NISHA RAJAGOPAL AT VANI MAHAL ON 10 JUNE 11

[CRama]

Nisha Rajagopal accompanied by Bombay V. Anand (Disciple of A.Kanyakumari) on the violin, Trivandrum R.Vaidyanathan on the Mridangam, and Sunil Kumar (Disciple of Selvaganesh) on the Kanjira presented a concert in the Mini Hall of Vani Mahal (Obul Reddy Hall). Eventhough it was a working day, there was good crowd and the hall was full. That is an ample proof of her popularity among discerning rasikas. During the introduction, it was told that Nisha is an Engineer in Electronics and Communications Engineering, but taken music as a career due to her passion and love for the art. She has studied under her singer mother Smt Vasundhara Rajagopal and other stalwarts like TRS, PS Narayanaswamy, Suguna Varadachary etc. Her hard work and training under these experts got adequately reflected in the concert. She was the first recipient of MS Subbulakshmi Award instituted by the HINDU. The concert started at 6.30 PM sharp. The following is the list of songs.

1. Varnam- Ranjini- GNB- Aadi.
2. Rama Ninne namminaanu- Huseni-Aadi-Thyagaraja
3. Brovabhaarama- Bahudaari-Aadi- Thyagaraja
4. Saarasamukhi- Gowdamalhar- Muthaiah Bhagavathar
5. Aanandanadamaduvaar- Poorvikalyani-Roopakam- Neelakantasivan
6. Amba Neelambari- Neelambari-Aadi-Tanjore Ponnaiah
7. Raama neeyada-Kharaharapriya- Aadi-Thyagaraja
8. Tani Aavarthanam
9. Raagi tandeera- Punnagavarali- Aadi- Purandaradasa
10. Virutham- Maalon maruganai manradi mainthanai- Saveri, Brindavanasaranga
11. Kaliyugavaradan- Brindavanasaranga-Aadi-Periaswamy thooran
12. Thillana- Maund
13. Mangalam

After the varnam, the concert had a spright start with Ramaa ninne nammi naanu in Huseni. I was in cloud nine when the song started since it is one of my all time favourites. It was rendered well with all the sangathis in tact. But I would love to hear the swaras in Huseni which was not rendered. The alapana in Bahudari lasted for 7 minutes and was very well structured bringing out all the pidis of the raga. The swaras were also very nicely rendered. After the filler Gowdamalhar, Poorvikalyani was also presented in all details and the ever green song was sung decorated with swaras in the pallavi. The Neelaambari song I was hearing after a long gap and it was rendered in a very aesthetic manner with the attractive chittaswaras and it was thoroughly enjoyable. Kharahrapriya was rendered in a very elaborate manner travelling through the entire gamut of the raga for about 10 minutes. The neraval was at Kanasowkhyamuthaa nerugagaa and the neraval and swaras were presented in a very attractive manner. The thani lasted for 10 minutes.

Raagi thandeera has been sung by MLV in Ahir Bhairav which is most popular. But RKSreekantan has tuned it in a very lovely Punnagavarali which is very haunting. Nisha chose the RKS version and it was fascinating. The virutham in saveri was excellent

About the accompanists. Bombay Anand played his role commendably. His raga alapanas and returns were excellent and his violin tone was very attractive like that of Kanyakumari (when she plays for Kadri). The percussionists also embellished the concert and the thani kept everybody hooked up to their seats.

On the whole a thoroughly enjoyable concert for two and a half hours.

[ganeshkant]

I missed the Ranjini varnam.

Nisha has a fertile voice.Her lower octave P was quite audible and her reaching to upper P was facile.

Both Bahudari & Kharaharapriya AlApanas showed her strong manodharmam.Her top octave sancharams in kkpriya need to be lauded.She has improvised a lot on her overall performance.Good.

She is really committed to her tasks and with such a commitment she is sure to scale better heights soon.