PALLAVI DARBAR- 2019- DAY 2- 31/5/19- MFAC

[CRama]

Concert 1.
Vishnudev Namboodiri- Vocal
V.S.Gokul- Violin
Patri Satishkumar- Mridangam
1. Varnam- Kanada- Ata talam

2. RTP- Kanada- Panchamukhi talam

Pallavi – Hare Murali Madhava Brindavanalola pahimam
Gopika vallabha Yadukulatilaka

Starting with the famous varnam in kanada, Vishnudev spread a Kanada atmosphere from the start itself. He explored the ragam in three stages as per the padhathi laid out in the ancient treatises. The ragam Kanada which normally occupies a sub main position and sporadically some vidwans have taken this for the main suite also. Very rarely this ragam has been chosen for RTP also. Vidwans like TNS, TRS, U Srinivas etc have presented interesting RTPs in Kanada. MMI has impressed generations of rasikas with his highly imaginative Kanada, but more so in the Ragamalika segment of the RTP than a wholesome RTP. Kudos to Vishudev for choosing Kanada for the RTP. The raga was painted on a wide canvas with the choicest strokes that resulted in an authentic version of the ragam. His voice having sruti sudham, swarasthana sudham, an eye for aesthetics, abundant manodharmam, judicious usage of gamakams and karvais and lightning brighas, proportion, all helped to bring out a very enjoyable raga alapana devoid of monotony or repetition.

The talam Panchamukhi- it was popularised by Dr. Balamuralikrishna. In this pallavi, there are two parts of Adi talam in one cycle. In the first part, the sashabdakriyas are in khanda nadai and nishabda kriyas are in chatusra nadai. In the second part, it is the reverse- , the sashabdakriyas are in chatusra nadai and nishabda kriyas are in khanda nadai. The pallavi , neraval and trikalam was executed with precision which vouch for their hard work and concentration. In the Ragamalika swarams, he sang Thodi connecting to the Brindanavalola in the pallavi. Janaranjani leading to Pahimam Gopikavallabha and Chakravakam leading to Yadukulatilaka in the pallavi. It was really a feat.

The young violinist from Kerala, V.S Gokul, a disciple of Sangeetha Kalanidhi A. Kayakumari played with good imagination, control and diligence. His alapana received continuous applause from the audience. Patri Satish kumar, with his nadam, exhuberance, variety of strokes was a great match to the indulgence of Vishnudev Namboodiri. Vishudev said in the beginning that somebody can suggest some name to this talam and there were good response from the audience.

Concert 2
K.Gayathri Prasanna- Vocal
L.Ramakrishnan- Violin
Vijay Natesan- Mridangam

RTP- Panthuvarali
Pallavi- Saguna viguna suguna Bhooshana
Sajjana priya Jagadeeswara Jaya jaya
Talam- Anga talam

Interpolating the Katapayadi formula for her Guru Suguna Purushothaman’s name, the talam has got 45 aksharams and named as Suguna Purushothaman. I am not able to give the components of the anga talam.
Ragamalika swarams- Denuka, Maanavati and Mayamalavagowla in talams corresponding to their nos. as given below.
Hamsaleela- 9 aksharams
Kreeda- 5 aksharams
Jagatjambai- 15 aksharams.

The entire exercise was mind boggling. The alapana was exhaustive- peeping into every nook and corner of the Panthuvarali. We have never heard some an elaborate Panthuvarali. Her malleable voice capable of executing long akaara sangatis, well rounded gamakams, long kaarvais and lightning brighas brought out the beautiful Panthuvarali without any strain on the ears. The tanam was also with profound imagination. The neraval and anulomam pratilomam in this complex talam was executed with perfect control on laya.

L. Ramakrishnan was excellent in his alapana and following. The complex pallavi was much safe in his hands and bow and he handled with aplomb. Vijay Natesan also embellished the pallavi with his intelligence and concentration.

Concert 3
Kunnakudi Balamuralikrishna- Vocal
Akkarai Subbalakshmi- Violin
Patri Satishkumar- Mridangam
S. Karthik- Ghatam.

List of songs.
1. Pariyachakama- Vanaspati.
2. RTP- Panthuvarali.

Pallavi- Pesum deivam Murugan
Manamedayil Aadidum Marugan.

Talam- Adi talam
Beats 1 and 2- 4 kalai.
Beats 3 and 4- 2 kalai.
Beats 5 and 6- 1 kalai
Beats 7 and 8- ½ kalai

Even though KBMK sang Panthuvarali with his profound imagination and voice power, back to back RTPs in Panthuvarali could have been avoided with better planning. Balamurali presented a very elaborate Panthuvarali much suited for the RTP suite. He had sancharams in tara sthayi madhyamam also the suitability of which is debatable. It was announced that there will be 108 ragamalikas spread over tanam, neraval and swarams. The rasikas were requested to identify the ragams and the person who did the maximum identification would be given cash prize. I left when he started the pallavi.

[bhasi]

Excellent review, as always. Today I learned about anulomam and pratilomam - so that's what that is called! I've heard it so many times and been fascinated by the thalam remaining constant but somehow the lyrics get drawn out slower and slower. Will watch the videos on carnaticworld as and when they come out.

[Sivaramakrishnan]

Vishnudev
Though Vishnudev fared quite well and at ease during the exercise, a possible influence of TVS was seen in his Kaanada alapana. (To me, Kaanada and Kapi are TVS' forte). Gokul, the 'new-find' young violinist from Kerala has a bold bowing technique and a Lalgudi style could be heard occasionally.

KMBK
As CRama has pointed out, KMBK could have easily chosen another raga as Pantuvarali was already taken up by Gayatri. I feel some planning among artists too could go into the selection of the RTP raga.

As I had to return home far away- call it the 'distance factor'- I couldn't sit through KMBK recital. Congrats man, for the reported ragamalika fete! Awaiting YouTube uploads!
**
A slice of memory here:
Several years back Kiranaavali - sister of Ravikiran/Shasikiran- presented a Pallavi though a simple one but with a stunning ragamalika swaraprastara covering108 ragas. If I remember correct the venue was Sastri hall, Mylapore. Executing Ragamalika through swaraprastara in quick succession (including a few from the Vivadi group) some of them lasting for just half thaala cycle was an incredible fete. By the time one could figure out a raga, the rendering would have moved to the next tune. My score was only around 75-80!!

[HarishankarK]

K Gayathri could have gone more overboard and sung ragamalika in krithis wihich have word Suguna - Chakravagam and Kamas (sujana JEEVANA) etc etc