Malladi Brothers-Nadatarangam-Hyderabad, 18-09-09

revanthv552 · Post by **revanthv552** » 19 Sep 2009, 00:36

Vocal duet-Malladi brothers
Violin-Sri Dwaram Satyanarayana Rao
Mridangam-Sri MLN Raju

1.Varnam-Kaanada-Ramanathapuram Srinivasa Iyengar
2.Panchamathanga-Malahari-Dikshitar[S]
3.Dinamanivamsa-Harikhamboji-Thyagaraja[R,S]
4.Mamava Meenakshi-Varali-Dikshitar[R,N,S]
5.Orajupu-Kannadagowla-Thyagaraja
6.Smarajanaka-Behag-Swathi Tirunal
7.Nadachi Nadachi-Kharaharapriya-Thyagaraja[R,N,S,T]
8.Jaya Jaya Durge-Durga-Narayana Theerthar
9.Slokam
Kamala nayana jagadeeswara-Vagadeeswari-swathi tirunal
10.Ennaga manasu-Neelambari-Thyagaraja
11.Avadharu Raghupathi-Khamas-Annamacharya
12.Charanamule-Kaapi-Bhadrachalam Ramadas
13.Khelathi Pindande-Sindubhairavi-Sadasiva Brahmendra
14.Pathiki Harathi-Surati-Thyagaraja
15.Sriyah kanthaya-Madhyamavathi

The swarakalpana in Malahari was scholarly, Harikhambhoji and Varali were the best part of the concerts. The swarakalpana for Dinamanivamsa was splendid. Harikhamboji alapana was by Sri Ravikumar. The Varali was by Sri Sriramprasad. The neraval was for the lines "shyame shankari".The main piece was a repetition again! Last time they sang Kharaharapriya at the same venue, a few months ago. I was disappointed when they began Kharaharapriya but I was atleast hoping for a different composition. [They sang "Nadachi Nadachi" last time too] I was hoping for Rama nee Samana mevaru or Chakkani Raja margamu. But I was a little disappointed when they started "Nadachi Nadachi" Kharaharapriya is most commonly heard ragam in hyderabad according to my observation. I mean every alternate concert of a famous artiste features Kharaharapriya.The neraval and swarakalpana were done for the lines "Pudami sutha". The post main items where interesting. I really loved the Vagadeeswari piece. It was amazing! Everyone in the concert enjoyed the composition. Sri Ravikumar gave an outline of the raga Sindhubhairavi which was amazing too! Over all I enjoyed every part of the concert except the main piece, not that they didnt sing that well, but the repetition was a little less enjoyable to me.

johnlovescm · Post by **johnlovescm** » 19 Sep 2009, 08:06

revanthv552 wrote:Vocal duet-Malladi brothers
Violin-Sri Dwaram Satyanarayana Rao
Mridangam-Sri MLN Raju

1.Varnam-Kaanada-Ramanathapuram Srinivasa Iyengar
2.Panchamathanga-Malahari-Dikshitar[S]
3.Dinamanivamsa-Harikhamboji-Thyagaraja[R,S]
4.Mamava Meenakshi-Varali-Dikshitar[R,N,S]
5.Orajupu-Kannadagowla-Thyagaraja
6.Smarajanaka-Behag-Swathi Tirunal
7.Nadachi Nadachi-Kharaharapriya-Thyagaraja[R,N,S,T]
8.Jaya Jaya Durge-Durga-Narayana Theerthar
9.Slokam
Kamala nayana jagadeeswara-Vagadeeswari-swathi tirunal
10.Ennaga manasu-Neelambari-Thyagaraja
11.Avadharu Raghupathi-Khamas-Annamacharya
12.Charanamule-Kaapi-Bhadrachalam Ramadas
13.Khelathi Pindande-Sindubhairavi-Sadasiva Brahmendra
14.Pathiki Harathi-Surati-Thyagaraja
15.Sriyah kanthaya-Madhyamavathi

The swarakalpana in Malahari was scholarly, Harikhambhoji and Varali were the best part of the concerts. The swarakalpana for Dinamanivamsa was splendid. Harikhamboji alapana was by Sri Ravikumar. The Varali was by Sri Sriramprasad. The neraval was for the lines "shyame shankari".The main piece was a repetition again! Last time they sang Kharaharapriya at the same venue, a few months ago. I was disappointed when they began Kharaharapriya but I was atleast hoping for a different composition. [They sang "Nadachi Nadachi" last time too] I was hoping for Rama nee Samana mevaru or Chakkani Raja margamu. But I was not really happy when they started "Nadachi Nadachi" Kharaharapriya is most commonly heard ragam in hyderabad according to my observation. I mean every alternate concert of a famous artiste features Kharaharapriya. The alapana was decent, but the one they sang few months earlier was extremely wonderful. That time I remember just the main piece and thaniavarthanam going for 70 mins. I guess the alapana was elaborate last time and now this time it was just okay. The neraval and swarakalpana were done for the lines "Pudami sutha". The post main items where interesting. I really loved the Vagadeeswari piece. It was amazing! Everyone in the concert enjoyed the composition. Sri Ravikumar gave an outline of the raga Sindhubhairavi which was amazing too! Over all I enjoyed every part of the concert except the main piece, not that they didnt sing that well, but the repetition was a little less enjoyable to me.

Whats the big deal if it a kriti is repeated.
If an artist keeps singing the same way, he / she will be a machine / robot. And you need not attend a live concert. All that you require is a set of tapes and listen at home.
All artists will have their good day and a bad day !
Comparing like this is of no use.

bala747 · Post by **bala747** » 19 Sep 2009, 08:30

Hi john,

It's like going to 10 different restaurants and finding out they all serve only masala dosa. This 'repeat' issue may not be a big thing in a city like Hyderabad (so I don't know if revanth was just unlucky that every other concert he went to had Kharaharapriya as the main item) but here in Singapore we barely get 10 concerts a year as it is. It gets really irritating if every one of them comes here and sings Kharaharapriya followed by Chakkani Raja so I can understand how revanth feels. By the third or fourth concert you would have lost the appetite for that particular song or at least wanted to listen to something else. If the artiste had sung the exact piece a year ago, it is normal to expect them to sing something different this time.

Wow, my 250th post (251st if you count the one that went missing)

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 19 Sep 2009, 09:23

Revanth is a young lady who loves going to concerts--even if it means she has to take an exam within a few days. She is an example of those who will help CM grow in the coming years (the youth brigade of rasikAs). Bala, Hyderabad seems to be lagging behind most other cities in holding CM concerts. Just a little ahead of Singapore, I think.
When there are so many songs in kharaharapriya, even if the rAgam is popular in Andhra, since T has composed many songs, why sing the same main in the same venue within months? It's not that the duo does not know enough krutis in the rAgam. It is possible that they are among those who do not keep a journal to note down song lists.
Among repeaters, there are those who feel safe singing the same old songs. I feel a bit deflated if this happens, and after a while, however good the musicians are, I limit my hearing of their music to recordings. I have to save my poor knees for other concerts!

revanthv552 · Post by **revanthv552** » 19 Sep 2009, 09:46

Dear arasi! Thanks for the words!
You get my point in the right manner

I am boy actually

revanthv552 · Post by **revanthv552** » 19 Sep 2009, 10:02

@ johnlovescm

Dear john. I didnt mention at any point that the musicians gave a bad performance or they had a bad day or anything like that. All I meant was repetition of the same numbers at the same venue is a bit boring and bothersome. Malladi brothers are fantastic and every concert of theirs is a wonderful experience to a music lover.
As arasi mentioned, the scenerio of Carnatic music in Hyderabad is not very bright. Normally in a year, we get to listen to 12 concerts from the leading artistes. When each of the artiste has a wonderful mark for themselves and a vast repertoire, why should they sing the same songs again and again? Lets say Kharaharapriya is perfectly alright when different musicians sing it on different occasions. But the same musician singing the same raga and same song for the same sabha is boring. I mean, every rasika who attended the concert of Malladi brothers on January 30th,2009 would definitely remember that wonderful Kharaharapriya they sang that day. The alapana alone went for some 15 mins that day. Repeating that again? Not a fact I cherish. Why not a Thodi? or a Khamboji instead of Kharaharapriya! Or lets say Kharaharapriya. Why not Chakkani Raja[I know people must have got bored but I've never heard this song in Live] or Rama Neeyeda? That was all I meant.

I dont say that the artistes did not justify the rendition, but the repetition was disappointment. Malladis were good with the ragam and the krithi. I did mention that their alapana was decent.

Well, you tell me that all I need is a set of tapes so that I can sit at home and listen!

Well, Tapes and cds are nothing like a live concert. I would never stop going to the concerts even if the repeat the same numbers too. But I just expressed by views. Live concerts happen once in a while here and believe me I cant afford to miss them just for the fact that the artiste repeat the numbers.Once again I tell you, At no point did I write that Malladi Brothers did not sing well.

Hope I make my point here

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 19 Sep 2009, 10:11

In all these occasions it makes sense for artists to atleast jot the numbers that they sang. Also even if they did not do that, before the beginning of the concert they talk to sabha organizer and ask him/her what they sang as main or submain in the last concert. With that answer they can plan. However if the sabha secy says, that kharaharapriyA that you sang that day is what I want you to repeat now, then they are in a trap.

Lalgudi sir as per coolkarni has been maintaining the list of songs of artists for atleast few decades, even when he was accompanist. I am assuming he must have did the same even when he was a solo performer. That is something extraordinary, just perhaps it means musicians can take a leaf out of LGJ, so "no time I was very busy just is only an excusitis".

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 19 Sep 2009, 10:35

Revanth,
Sorry, I was mistaken

Anyway, a rasikA is a rasikA, though I would have liked another female on the forum!

Rajesh,
In case they misplace their journals, they can look up the Reviews Section at RasikAs. If it happens to be one of your reviews, they may even find the number of minutes they took to sing the piece! Had they seen the Hyderabad review (Revanth's?), the bros would have sung another kruti perhaps.

s_hari · Post by **s_hari** » 19 Sep 2009, 10:40

rajesh - artists need not even jot down, just visit rasikas.org and look for their past concerts!! All information on the concert is here, noted down in detail!!!

-hari

rajaglan · Post by **rajaglan** » 19 Sep 2009, 10:48

I agree with Revanthv. Same song repeated in the same venue is the least expected from an audience
point of view. Artist should keep a list of songs. Listening to tape , not a substitute for repetition in Live
concerts. It is only a substitute for lack of concerts. Especially Malladi brothes donot have many albums.

Ahiri · Post by **Ahiri** » 19 Sep 2009, 16:45

One very beautiful thing about repetition
is that,
you are also growing as a
rasika/student/performer and
the same Karaharapriya looks
different to you than it did a
few years ago.
You take back something new each time ,
a different phrase might hit you this time.

like a kaleidoscope ....

@ Revanth - did not newer sides of
Abogi varnam come out when you heard it this time.
(:))

all this IMHlestO

grsastrigal · Post by **grsastrigal** » 19 Sep 2009, 18:14

Thank you revanth for your review. I have not heard any concert of MB in Chennai or review recently.

Here, there is Charukesi RTP of MB held at Petachi Auditorium last year. Very nice one.

Ragam

http://www.sendspace.com/file/muydfd

Pallavi (in line with Navarathri festival- Raje, Rajayoge, Rajeshwari, Rajita Charukesi...)

http://www.sendspace.com/file/vej1g6

This will heal your KK priya "wounds"

johnlovescm · Post by **johnlovescm** » 19 Sep 2009, 18:51

In the 80s I have heard a number of Pandit Jasraj concerts and in almost all concerts Darbari used to be one of the items. But every rendition has been different and you can hear new shades of the raga. In fact sometime in the 90s in one the interviews he had mentioned he sings the same raga for over 6-7 months to attain perfection

If the artist has good manodharmam you can expect something new each time. Otherwise it is a stereotype music. Perhaps Bala747 has experienced that as I understand from his musings and his favourite musicians, his expectations would be very very high

Malladis belong to that league due to their lineage.
Also artists select songs depending on their mood that day, based on request made by the concert organisers, rasikas/friends etc.
So long as the music is good, enjoy it that having any reservations. That is my take on it!

revanthv552 · Post by **revanthv552** » 19 Sep 2009, 19:08

Ahiri wrote:
@ Revanth - did not newer sides of
Abogi varnam come out when you heard it this time.
(:))

thats true though

grsastrigal · Post by **grsastrigal** » 21 Sep 2009, 10:35

Here, in Chennai, too, we have to face the "repeat" or "as usual" kritis. To give an example - Yesterday, in BVB, Mylapore, Sowmya was giving Main-full flow- Bahudari and that to "Brova barama". I could understand why the hall was half-full despite. being a holiday and Mylapore buzzing with crowd for Navrathri.

raj5336 · Post by **raj5336** » 07 Dec 2009, 07:38

Nice reviews.