Sudha Ragunathan at Sivan Temple, Singapore on 09.02.08

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 09 Feb 2008, 21:44

Vocal: Sudha Ragunathan
Violin: K Sivaraman
Mrudangam: T R Sundaresan

Approximate Songlist:

01a. GajAnanam (Slokam) - NAttai
01b. MahA GaNapathim - NAttai (S)
02. EndarO MahAnabhAvulu - SrI
03. Kaa Vaa Vaa - VarALi (S)
(Preceded by a short viruttam ending with "Pazhani Malai," leading into the song).
04. Nannu BrOvu LalithA - LalithA
05. AlaipAyuthE - KAnadA
06. Swara RAga SudhA - ShankarAbharanam (R,N,S,T)
Neraval: "MUlAdhAra..."
(Left after the thani).
...

The slokam in NAttai had the same tune, more or less, for each of the lines, and was rather boring. The swaras in MahA GaNapathim were emotive, with excellent lingering in the mandra sthayi. Sudha's imaginative final flourish in EndarO was very nice and well-received. Sudha's voice finally settled down in VarAli, and the entire presentation of this common krithi was filled with lovely flourishes bringing out the full flavour of the raga (Reminds you of a certain Hindu reviewer?) and the pacing of the krithi was excellent. The LalithA krithi was rendered with plenty of bhavam, but AlaipAyuthE sounded very light and should definitely have been postponed until after the thani. Sudha's Shankarabharanam was the complete package (although I have hardly heard major artistes mess up on major ragas), with a thorough, beautiful alapanai spanning the three octaves. Her higher octave phrases were especially noteworthy, and her shruti alignment was really quite good at this stage. She rendered my favourite krithi in this raga quite well, and completed it with a really crisp neraval (in slow-medium tempo only). Swaras were nice but run-of-the-mill, culminating expectedly in GMPMG, RGSRG...

Violinist K Sivaraman (sishya of TNK) played exceedingly well, and as a regular accompanying artiste for Sudha, anticipated her moves with nearly eerie precision. His mandra sthayi accompaniment during the LalithA krithi was superb. His Shankarabharanam had several folkish phrases and was very pleasing.

Mrudangam artiste TR Sundaresan played with good clarity and anticipation and his thani was short, lively, and engaging. His accompaniment has the same sparseness I found in Arun Prakash's playing.

I really wish Sudha had taken up at least one more raga for elaboration, but I don't know if it was even up to her discretion. But still, an evening well spent and I enjoyed Sudha's creative renditions of even common songs. Her Varali and Shankarabharanam were really top-notch.

Those of you who attended the whole program, please complete the songlist (Kurai Ondrum Illai and then Chinanchiru Killiye?). Thanks.

jananee · Post by **jananee** » 09 Feb 2008, 22:26

I was there too Bilahari..wish we had met! Your guess is partially right She ended wth Eppadipadinaro, Brahmamokkate, a versse oon Sngapore..Sivan followed bya song Aadum...Saranam ( forgot the exxact lyrics), Kurai Onrum Illai of course, Padame gati guru ramana, Katrinilie varum gitam and one last item.....

Even i was disappointed at Sudha taking up just one rgam in teh whole concert but maybe that was what she was asked to do. I liked her varali. It was an ok concert as compared to usual Sudha kutchheris esp last December.

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 10 Feb 2008, 08:32

Jananee, it would've been a miracle for any two people to meet in that crowd! But the crowd was so attentive even during the thani, it was wonderful. I know that several artistes are asked by local temple authorities to cut down the manodharma and increase the number of krithis for concerts, so you're probably right that she was just honouring their request. I didn't know Sudha performed here last December. Around beginning of last year, she sang a wonderful Chesinella at the Indian school. I do remember that concert.

And Katrinile varum githam was on my mind along with the two I mentioned!

revanthv552 · Post by **revanthv552** » 10 Feb 2008, 10:15

i wish i was there...............i would love to listen sudha amma singing 'endaro mahanubhavulu....'

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 10 Feb 2008, 13:29

was bala747 in the concert? I miss his singapore reviews.

jananee · Post by **jananee** » 10 Feb 2008, 18:11

bilahari..i meant sudha in chennai in dec 2007...and i do agree with the audience being very attentive other than for some parents in the back totally oblivious to their children making a racket ..playing video games..screaming..pulling chairs...mobiles ringing..till somepeople had to ask them to stay quiet!:):

Vocalist · Post by **Vocalist** » 10 Feb 2008, 21:06

I'm glad this review didn't go borderline ridiculous with scores for the ragas and songs chosen based on how 'predictable' they were. Anyway, wish I could have heard this concert myself.

revanthv552 wrote:i wish i was there...............i would love to listen sudha amma singing 'endaro mahanubhavulu....'

Indeed. I imagine it would sound very similar to MLV.

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 11 Feb 2008, 09:47

I too miss Bala747's entertaining reviews. I have no idea if he attended the concert. Jananee, by any chance did you attend Sudha's concert on Thursday? I heard it was good. As for the spoilt children, that's Singapore!

gobilalitha · Post by **gobilalitha** » 11 Feb 2008, 14:22

revantv552, are you from singapore? pl contac t me thro e mail, in connection with gettogether of forumites at singapore. [email protected],,best wsishes ( balasubramanian) gobilalitha

jananee · Post by **jananee** » 24 Feb 2008, 21:47

bilahari..i had overlooked ur last post.No i did not attend sudha's first concceert. Any idea abt the items?

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 25 Feb 2008, 15:59

Jananee, I heard it was an exceptional and weighty concert including an elaborate Vathapi, Karpaga Manohara (Malaymarutham), and main in Shanmugapriya (don't know the song).