TMK in Brisbane - 26th June 2010

[humdinger]

It's been more than two years since I heard TMK in a concert and I was all excited about this opportunity to listen to one of my favourite singer. Unlike the last month's concert here of Carnatica brothers this one started reasonably on time and the first thing I noticed when TMK walked on to the stage was that he lost lot of weight. I just hoped that it wouldn't impact his energy levels. Sporting a designer shirt and a silk dhothi,he looked as if he was trying to make a statement of his musical preferances - being a traditionalist and a maverick at the same time. Sri Shriram Kuamr and Sri Murugaboopathy quickly joined him along with Ms.Roshini on Tambura.

TMK straight away started with a kriti rendition of Tyagaraja's Bhakti Bhikshamiyyave in Sankarabharanam. I am not sure if it's the sound system or his unsettled voice but the kriti rendition lacked the lyrical clarity which was very uncharacteristic of him. He quickly got done with the kriti and took up swarakalpana. It was a fantastic exercise in swarakalpana with TMK making the full use of Sankarabharanam's unlimited opportunities and RKSK following him like a shadow. But for me, Tyagaraja's "Bhakti bhiksham" was lost some where in the middle of rapid fire swaras. It may not be technically mandatory to make sure that your manodharmam is aligned to the soul of kalpita sangeetham you are singing but if its not followed, the very reason of singing kalpita sangeetham will be lost, all IMHO.

TMK then sang a soul stirring alapana of Mayamalavagowla which was replete with bhAvA and beauty.TMK then took up "Srinaathadi guruguho" of MD and sang it well with an elaborate neraval at the line "maayaa Sabalita...” . It looked as if this kriti is very dear to him as he got very emotional singing it. It was the piece de resistance for me in the whole concert and can't thank enough TMK for such divine music. TMK followed it with a quick "brochevaarevaruraa...." of vasudevacharya. It was sung a tad quicker than to my liking but the composition's beauty just overwhelms me anytime.

A lilting alapana of varAli was taken up and TMK informed me that it was requested by someone. An interesting thing happened during the alapana,at a certain point when TMK was in a deeply meditative mood, someone exited the auditorium with a big thud of the door and it disturbed TMK much. He vented out a big 'hoomm....' ala Sanakara Sastry in the movie Sankarabharanam and halted for a few minutes before recomposing himself and starting again. I wondered if he was throwing in tantrums. But few moments later when TMK took me on a high with a particular beautiful phrase of varAli, he abruptly broke to take sip of his hot drink and ruined my moment. I wondered if he was trying to make a point, he certainly had one. A brief and beautiful tanam followed and TMK declared he will sing a composition rather than a pallavi. He sang a pasuram out of tiruppavai that started 'aaDi maalai..."( ARI's composition).There was dinner break after this and TMK said he will sing all the requested pieces after the break.

He started with a ragamaalika slOkam(Santaakaaram...) in thodi, begada, hamir kalyani and darbari kaanada. He continued darbari kanada with narayanatheerdha's gOvardhana giridhara.Loved this piece. Then followed chinnamjira kiliye(raga malika-bharati), tirupati venkata ramana(sindhu bhairavi - PD) and aarumO aavan in mAnd.Then TMK sanga an ultra slow krishna nee bEganE in yamuna kalyaani.

The concert was concluded with a bhadrachala ramadas mangalam - 'Ramachandraaya'.

Sri RK Sriram Kumar was a delight to watch anytime as an accompanist, infact I think today's vocalists are in luck to have someone with so much vidwat willing to play a perfect team member. He sat completely turned towards TMK following him so bit by bit,at one point I noticed that he scratched his head when TMK did so. There ware many flashes of his brilliance like his reply of bEgaDa during the slokam to give an example.Thoroughly enjoyed.

It's the first time I was listening to Sri Murugaboopathy. His accompaniment was subdued and very much apt, showing his capabilities all the while. With TMK and RKSK so much engaged with each other, he tried his best to elevate the concert level though his tani looked like in need of an accompanying percussionist for motivation.

All in all, a very satisfying concert for me and I am glad TMK is still the bundle of energy he was no matter his weight loss. I found that his ragalapana has evolved a lot during the time I missed him. And not to miss, so many new hand gestures were added to his repertoire. One particular one involved repeatedly bringing his hands together in front and pulling them away. My wife, who was attending his concert for the first time and whom he scared enough through his "I am serious" looks and attitude, told me later that it reminded her of lord narasimha's posture tearing the gut out of demon hiranyakasipa. She wondered whose gut TMK was targetting. I told her not to bother as long as it is not his music's.

[mahakavi]

>> He sang a pasuram out of tiruppavai that started 'aaDi maalai..."( ARI's composition)<<

There is no pAsuram in tiruppAvai which starts with "aaDi maalai". There is a pAsuram starting as "Azhi mazhaik kaNNA..." and another as "mAri malai muzhainjil.." Which one is it?
Also it is not proper to call it ARI's composition. ARI tuned ANDAL's pAsuram and so did others.

[humdinger]

mahakavi: pardon my tamil, its "Azhi mazhaik kaNNA..." in varali. And i thought every one knows its AnDAL when i mentioned tiruppavai.

[Purist]

Good review style Humdinger.

[arasi]

Humdinger,
Thanks for a review after a long time.Your perspective has its own mark. I like the way you observe a concert which is different and refreshing.
Song lists give us an idea about a concert, but each of our reviewers brings a new flavor to a review with their writing style, experience and tastes. This is where we do better than the professional writers? An individual rasikA's impressions are given here (sometimes reflecting our own responses and sometimes not). Some surpass the professional writer in content and style, others not so. Still, except in cases where they are purely promotional, all our reviews are worth our while.

[humdinger]

Thank you Purist.

Arasi: Yes, long time since I listened to some good music as well. I get so much pleasure reading the reviews here and they make up for my not being able to attend many concerts. So I just try to show my gratitude through these concert reports whenever I get a chance.

[arasi]

Hope you can plan a trip to India around the season and listen to good music to your heart's content!
True, many concerts take place in the US. After a certain age, it's not possible for seniors to drive long distances to places where concerts are held.
In the seventies and eighties, miles didn't matter! Nowadays, we wait for the year end and consider ourselves lucky that we can take in the season!

[bilahari]

Nice review, humdinger. Thank you.