H K Venkatram - 22-Feb-2015 - BTM Cultural Academy

[yadugiri_nivasa]

Thematic RTP Violin Solo Concert by Sri H K Venkatram
Sri Mannargudi Eswaran - Mridangam
Sri G Guruprasanna - Khanjira
Duration - 2 hours 45 minutes

1. Varnam - Navaragamalika - Adi

2. Mahaganapathim - Natta - Eka - MD (KS)

3. RTP - Begada - Mishra Chapu
Tanam was played in ragamalika with ragams similar or close to each other - Begada, Athana, Suruti, Yadukula Kambhoji, Khamach, Sama, Bilahari, Sahana, Kannada, Begada
Pallavi - Tirupati Venkataramana Sankata Harana
Followed by Tani

4. RTP - Madhyamavathi / Dharmavathi - Khanda Nadai Adi Tala
Pallavi - pAlinchu kAmAkshi madhy
Ragam & Tanam were played in both ragas. Neraval & swaram were played in ragamalika with all ragam names ending in avathi - Manavathi, Kalavathi, Saraswathi, Revathi
Pallavi - Palinchu Kamakshi Madhyamavathi - Gunavathi Bhagavathi Dharmavathi
Followed by Tani

5. RTP - Shankarabharanm – Adi ( 2 Kalai)
Pallavi - Mahima Teliya Tarama Sri Rama nee
Swarams were played in ragamalika - Nalinakanthi, Desh and Hamsanandhi
Followed by a short Tani

6. Jagadodharana - Kapi - Adi - Purandara Dasa

HKV is a popular violinist but seen more on stage as an accompanist than as a solo violin artiste (I have seen him often Violin Venu Veena concerts with G Ravikiran and Ashwin Anand). It was a pleasant surprise to see him taking centre stage at a special RTP concert organized by the BTM Cultural Academy. He was accompanied by the veteran Mridangist Sri Mannargudi Eswaran and the talented Sri G Guruprasanna.

At the beginning of the concert, HKV announced that since it was a special RTP concert, instead of playing a single RTP for the whole concert, he has chosen to present 3 different RTPs with something different in each of them. The concert began with the standard navaragamalika varnam and Mahaganapathim with a short and lively round of swarams.

For the first RTP, he played a chaste Begada ragam soaked with classicism and started the tanam in Begada. He announced that the tanam would be in a ragamalika with ragams that were similar or close to each other. And what a tanam that was! It was truly outstanding with the transition from one ragam to the other being so effortless and yet bringing out the nuances of each ragam. The packed audience thoroughly enjoyed the experience of the ragamailka tanam. The pallavi in mishra chapu, was presented neatly with trikalam and swarams. This was followed by a brilliant tani avarthanam where both the percussionists continued on the idea of the pallavi sahityam (Tirupati) and showed their virtuosity.

The next RTP was in a ragamalika. The first half of the alapana was in Madhyamavathi and the second half was in Dharmavathi. Towards the end of the alapana, HKV played a very interesting combination of similar sangathis but alternating between the 2 ragams. His talent was obvious in the way he could played the 2 ragams in quick succession without compromising the raga bhavam in any way. The pallavi was rendered with trikalam, neraval and swaram. For the ragamalika section, HKV chose ragams whose names end with the word avathi. I could not recognize the raga Kalavathi in the ragamalika, but HKV announced the name. This pallavi was again followed by a brief but mind-blowing tani. At the end of this tani, Eswaran Sir recollected HKV and himself accompanying Madurai TN Seshagopalan in a concert in Chennai many years ago where TNS had presented a 2 ragam -Ahiri & Suruti- RTP. He was in full praise of HKV doing an outstanding job in accompanying that RTP.

The final RTP of the day was in a majestic Shankarabharana followed by a pallavi in Adi tala. The trikalam in this pallavi was filled with laya intricacies. In the ragamalika section, HKV again demonstrated his control over the violin by playing upto to the ati tara sthayi shadjam in Hamsanandhi and brought the house down with some amazing swarams in that ragam. This pallavi was also followed by a short tani.

HKV ended the concert with Jagadodharana and mangalam. Kudos to BTM Cultural Academy for arranging such thematic concerts.

[rajeshnat]

I only had a chance to hear HKV very recently when he was an accompanist . This is just wonderful to hear three RTP's in one concert . Now I am pretty sure bangalore is keeping up with more concerts where despite theme there is no sacrifice of music. Definitely there is more network of folks who post from bangalore in rasikas . I wish i was there at bangalore for this concert, this is just wonderful.

[CRama]

Looks like an outstanding concert. Three RTPs in a concert! I have heard only one TMK concert in Mudhra two-three years back where he sang three RTPs. HKV is a very versatile violinist. I have seen him accompanying TNS many times in 90s. Very much longing to hear one such concert in Chennai.

[CRama]

All the pallavis are time tested pallavis presented by great masters. Begada pallavi is a masterpiece of KVN. Madhyamavathy/Dharmavathy created by TNS (He sang only in Dharmavathy). Sankarabharanam pallavi a materpiece of Ariyakudi and also TNS.

[badari]

Seems like I missed a treat of a concert .

Hoping similar ones in near future.