S.Sowmya at Kapaleeswarar Temple,14/04/12

[aish1986]

Vocal: S.Sowmya
Violin: Padma Shankar
Mridangam: Poongulam Subramanian
Ghatam: Chandrasekar Sharma

There are few things first. I have never heard before this in Kapaleeswarar temple. hence i loved the ambience. There was an aura of divinity reverberating the whole arena. I have never enjoyed Sowmys 's concerts like this. A total bliss i would say.Even though there was a lot of exodus happening (even i left the place after hearng for an hour), i still enjoyed.

These are the songs sung.
1.Gajavadana Karuna sadhana - SriRanjani - P.Sivan
2.Karunanidhiye Thaaye- Ramapriya-P.Sivan
3.Chani Thodi theve - Harikambhoji - T.raja(R,Violin,N,S@patitula brOcu)(Sub-Main)
4.Paraloka sadhaname manasa- Purvikalyani-T.Raja
5.Kapali - Mohanam - P.sivan

I left at this point.
The concert was scheduled to begin at 7 pm. It started at 7:15.
Sowmya opened with popular gajavadana. Since many among the audience could instantly recognise it there were instant besh and bales.
Next number was on the presiding female deity of the temple - Karpagaambal. Another by Sivan and 2 on 2 tamil numbers. I have not heard any songs in this Raga. It would be helpful if the forumites give some insight about this Raga and some compositions in this.
She followed this with a brilliant alapanai on Harikhambhoji. It was so divine.Padma Shankar responded with another brilliant elaboration of the raga.
This is the first time i am hearing this violinist. She faithfully followed the main artist.The Neraval and Swaras were sung at patitula brocu. Sowmya sang some interesting swara patterns landing on M1.
PurviKalyani and Mohanam were sung as fillers.I expected that she would sing Kapali as a main.I left at this point as it was already 8:30 and i had to reach my far away home.

It was a nice concert full of divinity.

[rshankar]

Aish, back in those days, when the outer prAkAram of the temple used to filled with sand (near the enclosure with the peacocks and peahens, IIRC), concerts were regular affairs, especially for the vasantOtsavam...I remember listening to a concert by Smt. MLV once. Was this also part of vasantOtsavam?

[HarishankarK]

To my knowledge Karunanidhiye Thaaye is usually sung in Bowli.
Please correct me if i am wrong.

[Sam Swaminathan]

aish1986...was the concert held at the corner of Saneeswarar Sannidhi and opposite to Navagrahas? If so, this is the traditional place where I have heard hundreds of concerts in the past. Yes, you can never get a better ambiance than Kapaleeswarar temple....

[aish1986]

@rshankar: It was a part of Panguni festival. I dont have any idea about vasantotsavam.
@sam: It was held in mandapam near singaravelar sannidhi

[rshankar]

Sam, wasn't the peacock enclosure near the navagraha sannidhi?

[Sam Swaminathan]

Shankar...yes it was the peacock enclosure at certain times...there was also a small gate adjacent to the main gates of the temple ( on the eastern side). This enabled me to stray out for a few minutes while the concert was going on to pick up some hot salted peanuts. A beautiful night, 10 pm, nice and cool weather, a very elaborate Todi with hot salted peanuts....mmmm....those days.

Aish1986...looks like they have changed the venue these days. But I am sure equally good...perhaps this must accomodate more rasikas!

[rupavathi]

http://www.thehindu.com/arts/article3331869.ece