Dr Pantula Rama for NZCMS SU15 31/5/15

[MV]

Pantula Rama - Vocal
HN Bhaskar - Violin
Ravichandira - Mridangam

!) Gopalaka - Bhupalam -ST
2) Manavyalakim - Nalinakanthi
3) Ananda Nata - Poorvikalyani (R, KS)
4) Sanatana - Phalamanjari -Thyagaraja
5) Bhajare - Abheri (R, N @ Rajakumaram Ramam, KS, Thani)
6) Varanarada - Vijayashri
7) RTP in Charukesi - Tisra Triputa Khanda Nadai
Raghava-Charukeshava-Devadi Deva- Sita
Ragamalika swarams in Hindolam, Sahana, Madhyamavati
8) Thamburi Meetidava - PD - Sindhubhairavi
9) Ehi Murare Kunjari Hare - Jayadev Ashtapadi
10) Bhavayami Gopalam - Yamuna Kalyani with viruttam Adharam Madhuram
11) Darshana Maayelu- Badrachala Ramdas tuned by Shri MSN Murthy Nadanamakriya
12) Payarani Bhalije - Javali in Kapi by Tirupathi Narayana Swamy
13) English Note
14) Geethaduniku - Thillana in Dhanasri
15) Pavamana

[MV]

I had just said the previous day that I hadn't heard Gopalaka in nearly 15 years-not even heard myself sing it. It is one of those beautiful songs which stays hidden in the pages of your Music Book because it somehow never makes the list. This year, it made it twice in a row. Nalinakanthi is a never-fail lilting number. Poorvikalyani was the limbering that you do before you get into the heart of the game. Crisp raga by both vocal and violin. There were some swarams which had all of them nodding at each other on stage and they all zoned in from there.

Lots of time you feel the rare ragas/songs are technical exercises, and for musicians it is an intellectual foray into uncharted territories. This Phalamanjari with the Thyagaraja kirtana standing by itself was presented with the verve of say a Swara Raga Sudha- a mainstream kriti. So many little sangatis and pidis-one more to check up later!

The heart of the game, the meat of the matter was the Abheri. Beautiful alapana by both, clean presentation of the composition opened up to the most insightful Neraval at Rajakumaram. Everytime, she anchored on Ramam one was tempted to turn and check if he had actually come. A string of kalpana swarams were unleashed finishing off with kuraippa swaram. Rama clearly avoids too much kanakku in this section and goes with the flow. I've noticed she cleverly uses the nadai in the vakra ragas itself to provide the interest. Ravichandira polished it off with a neat thani.

RTP was competent and complete. No frills and dragging on here, which was good since the slips were coming in by then. The thukada section had its own charm-some known and some unknown filled the quiet of the night. To say Bhavayami Gopalam is popular, is to understate the case. I've heard it on buses, trains, stations, radios, cds and you name it. However this was the first time, I have heard it Live. I hope I don't tread on too many fanatical toes when I say it was the best sung Bhavayami for me. Let me not forget the viruttam, it was filled with 'Madhuram'. There was a noticeable slip in the charanam and it was right-like the dhristi pottu on something perfect, like adding a pinch of salt to the paal payasam.

The absence of Murthygaru was made up with the brisk Ramadas song. The Javali in Kapi was almost like a Padam, It would be great the lyrics/recording of that one.

There was a bird chirping occasionally in the auditorium and I guess he/she enjoyed the gentle, peaceful Music as much as the rest of us.

[arasi]

That was waxing poetry, MV, and the subject herself is a poetic expression

[MV]

That was waxing poetry, MV, and the subject herself is a poetic expression

And that from a poetess

[HarishankarK]

Hi
Could u pl upload the concert in utube

Thanks for the nice review as well

[rshankar]

MV, isn't gOpAlaka in rEvagupti?
And #10 is bhAvayAmi gOpAlabAlam, right?
Beautiful review!

[MV]

rshankar : I have got it written down in my Music Book as Bhupalam and I didn't even consider any other option. Now that you mention it, isn't it just the G2 and G3 difference between Bhupalam and Revagupti? Happy for a discussion from the knowledgeable on that. Yes No 10 is the same one.
Harishankark Thank you. Usually the policy is no recording and we try and respect that

[Pratyaksham Bala]

For the lyrics and meaning of 'bAyarAni bALicce', please check this :-
https://sangeethas.wordpress.com/2013/0 ... e-javalis/
Recording (2010) :-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWv3Am-hTRE

[MV]

rshankar: Gopalaka is Revagupti. Just confirmed it. My apologies
Pratyaksham Bala : Thanks for the links

[rupavathi]

Well, the question should really be, what ragam did Dr. Rama sing it in? The original composition is in Bhupalam and down the line the popular version changed into Revagupti, the most well-known being KVN's renditions. Dr. S. Ramanathan, for instance, used to sing it in Bhupalam and amongst current singers, his disciple Dr. Sowmya too does the same.

[MV]

Rupavathi, Dr Rama sang in Revagupti

[Aditto]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBL5XiIhHQA - Sowmya's rendition in Bhupalam.

[MV]

Aditto Thanks for that link. Both weekend presentations were definitely Revagupti. I guess the Bhupalam is how I have been taught. Now I have heard Gopalaka 3 days in a row :p