Lalgudi GJR Krishnan and Vijayalakshmi @ RR Sabha

[Sivaramakrishnan]

Rasika Ranjani Sabha, Mylapore, Chennai
04-07-2019
6.30-8.40 pm

Lalgudi GJR Krishnan
& Vijayalakshmi :Violin duet
Sai Giridhar : Mridangam
K V Gopalakrishnan : Kanjira

Raga - Kriti - Tala - Composer
1. Amritavarshini - Varnam-Aadi-Lalgudi Jayaraman
2. Dhanyasi-Balakrishnan paadamalar - Rupakam-Papanasam Sivan
3. Nalinakanti- Manavyala -Aadi-Tyagaraja
4. Amritavahini - Sreerama paadama -Aadi-Tyagaraja
5. Kalyani -Kamalambam Bhajare-Aadi-Dikshitar
6. Kharaharapriya - Srinivasa tava charanam-Rupakam -P Sivan
7. Hamirkalyani - Yaa ramitaa vanamaalina - Ashtapadi -Jayadeva
8. Peelu - Bhajare yadunatham -Aadi -Sadasiva Brahmendra
9. Misra Maund-Tillana-Lalgudi Jayaraman

I was listening to GJR Krishnan & Vijayalakshmi after a gap of about 6 months of the Chennai Isai Vizha 2018. They retain the class and stamp of the haloed school to which they belong. The music is steeped in classicism and replete with sahitya fidelity.

The recital started with Varnam in Amritavarshini (a raga which has received a never - before topical significance in Chennai these days!). A two minute touching sketch of Dhanyasi by Krishnan was the prefix for the popular Balakrishnan padamalar which came in next, Swaraprastara @ Gokulam brindavanam was sober and soothing.

Krishnan rendered a brief delineation of Nalinakanti for the evergreen Manavyala and the kriti was laced with crystal clear sangatis helping one to get the sahitya import even though it is an instrumentalist's number. A few sangatis were new and fresh to me.

A succinct alapana of Amritavahini by Vijayalakshmi (without the slightest diversion to Saramati) followed. Sreerama paadamaa was evocative of the mood of the composition. There was no swaraprastara for this kriti.

Kalyani was the 'sub-main' of the concert. Krishnan announced that it was a request to play Kamalambam bhajare in view of the ongoing Aashaada navaratri. The sahitya passages like Kamalaapurasadanaam kamalavadanaam were soked in the raga-sahitya bhava. Kalpanaswaras in two speeds were rendered @ Nityakalyani with several poruttham links - hallmark of the Lalgudi bani.

Kharaharapriya was the main item of the evening. The alapana was simple yet grand. Srinivasa Tava charanam with exquisite swaraprasatara @ the charana passage -Kamalajamanohara- with an eduppu at 'araiyidam' of Rupaka taalam was rendered with gusto.
'Rendu kalai' Rupaka talam is not very easy for instrumentalists but it was a smooth affair for the duo. The concluding items Yaa ramitaa vanamalinaa sakhi , Bhajare yadunatham and the sprightly Tillana in Mishramaund were good selections.

Sai Giridhar and KV Gopalakrishnan supported on the percussion well. But the Mridangist did not appaear to be in his usual form for a tani in two-kalai rupaka though everything came to a comfortable, smooth finish at the end. The concert was notable for the absolute 'decibel discipline' which made listening a pleasure.

There was a very good turnout of rasikas and the Lalgudi siblings seemed to reaffirm their commitment to the high standards set by their guru and father Lalgudi Jayaraman who had enthralled rasikas at the very same RR sabha many a times in the past.

[rajeshnat]

Kalyani was the 'sub-main' of the concert. Krishnan announced that it was a request to play Kamalambam bhajare in view of the ongoing Aashaada navaratri.

SRK
Lovely review , this was in line with almost the flow of a typical LGJ siblings concert . If you can excuse my laziness to google what is this Aashaada navaratri.?

[Sivaramakrishnan]

rajesh,
Googling at my end yielded the following brief information from one of the links:

"The Vedic month Ashada (mid-Jun to mid-Jul) is dedicated to invoking Varahi, the form of the Goddess who is fierce yet compassionate towards her children. Varahi is the boar-faced archetype who holds the staff of justice and is the commander of Divine Mother Lalita Tripura Sundari’s chariot, which represents the cycles of creation.''

[hnbhagavan]

A brilliant consistent Violin duo very well established for melody in lalgudi style.Thank you for review and list of songs.

[arasi]

Ramakrishnan,
A review to enjoy, as the concert too was for the listeners. Your 'decibel discipline'! Love that expression
All worth listening to in the list. KamalAmbAm bhajarE a great favorite. kamalApura sadanAm mrudu vadanAm,?

They would have brought the sowkhyam of KVN in Balakrishnan pAda malar and of DKP in Sri rAma pAdamA. How well the
siblings played at SRLKM in Bengaluru during the SankarAnti Festival! I am happy, I could be there...

[Sivaramakrishnan]

KamalAmbAm bhajarE a great favorite. kamalApura sadanAm mrudu vadanAm,?

Yes, you are absolutely right.