SID SRIRAM IN MUDHRA- 15/12/19

[CRama]

The concert of Sid Sriram in Mudhra on 15/12/19 was an assault on the ears for many because of the high decibel maintained by the entire team. His selections were good, renderings were good, have good voice throw, manodharmam etc. But he should exercise some control on his voice which would enhance the aural effect of his concert. He sang very nice songs like Raghupate Rama in Sahana, Sree Sathyanarayanam, Neeke dayarada in Neelambari and the main song was Sari evaramma. The accompanistS also had to maintain high volume to match the main singer. Violin by H.N.Bhaskar, Mridangam by Patri Satishkumar, Ghatam by Giridhar Udupa, Morsing by Bangalore Rajasekhar all contributed to the loudness. There was very good audience for the concert. But the audience consisting of many youngsters enjoyed the concert and there was thunderous applause for all songs.

[musi]

This is a very rude post . words like ASSAULT etc is completely unwarranted. Singing in a full throated voice may not be appreciated by everyone but it is a stylistic choice.

[SrinathK]

Singing well and open throated lot of singers do, but often their sound system is the culprit that is too loud. There was one concert one where I remember 87 dB in my phone and that was not picking up transient sounds like percussion strokes, which would have been far louder - it was ear bleeding even though the concert was good. Such high noise levels can lead to permanent hearing damage in the long run. So I get where CRama is coming from.

60-75 dB is good enough, beyond that it is too loud for my ears. The Academy goes a little lower than that, which is the sweet spot IMHO, lower than that it might get too quiet to convey subtle tonal modulations. But for that to work the audience also has to be very quiet.

[Sachi_R]

I find no offense in the use of the word assault. Remember in a concert, there is an unwritten contract that the audience is not to be hurt by the musicians either by loud volume or by ugly words or gestures or inappropriate songs. This is as important as audience decorum. The blame in this instance may not lie with the musicians alone. There was a similar issue reported about Abhishek's concert at Mudhra. Something failed


Anyone else who was there should comment

[hnbhagavan]

Sid Sriram seems to be in great hurry and the hype is due to the Rasika community.Such loud singing will mar any melody hidden in the Kritis.
Abhishek Raghuram has a good mix of both aggression and at times soft singing and he has absorbed the music of past masters.Ramakrishnan Murthy has a very balanced approach and is a steady performer.
The percussion masters will take complete control due to loud singing and bang the instruments drowning any melody effect if any.

[ram1999]

Sid Sriram - rose to fame perhaps due to the film music and AR Rahman?
Technically sound and has a beautiful voice with a range!
As far as classical music of his is concerned, the music has aggression, speed and endless journey of going up and down the raga scales. it lacks melody and classism, which is the hall mark of chaste classical music. As @hnbhagavan rightly said it gives ample opportunity for the percussionist to add their bit to the cacophony. It then becomes more a musical circus than a music concert.
But many go gaga over his music and youngsters surround him in the dias and outside, similar to Aruna Sairam

[CRama]

The blame in this instance may not lie with the musicians alone. There was a similar issue reported about Abhishek's concert at Mudhra. Something failed


Anyone else who was there should comment

Generally the acccoustics in the INfosys Hall where Mudhra concerts are held are good. In the case of Abhishek Raghuram, he brought his own speakers and a man to handle the equipments. IN spite of repeated telling the man by the Mudhra team s well as many rasikas, it remained high till the half of the cocnert. After wards it was stabilised.

In the case of Sid Sriram concert, Mudhra people were operating. We all told them , but they said they cannot reduce below this level. What ram 1999 has posted is the fact. I was standing outside for half of the concert. But after the concert, 100s of young people rushed to him to take photo, get autograph etc. They liked the concert so much. So the concert can be enjoyed only by such people, and not by seasoned rasikas.

[HarishankarK]

Aruna Sairam is way better than Sid Sriram.
Her music has bhakthi bhavam

[rajeshnat]

Sid sriram of 2019 is equivalent to Unnikrishnan of mid 1990's .
Unnikrishnan had his "ennavalE ennavalE" and bit later "poovukul olinthirukkum" , Songs like that gives 100X multiplier effect of rasikas count . I recollect in 1998 or so even bombay jayashree and Unni were drawing so much crowds when they both sang that song "narumugaiyE narumagaiyE," that AR Rehman number. Jayashree went to 1000x rasikas with her "vaseegara" and the hindi remake "zara zara"

Sid Sriam after "adiYe" song debut few years back , this year he had this illayaraja hit "unnai nenachu" which again has brought him possibly his 100X rasikas.

Sid Sriram is the next generation vaarisu of Unnikrishnan.

- Rajesh (I still dont know how sid sriram sings )

[sankark]

- Rajesh (I still dont know how sid sriram sings )

Pretty well. People just have to have an open mind. His KHP and Kambhoji in NGS for KFA were grand. And it was just 50%-60% full hall.

[sureshvv]

Have to give him credit for his energy and enthusiasm to please the audience. Sang for nearly 3 hours at BVB earlier in the season. And included several non-best of kritis.