V Sankaranarayanan at Lalithkala Vedika on 3rd April 2007

mridhangam · Post by **mridhangam** » 04 Apr 2007, 11:24

V.Sankaranarayanan, V.V.Srinivasa Rao, Mannarkoil J Balaji

V Sankaranarayanan is a disciple of Vaigal Gnanaskandan and son of N.V.Subramaniam of Saraswathi Vaggeyakkara Trust Chennai, hailing from a musical background. I have been playing for Sankaranarayanan for over 7 year now. He has come a long way in his renditions and also approach to the concerts. On 3rd April 2007 he gave a satisfying recital for the Lalith Kala Vedika at the cozy R.K.Swamy Hall near the now-demolished RR Sabha, Mylapore. The ambience is very nice and the acoustics is quite satisfactory. The list of compositions includes :-

Vatapi Ganapathim Bhaje-Hamsadhwani-Adi
Sundara Tara deham-Pantuvarali-Adi
Maa Ramanan-Hindolam-Tisra Ekam Rendu Kalai
Ninne Nammithi Nayya -Simhendramadyamam-Misra Chaapu
Lavanya Rama Kanu-Poornashadjam-Rupakam
Bagayanayya-Chandrajyoti-Adi
Mohana Rama-Mohanam-Adi 2 Kalai
Tamarai Pootha Thadagamadi-Sindhu Bhairavi ?-Adi-MMDDesikar
Ramajothi Mandu-Khamas-Adi
Mangalam

The List was very impressive and right from the start the concert was always on the up without any drag points. He is young and his voice is very supple and pliant. Sings what he wants to with fair amount of success and dignity too, true to his tradition and the lineage taken down from his father. Especially Sundara Tara Deham where he sang swaram at 3/4th from samam had lots of varieties. His Maa Ramanan was soaked in bhava and melody. Again Ninne Nammiti Nayya was marked by elegance and the swaras flowed like a fine river. Lavanya rama and Bagayanayya came as fillers but had dignity and touch of elegance. Mohanam was taken up for main alapana and produced some lucid sangatis with natural brilliance. In mohana Rama he sang swaras at Jagan Mohana and also at Mohana Rama. The starting point of Jagan was atheetham and i almost thought he was going to give Tani in that place. But dont know why he suddenly changed and came back to Mohana Rama (1 Beat after samam). I was mentally preparing myself for a challenging Tani. Tamarai pootha, Ramajothi and Mangalam were the post tani items. barring a short power failure during the Main swara-korvai of Sankaranarayanan the concert was really bright and enlightening.

His voice needs special mention as his Base has really matured over years as Srinivasa Rao rightly pointed out after the concert "Your Gandhara for Hamsadhwani really spoke volumes about ur practice". Yes it was. The Ghandhara starting point in Mantrastayi for Hamsadhwani was a real surprise for me as it takes time for the voice to settle down to reach that level in Mantra stayi. But this youngster could reach mantrastayi for the first song within the first few sangathis/seconds. Truly Amazing. Also, I think he listens to a lot of TNS concerts too as his brigas and kanakkus border on years of listening to TNS and assimilation. Anyway it is just an observation and in no way to demean the innateness of his own music and soul. John Milton said in one of his poems "Genius Begins by imitation". We all learn things by imitating our parents and there is absolutely nothing wrong too so long as you find your SELF soon and get out of it and make a stamp on your own. Sankaranarayanan has got all the qualities of becoming a fine musician.

V V Srinivasa Rao, accompanied extremely well for the songs with judicious admixture of tarastayi and mantrastayi bowing to bring in contrast and cushioned the singers voice with his soft and effective playing.

I played Tani in Mohana Rama at 1 beat after samam. Played varieties for 15 from Little finger point onwards to Idam and then went on to play Khanda nadai. Finished off with mohara and korvai.

On the whole the concert was really nice. Audience turnout was really encouraging.

Tailpiece: Sankaranarayanan presently works for some foreign Bank in Singapore.

Mannarkoil J Balaji

prashant · Post by **prashant** » 04 Apr 2007, 11:43

Dear Balaji Sir: each time I read your fine reviews written from both the mridanga vidwan's and the rasika's perspective, I always wonder how much fun for an artiste to be accompanied by someone so attuned to the little details which make all the difference. Please keep your reviews coming - they are a joy to read. Looking forward to hearing you in person some day soon.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 04 Apr 2007, 12:56

Aye aye

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 04 Apr 2007, 19:55

I see that hindOLam is getting popular with vocalists at the moment--especially, rAmanukku mannan muDi. I like the variety in Sankaranarayanan's presentation too. Hope to hear him next season.
Thanks again, Balaji. I admire your taking time to write in detail about the concerts you attend (to)

The technical stuff is beyond me, but no doubt, I get educated. The forum has several unique features. Your pakka vAdya point of view of a concert is one of them...