VVS & Krishna Murari @ Srinivasa Sasthry Hall, 30th Dec

[SriKrishnan]

VV Subramanyam & VVS Murari - Violin
Tiruvarur Vaidyanathan- Mridangam

I was fortunate to attend the concert by VVS along with his son Krishna Murari at Srinivasa sasthry Hall. It was a concert of less than two hours, but left deep impressions compared to all other concerts that I heard in this season. As usual the music of VVS is a hall mark of aesthetics with fine balance of manodharmam and perfection in rendering compositions. Combined with perfect Sruthi sudham, Laya sudham and Sahithya sudfham, it was an out of the world experience. Murari played along very well, adhering to the style with similar perfection. Tiruvarur Vaidyanathan played along and gave excellent support.
He started the concert with a brisk Swaminatha Paripalayasumam in Nata, with a brief alapana and Swaras. Vasantha Bhairavi followed in the form of Nee Daya Radha. It was a a grand Pantuvarali and siva Siva Siva ena radha, with Swarams. It was meditative experience to listen to his Janani Ninnu Vina in Reethi Gaula. A detailed Bilahari followed. I was expecting ‘Smara Sada Manasa’, but VVS took up the sporty ‘Paridanamichide’. The krithi shined like a gem. He adorned it with beautiful swara patterns with laya intricacy. He concluded with a Bhajan followed by a beautiful Sindhu Bhairavi- Karunai Deivame.
Few aspects that I noticed :
1) Manodharmam does not mean rendering long alapana and never ending Kalpana swara gymnastics. His alapanas were short and sweet, leaving the rasikas wanting more.
2) Restraint was exhibited throughout. He just flashed few beautiful fast passages during the raga alapana as well as ornamentations during the krithis in lightning speed. But speed never became the virtuosity.
3) The Violins were singing the songs with right Bhava, it was never overshadowed by instrumental techniques.

My wish is to hear him perform more often !

[bilahari]

Thank you for attending and reporting about VVS's concert. His bilahari and vasantabhairavi are always special.

[rajeshnat]

VV Subramanyam & VVS Murari - Violin

My wish is to hear him perform more often !

Indeed . I was thinking SHri VVS has reached such a stature that he taking a decision to play only in big sabha/big halls and with the organizers not able to accomodate it will be a case of not hearing VVS. I see many musicians have a lot of reverence to ageold sastri hall, i think the sabha that organized is chennai fine arts and they are able to pull artist like VVS, remember a report few years back. Thru grapevine I heard his brother VV Ravi is also playing very well this year , i liked BU ganesh prasad a lot in this season. With RKSK , mullaivasal there is always a nice spread of VVS specialty. His vasanthabhairavi just gives me a lot of great memories. Thank you for your report srikrishnan.