1. Shankarabharanam Varnam
2. Vaathapi Ganapathim-Hamsadwani-Dikshitar[S]
3. Ranjani Niranjani-Ranjani-GNB
4. Ksheenamai-Mukhari-Thyagaraja[R,S]
5. Vazhi marai Thirrukudhe-Natakurinji-Gopalakrishna Bharathi
6. Pankaja Lochana-Kalyani-Swathi tirunal[R,N,S,T]
7. Raagam Thanam Pallavi in Natabhairavi set in praise of Annamacharya and Thyagaraja had elaborate ragamalika swarams where one krithi of Thyagaraja and one keerthanam of annamacharya was performed.
8. Kaligenidhe-Sindhubhairavi-Annamacharya
9. Sri Ranganatha-arabhi-Bharathi Ganesh
10. Ekkadi Manushajanmam-Bowli-Annamacharya
The Varnam "Saami ninne kori" was rendered in two speeds and was a perfect start. The hamsadwani composition was good but the kalpanaswarams were not really great. The kalpanaswarams were done at the line "Nirantharam". The Ranjani composition was a nice choice before moving to the sub main piece of the concert. Mukhari alapana by Haripriya was perfect. The song "Ksheenamai" was rendered with exact emphasis it needed. The pronunciation of words was clear and the lyrical beauty of the composition was perfectly portrayed. There was a decent round of kalpanaswarams at the pallavi line. This was followed by the composition from Nandanar Charithram. Haripriya explained the meaning of the song in Telugu probably to help the telugu rasikas to relish the beauty of the composition. The way they rendered this composition reminded me immediately of Ranjani and Gayatri. They sang the same composition a couple of times in their concerts here in Hyderabad. Priya sisters rendered this song very well too! The main piece of Kalyani. The alapana was done by Haripriya again. The raagam was dealt elaborately. The neraval was done for the lines "Brindavanantha..." The thaniavarthanam followed this.
The highlight of the concert was undoubtedly the RTP. It was different from the traditional style but still it grabbed attention and appreciation from all the rasikas. The sisters announced this as the composition of their Guru. The moment i heard that it is set to Natabhairavi, I was electrified with joy. An RTP for us in hyderabad is a treat and that too in a raga like Natabhairavi is superlative of treat.
They announced the talam as Chatusra roopakam and Misra gathi. I am not sure if I caught this information clearly. This is what I remember about the taalam. They also announced their ragamalika plan to sing the krithi and keerthanam of the composers one after the another after the swarakalpana. The idea was something I did not come across before. i did listen to some RTPs where the pallavi of some song would follow the ragam they chose to do swarakalpana in. The entire song being rendered was an interesting idea. That meant we would get to listen to 6 extra songs in 3 different ragams from 2 different composers i enjoyed the idea even before they started singing.The alapana was started by Shanmukhapriya now. Next round was by Haripriya, They brought the exact essence of the ragam. It was so enjoyable. The thanam was short but was packed with fine quality. It had to be short for the time factor was on the higher side, i guess. The pallavi was
"Thyagayya Annamayya Bhagavathooththamulu meerayya"
A short pallavi but a perfect tribute to the two great composers calling them "Bhagavathothamulu". Both the composers hold a special place in heart of every Andhrite for they took the language of Telugu to a greater level. Everyone here in Hyderabad are more familiar with Thyagaraja and Annamacharya when compared to other composers. At least Annamayya is well known to everyone here if not thyagaraja, thanks to the super hit film of Nagarjuna as "Annamayya"
That makes the choice of pallavi lines perfect for the audience of Hyderabad. The kalpana swarams were in the raagas Revagupthi, Hindolam and Poorvikalyani.
Haripriya rendered the Revagupthi first and they sang "Grahabalamemi Sriraamanugraha". The entire composition was rendered.
Shanmukhapriya took over the next round of swarams in the same raga. Then they sang "Purushothamudaveevu Purushadhamudanenu". Only one charanam of Annamacharya songs were rendered when the compositions were taken in those raagams.
Next was hindolam. Haripriya sang first and then Shanmukhapriya. Thyagaraja krithi was "Manasuloni' and Annamayya's "Garudagamana" were rendered. The third was EXTRAORDINARY round in Poorvikalyani. Haripriya started the swarakalpana. It was amazing. She started the krithi from the charanam "Paramathmudu jeevathmudu" (Gjanamosagaradhaa) and after Shanmukhapriya's rendition of the same raagam, "Nallani meni nagavu choopulavadu" was rendered. After this they returned to Natabhairavi and ended the RTP.
And after this there were three thukkada pieces and as usual they were at their best.
Something i loved about the concert apart from the RTP is the choice of krithis covering different composers. The choice of the raagams was also very good. Today evening we have Vedavalli's concert. Will give the report of the concert tomorrow. Mrs. Sivakami will be giving the details of another extraordinary concert that was the inaugural concert of the festival. Hyderabad sisters performed extraordinarily is what I heard! I could not go to that concert as i was not keeping well.
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