VIJAYA SIVA AT RAGASUDHA HALL- 9/1

[CRama]

PALGHAT RAGHU REMEMBRANCE DAY
The disciples of Palghat Raghu organized this function in which an album of Dr.N.Ramani was released in which Palghat Raghu Sir has accompanied. The function was followed by the concert of Vijaya Siva accompanied by Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi on the Violin and Anantha R.Krishnan on the Mridangam and B.S.Purushotham on the Ganjira. I was not present for the function. Arrived there just at the start of the concert. List of songs.
Viriboni
Kadaikann vaithennai-Begada (N,S)
Anuragamule-Saraswathi (R)
Sarievvare-Sreeranjini (R,N)
Amba Neelambari- Neelambari
Munnuravana (R,N,S)
Thani
Gange mampahi- Chenjuruti
Raarammaayeni –Behag
Virutham- Sivakamasundari-Mukhari
Thirupugazh-Madhyamavathy

I had missed Vijaya Siva during the season. So felt lucky to catch him up in this extended season. Double bonus for me- Vijaya Siva and Anantha. This combination is first for me and that too not a frequent combination. Manoj Siva announced that Viriboni is a favourite of Palghat Raghu Sir and hence he had requested VS to start the concert with Viriboni. VS rendered the varnam in an appropriate tempo and sang in two kalams. Kadaikkan was rendered with good feeling and neraval atTanjamentrullor thammai nokki and the elaborate swaras in two kalams was icing on the cake. I heard Saraswathi alapana consecutively the second day in RS Hall. Since this is rarely heard, I was more than happy. His alapana brought the contours of the ragam very clearly. He could have sung swarams also. Next Sreeranjini alapana was well done and neraval at Kanakangientham gunarajasugam was done with gusto but left at that without swarams.

After a sedate Amba Neelambari of Ponnayya Pillai notable for its chittaswaram particularly, Thodi was explored with compelling details and the grand composition of Thyagaraja in Mishra Jhampa was taken up as Main piece. Among the thirty plus songs of Thyagaraja in Thodi, this song is not very common in concerts. Neraval at Rajaraja viraja was done very elaborately and followed up by swaras. The post thani pieces also were soaked in melody and bhavam.

Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi is a perfect match for VS in her imagination, alapana and returns. The father Lalgudi embellished many of the past masters concerts. I am happy that his daughter follows his strategy and is providing accompaniment at least on a selective mode. We are therefore able to hear Lalgudi bani rather once in a while.

Anantha was the real star for me in this concert. What a wizard. He created perfect gaps for himself to display his skill. He represents Palghat Raghu’s school to perfection. He might have taken some leaves out of other giants like UKS or Trichy Sankaran. His gumkis and sollus of valanthalai are awe inspiring. The thani by Anantha and BSP was simply rocking.

An excellent concert.

[Nick H]

I'm really sorry to have missed this concert, which I was particularly looking forward to --- but when a sick person has to be taken to hospital, there is not much one can do.

[rshankar]

CRama - thank you!
Looks like Sri Manoj Siva did not play, but just compered the event...
Nick...hope all's well....sometimes, life does get in the way of music appreciation..

[gardabha_gana]

How lucky are you in madras.....

[ganeshkant]

A nice list.I have heard the main sung by VS a few times before and he excels esp.in the neraval with his medium fast tempo which has become his style.my memory goes back to 1992 where I have heard 2 concerts of VS accompanied by VVS,PR and also Anantha as a bespectacled boy accompanying i.e double mridangam.In one such concert in sastry hall the jaganmohini RTP sung by VS is still fresh in my memory.