The re-emergence of Smt. Varalakshmi Anandkumar on the musical circuit is welcome for three reasons: an additional opportunity to listen to the excellent padanthara of the Pattammal school, the infectiously joyful mode of singing of her Guru DKJ , and open throated singing in a voice vigorous yet pliant .
Coming in as an unforeseen replacement, she sang for SAFE at Sastri Hall on Oct. 15. Her rendering of Ananda Natana Prakasam, and an extensive and weighty Karaharapriya still linger in the memory. (One thought she will go on to sing Chakkaniraja Margamu but she chose Senthil Andavan). The excellence of Smt Padma Shankar and the supportive play by Kumbakonam Saravanan added to the enjoyment of the music on that occasion.
Thrimoorthy Sangeetha Sabha, Pozhichalur had arranged her concert on the 25th Oct. The musical events, there, are held under a thatched roof pandal on the balcony of a building which can seat about a hundred people. With most of the members sitting on the floor and with a few chairs at the rear, the atmosphere is more akin to chamber music.. The listening is intense with scarcely a whisper. Despite the arduous journey, two of us made it to the Sabha.
Varalakshmi began with the Begada varnam Dayanidhe, followed by a kriti on Ganesa. The Arabhi Pancharatna Sathinchane was sung in a brisk manner. But rhen,perhaps sensing the intense listening, she next chose to sing Subha Pantuvarali. This is a mood setting raga but being commonly associated with a mournful mood., it is rarely taken up in the early part of a concert fearing that the concert will "sit"