PANTULA RAMA AT KGS- 26/1/15

[CRama]

As a part of the on going Sahithya Rasanubhava concerts of Sadguru Thyagaraja, Pantula Rama presented an absorbing thematic presentation of Thyagaraja Kritis .

I remember once Gayathri Girish projected the saint’s adaptation of the message given in Bhgavat Geetha in the Thyagaraja kritis. Today Pantula Rama explored the saints picturisation of the Nava rasas in his compositions. Thyagaraja Kritis are abundant storehouse of rasas and feelings and messages for the musicians to explore. His compositions can be viewed from various angles- philosophical content, bhakthi element, nadopasana, divya nama keerthanams, utsava sampradaya keerthanams, operas. etc. And this series provide a platform for the erudite musicians to dwelve deep into the vast treasure of Thyagaraja compositions in search of the above aspects. This is highly educative as well for the non telugu music lovers to go into the meaning of the kritis. I have attended many such programmes in this series and benefitted from listening to them. The first episode by Vedavalli Mami and the second one by Dr.Sowmya are still etched in my memory. Pantula Rama – obviously the best choice to present this thematic concert. Her poise, serene stage presence, composure, elegance, chaste music, advantages of telugu as mother tongue, solid patantharam, lakshya as well as lakshana jnanam all contribute to the highly successful presentation. The song list.

1. Slokam-Sringaram- Sreeranjini
2. Sogasuga mridanga talamu-Sreeranjini
3. Entha kunthalinthura- Sudha Desi- Nauka charitham.- Sringaram
4. Kalinarulaku-Kunthalavarali- (R,S) Hasyam
5. Karuna yelagante-Varali- (R,N) Karunyam
6. Chede budhi manyura-Athana- (R,S) Roudram
7. Sathaleni-Naganandini- (R) Bheebatsam
8. Sukhi evvaro –Kanada (R,S)- Santham
9. Emidova balguma-Saranga- Veeram
10. O Rangasayi-Kambodi (R,N,S)-Adbhutam
11. Unnathavuna- Ghanta- Bhayanakam – Nauka charitham
12. Allakallola-Saurashtram- Bhayanakam- Nauka charitham
13. Thanalone dhyaninchi –Devagandhari- Santham- Prahlada bhakthi vijayam
14. Pavamana -Mangalam
(R- Raga alapana, S- swaras, N- Neraval)

Pantula Rama introduced the Navarasas through the slokam Sringaram (Is it from Valmiki Ramayanam) made immortal by Semmangudi and MDR in ragam Sreeranjini. This was followed by the lines Navarasayuda hridiche from the song Sogasuga mridanga talamu. While explaining each rasa, she pointed to the basic swaras which portray the particular rasa, latent sentiments echoed in each rasa, transient emotions coming out of each rasa etc . Appropriate songs were chosen to portray the rasas. I feel different musicians view from a different angle to spot the rasa. Conversely, a song may depict more than one rasa also. She specifically pointed that in some cases, Thyagaraja has intelligently set the ragam to portray a different rasa than what is normally associated with that particular ragam- for eg, Raa raa raghuveera in Athana which do not depict roudram by any chance. The songs from Nauka Charitham and Prahlada Bhakthi Vijayam (except Allakallola) are new to me and I immensely enjoyed them.

It was pure music sans any frills for two and half hours. And the audience sat glued to their seats. Nobody bothered about the eight o clock syndrome. PR first announced that the sabha has asked her to wind up by 8 O clock. But it was very kind of her to continue upto 8.30 PM. It was not mere lec-dem. She gave proper slots to demonstrate manodharma elements also. The accompanists Mr Murthy on the violin and Manoj Siva on the Mridangam provided adequate support. An excellent concert.

[rshankar]

Wow! Seems to have been a fabulous concert - and a wonderful review as well!
Was it by any chance recorded?

[CRama]

There was no video recording. KGS might have recorded audio. I am not sure. Even if recorded, it may not be available to us.

[sureshvv]

Thank you CRama. I was just telling ganeshkant about this concert earlier today.

I was amazed by the articulateness, choice of words and incisive insights in her commentary. I have always been a fan of her music (voice and delivery) but this was a new dimension.

1. Thyagaraja is the epitome of Bhakthi, Jnana and Vairagyam.

2. The way the song Chede budhi manura starts before the beat, it was as if Thyagaraja starts with a slap of remonstration.

3. In O Rangasayee, Thyagaraja says that the Lord must respond similarly saying, "Ov, I am coming"

[rajeshnat]

i was there for just half an hour and had to leave the concert due to personal work . I really liked her sudha desi rendition - that raga does have lot of contours possibly overlapping with saramati. The next kuntalavarali was also very nice , we certainly dont hear this T krithi ,as mostly musicians pass this krithi. As suresh said her explanations were certainly incisive . I was only there for this two krithis and I am assuming she spoke the most here as she gave a great introduction on different navarasas. I was thinking the lighting in skgs was just bit too dim especially in the stage - did you feel that way crama and suresh

[sureshvv]

4. There are different types of Veeram (Yuddha veeram and a couple others). Thyagaraja praises these qualities in Rama using both Madhyamams (Saranga) to evoke the appropriate nuanced veera rasam in conjuction with the sahitya.

5. Many slokas were quoted from Bharatha's Natyashastra to provide context.

[sureshvv]

6. Sringara is the coming together of complementary entities, Male/Female, Day/Night, Good/Bad etc.

[CRama]

Suresh, Thanks for your value additions. Pl continue.

[vgovindan]

3. Entha kunthalinthura- Sudha Desi- Nauka charitham.- Sringaram

It should be 'endu kauglinturA'. However this kRti is not part of nauka caritra.
http://thyagaraja-vaibhavam.blogspot.in ... huraa.html

[ganeshkant]

Thanks VVSuresh and CRama.really missed this one.