Visakha Hari, 11 Dec 2009, Kartik Fine Arts, NGS auditorium

Lalitha Ramachandran · Post by **Lalitha Ramachandran** » 22 Dec 2009, 14:35

Being an ardent Rasika of carnatic music, inspite of my busy scehdule, I try to see to it that I squeeze in as much time as possible to be at the various sabhas to witness the on-going Kutcheris during the Margazhi season every year.

I had been to the concert of Visakha Hari on 11 Dec at the NGS auditorium under the auspices of Kartik Fine Arts. The Hall was jam-packed with Rasikas, with not an inch of space to be seen anywhere! Much to the disappointment of the Rasikas gathered that day to have a glimpse of her and her much-relished Harikatha, I must say that this concert fell short of expectations in many ways. Firstly, just when the concert was to begin , there was an announcement by the concerned Sabha Authorities, that her concert that day would be a vocal concert, instead of the much-awaited "Harikatha" for which we had all come from far and near!

Secondly, her vocal concert on that particular evening was rather a dismal failure. It more or less looked like a thematic concert, giving short introduction at the beginning of each compostion. Her choice of topic pertaining to "Divya Desams" [Vishnu Sthalams] was nodoubt interesting and her selection of songs on 'Perumal' as the deity dominated the concert with appropriate numbers such as 'Sarasuda' varnam in Saveri, Ambujam Krishna's 'Guruvayoorappan' in Reethigowla and Thyagaraja's 'Rajuvedale' in Thodi. next on Bhadrachala Rama, and finally the famous song venkaTaacala nilayam[Purandara Daasar] in Sindu Bhairavi; But it was the accompanists who let her down. Her voice was literally drowned by the violinist and the mirdangist, instead of keeping in tune with the main artist. During the initial varnam, for example, the vocalist appeared to accompany the violinist and not the other way! Later, during the 'Thanam' in RTP, it was not clear whether the violinist was playing 'Thanam' or 'Swaram''. The music, on the whole, was too loud for the ears! It was surprising to note that Visakha Hari continued to sing inspite of all this.

On the whole, this concert was a disappointing one for all us Rasikas. I suppose henceforth, she should stick to her excellent Harikatha rendering, instead of venturing into vocal concerts! She is nonoubt a crowd-puller on that score!

Lalitha Ramachandran.

squims · Post by **squims** » 22 Dec 2009, 20:57

That is very very surprising to hear.
Who were the accompanying artists?

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 22 Dec 2009, 21:48

Lalitha, Since Smt. Visakha Hari does both ( harikatha and regular vocal concert ), usually they identify which one it is. Was that not made clear in the information you looked at before going there?

Secondly, since your main problem was the accompanying artists, it makes sense to conclude that her accompaniments should be better (or the mking for the accompanists should be better ). But the conclusion that she should stick to only harikatha does not follow from your comments.

rajaglan · Post by **rajaglan** » 22 Dec 2009, 23:53

The review about this concert in vikatan (Veeyesvi) is very critical on Visaka hari and giving some advise on singing
and ended saying similar conclusion "fortunately the rest of the many dates for
Vhari are only harikatha".

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 23 Dec 2009, 00:34

Why would some one suggest an artist what he/she should pursue? Unsolicited advice IMHO, which we are famous for!

semmu86 · Post by **semmu86** » 23 Dec 2009, 05:23

Most of the reviews ( about malladi bros , unnikrishnan etc .. ) in vikatan and kumudham are way too critical ..

rajaglan · Post by **rajaglan** » 23 Dec 2009, 08:45

semmu86 wrote:Most of the reviews ( about malladi bros , unnikrishnan etc .. ) in vikatan and kumudham are way too critical ..

They talked very well about unni.

perarulalan · Post by **perarulalan** » 23 Dec 2009, 10:03

VK RAMAN wrote:Why would some one suggest an artist what he/she should pursue? Unsolicited advice IMHO, which we are famous for!

Exactly! I second your statements, VKR. In our forum too, we have been doing this..

Lalitha Ramachandran · Post by **Lalitha Ramachandran** » 23 Dec 2009, 10:12

Dear Squims,

Her accompanists [ if I am right] were Charulatha Ramanujam on the Violin and H.S. Sudheendra on the Mridangam. I could get to know their names from the Booklet of Music Academy since they were Visakha Hari's accompanists onceagain in her "Harikatha" rendering on "Vibishana Saranagathi" in Music Academy last weekend. I had been for this one too and her rendering was superb!

Lalitha Ramachandran

Lalitha Ramachandran · Post by **Lalitha Ramachandran** » 23 Dec 2009, 10:28

To Madam VasanthaKokilam's comment to my review, I should mention here that there was no mention of what the concert was going to be on [whether Vocal/Harikatha] till that moment. It was not mentioned in the KFA Booklet too. - our[Rasikas] expectations were running high, hence the disappointment for all of us.

I must tell you that I am an ardent fan of Visakha Hari and her enchanting way of presenting the Harikathas. I try to cover almost all of her rederings during the Margazhi season. Maybe, venturing into a vocal concert on that particulat day was not her "Cup of Tea"!

Lalitha Ramachandran

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 23 Dec 2009, 11:25

vasanthakokilam is not a madam

Lalitha Ramachandran · Post by **Lalitha Ramachandran** » 23 Dec 2009, 13:07

Noted the point Shri Raman. Tks for pointing it out.

Lalitha Ramachandran

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 23 Dec 2009, 13:12

Smt. Lalitha: Understood what you are saying about Smt. Visaka Hari.

squims · Post by **squims** » 23 Dec 2009, 19:19

Oh, I have heard Smt.Charulatha Ramanujam accompany various artists at various kutcheris, including one of Vishaka Hari's harikathas. I'm put up in Bangalore and Smt.Charulatha is put up here too, so I've heard her quite a bit. I've even spoken to her personally. In all my experience so far, she is a very accomplished artiste and her support in a kutcheri has been more than satisfactory in all cases.
I've heard H S Sudheendra once, accompanying Vishaka as well. While I don't remember any extraordinary performance, he definitely was not sub-par.
Guess it was just a 'bad day' for all the artists on that particular day.

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 23 Dec 2009, 21:44

Yeah, I am surprised too that Smt Charulatha Ramanujam would be drowning anybody! I have listened to her several times and she has always been an extraordinarily sensitive accompanist - who plays excellent thanam! But an accompanist's responses are circumscribed by what the main artiste sings, so...

srinivasrgvn · Post by **srinivasrgvn** » 23 Dec 2009, 22:10

rajaglan · Post by **rajaglan** » 23 Dec 2009, 22:30

As per vikatan review, there was no mention of accompanying artist letting the concert down.
I havenot read positive comments of Visaka Hari's vocal CM concert so far though the world knows she is
a great harigatha artist.

squims · Post by **squims** » 23 Dec 2009, 23:32

It's interesting, I attended a symposium about the 'role of accompanying artists in a kutcheri' conducted by the Music Academy in Bangalore recently. Smt.Charulatha was one of the panelists there. And she gave very apt examples of how a kutcheri can be ruined by an accompanying artist, and what one must do to avoid such an occurrence. Very informative. I just can't imagine her ruining a concert. Just can't.

harimau · Post by **harimau** » 24 Dec 2009, 06:50

Lalitha Ramachandran wrote:
I had been to the concert of Visakha Hari on 11 Dec at the NGS auditorium under the auspices of Kartik Fine Arts. The Hall was jam-packed with Rasikas, with not an inch of space to be seen anywhere! Much to the disappointment of the Rasikas gathered that day to have a glimpse of her and her much-relished Harikatha, I must say that this concert fell short of expectations in many ways.

On the whole, this concert was a disappointing one for all us Rasikas.

Was Visakha Hari in madisar?

Lalitha Ramachandran · Post by **Lalitha Ramachandran** » 24 Dec 2009, 15:29

Yes, she is always in a madisar....and it suits her too! Very appealing like her "Harikathas"!!

Lalitha Ramachandran