Ashwin and Rohin Iyer (Carnatic Vocal)
Arun Ramamurthy (Violin)
Vinod Venkataraman (Mridangam)
This is more an observation than a review of the concert. My disclaimer up front is that my knowledge is more in layam than in the ragam side of Karnatic music. This of course was due to my close association to Palghat Raghu in Bombay in the late 70's when he visited NCPA to teach during the summer.
The brothers began with a Ata Tala varnam in ragam Kamavardhini. They sang the whole varnam in one speed. The ambience of the auditorium with the sun filtering through the colored glass made the varnam more appreciative. For being born and raised in North America thier diction was very clean. Their was a spastam in their rendition of the sahitya. Song # 2 the brothers choose Hindolam for the raga development. I guess the choice was predominantly due to the audience base and the organization they were performing for. The development of the raga was very relaxed and did not feel rushed. The notes on this pentatonic was developed by the brothers alternating and I must say they understood each other very well. Arun Ramamurthy a student of Delhi Sunderrajan accompanied on the violin with a lot of understanding. His returns to the key phrases were apt and he followed like a shadow. The Kirtanam Neerajakshi Kamakshi in Rupakam ( 2 kallai) was rendered well. I was left wanting as I anticipated swarams for this beautiful kirtanam. As I mentioned in the onset my knowledge is more on the laya side.
Vinod Venkataraman’s mridangam has a very unique and sustained sound. Although a product of the Palghat Raghu school not a single phrase was from that school. His ability to accompany with a resounding base is phenomenal. Both the varnam and neerajakshi Kamakshi had sarva laghu patterns with crisp teermanams. This style very much reminded me of the late Shri Vellore Ramabhadran.
Piece # 3 was a kirtanam in ragam Jayamanohari "Yagna dulu sukha" in Adi talam. I recognized the arohanam to be Abhogi. Cannot remember what the avarohanam was. This kirtanam was sung fairly briskly with a lot of manodharma kalpana swarams.
Ragam Tanam Pallavi was in ragam Nattai. A beautiful choice in the 4 o'clock hour. The hall was now buzzing with rasikas. The pallavi line in the Purvangam was Anandamai, Parama nandamai. The Uttarangam part was chidananda brahmanandamai....
Adi Talam (2 kallai) Arai Edam Samam. The pallavi was rendered in tri kalam and all the necessary mathematical gymnastics was performed. Once again Arun Ramamurthy, traversed the ragams well and in his response picked up new ragams. I wish I could repeat all the ragams that were sung in the ragamalika. The brothers dwelt well with the PMGMR, SRGMR combinations in the swarams. If the brothers do read this please elaborate on all the ragams sung in the ragamallika.
This was followed by a very short tani avartanam and the concert came to an abrupt end. I am sure the brothers were planning to sing tukuddas but due to poor time management had to end the concert. Nevertheless a very well sung concert. Keep up the good work.....