R Suryaprakash - Shanmugananda 13th Aug 2011

[vmanbalaji]

I had a really enthralling experience of listening to Shri. R. Suryaprakash (RSP) who presented the following rendition at Mumbai, on 13.8.11 at M S Subbalakshmi Hall, Shanmugananda Hall, accompanied by Shri. MR Gopinath Violin, Neyveli Shri. Venkatesh Mridangam & Chembur Shri. Shankar Laxmanan Ghatam
Kutcheri Started at Sharp 6.30 pm and ended at 10.00pm Sharp

1. Neeveeraraghu - Kathanakathukulam Varnam - Aadi - Mysore Vasudevachar (announced by RSP at the end of the varnam)
2. Sadananda Thandavam - Bahudhari - Aadi
3. Saraswati Namostute - Saraswati - Rupagam (I thought the raag was one of the janyams of Sankarabaranam, couldn't identify really, though I heard Saraswati before)
4. Manavyalakchin - Nalinakanti - Aadi
5. Soundararajan Aasraye - Brindavana Saranga – Tisra Ekam
Niraval at Thumburumutha Srikandam Duridabara Vaikundam, this keerthanai was sung elaborately, although I do not prefer Brindavana Saranga for more than a thukkada, I prefer instrumental like Veena or Violin, his performance was noteworthy, that there was really not much thoivu (most versatile artists also can find it very challenging & compelling).
6. Sarasinugapava (puranapurusa jagadi) - Vasanta - Aadi (this brought in the concert with the energy of the song, sang in a truly remarkable tempo, particularly after a relatively slow Brindavana Saranga gave equivalent of sublime Dravid together with flamboyant Sehwag
7. Main course - Devadi deva nee vaa - Shanmuga Priya – Misra Jampa - Swarna Venkatesa Dikshadar (informed by RSP)
I was expecting a decent niraval in Poovil Varal Mangaiyum Pulavar Naavil Valar Nangaiyum, I was rather disappointed that after Saranam, RSP directly went to Swaram.
Good Thani by Neyveli Venkatesh & Chembur Shankar Lakshmanan.
Thani Aavardhanam added pepper to the entire show, Neyveli Venkatesh in fact did not want to end, he continued prolonging his percussions, a real masterpiece of the performance.
8. Then came the super one RTP - Kapinarayani – Tisra Triputa
Neeradakshi Kamakshi Nikila Loga Janani
with Swaram starting with base of Kapinarayani, followed by Hindolam, Kosalam (did not know, RSP announced), Revathy and back to Kapi Narayani
RTP in Kapinarayani is very rare and requires huge courage, a superb effort
9. Tirupati venkatesan Tiruttani murugan - was it Valaji (later clarified Ragam Durga by RSP) - Aadi
10. Petrathaai thanai magan maranthalum - Sindu Bairavi, Jonpuri, Sahana, Kambhoji - Virutham - Superb
11. Karunalayanidhiye dinamum - Hindolam - Aadi
12. Kandan Karunai Puriyum Vadivel - Bhimblas - Aadi
13. Mangalam - Bavamana – Saurashtram - Aadi followed by Vande Matharam - it was a seamless transition

There are a few OFI's (Jargon for Opportunity for Improvement), I am certainly not qualified to make to RSP, it can be bridged in reader's perspective,

He gives lot of emphasis in Alapanai, could reduce the same by 10-15% and may use the time for rendering high octaves in Niraval.

He could sing raagas such as Karaharapriya, Keeravaani, Kalyani, Sankarabaranam, Thodi, Bhairavi, Saveri, Harikamboji, where he can establish his own versatility, these raga gives wide range of bandwidth, not the ones such as Brindavana Saaranga, his swaram rendition was tough and challenging, he did very well.

It was a really wonderful and divine experience.

[arasi]

Good to know Surya gave an excellent performance.
When it comes to pep in a concert, he is hard to beat. His energy just flows.
Yes, kApi nArAyaNi is rarely taken up for an RTP, though I've heard an elaborate version of sarasa sAma dAna, nearing the length of an RTP.
Waiting to see what he's going to sing as RTP in the twin city concert.

[ganeshkant]

3. Saraswati Namostute - Saraswati - Rupagam (I thought the raag was one of the janyams of Sankarabaranam, couldn't identify really, though I heard Saraswati before)

Saraswati is a janyam of Hemavathi or technically can be called as a janyam of Vachaspathi also since G is not there.I really can't understand its allegiance to Sankarabharanam.Dr.Ramanathan ued to tell this during his series on "Music for the lay man".When some one sings Todi if you ask whether it is kalyAni it is apparent that you neither know Todi nor KalyAni.So better to ask a plain qn.
(pl.take this lightly;no harm intended.)

[ganeshkant]

13. Mangalam - Bavamana – Saurashtram - Aadi followed by Vande Matharam - it was a seamless transition

It is pavamAna.Sir R u from Nellai Dt.?I used to enjoy my people(Nellaites) substituting B to P and vice versa.

For e.g - Petrol is pronounced Betrol;Prabhu - Brabhu whereas BhAnumathi is pAnumathi ...

[vmanbalaji]

I made quick entry amidst and hence it is a typo, BTW I am from Tanjore dist and do have lot of affection of nellai-ites

vmanbalaji

[arasi]

Glad to hear that!

[narayan]

Hearing R.Suryaprakash for the first time (no reflection on the caliber of the singer, just my disconnect from 'the scene'). Enjoyed his music. Heard only the Shanmukhapriya main and the Kapi Narayani RTP, because of misunderstanding of venue, etc. etc. Hearing the Shanmukhapriya song for the first time. Slightly rambling song, I thought, but it was delivered with polish. In fact, the sangatis in the pallavi itself were like a neraval, so I was not even sure when it began whether it was some unorthodox pallavi line! Kapi Narayani ragam was good, but both in the ragam and the tanam, the effort of RS at ending melodiously on the panchamam after a long foray elsewhere, did not come through. Even in Sarasa sama dana, it is a bit of a strain to sing a long pa - after the initial dana in the first line, there is no place in the song where one is encouraged to dwell on the pancamam at all. Don't know if others have this experience. In that sense, a slightly disorienting raga.

About the artiste, he sang very well, in my opinion, but a few places did sag suddenly in the alapanas. I also missed a buzz that a successful concert artiste somehow manages to create (I don't know what it is exactly, and it doesn't matter much to me, but I can sense it, sometimes). Such a buzz was much more noticeable in Abhishek Raghuram, two days later, who also I heard for the first time.

[mahesh3]

Sounds like a good selection....I particularly approve the sub-main, main and RTP format he has pursued in this concert. With his ringing voice, and effort, am quite sure that the variable thalams and nadais would have made a difference, and the concert seems to have been noticed and favorably reviewed. To attempt RTP in Kapi Narayani in a tougher tala like tisratriputa....nice!

[Nick H]

sub-main, main and RTP format he has pursued in this concert.

I think this is regular. I remember him telling me, some months back, that he likes to include an RTP in his concerts.