Smt(s).Ranjani,Gayathri @ Devagiri, Bangalore on 16/03/2011

[squims]

Vocal: Smt. Ranjani & Smt. Gayatri
Violin: Sri. H. N. Bhanskar
Mridangam: Sri. H. S. Sudheendra
Ghatam: Sri Narayana Murthy

1. Sharanu Siddhi Vinayaka [S] - Sourashtram - Mishra Chapu - Purandaradasa
2. Tera teeyaga raada - Gowlipantu - Adi - Tyagaraja
3. Indira naamamu [R S] - Mohanam - Adi - Annamacharya
4. Mokshamu galada [R] - Saramati - Adi(2 kalai) - Tyagaraja
5. Sri Venkatagirisham [N S] - Surutti - Adi - Muthuswamy Dikshitar
Neraval and Swarams @alamElu manga samEtam
6. Pankaja lochana [R N S T] - Kalyani - Mishra Chapu - Swati Tirunal
Neraval and Swarams @brndAvanAntakrta
7. Shlokam - Desh, followed by, Hey Govinda - Desh - Eka - Surdas
8. Nanati baduku - Revathi - Adi - Annamacharya
9. Srinivasa - Hamsanandi - Adi
10. Sita Kalyana - Kurinji - Khanda chapu - Tyagaraja
11. Hari smarane maado - Yaman Kalyani - Adi - Purandaradasa
12. Abhang - Raag Bhatiyar - Eka - Sant Tukaram
13. Mangalam - Sourashtram - Adi - Tyagaraja

Kalyani...The last time the sisters sung in the city, they sang a Kalyani main piece, and you would think they'd atleast choose a different raagam for this performance, but no... I had to endure a painfully long Kalyani again. A few personal gripes aside (some of the swara prayogams were carbon copies of their previous performance), I really can't fault the sisters' singing though. I just wish they'd start choosing their raagas better. Was very disappointed in their selection the last time as well.

Anyhow...
The Sourashtram piece opened the concert well. Some brisk swarams added charm to the composition. The Gowlipantu was nothing but a filler.
The raaga aalapanai in Mohanam, handled by Ranjani, was extremely enjoyable. The swarams were well done as well. Some of the kanakku seemed to suffer, but overall it was pleasant.
Saaramathi aalapanai was beautiful. This was sung by Gayathri. Very well done. Hit all the right notes(pun intended ) with the audience. Was looking forward to neraval and swarams in it, but it wasn't to be. Sad.
The neraval in the Surutti piece was the best portion of the concert for me. Both sisters were at their best while performing this krithi.
Then came Kalayni... enough said already.

It was around 8pm by the time the main piece was finished. The sisters could have easily sung a RTP, but went on to sing a tukkuda section that lasted slightly more than an hour. Amongst them, the Desh was sung well. The rest were routine. Abhang as usual (which I actually really enjoyed).
Conclusion with the usual mangalam, and shlokam in Madhyamavathi.

About the accompanists:
They all performed very aptly. They were truly a support to the sisters. H.N. Bhaskar's Saramathi aalaapanai stood out.
The thani was quite short (as seems to be the case with Sudheendhra usually), but was a pleasure to listen to nonetheless. Narayana Murthy was as effective on the ghatam as always.

[srikant1987]

Generally boring list!

Still, anything, especially a neraval, in suruTTi should always be nice to hear.

And sItA kalyANa vaibhOgamE is a nice song too.

[arasi]

Squims,
Good to get a substantial review (as expected) from you.
I like temple concerts and missed this one!
For popular artistes, it may be difficult to keep track of what they sang in a particular sabha or in a town the previous time. However, it's not a bad idea to note down the mains and RTPs to jremind themselves memory the next time over. After all, rasikAs like to hear a different rAgam presented as a main or RTP when they go to listen to them again.

[badari]

Vocal: Smt. Ranjani & Smt. Gayatri
It was around 8pm by the time the main piece was finished. The sisters could have easily sung a RTP, but went on to sing a tukkuda section that lasted slightly more than an hour.

Squims. I tend to disagree with you. As was said in earlier concert at RLKM sabha, the temple closing time was 8.30 and the ambience called for more bhakti bhava than vidvat sabha.

I think they aptly managed it with R, N S of other kritis.

In my view, it was a 10/10 concert. Those who were absent really missed sAramati and suraTTi.

[gardabha_gana]

Hmmmmm Looks like I missed a good one. I love surati. SSI's sri venkatagirisham rings in my ear forever....
I plan to show up for NSG. Squims - maybe we should hook up at the bajji stall

[cienu]

I came in when Mohanam was on. It was a lovely concert. Suruti was the highlight. Among the lighter pieces , Hari Smarane was very well sung. Sri Bhaskar on violin gave excellent support and Sri Sudhindra was brilliant with good support from Narayana Murthy.
Missed seeing Squims and badari.

[srikant1987]

cienu sir! I always thought you lived in Madras! :$

[cienu]

Well , I grew up in Madras. Since 1999 I am a resident of Bangalore.

[squims]

@Arasi ma'am: Thank you!

@gardabha_gana: Yup, we shall catch up! Will be at NSG sir's concert.

@badari: Yes, I guess that was the reason. Was speaking to the organiser today and he said that the concert should have ended about half an hour earlier than when it did, but since the audience was all still there, he requested them to go on for longer.

Who's all going to NSG sir's concert? Cienu sir, it would be a pleasure to meet you at the concert.