December 24, 2018
Samskritham Series,
Charsur Arts Foundation
(accompanied by Sri RK Shriram Kumar, Sri Arun Prakash and Sri Guruprasad)
1. Jaya Jaya Ramanatha - Nata - Narayana Theertha(S)
2. Shankari - Saveri - Syama Sastri (N,S)
3. Daasharathe Dayasharadhe - Kokilapriya - Tyagaraja (R,S)
4. Tyagarajam Bhajeham - Neelambari - Dikshitar
5. Niravadhi Sukhada - Ravichandrika - Tyagaraja
6. Janani Mamava - Bhairavi - Swati Tirunal (R,N,S,T)
7. Palaya Sri Raghuvira - Devagandhari - Tyagaraja
8. Sri Radha Ramana - Behag - Papanasam Sivan
9. Slokam followed by Rukmini Patrika from Narayaneeyam - Ragamalika
10. Apara Karuna Sindhum - Sindhubhairavi - R K Shriram Kumar
11. Mangalam Rishyashrunganagaravasini - Surati
December 26, 2018
Sri Parthasarathy Swami Sabha
(accompanied by Sri H N Bhasker, Sri Patri Satish Kumar and S. Sri Karthick)
1. Vande Vasudevam - Sri - Annamacharya (S)
2. Ee Vasudha - Sahana - Tyagaraja [N,S]
3. Sri Rama Padhama - Amritavahini - Tyagaraja [R,S]
4. Jambupathe - Yamuna Kalyani - Dikshitar
5. Triloka Mata - Pharas - Syama Sastry
6. RTP - Khamboji [Thani]
7. Virutham followed by Aravinda Padamalar - Kapi - Ambujam Krishna
8. Namita Devam - Ragamalika - Annamacharya
If I had to think about what stands out to me about her music, the list is so long and I don't even know where to begin. Be it her repertoire, her choice of ragas, her ability to handle both rare ragas and famous ragas with depth and ease, her treatment of the sahityam and her adherence to tradition: everything is just wonderful. I happened to attend her concert in the "Samskritham series" out of sheer serendipity. And that was one of the concerts I'll remember for a very long time. She did amazing justice to the theme by choosing a wide range of compositions from different composers. The round of brisk swaras in the Nata piece or the detailed neraval and swarams at the lines "Jambupathi Vilasini" demonstrated her ease and depth in singing swarams. Kokilapriya was a reflection of her creativity again. The whole piece lasted for thirty minutes approximately. I need to specially mention, the Neelambari krithi, the beauty with which it was presented, just left me in tears of joy. I would specifically want to mention the effort from the accompanists in enhancing the beauty of this song, the mridangam was so beautifully played. The Bhairavi was elaborate and well presented. Did feel a sense of strain in her voice as she was attempting the higher octaves and was wondering if that was a hint of continuous concerts every other day. However, no where did I feel that the quality of the concert was compromised with.This was one of the best concerts I attended this season.
With the Parthasarathy Swami Sabha concert, was similar to the previous concert in multiple parameters. Beautiful swarams and neraval. The four minute Alapana of Amrithavahini brought out shades of the raga perfectly, knowing her vast repertoire, I was quite excited to know which krithi she'd pick. However, she presented the famous, "Sri Rama Padama" The swarakalpana in this raga deserves a special mention, specially in the last round, she wove such wonderful patterns around the phrases "NDM", "RRM", "RMP" and "PDM" in alternating fashions. "Trilokamata" was a perfect demonstration of how to bring bhava beautifully even in a super brisk krithi without just focusing on complex sangathis. Her RTP again was incredible. I still remember her Vakulabharanam RTP from the same venue last year. This time she chose the grand Khamboji, presented thanam in Poorvikalyani, Atana and Surati. The lines of the RTP were, "Ambhojanabha Mamava Mangalashobha Ananda Karaka" again an interesting way to fit in the raga mudra (like most pallavis I heard from her before)
I missed her concert here in Hyderabad last month where I heard that she presented a grand Thodi. However, listening to both of these concerts was such a fulfilling experience. She is one artist who never compromises with the quality and ability to cater to rasikas. Hoping to hear more of her in the year ahead!
