Review of TNS's Kalanidhi concert?

gsn · Post by **gsn** » 25 Dec 2006, 23:45

Can someone please post a review of TNS's Sangeeta Kalanidhi concert?
Thanks!

Girish

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 25 Dec 2006, 23:58

Girish, I went with very high expectations after Ram's report on his PSS performance but Thalaivar wasn't quite at his best. The same old Sruti and voice problems. Here is a quick songlist:

TNS
TNS Krishna (Support)
Chandrashekar (Violin)
Guruvayoor Dorai (Mrudangam)

Lambodara (Geetham) - Rupaka - Purandara Dasa
Ninnu Kori - Mohana Varnam - Adi - (S)
Entharo Mahanubhavulu - Sree - Adi - Thyagaraja
Ramanathan BHajeham - Pantuvarali - Rupakam - MD (RNS)
Palayamam?? - Nayaki - Adi - ??
Namoralagimpave - Yadkula Kambhoji - Khanda Chapu - ??
Nannu Brovu Lalitha - Lalitha - Misra Chapu - Syama Sastri (R)
Emani Vinave - Surati - Adi - ??
RTP - Sankarabharanam/Thodi/Kalyani/Durbar - Adi (2)
Tani
Vruttam on Navarasa BHavam
Tillana in Sindhu Bhairavi
Mangalam

I will provide detailed comments at a more reasonable hour!

gsn · Post by **gsn** » 26 Dec 2006, 00:05

Ahh, maybe he was worn out by the PSS concert? Oh well, thanks for the list, Vijay! Whn you can, please do provide a review. Like a lot of others, I look forward to your succinct and well-written reviews!

Girish

Lakshman · Post by **Lakshman** » 26 Dec 2006, 00:49

Emamma vinavE-suraTi-Cheyyur Chengalvaraya Shastri
pAlayamAm pankajanabha-nAyaki-Svati Tirunal

drshrikaanth · Post by **drshrikaanth** » 26 Dec 2006, 01:04

pAlayamAm bRhadISvara- nAyaki- caturaSra rUpaka- dIkShitar

rajumds · Post by **rajumds** » 26 Dec 2006, 07:55

Well it was a roller coaster ride. the concert started with big downward slide with geetham, varnarnam & entharo. Almost half the audience had left by then leaving only die hard optimists in the hall. The roller coaster suddenly pulled with a a very good pantuvarali. TNS' voice had opened up a bit & he did a very good alapana & the kriti and swara were well sung. But just as it seemed the ride will continue upwards, it brought us down a with a jerk thro' nayaki & y k kambodi. Even as the die hard fans (like me) were now thinking of jumping out & reach home early, an excellent lalitha alapana & nannu brova lalitha pushed us up again with a such a speed that it was clear that the momentum was building up towards excillarating climax.

Every one who stayed was treated to a brilliant RTP. What an rtp it was. Any lesser artist would have simply given up the fight with the voice & folded up the concert with some lighter stuff but not TNS.

The alapana of the four ragas was outstanding & the way he changed the ragas was something out of the world. The voice also had settled down by them. Chandrasekar who was like a pillar supporting the concert in the ealier stages simply let loose at this stage. It was an amazing alapana clearly proving why TNS is far ahead of others. The tanam was magnificent & TNS was so involved by then, MC who never passes up a chance to play, said ' neengale padidungo'. The pallavi was a bit short by TNS standard but again brilliant with typical TNS kannakus & raga changes.

Then came the viruttam. As if to make up TNS sang brilliantly, i just lost count of the ragas he sang' each for 1 line & each stamped with TNS trade mark. TNS concluded with a detailed mangalam a good 20 mins past the regular concert time.

It was an outstanding effort by TNS to give his best in spite of the handicaps but of course you can't call this the best TNS concet of the season.

MANNARGUDIYAAN · Post by **MANNARGUDIYAAN** » 26 Dec 2006, 08:05

Great TNS would have asked MC- UKS, MC-Sankaran like combinations....

I am not finding fault with Shri Durai, but, the above said artistes can change the mood of concert or lift the level to a remarkable extent in an inspiring way, that the main artiste can really enjoy and soak himself to music...

I may be wrong, but, I wanted to be frank....

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 26 Dec 2006, 14:19

Raju sir has effectively articulated my own thoughts - the beginning was forgettable but I thought things were settling down by thr time Pantuvarali was concluded...but I will be less kind to what followed. One felt so frustrated and helpless - almost to the of tears - every time he struck one of the many jarring notes last evening. "TNS Sir, you are so much better than this - just show these guys what you are really made of", my mind would yelp....alas, although some of his concerts might suggest otherwise, he is only human...

It surpises me that a veteran of so many concerts could plan his most important one so poorly...the songlist in the souvenir was so unimaginably crowded that one could immediately sense that 2.5 just wouldn't do. I am not a great fan of Ragamalika Pallavis in general - maybe 2 ragas if there is time but in an academy concert there is hardly enough time to do justice even to one. The raga transitions were enjoyable but a poor substitute for the magnificent hour long alaapanas that one has heard from this giant. Again, the pallavi was perfunctory - no so much as a trikaalam. If I were TNS, I would have chosen to elaborate a single piece over 2.5 hours - now that would have been a fitting tribute to himself!

Anyway, that is TNS - he may struggle at the hour of his greatest glory but go on to give a scintillating performance in some insignificant event at a remote village. It is this indomitable spirit - which no doubt results in some ordinary concerts but has also scaled some of the loftiest summits of art - that one paid tribute to on this christmas day... For me there is Mummorthigal....and then there is TNS....not a million lousy concerts will ever change that!

Mannargudiyan, TNS and Guruvayoor Dorai make for an unbelievable combination with the way they play with the idams and the subtle tricks they employ during sangathis. It may rob the songs of some sowkhyam but it is fasccinating if you are following the beat. Nannu Brova Lalitha was a good example in yersterday's concert. I can only imagine what it would have been like to hear TNS play with Palghat Raghu!

raja · Post by **raja** » 26 Dec 2006, 16:33

Raju sir and Vijay,
thanks for the reviews. I was very sad to have had to miss this concert, being the hardest of die-hard TNS fans. I can relate to some of the frustrations felt as a listener, w.r.t the struggling voice, etc. But a few minutes (even seconds) of sheer genius is always sufficient to make up!

On the topic of accompaniments...I have heard some dynamite combos - e.g. TNS/Lalgudi/KRM, and TNS/MC/KRM . What a musical feast! I have heard TNS's laya-laden style being compared with nadhaswaram bani. And of course KRM has received much inspiration from thavil style percussion. So it is no wonder this combo always produced magic on stage!
It is unfortunate that personality clashes and other non-music-related issues have made some of these dream-teams a joy of the past! (Don't mean to start a thread on this comment, but just an observation.)

Raja..

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 26 Dec 2006, 16:45

I was also there for the concert , seated in the side thinking whether it was a oneday international day night match in chandigarh or a carnatic music concert.The excess low lying flood lights suck and I wish the vidwans/vidushis wear a rayban glass and a moisturizing lotion to cool the heat.

For me the concert start in geetham was an inspirational one, with me recollecting the same lambOdhara in malahari that Shri TNS has sung even in an RTP. The inspiration died in the varnam especially in the mOhanam swaram with Shri TNS voice problem evident with the Poochi's famous composition. The voice problem was at the worst when he sang the endarO pancharatna krithi.This endarO was too long for shri TNS to take even before the alApanai.

Shri TNS concert always gets better only when he sings an early rAga alApanai, as his voice problem fades away.No better rAga to clear the voice problem than pantuvarAli (not the gnya gnya dhanyAsi or a sedative kalyAni which may permenantly take your voice down that day...) ,It was excellent through out. Liked the neraval in kumArA guruguha and the swara patterns were creative and had a high manOdharmam.

The nAyaki of MD and YK KambOdhi of ?? dipped the concert, especially I missed the konjal of Y K KAmbOdhi. Well I guess, Music Academy insists on singers to sing a brand new krithi each time and that could have been a reason.Lalita was outstanding with him getting no shades of vasantha. Shyama SAstri's nannu brOva lalitha was sung with great bhAvam and was again outstanding .

I wish he had avoided the shuruTTi which dampened the concert. But that wait was needed to more enjoy the RT of the RTP. His alApanai was brilliant with him going in just one breath transforming from shankarabharanam to tOdi to kalyAni to darbAr, perfectly orchestrating like the 4 *100 metre relay team that passes the baton .A perfect example of what human voice is capable of ? His brilliance in the rAga continued but was little repetitive towards the end, more felt because of a shorter pallavi .TAnam was sung well in all four rAgas and was very good.The pallavi was too short (R T P ratio should not be 2 : 1 :1 , should be atleast 2: 1 :2 or 3), I felt he could have done more justice to pallavi (Vijay he had time for sure?). I am hearing this RTP for the first time in a live concert.

The sanskrit slokham (not viruttam) was sAyankAle which he sang even during last year's Academy was excellent.That slokham reaches an outstanding musical joy when shri TNS just takes one phrase navarasa bharitha?? .I could spot only 2/3 rd of the rAgas .They were mOhanam, khamAs, atAnA, shyamA, subhapantuvarALi, kuntalavarALi, nIlAmbari, kApi, surutti, bowli and sindhubhairavi . A truly inspirational musician who was Simply Brilliant and beyond words.

The violinist was good in pantuvarAli and RTP but why does he always start everytime a shyama rAga (in slOkham)by playing manasa sancharare is puzzling me.That kind of style may be best when sOmu is singing as he takes plenty of time to recoup and says sabhAsh, but with Shri TNS singing in a rapid fire mode , I would prefer him to abstract the rAga and quickly pass the sAyankAle baton to shri TNS.But despite those popular numbers being played by shri MC,shri TNS continued with his rapid fire rAga essays.Tillana was ok, i think it was "Na dhru dhim tadana tomtana (tillana) of OVK" .

Vijay,
Some how you appreciate durai a lot. I find him difficult to appreciate because he is sometimes too long to hand over the baton to the singer. I have not found that problem with pAlakkad raghu, though I do know that both are impressive laya vidwans. Perhaps I can partially assert whenever Shri durai plays, a supporting pakkavadyam is best for the vidwans/vidushi.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 26 Dec 2006, 16:46

I wish from here on shri TNS continues to be more an inspirational musician carefully spacing the slots and taking needed rest in between.Some times preferably singing an early alApanai is best to avoid an early exodus . For sure no one has sung as many krithis like shri TNS, today's new was the yadhukulakAmbOdhi .

raja · Post by **raja** » 26 Dec 2006, 21:46

Can someone post the thAlam and lyrics of the quatro-ragam pallavi? Were the rAgam names part of the lyrics? TNS frequently composes as such, and will do swarakalpana in each rAgam, with eduppu at the point in the pallavi where that raga name appears... Sheer ecstasy!
Raja..

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 26 Dec 2006, 22:05

I think this is the old ARI created, KVN glorified, 'SankarAbharaNanai azhaittODi vA kalyANI darbArukku'...

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 26 Dec 2006, 22:19

Yes it is 'SankarAbharaNanai azhaittODi vADi kalyANI darbArukku'. tAlam I don't know??

kamavardhani · Post by **kamavardhani** » 26 Dec 2006, 22:40

rajeshnat wrote:The nAyaki of MD

The nAyaki kriti was Swati Tirunal's... note the 'syAnandUrEsa...' and the 'pankajanAbha' mudra.

vijay wrote:Namoralagimpave - Yadkula Kambhoji - Khanda Chapu - ??

Annamacharya composition

About the concert, I echo the general feeling here of being underwhelmed! But TNS is always a living musical genius for me, so I'll respectfully reserve any comment

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 27 Dec 2006, 10:37

I noted in my notes as palAyamAm sri pankaja of ST is correct. Did know the mudra , but just slipped out. Did you get the SAyankAle start as bahudAri??.

KAmavardini/Lakshman Ji
The yadhukula kAmbOdhi had lines like namOlAla ayyA venkataramana?? , I tried searching this song in a pdf of annamAchArya lyrics could not find it. sometimes I assume it could even be by TirupAti nArayanaswami. Can you both clarify??

dvmk · Post by **dvmk** » 31 Dec 2006, 00:16

Na moralagimpa is a composition of Talapaka Chinayya,a 15th century composer.This composition figures in the Bhajana Sampradaya paddhati.

kamavardhani · Post by **kamavardhani** » 31 Dec 2006, 00:41

The Academy souvenir also mentions the composer of the Yadukulakambhoji kriti as Talapakka Chinnayya, but there seems to be a school of thought that this Chinnayya is actually Annamayya himself. Refer this article by Sulochana Pattabhiraman:

http://www.hindu.com/br/2006/07/11/stor ... 121400.htm

I confess I'm not competent to comment!

vsnatarajan · Post by **vsnatarajan** » 31 Dec 2006, 04:58

TNS at ramaha Bhatha samajam was simply in his elements.
but I missed this one.

would have loved to listen to Lalitha.

manoranjitham · Post by **manoranjitham** » 31 Dec 2006, 06:39

I would like to differ fromthe views expressed inthese columns. Perhaps my perception of Carnatic Music is different.

I think TNS could not have shown greater awareness of the beauty of Carnatic music than by singing such lovely and soul stirring visions of Nayaki, Yadukambodhi, Lalitha and Surutti. Proved the point that even an indifferent voice can be coaxed into giving great music.

Veeraraghavan · Post by **Veeraraghavan** » 02 Jan 2007, 19:26

V Subramaniam has reviewed this very concert in Hindu today.
http://www.hindu.com/ms/2007/01/02/stor ... 140300.htm
His review of this concert seems to be extremely positive.

ramakriya · Post by **ramakriya** » 03 Jan 2007, 02:51

kamavardhani wrote:The Academy souvenir also mentions the composer of the Yadukulakambhoji kriti as Talapakka Chinnayya, but there seems to be a school of thought that this Chinnayya is actually Annamayya himself. Refer this article by Sulochana Pattabhiraman:

http://www.hindu.com/br/2006/07/11/stor ... 121400.htm

I confess I'm not competent to comment!

If I understand it correctly, the article says the composer might be annamayya rather than chinnayya and not Chinnayya is same as Annamayya;

Tallapakam chinnayya, AFAIK was the grandson of annamayya.

-Ramakriya