Sanjay Subrahmanyam @ Unnati, Bangalore on 23.08.2010

[squims]

Vocal: Sri Sanjay Subramahmanyam
Violin: Sri S Varadarajan
Mridangam: Sri Patri Satishkumar
Kanjira: Sri Guru Prasanna

1.Varnam - Pantuvarali - Atta
2. Emaanathichedhivo [R] - Sahaana - Rupakam - Tyaagaraaja
3. Mariveregatiyevaramma [R] - Aanandabhairavi - Mishra Chaapu - Shyaama Shaastry
4. Vidajaaladuraa [RS] - Janaranjani - Ad - Tyaagaraaja
Swarams @ tanu vepanulaku chanina mari
5. Soundara raajam - Brindaavana Saaranga - Rupakam - Mutthuswaamy Dikshitar
6. Adiyenai kaatharulvaai [R N S T] - Kaamboji - Tishra Triputa
Neraval & Swarams @ Adiyenai kaatharulvaai angayar kanni
7. Ennaadu jhoothunu - Kalaavathy - Adi(2 Kaalai) - Tyaagaraaja
8. RTP - Hindolam - Mishra jaati Triputa Taala
Pallavi line - Maara Janakan Madhusoodhanam Hare Krishna
followed by a different pallavi: Thattha dhimitha dhimitha yani sadaa Shiva - Rupakam [Swarams in Hindolam, Shankaraabharanam, Hamsaanandi, Patdeep, Surutti]
9. Viruttam followed by Paayum oli naan unakku - Harikaamboji - Adi
10. Thillaana - Sindhu Bhairavi - Adi
11. Pavamaana (Mangalam) - Sourashtram - Adi - Tyaagaraaja

Let me start off by saying that I'm not really a huge fan of Sanjay. His knowledge and his experiments are good, but his singing is something I just can't seem to enjoy. Watching him struggle to reach even the upper Shadjam is painful at times to say the least. This concert was no different. It came with the shruti problems and apaswarams sprinkled here and there. But ignoring those, it was quite enjoyable.

The varnam was OK. I think it was rendered in the standard two speeds (cannot remember since I'm writing this after such a long time). The Sahaana was pleasant enough. The aanandabhairavi was something I actually immensely enjoyed. The brief raaga aalaapanai had some lovely phrases. Varadaraajan on the violin was excellent too. The Janaranjani composition was upbeat. Soudara raajam in Brindaavana Saaranga was an unhurried filler. A wonderful composition from Dikshitar.
The main piece in Kamboji was very good. The raaga aalaapanai was quite exhaustive with Kaamboji being explored in an interesting manner. Again, kudos to Varadaraajan, who was mesmerising in his part. I'm a huge fan of Patri Satishkumar. I was waiting for the thani, and him and Guru Prasanna didn't disappoint. Excellent kanakku with the Tishra Triputa taalam. The korvais and kuraippus were excellent. Ample nadai bhedam. Really enjoyed it.
And now, the RTP. I must say I really loved the raagam and taanam. Very good work. Can's say the same about the pallavi. I do not know why he shifted to a different pallavi before properly exploring the first. It was rather odd. The second pallavi line had its pitfalls as well. The usual Sanjay gimmicks were present (I know many people would disagree with me on this, but it's just my opinion). The swarams were entertaining. I thought that he might return to the first pallavi after all the swarams, but he finished with the second pallavi line.
The next piece had a nice folk-ish feel to it. The sahityam was playful and was an excellent choice to sing at this juncture of the concert. The Sindhu Bhairavi thillaana was a first time for me. I always love thillaanas. Really liked this one as well.
The usual mangalam concluded the concert.

[kssr]

In the pallavi, were the two portions in the same thalam? I recently heard his concert where there were three portions with different thalams, different speeds, different eduppus. The two portions here are one on Krishna and the other on Siva. Yes, a bit strange.
But I have never identified apaswarams in Sanjay's concerts.

[squims]

They were two entirely different pallavis. They weren't related to each other in any way. One was in Mishra jaathi Triputa taala and the other was in Rupakam.
And maybe I am just unlucky with Sanjay. So far, I've attended three live concerts of Sanjay, and there have been shruti problems all the times. I keep going because I respect his wealth of knowledge and innovation, but his singing/voice has always fallen short for me.

[KSJaishankar]

Having attended a reasonable number of Sanjay concerts over the last 2 odd years in Bangalore, I would definitely put the Unnati concert down as an exception, rather than the norm. He was out of form, is all I can say. His regular concerts definitely have a lot to look forward to, and the execution is also up there.

He doesn't have the best of voices, but as with many other greats before him (SSI, MMI to start with), that has hardly been an impediment to his capability to deliver his imagination or demonstrate his vidwat.

Squims ... I would definitely recommend going to the next Sanjay concert when it happens. Its is usually more than worth the effort!

[sirsub11]

Sanjay is performing again in Bangalore at the Venugopalaswamy temple premises, Malleshwaram on September 5th - another opportunity to clarify your doubts !

[arasi]

sirsub,
Venugopalaswamy temple has a SankarAnti concert of Sanjay every year. Wonder if that has been preponed to September this year Though the mikes are not very cooperative there at times, those temple concerts of his are an annual treat for us.

[keerthi]

sirsub,
Venugopalaswamy temple has a SankarAnti concert of Sanjay every year. Wonder if that has been preponed to September this year Though the mikes are not very cooperative there at times, those temple concerts of his are an annual treat for us.

This is part of their SrIjayanti / GokulASTami concert series.



Which varNam did sanjay sing? Was it ponniah's 'chalamu jesina' ? that is the only ATa tala varNam in PantuvaraLi I am familiar with.. How did he sing it?

[arasi]

Thanks, Keerthi. Yes, I wondered too if this concert is part of the gOkulAshTami seies.

[Lakshman]

keerthi wrote:

Was it ponniah's 'chalamu jesina' ? that is the only ATa tala varNam in PantuvaraLi I am familiar with..

Besides the Ponniah Pillai varNa the others in this rAgA, in aTa tALA, are:
celiyapai daya-Vinai Kuppier/Tiruvettiyur Tyagayya
madirakSi nIpai-P.Adiappiah
shrI kAnci kAmakOTi-Subbarama Dikshitar
pAr pugazhum-T.M.Thiagarajan

[sathya_vrathan]

the varnam must be ponnaiah pillai's chalamu jesina in kanda ata. I have heard it from sanjay at NSTSS once.

[ksrimech]

Is item#6 "aDiyEnai kAttaruLvAi angayarkaNNi" by MMD?

[arasi]

Yes, Krishna--on madurai mInAkshi.

[keerthi]

Besides the Ponniah Pillai varNa the others in this rAgA, in aTa tALA, are:
celiyapai daya-Vinai Kuppier/Tiruvettiyur Tyagayya
madirakSi nIpai-P.Adiappiah
shrI kAnci kAmakOTi-Subbarama Dikshitar
pAr pugazhum-T.M.Thiagarajan

right.. I knew about the first three.. Must have clean forgotten..

Lakshman sir, Pacchimirium Adyappayya's varnam goes madavati, not MadirAkshi, which is tyAgayyar's MukhAri (ATa tALa) varNam.

[knrh05]

Besides the Ponniah Pillai varNa the others in this rAgA, in aTa tALA, are:
celiyapai daya-Vinai Kuppier/Tiruvettiyur Tyagayya
madirakSi nIpai-P.Adiappiah
shrI kAnci kAmakOTi-Subbarama Dikshitar
pAr pugazhum-T.M.Thiagarajan

Stumbled upon the first varnam on youtube - http://www.youtube.com/user/smkodav#p/u/55/rltshuT4UfM

[arasi]

knrh05,
Thanks for the youtube clip.
Crisp and fluid singing. Whose vidyaarthi is she?

Did any rasikA listen to Sanjay at the Venugopalswamy temple? Any review? The song list?

[behag]

i was unable to be there, but my uncle and aunt who attended the concert said it was excellent. they had to go a good deal in advance though to get seating due to the small capacity of the place.

[arasi]

Behag,
Sorry you couldn't make it that day. I'm not sure if your uncle or aunt noted down the songs! However, I can think of a few Bengaloreans who would have been there. They perhaps can oblige. Song lists as such are always looked forward to on the Rasikas. Sanjay's lists are interesting because you can expect some and he doesn't keep the songs to himself but shares them with his listeners in concerts.