RUDRAPATNAM BROS AT NARADA GANA SABHA MINI HALL-10/4/16

[CRama]

Saraswathi Vaggeyakara Trust celebrated Deekshitar Day in Narada Gana Sabha Mini hall with a pristine concert of Rudrapatnam Brothers accompanied by Embar Kannan on the Violin, Thrissur Narendran on the Mridangam and Puducottai N.Ramachandran (looks like Thrissur Narendran’s sibling) on the Ghatam. Obviously, the concert was exclusive MD compositions. List of songs.

1. Panchamatanga-Malahari (S)
2. Sree Guruguha tarayasumam-Devakriya
3. Sree Mathrubhootham-Kannada (R,S)
4. Sree Dumdurge-Sreeranjini (R,S)
5. Sree Ramam ravikulabdhisomam- Narayanagowla
6. Ekamranatham bhajeham-Gamagakriya (R,N,S)
7. Thani
8. Sree Venkatagireesam-Suruti
9. Sree Kamalambike -Sree

As we know, the brothers are famous for giving the concert steeped in classism but age seems to have definitely caught up with the Rudrapatnam Bros. and their voice took a while to get tuned, especially the younger of the two- Dr.R.N.Thyagarajan. His alapana of Kannada was mostly with staccato phrases- but no dearth of raga bhavam. He built a beautiful edifice with small phrases. All the Keerthanams were sung in the authentic patantharam and kalapramanam, very faithful to the composer. Alapana of Sreeranjini by R.N.Taranathan, the elder brother was a wholesome exercise with the time tested sancharas of the ragam with no trespassing into the territory of its sibling-Abhogi. Sree Ramam in Narayanagowla brought to me memories of Semmangudi- for their exposition followed the same patantharam of Semmangudi.

Alapana of Gamagakriya was started by the younger brother and completed by the elder brother. The alapana was very systematic with the characteristic pidis of the ragam interspersed with jarus, brighas, fast sancharas, meditative phrases – all in the right proportion. I was expecting Meenakshi memudam, but a pleasant surprise that it was Ekamranatham- not heard very frequently in the concert platform. Neraval was at Panchakshara manthraroopam Prasanna roopam and embellished with liberal doses of swaras in two kalams. It is customary for Deekshitar kriti concerts to end with Sree Kamlambike in Sree ragam (Mangala keerthanam in Kamalamba Navavaranam) and they also followed suit.

Embar Kannan provided excellent accompaniment. His bowing was very sweet and followed the gayaka pattern. His raga essays and neraval and swaras returns were most appropriate. The percussion duo played with excellent anticipation and understanding and significantly embellished the concert with their deft strokes. The thani lasted for 15 minutes and was enjoyed by the discerning rasikas. The hall– the AC is on the higher side always and I had to shift my seat three times. On an earlier occasion, I had to leave the concert in the middle. At least next time, if I go there, I should take a shawl. Thanks to the organisers. With many city sabhas celebrating Deekshitar Jayanthi on various dates, we get to hear many Deekshitar special concerts. Thanks to all of them. An excellent concert for two and half hours (6.30 PM -9.00PM).

[rajeshnat]

Puducottai N.Ramachandran (looks like Thrissur Narendran’s sibling) on the Ghatam.

Last Saturday I attended the concert where he played . For my eyes, he was resembling T V Vasan .

[CRama]

Rajesh, I agree with you. But when I saw both of them together, with similar features, white hair, moustache and beard, I felt like that.

[Sivaramakrishnan]

Happy to see a review of Rudrapatnam brothers who sing with sampradaaya suddham. It is long since I have listened to them in any Chennai concert.

In 2015, they rendered a very good but brief recital, at Tiruvaiyaru with UKS on mridangam.