Venu Ganam - Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

[vijay.siddharth]

It was one of those concerts that left one absolutely stupefied. And yet, unable to shake off the experience, I am compelled to share it. This, of course, is the Venu Ganam concert of JB keerthana and JB Shruti Sagar, which took place in Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan today.

The concert began with sedate slokams followed by Dikshitar's Adipureeswaram. Wondrous Kalpana swarams affixed to the pallavi followed in full force, like the gushing of a waterfall, mercilessly taking the denizens assembled In a flood of the cool water that is the ragam Arabhi.

This was followed by an exposition of the ragam Valaji by Keerthana, tending to a minimalistic approach, focussing on the individual beauty of the swarams. VV Srivatsa's Karthikeya Kamalesha followed. This was the first time I heard this composition, and given its pedantic perambulation in Valaji with no real aesthetic appeal, I hope this is the last time I do so. Having said that, the composition was well sung.

Next came Manavyala in the ragam Nalinakanthi, and boy, was it anything but a tender flower!!! Followed up by forceful kalpanaswarams appended to the pallavi and an entertaining korvai, it certainly attracted the audience's attention.

Next followed a wondrous Shanmugapriya alapana, shared between Keerthana and Shruti Sagar. While Shruti Sagar's alapana was full of inventive new phrases and inspired by Mali, Keerthana took a radically different approach, focussing on more vocal sangathis. Papanasam Sivan's Andavane followed up, crowned by Neraval and Swarams in the anupallavi. An entertaining tani followed by a ragamalika drew the concert to a close.

[Sachi_R]

Sid,
You've upped your game, man, and how!

From Twitter's 140 characters per post to a flood of emotive responses expected from you when you talk about a great combination.

Do you agree that these siblings seem like coiled serpents of musical passion and climbing creepers of creative expression?

Don't blame me. You started it. And God speed!

[CRama]

Vijay, That was the best expression of the experience you had which you poured from your heart. Remain blessed for many more musical experiences. I think this is your first long review. Continue to share your joy with us.

[SrinathK]

Bravo. Now that's more like it.