Dr. N. Ramani's flute concert at Bharat Kalachar - 7th Jan 2007
Accompaniment:
Shri Nagai Muralidharan - Violin
Shri Trivandrum V Balaji - Mridhangam
Shri E M Subramanian - Ghatam
Dr. Ramani was at his vintage best. A brisk nattakurinji varnam was followed by Mahaganapathim in nattai and a fluent Lathangi alaapana and Marivera. Kharaharapriya alaapana was the best I heard in recent times by anyone, with Rama nee samaanamevaru. It was followed by a RTP in Khamboji, followed by Tani. His aalaapana in manthra sthaayi towards the end with different flutes was magica. The kanakku in the pallavi was intriguing... I could not follow the thukkada pieces..
Shri Nagai Muralidharan's essays during Lathangi and Kharaharapriya alaapana proved why he commands such an unbeatable place among the violinists today...
Tani by Shri Trivandrum Balaji and Shri E M Subramanian was entertainingly brief and in brisk kaalapramanam
Shri Tvm Balaji was another pleasant surprise. Amongst such veteran senior artists in the stage, he was quite at home, and was
demostrating Raghu Sir school in his nadais...
IT WAS A PITY TO SEE THAT THERE WERE NO MORE THAN ABOUT 15 PERSONS IN SUCH A BIG AUDITORIUM .. AND THE WHOLE PLACE LOOKED SO VACANT... MAYBE DUE TO THIS THE CONCERT ITSELF WAS DELAYED BY MORE THAN 40 MINUTES FROM SCHEDULED TIME...(ORGANISERS MAYBE BUSY ORGANISING SOME AUDIENCE TO GET STARTED)....
THIS I THOUGHT WAS QUITE INSULTING TO SUCH A SENIOR VIDWAN, AND THE ORGANISERS WOULD WELL THINK OF FINDING A SUITABLE TIME SLOT OR DO SOME SERIOUS INTROSPECTION AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENS.... SHRI Y G MAHENDRAN WHO WAS SEEN AROUND THE AUDITORIUM COULD HAVE SERVED WELL BY SITTING IN THE AUDITORIUM RATHER THAN AT THE GATE, JUST TO ADD WHATEVER STRENGTH TO THE PALTRY ATTENDANCE...