Navneet Krishnan, Chamber Concert, Chennai 17 Jan 2015

[Sivaramakrishnan]

Chamber concert arranged by Mr. Mohan Kumar,
Raga Foundation, Behind Hotel New Woodlands,
RK Salai, Chennai :
17.01.2015 - 8.10 to 10.30 a.m. (Gathering: around 25)

V. Navneet Krishnan: Vocal
M. Narmada: violin
B. Sivaraman: Mridanga
Sruti: 1.5 (C *)
1. Mayamalavagoula Varnam-Sarasijanabha-Aadi-ST
2. Naata - Jaya jaya jaya Janakikaanta-Khandachaapu-PD
3. Sree- Endaro Mahanubhavulu-Pancharatnakriti-T
4. Lataangi -Piravaa varam thaarum:Aadi-PS
5. Vasanta - Hariharaputram: Khanda eka-MD
6. Hamirkalyani-Toomanimaadatthil-Thirupaavai
7. Mohanam-Nanupaalimpa-Aadi-T
8. Behag-Irakkam varaamal- Misrachaapu-GB
9. Jonpuri-Dasarathasutha-V Jeeyar
10. Slokam from Bhaktimanjari (ST) Ragamalika:Natakurinji, Saveri, Kapi
11. Sindhubhairavi- Kabirdas bhajan
12. Poorvi-Tillana (NiRiNiRiGaMaGaRiSa)Tirugokarnam Vaidyanathaier
Mangalam

(Navneet Krishnan is presently under the tutelage of Smt. Padma Narayanaswamy and it was notable that the singer has firmly anchored in the KVN bay! He had early lessons from Sri Vaamanan at Mumbai and after moving to Chennai, from Sri PB Srirangachari and Smt Radha Viswanathan. He has passed M A (Music) from Madras Uty. last year with distinction.

That was a ‘wholesome’ concert with excellent understanding between the singer and the accompanists. The compositions were all those perfected by Palghat KVN and selection was good. A couple of rounds (not more) of kalpana swaras for the Varnam pepped up the start. Sivaraman revelled in playing for the word-packed charana passages for Jaya Jaya (naata). The pancharatna kriti was enriched by Narmada’s able support and Latangi came in with a nice aalaapana, niraval and Swara prastara. Vasantha was the right selection for a vilambakala piece of Dikshitar.

Mohana raga was delineated well with adequate justice to the upper sthaayi, slow/quick phrases etc. and ably returned by Narmada. Niraval at ‘Karamuna kodanda’ and the swaraprastaara sans any ‘kanakku-vazhakku’ was enjoyable. Sivaraman rendered a nice Tani for a satisfying ‘Arai idam’. The tukkada items were all effectively rendered. The slokam brought memories of KVN singing at the haloed Navaratri mandapam in Trivandrum. The tillana was riveting and the pronunciation was faultless.
Navneet’s dedication to the KVN ‘Bani’ was evident from the right kaalapramaanam, care for kaarvai, avoidance of brigas and the compact packaging of the concert. The singer didn’t refer to notes. A manual tambura and a wooden sruti box provided stable pitch and the pakkamelams were perfectly sruti aligned.

Many young professionals were seen at the concert. All were treated to a sumptuous lunch fresh and hot served in banana leaves as fulfilling as the concert!

[arasi]

Sounds like a good concert. Way to go, navneet! Hadn't seen you anywhee this season.

Sivaramakrishnan,
The kind of review I relish reading. As I said yesterday (?) of you, objective and subjective too (in the sense of being gentle).

[Lakshman]

Good selection of songs Naneet. Glad to see you on the music circuit. Wish we could see you more often.

[cienu]

Thank you Sri Sivaramakrishnan for the review. Looks to have been a great concert. Congratulations to Navaneet ☺

[CRama]

Very happy to know that Navaneet's concert was highly successful. He is my very good friend. I could not attend this concert. I know that he has got into KVN bani under the tutelage of Padma Narayanaswamy. It is admirable that many youngsters are adopting this sowkhyamana bani. Hope to hear Navaneet in the near future.