HEMANTH AND HERAMBA – FLUTE DUET-31/3/19

[CRama]

Accompanists.
M.Vijay- Violin
Akshay Anand- Mridangam
Sunil Kumar- Ganjira
List of songs.
• Seethapathi- Khamas-T (S)
• Naadupai- Madhyamavathy- T (R,N,S)
• Raghuvamsasudhaambudhi- Kathanakuthoohalam –PSI
• Daachukovalena- Thodi- T (R,S)
• Chinnamchiru kiliye- Ragamalika- Bharatiyar.
• Mangalam.

The above concert was held in the Vivekanandar Illam in the Marina Beach Road. The landmark building has got an auditorium- Sister Nivedita Hall which has got a lovely ambience surrounded with greenery and open on all the four sides. There is a good stage for conducting of performances and the accoustics are good. Plastic chairs make comfortable sitting. They want to conduct ,music, drama and dance performances regularly and mark this place in the cultural map of Chennai. This is the second concert being held in the venue, the last one was in February.

Before the start of the programme, Mr. Anand, father of Akshay Anand welcomed the artistes and the gathering. The young vidwans, in their twenties presented an enjoyable flute duet for two hours. I have heard them previously in Krishna Gana sabha. They are based out of Karnataka and trained with Guru Neyveli Santhanagopalan. The kritis are well modulated to bring out the sahithya bhavam clearly. The raga alapanas of Madhyamavathy and Thodi were characteristic with the typical flute pidis of the ragam, shared by both the vidwans. The ragams were given very elaborate treatment with vinyasam at vantage points, intelligent shadja panchama varja prayogams, and with long akara sangatis, well rounded gamakams and amazing brighas but never compromising on sowkhyam element. For Nadupai, there was neraval on the lines Aajaanubaahuyutha clearly bringing out the sahithya bhavam and swarams had enough laya complexities which vouched for their manodharmam and hard work. The filler Raghuvamsasudhaambudhi brought out the typical instrumental sangatis and provided an entertaining filler. The kriti Dachukovalena was a good choice for the Jhampa talam and rarely vidwans take up this kriti for the main. The kriti was presented well and topped with laya oriented kalpana swarams sans neraval.

M.Vijay supported well on the Violin. His alapanas and kalpana swarams were well structured with the necessary proportion, manodharmam and nadam. Akshay Anand, disciple of K.S. Kalidas (who is a direct disciple of Palani Subramania Pillai) embellished the concert with his perfect sync of toppi and valantalai, anticipation, variety of strokes, and good balancing. His tani avartanam of Jhampa talam was very interesting and Sunil kumar in Ganjira proved to be a perfect match for the brilliance of Akshay. It is my pleasure to mention here that recently Akshay got elevated to A Grade in the audition of Prasar Bharati- that too a double promotion from B. Congrats to Akshay.

The organisers have to give more attention to publicity. This concert was not listed in the Hindu. There was not even any banner or board in the premises and we have to search for the auditorium. A few people who came to the Vivekandanda Museum dropped in and there were totally 25 people in the audience. That is a good number considering the absence of publicity. Even though the venue and acoustics are good, since it is on the main road, there were occasional honking of ambulance and high end bikes which is a disturbance. After the programme, all were served Vegetable pulav in donnai. That was a kind gesture.

An excellent concert for two hours.

[Sivaramakrishnan]

CRama,
Quite admirable that you could discover a new yet haloed venue in the metropolis. It seems Chennaiites have not taken note of the place as a happening place for music due to the 'noise factor'!

The young flute duo as well as the Mridangist are fast establishing their mark in the instrumental music arena. Best wishes.

I remember you telling me that vidwan Sri KS Kalidas- Guru of Akshay- was present at the event. More details, please.

[rajeshnat]

Crama,
So nice to know that vivekananda house is used for the concert. May be mahakavi bharathiyar wrote the verses of chinnanjiru kiliyE right there in the marina beach. Congrats to Akshay Anand . Tx for your review.

[CRama]

Yes. Guru K.S.Kalidas attended the concert. He introduced the artistes in the beginning. The organisers honoured him at the end.