SURYAPRAKASH- ARASI’S CD RELEASE CONCERT

[CRama]

It was my pleasure to attend the function for release of Arasi Madam’s CD sung by Vidwan Suryapraksh and I am happy to report that the hall was almost full. I met Mr.Nick . I do not know if any other member from rasikas.org attended.

The function started with the prayer song- a composition of Arasi in the ragam Hamsadhwani- Vezha mukhathonai vendi ninral avan vaLam thandiduvaan manam magizhnthe anudinamum. I could not note down the lady who sang this, But she sang very well.

The CD was released by Cleveland VVSundaram and the first copy was handed over to CV. Chandrasekhar, Bharathanatyam exponent. While welcoming the dignitaries, Arasi madam told that she was inspired by the question of our own Arun some time back why there are no compositions expressing a man’s feelings for his lady. We have many songs mainly padams and javalis which depict the opposite side of this. With that thought Arasi had composed these songs- which can be related to padams and javalis.

A few points expressed by Cleveland Sundaram
• He has been amazed by the creativity of Arasi as revealed in these songs- It is a spontaneous outflow of sangeetham and sahithyam which is not everybody’s forte.
• It contains superior expressions of ragam, ragabhavam, porul, solnayam and prasam.

CVChandrasekar said
• He also shared this feeling of a man’s longing for his beloved. There are no songs in these genre for dance. So he composed one varnam in Abhogi with the same idea. He sang a portion of the same and it was very appealing.
• These songs can form part of the male dancer’s reportire

Arasi told that Suryaprakash also gave her some ideas. Suryaprakash mentioned about the intensity of the lyrics and he could not get sleep when he learned some of the songs. This was followed by the concert consisting of exclusive Arasi Madam’s songs. Kumakonam MR Gopinath, Mannarkoil Balaji and Venkatramani provided the support.
List of songs.
1. Oyamal orandu sumanthu petru kaayaamal nanayaamal
Kaathu valartha deivam – Virutham in Saveri
2. En annayin parivum anbum inru naan arinthene- Saveri.
Neraval-Paasamodum migu nesamodum Aasayodum makkalai kaathiduvai
This song reflects feelings of a man about the trouble taken by his mother for bringing up when he sees his wife taking all pains to bring up his child.
3. Sudhadhanyasi alapana-Vande thunai thanthe enai kaakkum kandane
Swaras at sugamevum ninainthe
4. Hamsanandi alapana –Nadagame un ulakam penne
5. Nanmayum selvamum naalum nalkume- virutham- Mukhari
6. Un thirunaamam ninayadu thiriveno- Mukhari
7. Kalyani elaborate alapana- Yaar enna sonnalum unakkenna
Elaborate swaras at pallavi followed by a mini thani
8. Ahiri ragam-Arinthen inre unnaye naane
This song is very touching- it expresses the remorse of a man in his later years about the neglect he has shown towards his wife- who had shown so much of love and care for him all through.

Kudos to Arasi madam for the simple yet very intense lyrics and putting them in appropriate ragams. Suryapraksh had internalized all songs and he successfully portrayed the feelings conveyed in the songs. A very good concert.

[rshankar]

CRama - thank you for that very nice report.

Arasi - can you provide a brief synopsis of the setting of each of the padams in this CD at your convenience?

[vasanthakokilam]

Awesome. Very glad to know that the event went well. Queen Reigns. Thanks CRama for the detailed report. Well written.

[KNV1955]

Attended Inaugural function. Cleveland Sundaram Sir is an excellent choice for such occasions. Spoke very well. Met Arasi mam for the first time. Very humble for such a creative person. The Tamil she uses in her songs are simple & intense in content. Couldn't stay for Suryaprakash concert. Hope to attend Gayatri Girish prog.

[thanjavooran]

Shri C Rama
Thanx for the detailed writeup
Arasi Vazhga Valamudan !
Thanjavooran
07 01 2015

[bombal]

way to go Tamizh "kku" arasi...and thanks CRama for the nice and crisp reporting

dhanyavaadaha

[mridhangam]

One thing i noticed about RSP concert was Shri RSP never had any paper in front of him to sing the fairly new kritis of Arasi Madam which is really a great aspect in todays concert world.

Mannarkoil Balaji

[ganeshkant]

Congrats Arasi.I attended a similar concert a few years back when sumitra nitin sang arasi's songs.

I request arasi to write more on nature and other topics left out.I know she is capable of.

Thanks CRama for a beautiful coverage and RSP for memorizing those lovely songs.

[pattamaa]

Arasi - very happy to hear... A big "OOOOOOOOOOOO" for you !!!!

Please compose few padams and javali in tamil, for next year CD release !!

[Nick H]

I would like to be able to write more, but I find that I can only say that the music was very beautiful, and that it was very beautifully performed. It was a really great concert by Suryaprakash!

[sridhar_ranga]

Thanks for the list, CRama. I missed the first-half of the function / concert.

After Ahiri, the final piece presented was the title song of the CD, engirundo vandai penne, in madhyamavati.

There was a very enjoyable jatiswaram added to the Hamsanandi song by Sri Suryaprakash.

[rshankar]

There was a very enjoyable jatiswaram added to the Hamsanandi song by Sri Suryaprakash.

Really? With a proper jati and svarams?

[kamalamba]

Congratulations Arasi Madam.
Very nice to read your review CRama on RSP's concert. I seem to have missed a really outstanding RSP concert.

[mahavishnu]

Congratulations Arasi. And best wishes for the next one. I look forward to hearing both CDs!

[tanapp]

Arasi..congratulations! Great contribution to the Carnatic world with padams and javalis.

[badari]

Arasi Maam,

Congratulations and a big thank you for another gem of a contribution to carnatic Music

[sridhar_ranga]

There was a very enjoyable jatiswaram added to the Hamsanandi song by Sri Suryaprakash.

Really? With a proper jati and svarams?

Jati for sure...were there swarams? Yes I thought so.

[rajeshnat]

Arasi CD release -Suryaprakash@ragasudha on Jan 06th,2014
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Speeches by Arasi- VV Sundaram - CV Chandrasekar - Suryaprakash:
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# I was not there for the invocation song.Arasi was also the master of ceremony. That certainly was a nice way as it ensured the speeches did not go beyond 50 minutes inclusive of CD release. Arasi is always an epitome of honesty and humility. She introduced V V S and she was so grateful for his cleveland series . Incidentally I noticed an extra twinkle in her eyes when she said ,she and VVS are from the same village - somewhere near tirunelveli. She also introduced the chief guest CV Chandrasekar after praising him as a fine dancer. Arasi spoke in english.

# As KNV said Cleveland VVS is surely a concise speaker. HIs speech was in thamizh . HE gives a clear opening where he clearly says what he knows and there were enough disclaimers. VVS praised Arasi and said that the krithis have padam and javali typecast , and he gave an anecdote of how Tanjore sankara iyer answered when his son was young and conversed with TSI. VVS Son asked TSI as to whether the tune comes first or lyrics comes first .Arasi and TSI have indeed created compositions where both tune and lyrics came simultaneously and there is indeed a sincere outpouring of bhavam(both sangeetham and sahithyam). He quipped "for knowing ragam you hear varnam , but for raga bhavam you should hear padam and javali". VVS also mentioned that when he listened this particular cd with few young vidwans and vidushi - they said suryaprakash sang few compositions which were in line with vidwan kvn in quality .VVS also quipped that the mmi school donot favour padam and javalis VVS said suryaprakash is open minded and not prejudiced and he said he is observing that for 4 years. VVS also gave few interesting anecdotes about CV Chandrasekar and he said CVS is a puritan and does not compromise.

# The chief guest CV chandrasekar spoke exceptionally well. I saw him first speaking for a Late ks mahadevan centenary celebrations . CVC said he heard the whole CD prior to the function, that indeed added a lot of objectivity to what he felt -than rather making irrelevant out of context praises that can usually be the case for these cd releases . CVC said he had the same feeling as Arunk about 6 years back in terms of men expressing feeling of love and not having adequate compositions . CVC felt that he can compose something where men talks about the feeling to a lady and he sang few lines of his own aabhogi varnam - ennai marandanarO ninaindu ninaindu urugum and went explaining how he composed next few lines like chinnan chiru vayadhu - I like that step by step explanation .Overall this segment where when CVC talked and with he explaining how he composed and he relating the same aabhogi which arasi has composed in this CD opener was lovely. He said many other things which I forgot now .He particularly praised suryaprakash rendition of the ahiri ,kapi song and one more song which I forgot . Kapi did not come in the concert but ahiri was there in the subsequent concert and it was indeed praiseworthy. CVC sang a bit of all three songs that he enjoyed explaining from his angle . I personally did not know much about CVC .CVC is also a padma bhushan awardee which was some thing i did not know. CVC is really a gifted speaker .

# Post CVC speech ,arasi thanked rasikas.org and particularly arunk who is the karanakartha . Attn Arun - Arasi told that you composed few lines and gave that to arasi , what was that. Finally suryaprakash gave a brief vote of thanks just giving some pointer to Arasi powerful words in ahiri .

[rajeshnat]

Impressions of the concert :
---------------------------
One can bucketize the concert as two buckets - a true differentiator bucket, and a little too many words and needs more listener conditioning bucket.

# The first bucket as true differentiator came definitely in atleast two krithis. The first is the ahiri krithi , which was simply a very soulful rendition , arasi has lucid language and certainly the emote of her words met the ahiri raga devadai . The words were something like aRindenE InrE unnaiyE , the bhava of seperation or longing goes well with ahiri , certainly this was the pick of the whole concert . As i am writing I am thinking ahiri has one mAyammmA of ss, callarE (sompaina) of T as such there is shortage of krithis . I think i am right in saying there is no thamizh krithi in ahiri . Certainly any musician can take aRindEnE inrE to the heights of say GKB varugalamO aiya in maanji .To an extent I can make a calculated speculation that other vageyyakaras in the past have missed a soulful thamizh krithi in ahiri- Arasi has given a great number.

The second best was the initial saaveri krithi , En annayin parivum anbum ennai . I am not sure if the preceding viruththam he sang was verses that rsp took from arasi krithi or if that is part of krithi .Certainly saveri krithi indeed had the right bhavam and the neraval was well done. The third krithi that nearly falls in that bucket is vanden thunai thanden in suddha dhanyasi - though this krithi does not have the remorse or love as a theme , this krithi is a usual bhakthi krithi on Lord Muruga. Arasi has made some nice rhythmmic adjustment and I have heard this suddha dhanyasi from previous cd release of SMt neela ramagopal. It is really a nice composition.

# The second bucket of krithis perhaps falls in the bucket "too many words and needs more listener conditioning " .Atleast the mukhari and kalyani krithi fell in that type. I think at times I notice just too many words is not giving a complete musical experience to me . THis problem kind of appears to even vaggeyakkaras like OVK, Muttu tandavar, few GKB and definitely few papanAsam sivan krithis. I have indeed heard the mukhari krithi un thiru nAmam ninaindhu before in a cd which Suryaprakash also mentioned . There were too much mouthful of words there , the mukhari had the path of kanrin kural kettu(enraiku sivakripai) of neelakanta sivan but arasi did not finish that well like saveri or ahiri. The kalyani krithi - Yaar enna sonnalum unakkenna was the main . I have personally not heard a main krithi of arasi apart from the first concert of sumitra nitin where she sang a bilahari krithi as main. Kalyani also bit suffered with little excess words ,to an extent there was bit karadu moradana thamizh coming in the way. Of course both kalyani and mukhari I need a certain bit more conditioning - certainly the first impression was not that great for sure. I would have been happier if suryaprakash attempted to sing a neraval in kalyani .

# The hamsanandi krithi had two rounds of jathis and if i recollect right the second round had swaras .The hamsanandi krithi Nadagame un ulakam was bit long . I felt the krithi had two big charanams- this krithi will suck a musicians lungs but hey hamsanandi is great that way being a very expressive and catchy raga.I had an aural feel of one particular illayaraja number of 1980's which had an intense carnatic tune.

# The last title song engirundhO vandAi pennE was in madhyamavati . Personally I switched off completely post ahiri when the last madhyamavati began.I was not receptive - Ahiri certainly creates more hunger feeling and with me not munching anything before , I did lose my concentration. Anyway I am sure Arasi's husband Krishnan sir (arasan) can have everyday morning breakfast song with his wife - nice lines engirundhO vandAi pennE with idli or dosa - the young couple have crossed their pasta and lasagna sphaghetti days for sure.

# The accompanist MRG had a very limited role and he played in a restrained fashion . Mannarkoil Balaji had very measured strokes , the kanjira artist had almost no role in this concert. I guess with all three accompanist sitting before the speech where generally the tone was bit high on remorse and contemplation ,the accompanist continued with the same vibe.

Overall very good to excellent function and concert for 2 hours and 50 minutes.

[arasi]

Thank you all, especially CRama and Rajesh, our AsthAna critics for being there.
Will come back with more impressions when things calm down a bit.

This evening, Gayathri Girish's concert will follow her CD release. Hope those of you who have the time to spare will be there.I am looking forward to her concert!

[Nick H]

The chief guest CV chandrasekar spoke exceptionally well.

I noticed how he listened! The look of complete attention in his eyes when Suryaprakash sang a few lines for him.

[arunk]

Congratulations for Arasi. I am glad to have played a (very) small part in inspiration for this. It was gracious of her to mention this as I feel it was such a small part that it would have been fine with me if it was altogether left out!

rajesh - I had "composed" a song a couple of years ago. Certainly due to (kuruTTu) luck (since obviously i am not a poet/composer), the pallavi line "came to me" (words and tune), and it had the theme of a male talking about his female love. Then it occurred to me that there were not any songs in that view point and so i went into the deliberate act of finishing it. Since the theme I felt was perhaps unique, I shared it with arasi (among a couple of others), and had highlighted the lack of male viewpoint to arasi, and obviously she just took that cue and ran away with it

PS: I find it ironic/hilarious/somewhat-disturbing that we have vivid to explicit lyrics from male composers expressing the female viewpoint but not sure any of them took the what would seem more obvious/natural route! The hilarity (to me) is most so when a super-senior male singer sings a padam/javali expressing sringara-rasa from a female viewpoint .

Arun

[rshankar]

Arun! Couldn't agree more! Especially, the post script!

Arasi - I hope you do not forget my suggestion to bring this out in the format of true visual poetry - a DVD with Prof. CVC, and other male dancers presenting these in nATya format! It will be wonderful....

Hoping to hear about the other CD release and Smt. Gayathri's concert.

[Ramasubramanian M.K]

Folks: Excellent summation by CRama and Rajeshnat!! Congrats ARASI--I guess our Forumites will agree with me that the QUEEN STATUS should hencefoth be elevated to EMPRESS!!
More power to your creatvity and compositions!!!

Those Forumites who are public singers as well should learn and promote in an authentic manner ARASI's compositions so that 100 years from now her compositions would be hailed and appreciated!!

SSi said once that he asked GNB WHY he did not sing his own compositions in his concerts--GNB is reported to have replied that if the compositons are sung by his disciples and if they(the compositions) have "LEGS" they would sustain themselves. If they don't any amount of popularisation by him would not help!!!
Let us all make sure that some of us learn these songs and try to make them popular !!! I am sure the compositions would have LEGS!!!!

[Rsachi]

Arasi
You seem to be the star of the season! Congrats and God Bless.

[MV]

Congratulations Arasi. Sorry to have missed you this Season. Hope I get a copy of this CD sometime. Happy New Year to all forumites

[Rsachi]

To those who lament the absence of stories and lyrics of songs of passion and separation of a man for his beloved, there is a must read:
Vikramorvashiyam of Kalidasa. Here is Ravi Varma's take on it:


A page of translation:

[arasi]

MV,
I missed seeing you too in Chennai Saw your name in the concert list, was tempted to make it to ChithrakuLam, but the very early morning hour fazed me...

Badari,
Thanks!

Arun,
I had to mention your name because you really were the one who made me think of the paucity in songs of this kind in CM and it got me going!

MKR,
You do get carried away To be called queen...a peasant starts getting used to after years--but empress? I bend my head down in embarrassment, and the mightier crown rolls off! Thanks for your abhimAnam, though

Sachi,
Thanks...as is your wont, you illustrate things with illustrations

Speaking of ancient texts, sanga kAlam poetry has many verses where a man's sentiments were written about. Arun spoke about the need for it in CM.

Then again, a friend did remind me that Arunachala kavi's RamanATatakam has the classic ArO, ivar ArO--rAmA gazing upon sItA as he sets foot in mithilA...

[arasi]

Still a bit tired from all my exploits in Chennai, getting ready for the events, taking in concerts, crossing the road, negotiating the unpredictable terrain...

Rama,
The young woman who sang the invocation so well was Meenakshi Harish, one of Suryaprakash's students.The song is from Sumitra Nitin's CD (Volume 3).

[Nick H]

Arasi, thank you for bringing us new songs, CDs and two concerts. Sorry not to see more of you. See you in Feb.

[maduraimini]

Good to hear the Reviews of Arasi CD Release, by CRama and Rajesh. Congratulations to Arasi on adding one more feather to her cap! I am glad to hear that Sri Suryaprakash did justice to her creations. Thanks for the reviews.

[arasi]

M&M,
Indeed, Surya did more than justice to them:)

Missed you, of course...

[vasanthakokilam]

As requested by Arasi

Here is a song from this CD
https://soundcloud.com/arasi-cd/madhuvunda-suryaprakash

[gvranand]

>> The function started with the prayer song- a composition of Arasi in the ragam Hamsadhwani- Vezha mukhathonai vendi ninral avan vaLam thandiduvaan manam magizhnthe anudinamum. I could not note down the lady who sang this, But she sang very well.

She is Mrs. Meenakshi Harish. A very good singer. She was also the disciple of late Sri Thiruvengadu Jayaraman. I've had the pleasure of listening to her a few times.

[Lakshman]

Congratulations arasi and Suryaprakash. Wish I could have been there!

[arasi]

You and Shantha were both there in Raga Sudha hall when vidushi Neela Ramgopal's CD was released, or was it at the release of Sumitra Nitin's InidE vandaruLvAn kandan?

Thanks, gvranand. Wish we had met...You got all of the words right! I thought Minakshi Harish did a great job