venue.

Yep. That's my opinion.. You haven't read the rest of my post. I do strongly feel that given their training and talent - can do immense justice to a raga such as Dhanyasi... Probably, you hear a lot of good Dhanyasi, I don't see it often... It was a delight to hear Ne Chittamu.... I have heard T.Brinda and Vedavalli sing that, and Doreswamy Iyengar play that... that's a pretty exclusive company to be in.

Let the artists be given the freedom to choose what they have to than being dictated or targeted.

I never questioned their freedom. I don't think they will listen to my dictations - if I indeed try to (not that I would). In fact, they would be delighted that someone longs for their Dhanyasi....

What is the lineage got to do with this ???

For right or wrong reasons, I do believe that unlike other sciences (such as engineering, math etc) - music, dance and such art is learnt directly from the guru. Not through books and internet. I believe between Voleti, Pinakapani and Nedunuri - they have big shoes to fill and am greedy And I have to admit I have different expectations from musicians such as Vijay Siva, Ravi Kiran, Lalgudi siblings, Jayanthi, Malladi Brothers, Sanjay etc

They belong to the best school and have learnt from the greatest musicians of our times.

to ONE of the best... no question about that.

Raga selection and kriti selection depend more on their mood of that day. Lets respect that and lets not pass judgement on every aspect ....

I never did complain about raga selection - only I wanted more manodharma in the form of alapana.... And note I started my comparison with Voleti and ended with Nedunuri..... wonder if that's not high praise indeed.

And finally, I think you read only my first sentence and shot off your reply. Also, BTW have you heard of "Ninda Stuti"? Probably not. Listen to Purandara dasa's "Ninnantha Swami...." I am too small to attempt something like that, but it was along those lines....

[ram1999]

i have at least half a dozen concerts of Malladis where they have sung splendid dhanyasi (which is a speciality (one of the ....) of the Pani school. And of course the dhanyasi of Voletigaru and nedunurigaru of course are absolute classics. It is that day perhaps they dint feel Alapana was required.

[ram1999]

GG

Btw I am not sure if your write up is truncated.

No hard feelings.

[arasi]

WE RASIKAS...

Artistes-bashing is bad enough--
RasikAs get theirs too? Sad

They know they can't please us
All the time with their fine art

We know we aren't pleased
At all times, with their singing

These are the premises anyway
You draw the conclusion...

Said by a discerning rasikA
A fair-minded G_G, I'd say...


Now, for another kind altogether--
Ticketed fare? The more they dare!

"We are entitled to an ace one!
Cheat us with bad sound? Less music?
Less ghana rAgAs, more tukkaDAs
(Or, the other way round), pray!

Hard-earned money wasted on this,
Our time too, when we could have
Been at the movies, the mall! Listen!
So, buyers we are, better deliver!"

Simple rasikAs like me, simpletons (?)
Amply enjoy our music, what we hear
Whenever we can, wherever available
Seems to us better, than splitting hair

[VK RAMAN]

Well said arasi.

[gardabha_gana]

Arasi m'am nice poem... I don't want to get into this game of defending/debating opinions..... and I would like to leave it at that..