MADURAI TNS AT AYODHYA MANDAPAM ON 25 MARCH 2010

[CRama]

Shri Madurai T.N.seshagopalan gave the inaugural concert of the Ramanavami Music Festival of Ayodhya Mandapam. The accompanists were Sri.M.Chandrasekaran, Shri.Vellore Ramabhadran and Shri Sundar Kjumar(Kanjira). The following is the list of songs. I could not stay for the full concert because of health problems. I stayed upto Thani.

1. Soumitri bhagyame- Kharaharapriya.
2.Manasayetulo-Malayamarutham
3. Ksheersagarasayana- Devagandhari
4. Nenarunchinanu- Malavi
5. Ethavunera- Kalyani

It was a fabulous concert from the beginning itself. The opening number which is not frequently sung by TNS, that too to take it as the first song, gave the promise for a wonderful concert to follow and it did. TNS voice was in good form. The song was preceded by a brief alapana. Nerval was done at Bahuka and swaras were rendered in two speeds. The same song was rendered very elaborately in MFAS in the season by TNS. This was followed by the highlight of the day- Malayamarutham alapana. Even though I have heard hundreds of concerts of TNS and have got recordings of a 100 concerts, Ithis is the first time I am hearing the alapana for Malayamrutham. It was very elaborate Malayamarutha (of Kannada) which also became tempest at times -swayed for about 12 minutes. I have never heard such an elaborate treatment of the raga from any body. He made plenty of sancharas around the upper ga which was very enjoyable. .The song was Manasayetulo, rendered with some unusual sangathis also. Neraval was done at Sulabhamugaa kadathera- an unusual place and swaras in his usual pattern with lot of kanakkus was rendered. A sobre Ksheerasagara and an electric Nenarunchinanu followed. Then Kalyani was handled in a very elborate manner. Neraval and swaras with lot of kanakkus at Seetha Gowri. Here again swaras were rendered at two places- Seetha and Gowri- mostly with the same swaras like ga ma pa da ni Seetha ga ma pa dha ni Gowri.. It was a great feat and a feast.

M.Chandrasekharan provided excellent accompaniment as always. His returns of alapanas and swaras were very lively and enjoyable. Vellore Ramabhadran provided excellent support which is a hallmark of his long career. The Kanjira was mild except during the thani.

There was good crowd for the concert and disturbances also by people going out and cominig in. Still a different kind of ambience than what we will see in a closed auditorium.- the ambience of a temple concert. A highly enjoyable concert.

[semmu86]

Still a different kind of ambience than what we will see in a closed auditorium.- the ambience of a temple concert. .

I too love the ambience of ayodhya mandapam for the same reason . It has such a rich history (like the "Perambur Sangeetha Sabha") of many yester year greats performing there .. Thanks for the review .

[sivapriya]

I heard TNS play a Malayamarutham on his Veena on the 24.3.2010 at BVB for TK Murthy School of Percussion and Tyaga Brahma Sabha for Rama Navami. What a malaya marutham that was on the veena ! He played Dhanyudevvado and followed it with some brisk swaras. the interlude between him and Trichur Narendran -(TNS -TN )on the mridangam for swaras was a good example of genuine accompaniment for a veena recital. It was like the (sawaal-jawaab) session !! between the veena and mridangam.