Nithyasree Mahadevan, Kalasagaram, Hyderabad 29-11-10

[revanthv552]

On the 29th of November, the rasikas of Hyderabad had a musical treat from Dr.Nithyasree Mahadevan. The concert went all for about 3 hours. Its not often that concerts cross the barrier of two hours or two and a half hours. It was really relieving to listen to a real full length Carnatic concert with proper manodharamam and also the song list was authentic and not over crowded with requests!

She was accompanied by Sri M.A.Krishnaswamy on Violin, Sri Anantha Krishnan on the Mridangam and Sri Sivarama krishnan on the Ghatam. The song list is

1.Saranga Varnam
2.Sriman Narayana-Bowli-Annamacharya
3.Orajupu-Kannadagowla-Thyagaraja[S]
4.Devadhi Deva-Sunadha Vinodhini-Mysore Vasudevachar[R,S]
5. a) Virutham in Bilahari
b) Va Sharavana Bhava-Bilahari-Koteeswarayyar
6.Kanjadalayathakshi-Kamalamanohari-Dikshitar
7.Lavanya Rama-Poornasadjam-Thyagaraja
8.Endhuku Daya Radhu Ra-Thodi-Thyagaraja[R,N,S,T]
9. a) Slokam (Govindhethi Sadha snaanam) in Des
b) Paripoorna Garudadri-Des-Annamacharya
10.Akati Velala-Subhapanthuvarali-Annamacharya
11.Ragathil Sirandha-Ragamalika-Cuddalore Subhramanyam
12.Shanthi Nilava Vendum-Tilang-Sethumadhava Rao

The concert began with Saranga varnam which was rendered in one speed. This was a perfect start for the concert. A brief outline of Bowli followed the all time famous "Srimannarayana" Including an Annamacharya composition in the pre-main segment was really a wonderful change. When she sings in Andhra Pradesh, She makes it a point to include many Annamacharya numbers is what I have observed from her concerts before.

The Kannadagowla composition was rendered beautifully. She sang the song third time in the city, but it was really enjoyable. Specially the swarakalpana, was nothing like what she sung before. The sangathis she sings in this song, I've noticed that no one else amongst the today's singers include those! Making me believe that Nithyasree renders this song the best. Each time she sings it there is something new about it! That is what is the factor that does not make repetition boring.

The alapana of Sunadha vinodhini was splendid. It went on for some ten minutes and was thoroughly enjoyable. She sang the song "Devadhi Deva" with a decent round of swarams at the pallavi. It was good to listen to an uncommon raga after a long time. The tamil number "Va Saravanabhava" was rendered beautifully. The inclusion of Virutham in the concerts first half was something I enjoyed. I noticed that these days in most of her concerts, Nithyasree is singing a Virutham in the pre-main segment and also the post-main segments. The way she sings Viruthams is something unmatchable. After the virutham, M A Krishnaswamy played a small alapana of Bilahari which I loved the most! He is an unmatchable accompanying artiste. I still remember his Bhairavi! The one he played when he accompanied Nithyasree back in February! I was speechless after he played the Bhairavi! The krithi Lavanya Rama came as a pleasant surprise. I really wanted to listen to her sing this splendid composition of Thyagaraja. The way she rendered it was so enjoyable that the song reached my heart! I really love the lyrics of this krithi and she did a total justice by right pronunciation without ruining the beauty of the krithi.

The main piece was Thodi. Thodi is one of my all time favorite ragas. The alapana was very long and the kind of phrases she used while singing, the way she maintained her voice and controlled her breath for long time singing the alapana satisfied me very much. It was Thodi at its best. The main piece itself went for an hour or so (including the thaniavarthanam) The krithi Endhuku Dayaradu ra was rendered decently. A long neraval at the lines "Thyagaraja vinutha Tharaka Charitha" was pleasing and this was followed by thaniavarthanam.

The post main items included a beautiful slokam in the raga Des followed by another Annamacharya number. The song Akati Velala was rendered in Subhapanthuvarali. The raga was well chosen for it perfectly matched the bhava of the keerthanam. I heard a version of the same song in Raga Jog (If I am not wrong Hyderabad Sisters set it tune, as I heard from one of her students) and Raga Revathi. I prefer the Jog rendition. However, that does not in anyway tamper the beauty of this rendition in Shubhapanthuvarali. It was good to listen to her sing three Annamacharya compositions in the concert. I also observed that she sings more than two Purandaradasar songs in Karanataka concert. One of the comes in the first half of the concert. And they are all grand! I heard her Bangalore concerts with songs of Purandaradasa with a good manodharmic treatment. I heard her sing Karunya moorthiye (Mukhari), Palisamma muddhu sharadhe (Sriranjani), Manadhadhi deva (Atana) with alapana and swarams and also a song in Jingla! Its really nice of Nithyasree to cater the songs in the languages popular in those regions! This appeals more to the local audience I believe! The other two songs were "Ragathil Sirandha" which was no doubt a request and also Shanthi Nilava Vendum. No one can match DKP in rendering that song!

All in all, It was really satisfying for me to listen to good amount of alapanas and exciting swarakalpanas. It was enjoyable and also a learning experience. Nithyasree is one musician who never disappoints me! Sanjay being the other! For me, whenever these two artistes perform in Hyderabad, the satisfaction is guaranteed! I was badly expecting a good Ragam Thanam Pallavi in her concert. But she did not sing it. I was not disappointed for the alapanas of Sunadhavinodhini and Thodi were very elaborate and outstanding.

Nithyasree performed for Kalasagaram in 2006, when DK Pattamal was conferred the title "Sangeetha Kalasagara" by Kalasagaram. That was the first time I heard Nithyasree ( Meenalochana in Dhanyasi was submain, Raksha bettaray was main and there was a wonderful RTP in Vachaspathi) After four years Nithyasree performed in the 43rd Annual Festival of this Sabha. Kalasagaram is one of the finest Sabhas in twin cities, which invites wonderful singers to Hyderabad. This time, the concert Schedule included celebrated artistes, Hyderabadis never got to listen in the past few years. Thanks to the organizers of Kalasagaram!

[sandhyashree]

The concert was very good!!

Akati velala was rendered in Shubhali..

[revanthv552]

sandhyasree, thanks for the correction will make the changes