Lakshmi Rangarajan at Kartik Fine Arts on 21-12-2006

[mridhangam]

Lakshmi Rangarajan-Vocal Support Subhiksha Rangarajan-Nalina Mohan-Mannarkoil J Balaji

The concert song list
1) Bhairavi Ata Taala varnam
2) Bruhaspathe-Ataana
3) manujudai putti-Abhogi-Adi-Annamacharya
4) Siva siva ena radha-Pantuvarali
5) Chittam Irangadenayya-Sahana-Mchaapu
6) Govardana Girisham-Hindolam
7) Dasarathi-Thodi-Adi
8) Tukkada and Tillana

The concert started off with the majestic Bhairavi Varnam in Ata Talam rendered in two speeds. Then came Brhaspathe-Atana to coincide with Guru Vaaram or thursday. Abhogi raga was delineated with natural flair and creative fervour. Rarely heard Manujudai Putti of Annamayya was sung very neatly. Raga Pantuvaraali was rendered up to tarastayi by Lakshmi and then taken over by Subhiksha to finish it off with excellent phrases. They also sang swarams for Pantuvarali. To contrast it came chittam irangadenayya of Papanasam Sivan rendered to create a mood of vishraanti and shanti. Govardhana Girisham in Hindolam followed suit. All set for the main item Todi. Todi raga was handled with excellent skill and creativity. Especially the Tara Stayi sancharas were very pleasing to the ears. Dasarathi Nee runamu was rendered and Niraval and swaras had both laya and aesthetic varieties.

Nalina Mohan, a talented artiste from Bangalore just shadowed the main artiste and her essay of Pantuvarali and Todi drew wide appreciation from the audience.

Points in the concert:

1) Both their voices blended very well and they sang in unison
2) She used manual tambura along with Electronic -which is a rarity these days
3) Sound system was excellent at PS High School for the artistes as well as the audience.

On the whole the concert was a soothing experience.

Tail piece--> she is singing just about 5 concerts this year.