Karthick Narayanan: Ramanjaneya Trust 04 April 2017

[Sivaramakrishnan]

Ramanjaneyar Temple,
Tambaram Sanatorium, Chennai 600 047
04.04.2017, 07.10 p.m.– 09.20 p.m.

Artists:
Kartick M Narayanan-vocal
M Vijay-Violin
Salem Ranganathan-Mridangam

Sruti (pitch): D (2 kattai) e-box

The event was part of Sri Ramanavami concert series happening at the venue.

Kritis:
1. Sahana –Karunimpa- Varnam
2. Naatai-Jaya Jaya Jaya Janaki kaanta-Khanda Chapu- Purandara Dasa (S)
3. Kharaharapriya- Samaanamevaru- Rupaka-Tyagaraja-(R,N,S)
4. Asaaveri-Raa rama-Aadi-Tyagaraja
5. Mohanam-Mohana Rama-Aadi-Tyagaraja (R,N,S)
Tani
6. Slokam-Karaaravindena padaaravindam-Ragamalika(Suruti,Saveri,Neelambari)
7. Neelambari-Madhava Mamava-Aadi-Narayanathirtha
8. Mangalam

I was listening to Karthick for the first time and he did impress with an energetic, aesthetic presentation. He is a disciple of Sri Rajkumar Bharathi and has a pleasing voice.

For jaya jaya (Naattai), Karthick rendered a few rounds of bright Swaraprastaara. Straight next was the ‘sub-main’ Kharaharapriya with an excellent aalaapana. It was interesting to watch the singer attempt several short but challenging pidi-s without slipping! Neraval for the kriti at the time tested ‘Paluku paluku’ was compact and followed by a tidy swaraprastara.

Asaaveri was a good selection as it is not much heard in concert platforms these days.

Vijay- a disciple of ace Vidwan Varadarajan- on the violin played with a good sense of anticipation and attention.

Mohanam aalapana was handled in detail with adequate attention to the upper sthaayi sancharas. The kriti 'Mohana Rama' was probably the best selection for a Ramanavami concert. Neraval at the anupallavi passage was rendered competently. Kalpanaswaras were designed precisely to fit in the eduppu at mukkaal edam with a crisp korvai for the finish.

Tani avartanam by Ranganathan was marked by bold but disciplined strokes. The mohra and a progressive korvai (adding 1 maatra at each aavarta) was quite imaginative. He is a disciple of Guru Karaikudi Mani. The slokam saw swift transition to select ragas, leading to 'Madhava mamava' in Neelambari.

Sri Kannan, of the Trust gave a felicitation address touching on the salient points of the concert and the efforts taken by the organisation for promoting cultural activities. He also stressed the importance of lineage in Carnatic music.

[melam72]

Lovely review, Sivaramakrishnan sir (I assume you are a Sir because of your retirement, unless you are some corporate superstar who retired at a young age, in which case, I am very sorry)!

Here is a question and a correction: how did you observe the shruti of the musician?

FYI, the KHP krithi is Rama Nee Samanamevaru. Sorry for being so pernickety

[Sivaramakrishnan]

melam72,
Very pertinent yet interesting queries! My response:

1.As a forumite you must be aware that I retired on 31 March 2017, but going by the advise of dears and nears that I must not 'think and act old' I would welcome you to address me by name!

2.By virtue of my involvement in singing and Veena playing I mostly guess the pitch correct but confirm with the artist after the concert if in doubt.

3.You are perfectly right but I must admit I am severely influenced by musicians who open the kriti only with 'Samaanamevaru'! 'Nee' and 'Rama' form second and third 'sangatis' in the strictest sense!!

[rajeshnat]

Ramanjaneyar Temple,
Tambaram Sanatorium, Chennai 600 047
04.04.2017, 07.10 p.m.– 09.20 p.m.

Artists:

SRK,
Retirement is indeed working . 04/04 is a Tuesday and there you are attending the concert .

One of the frustrating pain points in ramanjaneyar temple concert is

All the artists come around the dot time , then they go around the two temples and take another 20 minutes . Then they wait for sound adjustments , the start becomes late . Then Kannan speaks at the end, A good nirvana venue but bit sabotaged with the concert surely getting reduced atleast 30 minutes (I am atleast writing all of this after attending few concerts here in the temple). If it is say sringeri temple in T nagar there is just one diety the formalities is quickly done , but if it is these kind of temples the casualty is lack of more air time for actual rendition.

Srk - keep rocking . Chromepet to Mambalam/Kodambakkam is also 20 minutes by suburban train . From there skgs/mudhra is just a hop.