Shankar Narayanan - Charumathi Raghuram -Neyveli Skandasubramaniam
List (4:30 to 7 PM)
1. Puriya Dhanashree/ Pantuvarali - Shamu morare/ Paripalaya sarasiruha - Pantuvarali - Adi - Swathi Tirunal (R,N,S)
2. Solo piece in kalavithi by Sanjeev Abhyankar
3. Ninnu Sevinchina - Yadukula Kamboji - M Chapu - Subaraya Sastri
4. Bandish in Binna Sadaj and RTP in Hamsavinodini
5. Samudita Madane - Misra Sivaranjani - Jayadeva ashtapathi
I've never been a great fan of jugalbandhis because I think it compromises both systems sometimes turning it into a joke. Typically a hamasadhwani or malkauns or kalyani or a mohanam would be on display. And that itself is a dampener.
I went to hear this concert because 1. I had a season pass and had to extract maximum value
and 2. I have heard Shankar Narayanan in the 2013 festival here and that was a fabulous concert with umayalpuram Sivaraman (forgot the violinist). However, i should admit that my opinion of jugalbandhis was proved wrong by these two otherwise i wouldn't have written this review. Starting off in a leisurely pace they developed the Puriya dhanashree/pantuvarali raga in both styles followed by Tans/ Tanams. 'Paripalaya' was a pleasant choice of krithi. Since the concert was supposed to be based on krishna, i thought it would be the ever popular Sarasaksha (which is a top krithi nevertheless). The neraval and swaram were well done. I liked the single avarthana exchanges between vocal and violin building up the cresendo. The ariyakudi methods seldom fail!!
Sanjeev's presentation of his solo piece in kalavathi (which is our Valaji) was just flawless. The way his voice traverses across the raga hitting the all melody points so neatly like almost silken smoothness is something. There is life in his voice and it doesn't crack even when doing the faster sangathis. And what purity of notes and Sruthi. When he lands on the tara-Sadjam, and stops there, you cant find the difference between his voice and tambura.. complete unison
Ninnu Sevinchina was another great choice of krithi that i did not expect in a jugalbandhi where people stick to the more simple and straight note ragas. Sometimes rendition of just one krithi can make or break the concert. And that exactly happened here. This was a standout rendition for me. I used to GN's rendition at a more lively pace but this rendition had that soaking feeling.
The Binna Sadaj piece was run-of-the-mill piece but engaging though. Not much time was left for alaap or tanams or the neraval/swaram. Not much to write about and may be they could have even avoided it.
The last piece was a solo by Shankar in misra sivaranjani which he announced that he tuned himself. Use of anthara gandaram we all know gives misra sivaranjani that ability to capture the listener. What i found interesting is the use of shudda daivatham and the "PG2-G2G1G1" in the lower octave which was very different and nice as well. This tune can actually turn out a hit for Shankar like the Santhanam Tillana.
I like Shankar Narayanan's music because he always tries to be sincere and his voice has always been a great asset. Today the power, range and modulations were in full display. He dint hold back anything. What i did notice was lacking 2 years back was the lack of 'pause' when his imagination hurrying him to just throw everything at the audience. But today i felt he was measured and mature in presentation. If he can continue that he will reach far in the music journey
Charumathy Raghuram's accompaniment was bliss. her tonal quality was excellent, bowing was crisp without screeches and responses were sharp and neat. She did not have enough scope today to display her talents but tomorrow she is accompanying Gayathri and i'm so looking forward to hearing her again. She was a pleasing personality on an otherwise male dominated stage as well
Overall, very well planned and serious jugalbandhi. Would have liked a tamizh composition though! But i wouldn't mind hearing such combinations in future as long as they dont dish out the standard "jugal-fare"