TNS@Ramakrishna Mission Students Home-An experience-of-sorts

Sathej · Post by **Sathej** » 04 Oct 2008, 22:25

Shri Madurai TN Seshagopalan - Vocal
Shri VL Kumar - Violin
Shri Trichur Narendran - Mrudangam
Shri Sree Sundar Kumar - Kanjira

Ramakrishna Mission Students Home, Chennai.
October 4, 2008

1) Marivere - Anandabhairavi - AS
2) Venkatashaila - Hamirkalyani - A (preceded by a Virutham)
3) Ambavani - Keeravani - ANS
4) Amba Neelayadakshi - Neelambari
5) Tappulanni - Bowli
6) Janani Mamava - Bhairavi - ATNS (T - Tanam)
Thani Avarthanam
7) Ragamalika Virutham followed by Thedi Unnai - Sindubhairavi - composed by Subramanya Bharathiar
8) Mangalam Shlokam

There are some musicians who are good, some who are excellent and a select few who are in an undescribably elitist class. TNS is one such musician who often leaves you amazed with his Manodharmam. His voice has been causing a few troubles of late. However, today, once he started Anandabhairavi, it was clear that his voice was not going to be a hindrance. What followed was a pristine concert!

I have been under some pressure on several fronts of late and don't find time to attend too many concerts. But a TNS concert was tempting. And I got what I wanted - a single concert that had everything put together. If Neelambari and Bowli were soaked in Bhavam, the Keeravani Alapanai was one of the best I have ever heard. The Bhairavi main had a Tanam prefixed as well. The choice of the Krithi was a bit of a let down as I was expecting a Pallavi, but TNS more than made up for it in the Neraval and Swarams. He was just unstoppable. Right from the Anandabhairavi to the folk-song like ending with Sindubhairavi, it was a complete concert in all respects.

The Anandabhairavi Krithi provided a great start. Then, after a Hamirkalyani Alapanai-cum-Virutham, TNS announced that he was singing Venkatashaila though it is Navarathri due to the fact that the Brahmotsavam is on at Tirupati. Then the Keeravani Alapanai was one of its kind. The Krithi being one of his customary ones, was rendered as usual. Then in the Swarams, his first Kalam Swarams were very elaborate and he seemed to be entirely soaked in the Ragam's beauty, leisurely unravelling it. The violinist was very good here. The Neelambari Krithi was soothing. The Bowli Krithi was good. But the pick was the way he ended it. He did a sort of a mini Neraval before finishing the Krithi. It looked as if he was unwilling to let the Krithi go. His Shruthi was perfect here and he traversed right down to the Mandara Shadjam.

The main Bhairavi Ragam was good with usual Prayogams. Then came the surprise - he started Tanam along with percussion accompaniment (I haven't seen TNS do that usually). Just as I was expecting a Pallavi, he started Janani Mamava. The Krithi was well sung. The absence of a Pallavi was more than compensated in the Neraval and Swarams. The Swarams were very elaborate and the Kanakkus were breathtaking. The violinist responded very well almost every time, earning a few words of praise from TNS.

The Thani was good led by the able Shri Narendran. Sundar Kumar was good as well.

Before the concert, I was a bit worried because it was advertised as being from 6 PM upto a specified finish time of 8:30 PM. And TNS predictably started only at around 6:20 PM. But, thankfully enough(for the Rasikas), he extended it to 9:20 PM!

Overall, one of the best concerts I've attended in recent times. And concerts like these suffice to make one feel that there is not too much of a necessity to go for concerts regularly. Thats a good thing actually atimes like these, when people are not in a position to go for too many concerts. The quality of these concerts fills you enough! It has made not just my day, but my month!

I usually don't write long posts for a concert. But, well, felt I must do so for this one.

Sathej

jnaanasoonyam · Post by **jnaanasoonyam** » 04 Oct 2008, 22:54

Sathej wrote:The Bhairavi main had a Tanam prefixed as well. The choice of the Krithi was a bit of a let down as I was expecting a Pallavi, but TNS more than made up for it in the Neraval and Swarams. ....... The main Bhairavi Ragam was good with usual Prayogams. Then came the surprise - he started Tanam along with percussion accompaniment (I haven't seen TNS do that usually). Just as I was expecting a Pallavi, he started Janani Mamava. The Krithi was well sung. The absence of a Pallavi was more than compensated in the Neraval and Swarams.

The choice of kriti and the mridangam accompaniment couldn't have been more apt. Today is the 5th day of Navaratri... 'Janani Mamava' is the 5th Navaratri kriti of Swati Tirunal, sung at the Navaratri mandapam with a tanam prefix accompanied by Mridangam. What Shri TVG would have done in Thiruvananthapuram tonight, TNS did in Chennai...

Sathej · Post by **Sathej** » 04 Oct 2008, 23:16

Yes, I knew it was a Navarthri Krithi. Didn't know it was for the 5th day. Yes, then it was a very appropriate choice. As for Tanam, yes, I have heard it is customary to have percussion accompaniment for Tanam in Kerala. Quite a few artistes do it these days elsewhere as well. For me, it was the first time I have seen TNS do that.
Sathej

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 06 Oct 2008, 11:19

interestingly, the 5th kriti in kamalAmbA navAvarNam, srI kamalAbhikAyAh param nahi rE, is also in bhairavi.

Sathej · Post by **Sathej** » 08 Oct 2008, 11:49

By the way, the Neraval and Swaram for the main Bhairavi were at Parihrta Ghana Jnana and not at the usual Anupamita.
Sathej

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 08 Oct 2008, 20:10

Sathej,
Thanks for the review.
As I read it through, the lines 'he seemed entirely soaked in the rAgam's beauty, leisurely unraveling...', 'it looked as if he was unwilling to let the kriti go', convey the nature of the concert and the experience of TNS's singing on the fifth day of navarAtri. I have to add this: the list, and added information from jnaanasoonyam (not really!) and bharath helped as well in giving me a taste of the concert...