Yesterday was another concert to remember, by my Guru Smt Vijayalakshmy Subramaniam. The concert was part of the Maha Shivaraathri celebrations at the famous Rathinagireeshwarar Kovil, Besant Nagar. Most of the songs were in praise of the presiding deity of the temple, Lord Shiva. The accompanying artistes for the concert were Dr. Hemalatha on the violin, Sri. Skanda Subramaniam on the Mridangam and Sri. N. Guru Prasad on the Ghatam.
The song list for the evening was as follows
1. Varnam - Era Napai - Thodi - Adi - Patnam Subramaiya Iyer
2. Vinayaka - Hamsadwani - Veenai Kuppaiyer - Adi
3. Subramanyena - Shuddha Dhanyasi - Adi - Muthuswami Diskathar
4. Ododi Vandhen Kanna - Dharmavathi - Adi - Ambujam Krishna
5. Virutham - Kaana Vendamo - Sriranjani - Adi - Papanasam Sivan
6. Easan Kanaka Sabesan - Begada - Adi - Koteeswara Iyer
7. Ramanatham Bhajeham - Panthuvarali - Tisra Ekam- Muthuswami Diskathar
8. Virutham in Kapi - Sindhu Bhairavi - Yaman - Bhavayami Gopalabalam - Yaman Kalyani - Kanta Chapu - Annamacharya
9. Nataraja Bhajan - Ahir Bhairavi - Adi
10. Mangalam
The concert started off at a brisk pace with the Thodi varnam. This was followed by Vinayaka and a quick set of Kalpana Swarams at the end, with very good dialogue between Guru and the violinist. After a short alapana, she sang Subramanyena in Shuddha Dhanyasi. The essence of Dharmavathi was captured completely in the five minute raga alapana, the song being Ododi Vandhen Kanna, a listener’s request at the concert, with Dhuritha Kaala Kalpana Swarams at the charanam. Sriranjani was elaborated with much emotion, with Arunagirinadhar’s verses as virutham, setting a very apt prelude to Sivan’s emotion laden Kaana Vendamo. The subtle playing on the percussion added extra beauty to the rendition. This was followed by a sprightly Begada alapana followed by the song Easan Kanaka Sabesan. This song is very rhythm centric, with each rhyming line starting after the samam.
The main ragam of the evening was Panthuvarali, which was rendered in detail with very beautiful madhyama sthayi phrases gliding around Ma and Da. The Niraval was in the line "Kumara Guruguha Vidhitham"