Any reviews of Kunnakudi Balamurali at Academy?

smriti · Post by **smriti** » 30 Dec 2009, 10:36

We badly wanted to attend this one, but my grandfather was too tired after a long day and we decided to stay home. Any reviews would be nice. Does anyone also know where else he is singing in the next 3 days?

rajaglan · Post by **rajaglan** » 30 Dec 2009, 10:40

smriti wrote:We badly wanted to attend this one, but my grandfather was too tired after a long day and we decided to stay home. Any reviews would be nice. Does anyone also know where else he is singing in the next 3 days?

I am keen to know what he sang, a list. He has not been followed much except one concert of him in this season.
I look forward to the review. But I guess our reviewers are storing the details but unable to write it because of
the music sesaon is in full swing now.

Rasika911 · Post by **Rasika911** » 30 Dec 2009, 18:00

I thought Jnr BMK would get more coverage on raskias than he has. This is his first year singing in the evening slot at the academy and i would have thought he had a fan base on rasikas

prashant · Post by **prashant** » 30 Dec 2009, 21:06

He was to present an RTP in darbAr, as per the Academy souvenir.

fuddyduddy · Post by **fuddyduddy** » 30 Dec 2009, 23:06

am part of his fan base but unfortunately am stuck here in cold and freezing NY!!

mssnlayam · Post by **mssnlayam** » 31 Dec 2009, 02:24

Me too. Unlike fuddyduddy, I am in a better place in warmer Austin. Balamurali's main piece was Kaligiyunte in Kiravani and RTP in Darbar.

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 31 Dec 2009, 04:03

Would someone please report back about this concert? I, too, am a fan.

sivapriya · Post by **sivapriya** » 31 Dec 2009, 06:39

Master Balamuralikrishna becomes a Master with his promotion to a senior slot in the Music Academy, on the 28th Dec.09.

The manner in which he develops the raga, neraval and swaras all have a stamp of maturity of that of a past master and his grip over tala is amazing. However with a little more sruti alignment in his middle and lower octaves and some more melody, his music will rise in quality.

After a quick succession of Sarasijanabha Varnam in Nattai, Ganapathe , Kalyani raga Dikshitar kriti, and Chede Buddhi in Atana, he settled well into a detailed Purvikalyani. The raga was complete in all respects and the following Tevaram Moyyar Thadam by Manickavasagar was handled very well by him . The song was sung withcomplete artha bhava and then the swaras in Misra Chapu, defined BalamuraliÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s tala gnaana. Mayamma in Ahiri was replete with its meaning and the entreaty by Syama Sastry towards Meenakshi.

Keeravani was grandly elaborate and Kaligiyunte gada, by Tyagaraja a masterpiece in this raga was given the justice this song needs. Neraval and swaras are BalamuraliÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s forte and his neraval at the line " Baaguga sri Ramuni pada mula " spoke well of his understanding of the meaning of the line and the song.

Darbar for RTP was a challenging choice , as , this is a tricky raga if one has not internalised it. Balamurali sang an expansive Darbar and the Adi Tala Khanda nadai pallavi " Sharade, Sampade, Bharati Vidya prade Vaagdevate"

Rasika911 · Post by **Rasika911** » 31 Dec 2009, 07:23

Hmm darbar rtp is a bad miss

rajaglan · Post by **rajaglan** » 31 Dec 2009, 09:21

sivapriya,

Thank you for a balanced and excellent writeup. Moyyar thadam, kaligi, Darbar...a nice set for a grand concert.
He sang kaligi in radio during last sesaon. His main is always a grand affair, heard his kaddanu variki in a
album and felt that it was one of the best kv I have heard. He is in my fav artist list. Charsur releases albums
with him now during season. Hope they make another album this year too.

GP296 · Post by **GP296** » 31 Dec 2009, 09:31

Sivapriya,

Good write up. Agree with most of your points specially the one about Darbar and the need to internalize it .

smriti · Post by **smriti** » 31 Dec 2009, 11:50

Thanks for the review Sivapriya!

beginner · Post by **beginner** » 31 Dec 2009, 14:49

" Sharade, Sampade, Bharati Vidya prade Vaagdevate"

in this Bharati Vidya pradE ? i am not getting exact meaning - Bharati seems to be unnessary word. (May be he had prepared the pallavi to be sung in BHARATI VIDYA bhawan

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 31 Dec 2009, 18:43

Bharati is another name for Sarada/Saraswati (from Sringeri). I don't think there is any connection to Bharatiya vidya (Indian Education) Bhavan in this context.