Unnikirshnan at Chicago Tyagaraja Utsavam May 27 2007

rangahome · Post by **rangahome** » 30 May 2007, 10:40

Vocal: P. Unnikrishnan
Violin: Vittal Ramamurthy
Mridangam: Arun Prakash

1. Varnam - Sarasijanabha - NAtai. - Palghat Parameswara Bhagawathar
2. Intha Paraakaa - Mayamalava Gowlai - ?? (O, S)
3. Karunayela Kande - Varali - Tyagaraja (N, S)
4. Janani Ninnuvina - Reetigowla - Subbaraya Sastry (R)
5. Rajagopalam - Mohanam - MD (S)
6. Intha Sowkya - kApi - Tyagaraja (R, S, T)
7. Sabesan Sevadi - sAveri - ??
8. RTP - Bahudhari
9. Suttum Vizhi - Ragamalika - Subramanya Bharathi
10. Brahma Mokate - Bowli - Annamacharya

After reading a few downbeat reviews in this forum and witnessing a rather lukewarm and routine performance at Cleveland, I was not expecting much from this concert. However, this turned out to be one of the best that I heard in recent times. Unni performed to a packed hall, providing a pleasing experience to the audience and the organizers.

Unnikrishnan began the concert with Naatai varnam 'Sarasijanabha' and followed it with the kriti 'Intha Paraaka' in mayamalavagowlai. He warmed up with Tyagaraj's 'Karunayela' in Varali. Then, came a leisurely alapana of Reetigowlai, followed by Janani Ninnuvina. A brisk mohanam paved way for a detailed alapana in kApi - the alpana had elements of captivating sancharas bringing the beauty of the raga well. Tyagaraja's "Intha Sowkya" with rich kaplana swaram and tani avartanam was a treat to listenders.

Unni chose Bahudhari for a detailed RTP. The raga was explored in-depth exhibiting nice creativity and imagination. The pallavi was "Bahu dharita chela varadha ava kana chela krishna sada". referring to Lord Krishna's grace for kuchela. The RTP ended with swaras in Ranjani, Behag and Kuntalavarali. Vittal Ramamurthy's creative response in behag drew instant applause from audience.

All in all, this was a very good concert. The performance was enhanced largely by the contribution of the Vittal Ramamurthy and Arun Prakash. The sound system provided a nice balance between the vocals and accompaniments. The enunciation of the words was clear as well. Unni announced that this was the final concert in his US tour for 2007.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 30 May 2007, 12:56

rangahome wrote:7. Sabesan Sevadi - sAveri - ??

sabesan sevadi is composed by Dr S ramanAthan , who composed as a mark of respect of sabesa Iyer.

bhaktha · Post by **bhaktha** » 30 May 2007, 14:07

He might have sung well...but what a dull list!! 1,3,5 and even 8 so often feature in his concerts. He's so very repetitive.
-bhaktha

girishsundar · Post by **girishsundar** » 30 May 2007, 16:57

how to listen to the recordings..

Lakshman · Post by **Lakshman** » 30 May 2007, 17:21

inta parAkA is by Anai Ayya.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 30 May 2007, 17:47

girishsundar wrote:how to listen to the recordings..

Girish Sundar,
This is a thread where we discuss/review concerts - there will be no u/l of concerts, especially from contemporary artists...

rangahome · Post by **rangahome** » 31 May 2007, 23:50

Girishsundar,

The chicago tyagaraja utsavam might have the CDs of the concert available for sale after few weeks. You can reach them via http://www.tyagaraja-chicago.org

grsastrigal · Post by **grsastrigal** » 01 Jun 2007, 08:49

Good to know he performed well. Seeing the list sans your review- one would predict he should have given a detailed Alapana in Mohanam . That was the only strong ragaa among the raga he has picked. But it was otherway.

As SSI always say-Raga Alapana on strong Raagas (Gana Raga-Thodi, Mohanam Kambodhi, Bhairavi) is like swimming in the Ocean... Other "non-Gana" (less weight !!!) ragas are like swimming in the tank (Kulam in Tamil). Extending SSI theory, Kapi, Ritigowlaa, Bahudari are like swimming in the Bath tub. At least, he should have given a detailed alapana on Saaveri.

Comparison is sometimes unhealthy that to comparing SSI with Unni. But one should learn from the yesteryear stalwarts-how they structured their conert. See the Raga structure of the all time famous Airport concert of SSI -Devagandhari-Karaharapriya-Todi-Sriranjani-Mukhari-Varali.......

jnaanasoonyam · Post by **jnaanasoonyam** » 01 Jun 2007, 11:43

grsastrigal wrote:... Other "non-Gana" (less weight !!!) ragas are like swimming in the tank (Kulam in Tamil). Extending SSI theory, Kapi, Ritigowlaa, Bahudari are like swimming in the Bath tub.

I can think of at least one gentleman who would disagree with your take on Ritigowla. His name is MD Ramanathan.

grsastrigal wrote:See the Raga structure of the all time famous Airport concert of SSI -Devagandhari-Karaharapriya-Todi-Sriranjani-Mukhari-Varali.......

Kharaharapriya, Shriranjani & Mukhari in the same concert... not everyone is an SSI to pull that off with elan! Also, one must remember that the Kshinamai in that concert was clearly an audience request...

bhaktha · Post by **bhaktha** » 01 Jun 2007, 12:49

SSI used to elaborate yadukulakamboji, shankarabaranam, kamboji all in a row or for that matter, a mukhari, followed by a amba kamakshi and an RTP in todi. Such was his vidwath. As jnaanasoonyam has rightly pointed out, not everyone is SSI. But even then, comparing Shri unnikrishnan with SSI was I thought a little too much.
-bhaktha

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 01 Jun 2007, 19:44

While ghana rAgAs lend themselves to elaboration, other rAgAs, when handled by able performers, can bring joy to the listeners. They give the concert a lift and reveal to rasikAs new dimensions in CM. While I relish a weighty concert, listening to mOhanam (a rAgA I like) concert after concert gets to be tiring. It needs a consummate performer to make me look afresh at the rAgA! Bhairavi needs more effort on the part of the artiste to please me!

grsastrigal · Post by **grsastrigal** » 02 Jun 2007, 08:13

JS & Bhaktha- I mentioned in my note that comparing them is "unhealthy". Secondly, I was not comparing the vidwat of SSI with UK. SSI cannot be compared even with MMI, GNB since each of them has different presentation and genius. My point is construction of a good concert.
Let me put this in a different way. Let me take two non-Sang.Kalanidhi concert posted in the other section, Sudha at Sydeny-where she gave a detailed Raga alaapana in Reetigowla-Kambodhi-RTP Subhabanduvarali.. Second is Malladi B-Raga alapana in Sriranjani, Hamsanadham and Saaveri. (Coolkapali was late for this concert)
Finally Sanjay-Poorvikalyani-Varali-Kambodhi. Can you compare these with UK's above concert ?

Arasi- I agree with you. RTP in Natakapriya and Sucharitha by Sanjay and Malahari by TNS are some examples. Artist should be capable, by experience, of delivering a vintage music at each and every concert. UK has to come out of light-music culture. This is not "Ennavale".. This is THE cm..!!!!!

bhaktha · Post by **bhaktha** » 02 Jun 2007, 22:55

GRS ji,
One cannot and should not compare two artistes per se, more so based only on the song lists. A seemingly dull song list could have been presented very well and a very interesting novel list could have been made a mess of. But you made a very valid statement that ech artiste's style differs and should not be compared with another. In complete agreement!
-bhaktha

grsastrigal · Post by **grsastrigal** » 03 Jun 2007, 19:30

Arasi-bhaktha- Let me put your views in a mixie and come out with a Juicy Q ? Who is the consummate performer ? what are the conditions/boundaries we can fix to decide one as CP or (CP) or beginner ?

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 03 Jun 2007, 19:43

GRS,
I would say, there is no question of beginners here. We are talking about professional performers. It is the manner in which they 'apply' their knowledge to a given performance is what makes the difference.

bhaktha · Post by **bhaktha** » 03 Jun 2007, 20:02

I completely subscribe to arasi ji's views. It is the thirst for knowledge and the application of it in concerts that differentiates the vidwan from the medhai, so to say.
-bhaktha

Ragjay · Post by **Ragjay** » 08 Jun 2007, 10:57

UK sings the kutcheri as light music as pointed out. I presume that his busy schedule of singing film songs does not give him enough time to practice.That accounts for his frequently repeating krithis as pointed out. can u blame the artist under such circumstances?

srinidhi · Post by **srinidhi** » 08 Jun 2007, 11:48

Does UK still sing film music? I thought he had quit playback singing, in order to concentrate on "kutcheri" music.