Malladi Brothers at Kalasagaram, Secunderabad

[sivakami]

Malladi Brothers at Kalasagaram, Secunderabad on 1st Dec 2011

Malladi Sreeram Prasad (SRP) & Malladi Ravikumar (RK)
MA Sundaresan – violin
K V Prasad – mridangam
B V S Prasad –Morsing

Song list:
1. taruni (varnam) – kAmbOji – Adi – violin ponnuswAmi ( 2 speeds)
2. himAchala tanaya – Ananda bhairavi –syama satri (R- 4 min. by SRP; S@ himAchala tanaya)
3. nAda lOludai – kalyANa vasantam – Thyagaraja
4. sandhehamunu - Rama priya – Thyagaraja ( R- 10 min. by RK, vio – 4 min.; S@ ‘bharadharchana‘)
5. chEtAsrI bAlakrishNam – dvijAvanti- Muthuswami Dikshitar – (R – 5 min.)
6. sivaya namavendru – kuntalavaraLi – Papanasam Sivan
7. RTP – kharaharapriya – R - 12 min by SRP, 6 min. by RK, vio- 5 min.; tanam – 13 min;
Pallavi – “ murugA, shanmugA, mAlmarugA vA, sadhguru guhane”; swara-raga-malika in Arabhi, DEsAkshi (?), …., dhanyAsi and in the reverse direction to kharaharapriya.Talam: chathusra jathi, jampa thalam, kanda nadai.
8. Tani for 8 min.
9. Ithara DEvathalakkidhi galadha – bahuDAri – annamAchArya (MBros announced that it was tuned by their grand-guru Sri. Sripada Pinakapani garu)
10. I vELa nannu brOvara – khamAs - Badraacala Raamadaas
11. jagadhOdhAraNA - kApi - Adi – purandaradAsa
12. 'Sri Vijayagopalathe mangaLam – Surati – NarayaNa theertha followed by the slokam “shriyakAnthAya”

This was the sixth and last day of the kutcheris of the series. When it started at around 7 PM, initially the mikes were not satisfactory for the artistes, and the usual hand-gestures to increase/decrease this- and that- setting went on for some time. After the varnam sung in two speeds, I was a bit surprised when they started with the ragam followed by the devi-kriti( mostly they used to sing a kriti on Lord ganesha as item # 2). It was so loud for people in the front rows, that the mellifluous Ananda bhairavi from the M Bros was not as pleasant as it used to be. Even the rendition of the kriti in kalyana vasantham was not their usual, due to the incompatible settings of the sound system. This is how some of us felt.

Then when RK started the ramapriya alapana, we felt as if things had somewhat sorted out, everything sounded better. Some rasikas were guessing whether they would sing “Korina varamu” and we were very happy when they started “Sandhehamunu”. It was rendered in an elaborate manner. The chief guest later mentioned that such less-sung pieces are a special treat. Next the dvijavanti kriti was delivered in their style, with clear diction and some rare-brigas (perhaps the after-effect of their jugal bandhi tour with the Gundecha Bros). Absence of neraval or swarams, was somewhat disappointing. Then there was an intermission in the name of honoring the artistes and announcements of the forthcoming programmes in the twin cities etc., which took away quite sometime. Next, after the brisk filler in kunthalavarali (which was a repetition in this year here at Hyd), the grand main RTP was taken up.

SRP developed the ragam step-by-step in a detailed way, which RK followed. We were again guessing whether that would be a RTP or not. Then they started the tanam followed by the pallavi in tamil and the short swara-raga-malika. The tala pattern was complex for me. SRP announced that it was chatusra jathi jhampa talam. RK added by commending the pakka vadhya-vidwans, that, the original plan was to sing some other pallavi (different talam) and suddenly changed to this, for which the two percussionists immediately adjusted beautifully. Without the able support of such accompanying vidwans, he said, the kutcheris are never successful. The 8-min tani sounded very short after the 25 min tani on the previous day (mandolin kucheri of UP Raju & Nagamani).

The post-main tukkadas were their usual choice of composers. They sang ‘Ithara devathala’ with due respect to their Maha Guru SripAda Pinakapani garu. When compared to other concerts of the Malladis here at Hyd in this year 2011, some felt, this concert was not their best. The overall ambience (or the lack of it) sometimes causes this feeling. Violin support by M A Sundaresan was apt during every item, although not as elaborate during kharharapriya. He himself was applauding the performance of the other artistes with audible “ aha, bale-bale, besh-besh” throughout. The other two accompanying artistes K V Prasad as well as B V S Prasad also did a very good job, making the concert enjoyable.

Eagerly waiting to listen to their guruji Nedunuri garu on the 10th Dec here at Sec-bad.

[thenpaanan]

Malladi Brothers at Kalasagaram, Secunderabad on 1st Dec 2011
[...]
Next, after the brisk filler in kunthalavarali (which was a repetition in this year here at Hyd), the grand main RTP was taken up. SRP developed the ragam step-by-step in a detailed way, which RK followed.
[...]
Eagerly waiting to listen to their guruji Nedunuri garu on the 10th Dec here at Sec-bad.

Thanks for the detailed review. I am wondering if anyone would venture an opinion comparing the styles of the Malladi brothers with that of Nedunuri garu. I have studied the methodical approach by NK to raga development in a (possibly hopeless) quest of emulation. I wonder if the brothers have copied it or adapted it and if the latter what changes they might have made.

As for kriti singing, NK is reputed to have said that when you hear a kriti you must "only hear the sAhitya, not the swaras behind them." It was only recently that I understood the import of that statement. From what online resources are available of the brothers, I find that they have absorbed that dictum to a remarkable degree. This stylistic choice not only makes the singing sound more natural, but also enables clearer enunciation, something sivakami has pointed out (implying that this is not a usually found characteristic, an assertion I am in agreement as well).

-Thenpaanan

[Sreeni Rajarao]

I have not heard a vocal version of sandEhamunu (rAmapriya rAga). Could anyone point me to a link or share an audiofile with me?

I know I should first do some searching on my own. I am only hoping someone will have it handy and they would not mind sharing it with me!

Thanks!

[sivakami]

I have not heard a vocal version of sandEhamunu (rAmapriya rAga). Could anyone point me to a link or share an audiofile with me?

We have heard only the M Bros' rendition in their album " Sukhanubhav", with their clear diction and bhavam.
Now upon googling, I also found another link: music.ovi.com/in/en/pc/Product/S-Sowmya/Sandhehamunu-Raga-Ramapriya-Adi-Tala-Rupuam...
hope this info is useful...

[shripathi_g]

Here's a rendition by MDR - http://soundcloud.com/sripathionline/md ... nu/s-n50PF

[ganeshkant]

Sandhehamu was a welcome inclusion.I have heard once sung by musician friend while we were on a walk.I doubt whether many musicians know this kriti.The majority sing 'korina varamu'.

[Sreeni Rajarao]

Sivakami,
Thanks for the pointer. The link did not work on the first attempt - I will try again.

Sripathi,
Thank you! I appreciate your response to my request! I enjoy M D R's music and this was such a bonus!

[calicut]

There is a sublime rendering of Sandehamu by their guru NK on a commercially available CD (don't remember when it first came out, but I have it in my collection and can look it up). They no doubt learned this one from him.