The concert of Neyveli SanthAnagopalan for R.R.SabhA with V.V.Ravi, Umayalpuram K.SivarAman and Shree Sundharakumar really served as a classique treat.
After my concert for bhairavi-mAlavi, I been in the green room, eagerly awaiting 7pm. As a rasika of Neyveli annA, I asked him to include “O Jagadamba or Mundhu venuka”.
Starting with chalamela mEla varnam in nAttakurinji, the concert moved to a place of tranquility….
The charanam “Nannu brovu nIku bhAramA” was rendered with bhAvam…
The bhAva that prevails in the lyric is not only in rendering the words in the appropriate swaras that has been composed already, but mainly in the sanchAra which is done in the endings. That is how the artiste should facilitate the rasika to feel the impact of the composers manObhAva along with perfect harmonization to sruthi, the definition and justification that he produces, not only from his gjnaana but also from his ability of performing it on stage.
Thus, a mood matching to the bhAva of sAhithya is maintained in the ending.
Neyveli annA established it.
This is where a mrudangam artiste should be aware of and play endings as an extension.
Umayalpuram sir, who has coined and established lot of philosophies in his bhAni, used to say “thani Avarthanam is an extension of the song”. Maestros are one who make you think and not one who act for you.
Every ending in between pallavi-anupallavi, anupallavi-caharanam, charanam-to end of song should also be like that and he demonstrated in his performance.
ManasA etulo came next with niraval and swara with interesting exchange with Ravi.
A brief alapana of Anandha bhairavi delighted me and I was looking very keen at annA’s face and he sang “O… Jagadhambha…” the eternal peace of shyama saasthri touched the soul. One was able to feel all the trendy pieces like marivere, kamalAmba, kshIra sAgara vihaarA… that was a pleasing rendition of anandhabhairavi….
(By ravi too!)
A brisk manavinAlakim in nalinakaAmthi with a surprise niraval and swara emerged then. The diction in swara with floating raga bhAva was amazing and duly complimented by sivaraman sir and sundhar.
May be because the violinist being VVR, anna took bhairavi as main and he sang Balagopaala of dhikshithar. The beauty of viLamba kAla was explicit throughout in the niraval and swaras handled in nIla nIradha sharIra dhIratara. The words in that sentence for an Avartha of Adhi tALa 2kalai is comparatively less, resulting in vishrAnthi added sweetness. nI being in nishAdha as swarakshara and the swarakshara in sarIra’s sa and ri were awesome. A little madhyama kAla niraval with interesting prayogas of dha- ni- sa- ri- ga- ma followed by swaram soaked everybody in kIzhkAla.
Sivaraman sir’s dialogues with sundharakumAr had no fireworks, but the thambura embedded chapu and the bass that he provided with his spongy strokes on the left with comforting gumkis took the audience to a world of bliss. He featured the kIlkAla and madhyama kAla, reflecting the pace of the main piece with ornamental works of temple jewelry with antique value.
Saravana bhAva guhanE in the raga kannada, virutham in bAgeshri and Erumayil Eri viLayAdu mukam ondru….
I think this particular thiruppugahz not only speaks about the faces of lord muruga but also speaks about yoga.
Eru, mayilEru, viLayAdu….. but, mukham ondru (concentration with dedication in whatever you do)
GjnAna mozhi pEsu….. mukham ondru
adiyArgal vinai thIr….. mukham ondru
sUrarai vadhai…… mukham ondru
valliyai maNam puNar….. mukham ondru
GjnAna mozhi is the conversation about praNava with shiva or any thathva
adiyArgal vinai thIr is to solve all the problems or karma of people
sUrarai vadhai is destroying sUrapadhman & co….!
(also evil elements..)
valliyai maNam puNar is marriage in ordinary contest and kriya sakthi(dheivAnai may be ichA shakthi)…..
So, dearest members, the concert was memorable with a bhajan and one more thirupugazh 'thuLLumadha vEtkai'.
I feel I am writing too much. Do send your kind feed back and corrections…..
Erode Nagaraj
Neyveli - Umayalpuram at BVB Hall - 30.1.07
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MaheshS
- Posts: 1186
- Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 22:36
UKS has accompanied Neyveli plenty of times. I fist listened to them when I was in Madras circa 1997. That concert is what made me go to Neyveli and hang around with him till I shifted to the UK. He sang for Mudra [One raga - One krithi festival], Music Academy mini hall.vijay wrote:Thanks Nagaraj Sir - first time I am noticing Neyvelee being accompanied by UKS
BTW, why would he sing Bhairavi as main since VVR was accompanying? Because of the violinist's liking for the raga?
The raga was Shankarabaranam. A grand and majestic Akshyalingavibho with neraval at badari vana mula and a brilliant chapu thani by UKS.
Incidentally, when I met him for the first time, I remarked about the Akshayalingavibho and he was suprised and he said "What a coincidence, I just finished teaching one of my students the same krithi this morning and I can still feel the vibrations of the ragam". And ofcourse it followed an impromptu rendetion, which was a treat to hear.
Another incident I remember between the two which made the audience just sit back, close their eyes and loose themselves. IIRC it was concert in Mylapore[?], people in Madras would know the temple near by Karunanidhi's [Tamil Nadu CM] house. He sang for a festival there and I as usual was one of the "kujas"
Think it was Balagopala again as the main piece. But the one that still stands in my mind is the Krishna Nee Begane Baro. He sang it in vilamba kala, the violinist was doing Sa-Pa-Sa in madyama sruthi. But UKS became the violin for about 6 or seven minutes. Neyveli's voice was on form and he was singing upper sthayi for ages. After the song, Neyveli bent and touched UKS' feet and said "Idhu mari periyava vasicha padinde irukalam" [Rouchly translates to - If big artists like this play I can keep on singing].-
erode14
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- Joined: 21 Jan 2007, 21:43
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MaheshS
- Posts: 1186
- Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 22:36
Oops forgot, yes, for the one raga festival it was VVS on the violin. I personally think with VVS on one side and UKS on the other you *can't* sing baderode14 wrote:thats true mahesh.... vvs sir played like second voice in that mini hall-one rag one krithi concert....
even before that sir played for neyveli anna in krishna gana sabha.... meenakshi memudham was main.... he aslo sang manavinaala....
the evening sun used to enter the stage those days!
They wont let ya!!!-
MANNARGUDIYAAN
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