Govind Balakrishnan - BRR Sabha, Mumbai 28 Nov 2010

[narayan]

Govind Balakrishnan, BRR Sabha, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai, 28 Nov 2010, with Smriti Sunderarajan (violin) and Karthik Srinivasan (mridangam)

Two hour concert as part of homage to the late P.N.Krishnamoorthy, a mentor to many (including me!), and one of the moving spirits behind this noteworthy sabha, the venue of some of the best concerts in Mumbai over the years.

Serene Sahana varnam, melodious Gajavadana (Sriranjani) with a quick round of swarams and the old favourite, but now rarely heard Tolijanma (Bilahari) before the first raga alapana. I'm not a big fan of the mandatory pratimadhyama raga at the two down position, but Govind sang Ramapriya very well, with focus, and including some fine phrases. Korina vara with swarams at parichara vanara samuha was a nice touch.

Evarunnaru (Balahamsa) was a pleasant surprise. Following this was a short Hindolam composition (sama gana lola) of Pallavur Mani Iyer, PNK's guru (among other things). The main was a detailed 2 phase Bhairavi, equalled by SS's violin, tanam and then the pallavi - the Alathur masterpiece Velavane kolahalane etc etc which was nicely rendered by the young team. Although Karthik was subdued during the neraval and swarams he played a nice tani for the pallavi line itself. Post pallavi was samayamide (behag) and a tuneful tiruppugazh in Revati.

Govind was rock solid in sruti, gamakam and talam throughout and stuck to his plan even in the upper octave in Bhairavi and the result was very nice and fulfilling. No ragamalika swarams.

[PUNARVASU]

narayan, thanks for the review of Govind's concert. A very fine musician of the younger generation.
Good selection of songs.