Let me put out the list first:11 Dec for Kartik Fine Arts:
Andholika varnam of GNB
Aaru thunai ragamalikai of Subramanya Bharathi as it was Subramanya Bharathiyar’s Day, where she handled the swaras in reverse order of ragas in the ragamalika Sriragam, Valji, Varali, Arabhi, Gowlai and Nattai and built it up to a thrilling finish. Next was the soulful Mokshamugaladha of Thyagaraja in Saramathi. Then came one of my favourite ragas.... Abhogi.... a short and crisp raga alapana and then came Sabathikku in a chariot! Coincidentally it was pradhosham that day. Maybe she had planned the krithi just for that I thought. A brisk fast tempoed Nennarunchinaanu in Malavi follwed Sabapathi. And then came the Devi in all majesty and glory..... Kalyani! Devi took a 'viswaroopam' that day in the kriti Biraanavaralichi of Syama Sastri. Even when the alapana was over I wanted to get up and leave because my senses were saturated and Kalyani had penetrated into every cell of mine and so too the crevices in the auditorium. The thunderous applause testified to this statement. But curiosity got the better of me to know what more the musician would do that day. After a thorough neraval and swaraprasthara and thani Sudha said it was MSS’ remembrance day and hence would dedicate two kritis to her. She sang a Bengali song Dhaano dhaanne first. Next was a sprightly Kilikkanni vallikkanavan. Then an Azhwar pasuram as virutham in Sahana and Hamsanandi. A mami next me whispered 'Sahana kozhandhaiya oadi varadha paaru! ' n wiped a tear. The cutcheri came to a stunning finish with Vadavarayai mathakki in ragamalika.
Narayanaavenum naavenna naave! So true! What an experience. The accompanists Skandasubramanian on the mridangam, BV Raghavendra Rao on the violin and Raman on the muharsingh truly elevated the concert further.
Yesterday’s concert was a different story! The cutcheri sparkled even more due to the team effort of Sudha, Embar Kannan(violin), Prasad (mridangam), Sunderkumar (kanjira) and Raman once again on muharsingh. All vied with each other in proving themselves. It began with Shri Lalgudi Jayaraman’s Nalinakanthi varnam. A lovely garland of swaras to Shanmukha. Then came Mariyaadhagaadhayya of Thyagaraja in Bhairavam. Muruga came again, cradled in the Begada ragam and Vaa Muruga vaa of Spencer Venugopal. A short round of swaras embellished the kriti. I loved the ease with she sang the briga at Thae madhura suvaiyae vaa! Then came the magnum opus Sri Viswanatham in 14 ragas. I couldn’t recognize 5 ragas in the 14 but thankfully Sudha announced at the end of the song for those in the audience like me, who were a little lost. Sri, Arabhi, Gowri, Naattai, Gowlai, Mohanam, Sama, Lalitha, Bhairavam, Saranga, Sankarabharanam, Kambhoji, Devakriya and Boopalam. A brisk Saarasamukhi of Muthiah Bhagavathar in Gowdamalhaar. Keeravani was the main raga of the evening. 'Enna anaayaasamaa paadinaa!'…that’s what I overheard!‘Enna urukkamaa paadinaa!’ And that’s what I felt! Embar matched the felicity of expression and the highs and lows on the bow! Kaligiuntae and Rama was visually present in the neraval line. Swaras came pouring down a tad too fast I thought as they altogether raced towards the winning post!
Petra thaay thanai, a virutham in Nadanamakriya and Jayachamaraja Wodeyars Siva Siva Siva bho kept us still in a trance. Gopalaratnam and Dasa’s Venkatachalanilayam shook us out to reality. Shri Lalgudi appeared again in his Khamas tillana and she finished the dheerana in surati. A full meal saappaadu, anboada, parivoada, rusiyoada I must say…so did not make a beeline to the canteen this time..!
A big thanks to my neighbours whom I was constantly reaching out to for clarifications in the flow/ragas.