The song list:
1) Kalyani Varnam – Adi Tala
2) Slokam followed by Karikalabha Mukham – Saveri – Dikshitar (S@”Saveri Raganutham”)
3) Sridhara Pahi- Jayantasri – Mysore Vasudevachar
4) Dehi Tava Padha – Sahana – Tyagaraja [R, S]
5) Rama Rama Gunaseema – Simhendramadhyamam-Swati Tirunal [R,N,S,T]
6) Padhame Thunai-Valaji-Papanasam Sivan
7) Kamalanayana-Surati-Bhadrachala Ramadasa
8) Natakurinji RTP –Misra Triputa
“Madhava Keshava Mukunda Govinda Uruginen Un Padham Tazhuvinen”
Ragamalika swarams in Hamsadwani, Gowla,Varali, Mohanakalyani, Tilang, Revathi and Vasanthi
9) Vanathin Meedhu-Mand-Ramalinga Adigal
10) Bhavayami – Yaman Kalyani – Annamacharya
11) Mann Ke Ankhe Kholo
12) Venkatachala Nilayam-Sindhubhairavi-Purandaradasa
Even before the concert started, I was recollecting last year’s concert at Sri Krishna Gana Sabha. That Khamboji was class apart and so was the lovely pallavi in Madhyamavathi. Though it is an unfair comparison to make, my mind was constantly questioning if this year’s concert would beat the last year’s scores in my mind. While she was handling Simhendra Madhyamam, I was convinced that she broke the record for me. (Seriously! What an amazing rendition that was!)
Karikalabha mukham was lovely start. The swarams at the ragamudra were filled with interesting combinations. As she hummed Jayanthasri for few seconds, I was wondering if it would be Marugelara. She picked the not so often heard krithi of Mysore Vasudevachar. The Sahana blossomed then. The alapana was absolutely bright and did absolute justice to the beauty of the raga. The krithi was also not a very common one but I did hear her sing this once before. I was very happy with this choice. A quick round of swarams in madhyamakalam at the pallavi followed.
The highlight of the day for me personally was the alapana of Simhendra madhyamam. The raga was handled incredibly well. Specifically when she hit the higher notes and sustained the essence of the raga there, I felt the magic establish itself in the entire hall. For a few seconds, she moved to Bowli (or was it Revagupthi? – I am slightly unsure) doing shruthi bedham. The rendition of the krithi was perfect with all the beautiful sangathis! A detailed neraval and a mind blowing swarakalpana pattern followed.The Tamizh krithi was on request and after the keerthana in Surati, she moved on to an elaborate Natakurinji was another marvel! It was an absolute treat. (She also did a shruthi bedham for this part too) The pallavi was set to Misrajathi Triputa talam and was in Chatusra gathi. After scoring an A+ in all aspects of the raga through her alapana, thanam and swarams, she did a detailed ragamalika swarakalpana. Each raga was presented for the right duration of time so that the essence and the beauty of the raga comes alive. After presenting swaras in all seven ragas she traversed back to each of the ragas with such ease and completed with a perfect landing in Natakurinji swarams again. Simhendra madhyamam and Natakurinji for me were absolute highlights!
The post main items included songs which were on request from different people (I am not surprised at all!). The duration of the concert, the amount of time spent rightly on each song, a detailed main piece and an elaborate RTP, the choice of compositions varying from a range of composers, lovely choice of ragas and the effort of the entire team has left me in absolute state of satisfaction. So much so that I could not resist but post my thoughts about the concert on the forum. If I missed out on some technical details, anyone who attended the concert, please fill it in! From what I heard from others who have been attending the concerts this season, her concerts have been wonderful for most parts this season, looking forward to the concert at Parthasarathy Swami Sabha tomorrow!