S.AISWARYA IN BVB- 23/11/16

[CRama]

Accompanists. Pappu Gyandev- Violin
Phaneendra Bhaskara- Mridangam.

List of songs.
• Varnam-Vasantha
• Ninuvina namadendu-Navarasakannada
• Devi Neeye tunai-Keeravani-PS (R,S)
• Mayateetaswaroopini- Mayamalavagowla-Ponnaiah Pillai
• Janani Saayi Jagad vidaatri- Poorvikalyani- (R,N,S)- Composer?
• Om iti thava…Sambho Sankara tava charana yugam-slokam- Yamunakalyani
• Darsan dejo Sankara Mahadeva- Bhajan- Yaman- Composer?
• Leela nataka sayi- Sayi bhajan- Kurinji - Composer?

Today is Puttaparthi Baba’s birthday. I started this year’s Music Season this auspicious day with the concert of our own Aiswarya, daughter of Cienu, forumite. I need not give more introduction about Aiswarya and her glorious legacy.

Being Baba’s birthday, the venue was charged with high devotion – filled with Baba’s devotees and the Sairam on everybody’s lips. When I entered, a Sai devotee was sharing some miracles of Baba and the way he always came to the rescue of his followers. There was a big photo of Baba kept with big garlands and a bag of flowers beneath that. Many people from the audience offered flowers at Baba’s feet and offered namakaram to Baba. This continued throughout the concert. But people ensured that the concert is not disturbed.

The concert started at 10.30 A.M. Aiswarya’s voice was in very good form. She commenced with Vasantha varnam followed by Ninuvina namadendu. This is a unique composition – always an instrumentalist’s favourite. I have heard that the cascade of sangathis that we now hear were formatted by Mali- the great Flute wizard. But M.S surprised everybody with her impeccable singing of those sangathis first time in Tiryuvayyar in early 1960s. Later M.S had sung this song in many concerts with sangathis rendered in precision and unison by M.S and Radha Viswanathan. Later, Radha Jayalakshmi also used to sing this song with these sangathis very admirably. Aiswarya also rendered the song with elan and precision with enviable breath control and sruti sudham.

Aiswarya presented two ragams in great detail- each running for about 8 minutes. Keeravani and Poorvikalyani. The ragams were elaborated in a step by step method with intricate sancharams around key notes. Her voice in good form, she could navigate long akara passages- those nadaswara pidis very easily and complemented with the M.S typical brighaas and gamakams, but showcasing her manodharmam also adequately. The kritis were rendered with bhavam and the gowravam they deserved. For Devi Neeye tunai, liberal cracker swarams in second kalam were awe inspiring. For the song jananai sayi- which is in praise of Sathya Sai Baba, specifically chosen for this occasion, there was elaborate neraval at the charanam lines Vanaja sannibha vadanasundari Anakha paavani madana daamini laced with elaborate swarams in two kalams. Tani was brief- for five minutes only. The post tani items had the required devotional quotient. The concert concluded at 12.00 noon.

Pappu Gyandev- disciple of Dr.Pantula Rama and Phaneendra Bhaksara , disciple of H.S.Sudheendra of Bangalore provided excellent support and lifted the concert to a greater height.

After the concert, there was Arti with Sai Arti bhajan and Prasad (sweet) was distributed. The Arti and group singing of the Arti bhajan by the Sai devotees spread a highly devotional aura in the auditorium. As somebody remarked, Baba must have been there in the auditorium and adequately showered his blessings on the team of musicians for their highly devotional and inspiring music and also on the audience who witnessed this great experience. An excellent concert for 90 minutes.

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[Sivaramakrishnan]

CRama, what a noble start of the season for you! Jai Sairam!
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Well, your review of Aiswarya Srinivasan's concert indicates that she has inherited the 'MS legacy' in no small measure! Congrats to Cienu, dear forumite for the the excellent opportunities he's providing to his daughter to equip her to sustain the values of the great tradition!

Also this brings back to my memory a concert of MS at the haloed 'Sundaram' in Chennai several years ago on the Birthday of Sai Baba (IIRC). I distinctly remember that P Susheela was in the audience

Yes, your mention of Ninuvina is nostalgic and only few singers have been able to 'match' Maali in rendering the Sangatis so well.

Wish you a great season!

[rshankar]

CRama; thank you for that review! Congratulations to Aishwarya for a wonderful start to the season.

[CRama]

After the concert, I had some time talking to Cienu and Aiswarya. I gave some suggestions to Aiswarya and Cienu shared with me the experiences in Chandigarh. He had recorded part of that Mahaganapathim sung by Aiswarya in Chandigarh to the accompaniment of Guitar and anther instrument (I do not remember the name) and I heard it. There was great applause by the students. They have invited Aiswarya for another concert to beheld soon.

Vignesh Viswanathan, forumite who used to write rave reviews about Aiswarya's concerts was on the Tambura. I talked to him after the concert. An IT professional, he is so passionate about MS and Aiswarya that he takes leave and plays tambura for Aiswarya.

[Vignesh Viswanathan]

Thank you, Sri. CRama. It was an immense pleasure to meet you post-Concert. I atlast had the opportunity to see the humble and modest man behind the accomplished reviews whom under the name 'CRama' was!

You have meticulously described each and every aspect of Aishwarya’s concert. Indeed, for me it was a very sentimental and a blissful start of December Season-2016 as much as it must have been for Aishwarya and MS Amma’s family who have been devotees of Baba for many decades.

Notably, Aishwarya's 'Mayateetaswaroopini' was a humble tribute to the composer Ponniah Pillai at the commencement of the season and it was indeed soul stirring and exquisitely rendered. Hats off to Aishwarya for choosing a rare kriti like this.

Her rendition of Sri. Ra. Ganapati’s compositions on Baba “Janani Sai” and “Leela Nataka” compositions were very moving and moved the whole audience. Truly wonderful start Aishwarya and look forward to the remaining concerts.

[CRama]

Vighnesh Viswanathan, Thanks for informing the composer of Janani Sayi and Leela Nataka.

[cienu]

Thank you CRama for the review and Sivaramakrishnan for his kind comments.

cienu had recorded part of that Mahaganapathim sung by Aiswarya in Chandigarh to the accompaniment of Guitar and another instrument (I do not remember the name)

The instrument is beat boxing - percussive sounds made using the mouth and vocal chords.
More on this in the link below.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatboxing
Please find below a picture of the concert at BVB on 23rd Nov 2016