Ms. Sowmya Sridhar at Secunderabad

[sivakami]

Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Seva Samithi, Secunderabad’s Five day Festival of Music & Dance

11.12.2011

Ms. Sowmya Sridhar – vocal
Sri. R. Dinakar – violin
Sri. Burra Sriram – mridangam

Song list:
1. Ninne bhajana seyuvadanu – nattai – thyagaraja
2. Paalisamma muddu saarade – sriranjani – purandaradasa
3. Gangeya vasanadhara - hamir kalyani – swati tirunal
4. narasimha nannu brovave – bilahari – thyagaraja (R- 2min)
5. ninne nammithinayya srirama – simhendra madhyamam - mysore vasudevacharya
( R – 9 min, vio – 4min; N & S @ pannagendra sayana)
6. a slokam from dasaradhi satakam in sahana & mukhari followed by the Bh. Ramadasu kriti “ etikki dayaradhu raa” in mukhari
7. evari maatta vinnavo – khamboji – thyagaraja (R -8 min; vio-4min; N&S @ parama bhaktha paradeenudanuchu)
Tani – 8 min
8. maal maruga shanmuga – vasantha – papanasam sivan
9. vishveshvar darsan kar - sindhu bhairavi – swati tirunal
10. rama naamame thudhi maname – desh – thanjavur sankara iyer
11. Thillana –desh- lalgudi Jayaraman
12. Mangalam –“pavamana”

This concert was on the second day (11th dec) after the doyen Nedunuri garu’s concert on 10th dec 2011, organised by the Sri. LakshmiNarasimha Seva samithi of Secunderbad. This temple-committee normally conducts a 5-day series during summer in the month of May. This year they recently announced about this 5-day-music festival. Sri. Seshadri mama, the secretary was saying that they will also have another series in summer like earlier years. Out of the 5 days, they arrange a dance recital, two concerts by some budding young artistes (Sri. Abhilash Giriprasad sang in 2009) and the remaining two would be of the so-called famous artistes. This season’s program list has been posted both in the kutchericalender as well as the Music/festivals section of our forum. Given below is about a youngster from the twin cities.

Sowmya Sridhar, a young girl in peacock-blue pavadai/daavani (half-saree) was almost finishing the Naatai kriti when I went in, from which I could get a glimpse of the brisk pace start, just like her illustrious gurus, the Hyderabad Sisters Lalitha & Haripriya. The next item was very neatly presented; it was a pleasant surprise for some that a kannada kriti was chosen right at the beginning. Item # 3 was wonderful with brigas sprinkled everywhere. Even Dinakar on the violin tried to reproduce her every note. Correct pronunciation of words in all the four languages was ensured without the distortions of the phrases, which enhanced the bhavam. Simhendra madhyamam as well as kambhoji alapana (s) were well received, with quite a few aha, besh, bale bale s.. She has a powerful, booming and yet a very sweet voice. It was really refreshing to listen to this young upcoming artiste. The excellent concert-planning and hard work was reflected in every item that she presented. IMHO, while she was able to manage the ucha sthayi very well, only the lower side need more polishing, which I am sure, they will try and work-on. Similarly her hand movements during the alapanai and all can be minimized (perhaps may reduce with practice and experience!). Both the accompanying artistes also supported her very well elevating the concert. Overall it was a fantastic kucheri (is what the 90-odd rasikas who stayed till the end felt). Wishing her all the best!
Eager to listen to Nadamuni Gayathri Bharat on the 14th dec..

[rshankar]

Nice list...evari mATa vinnAvO...beautiful kRti - and just for that, the artist needs special appreciation...
I note that she sang 2 tamizh kRtis in Secunderabad - is that usual? Is it driven by the number of tamizh-speaking rasikas?

[revanthv552]

The majority of the people who come to listen to the concert are Tamizh rasikas. Generally every concert that happens in Secunderabad have at least one number in Tamizh That is the general trend I observed in almost all the concerts.

Very glad to see the review of Sowmya's concert. I have known her and her family for the last five years from attending the kutcheris in Hyderabad.
She is blessed with a mellifluous voice and a lot of determination. And of course she is blessed by wonderful gurus! Hyderabad sisters are extra ordinary be it as performers as well as gurus.

Thank you so much for the review Sivakami

[srikant1987]

Thank you for the review, Sivakami. May CM flourish in Hyderabad, and may we get many more reviews from you! I find your reviews very unique, even moving sometimes.

[sivakami]

I find your reviews very unique, even moving sometimes.

Ha ha.. moving… Maybe I bring out all my emotions due to over-enthusiasm..

Thank you very much srikant 1987, (arasi madam, rajeshnat, rshankar and all the other fellow forumites who have been encouraging me constantly..). Actually, I was very hesitant to write initially, being a lay-rasika not trained in CM much, excepting for learning upto few varnams in early 1970s, in my childhood. At the same time, I felt strongly that someone else (as it is too much of a burden on young and busy student Revanth otherwise!) should also try to write about the happenings here in the twin cities, and hence gathered all my courage and started and continue posting sometimes. Ofcourse there are many other concerts taking place, all of which I am not able to attend/cover. Even now, I would say it is a report rather than a review.

The experience of being a part of this wonderful forum has been educative and enjoyable. I am learning to pay full attention to every aspect in a kutcheri, and also trying to learn the nuances of CM more and more..I am also trying to spreading information about our forum, particularly among youngsters who I come across, so that many more enthusiasts will join Revanth..

[revanthv552]

Mami, Thats so kind of you. I am really happy and I wish what all you say really happens. I seriously wish more and more youngsters start coming to concerts in Hyderabad, so that the scene gets brighter. When compared to past times, the scene now seems brighter. Hope we succeed in making it even better and I am sure we will!
And I seriously agree with you, forum has been a great source of knowledge. Getting to know more and more things and enjoying the beauty of Carnatic music more and more!