Madurai Sri. T.N. Seshagopalan
T.N.S. Krishna - Vocal Support
Sri. M. Chandrasekharan - Violin
Sri. T.K. Murthy - Mridangam
Sri. B.S. Purushottaman - Kanjeera
The 3 hr 20 mins consisted of the following pieces
1. valachi - navarAgamAlikA varnam - Adi - paTnam subrahmaNya iyer
2. muddumOmu - sUryakAntam - Adi(2 kaLai) - thyAgarAja (R, S)
3. sAmajavara - hindOLam - Adi - thyAgarAja (R, N, S at vEdashirO)
4. kalyANarAmA - hamsanAdam - Adi - UthukkADu vEnkaTasubbaiyer
5. RTP in tODi - 'gAnalOla karuNAlavAla' - Adi (2 kaLai) - swaras in valaji, rEvati, nIlAmbari and kApi followed by tani Avartanam
6. tU dayALu mA - bhajan
7. viruttam in shaNmukhapriya, subhapantuvarALi, hamsAnandi and kAnaDa
8. enna solli azhaittAl - kAnaDa - Adi - ambujam krishnA
9. tum bin mOrE - suddha hindOLam (?) - mIra bhajan
10. thillAna - sindhubhairavi - Adi - self (?)
11. mangalam
The concert started with a sedate and soulful rendition of the popular varnam, with each line being sung twice and in two speeds. The varnam exercise itself lasted 12-14 mins. This was followed by a nice alapana of sUryakAntam. Incidentally while at the harikatha last month, sri TNS had mentioned that muddumOmu was sung originally in 2 kaLai adi, so I was hoping (before the concert) if he could reveal this version. The raga, kriti rendition and swaras (shared with his son) were soulful. Very well done. The first two songs created a contemplative atmosphere. Evidently, TNS was in fine form and with superlative accompanists, he was giving his best.
Then came a good alapana of hindOLam by his son. Needless to say, it was modelled after his father. TNS Krishna showed his creative ability all along. I was hoping for a different kriti, but well, it was sAmajavaragamanA, but at a nice kAlapramANam. The brisk neraval at vEdashirO was nice, It was the swaras in which he went overboard, and that robbed the beauty of the rendition. Next was a lacklustre kalyANarAma. The song was rendered at the harikatha fest last month and that rendition was more bhava laden. This one more like a filler.
Todi was elaborated in all its glory. TNS revealed all facets of this majestic raga for about 20-25 mins. The abundance of nAdaswara prayOgas, effortless srutibEdham evoked awe. The prayogas in the mandhra sthAyi showed his versatality in all octaves. That TNS was enjoying himself along was evident in the smiles on his face and those on MC and TKM. After the rAga, a powerful tAnam followed with a text book pallavi - 'gAnalOla karuNalavAla' - it was in Adi (2 kaLai) - but TNS and his son, engaged in subtle laya variations during the neraval.
rAgamAlika swaras in valaji and the other ragas followed. Valaji handled by his son was a class. It was sung in a very classical mode, an eye opener for many of us. TNS' trademark nIlAmbari and kApi swaras - then back to tODi, followed by alternate swaras in these ragas culminated the grand RTP. The Tani that followed was true TKM stuff. Each sollu was crisp and in its place. At the age of 80+, it was amazing to see him thoroughly enjoy himself and give more than 100% for the concert. Purushottaman rose up to the challenge presented by Sri TKM very well. The entire RTP and Tani occupied the pride of place in the concert lasting for 1 hr and 40 mins. It is heartening to see such an elaborate treatment for the RTP, especially in days of junk meaningless pallavis with 5 mins raga alapana and the entire exercise over before you realise it.
Personally, I did not enjoy the tukkadas very much. TNS's voice which was in fine form started showing strain (after 3 hrs) into the tukkada section). The song 'tu dayAlu mA' was a bit chaotic in my opinion.
The support of the accompanists was great. MC true to what is known already is amazing - enjoys himself to the fullest, appreciates the others on stage and presents a picture of a contented musician - with music for the sake of music as his motto. I am not competent enough to write about the great Murthy Sir. The entire team was great. This was a concert where the selection left a LOT to be desired, but it was offset by great rendition. Choice of hindOlam, tODi, suddha hindOlam, sindhubhairavi was a bit of a let down. Another thing to note was the lack of any rakti raga through the concert. Either they were mElakarthas/scalar ones. But TNS is one vidwan, who, I feel is beyond all this.
All in all a great evening of vintage music with a grand pallavi