S.Sowmya presented a vidwat laden concert in the Infosys Hall, Ramakrishna Mission School,Bazulla Road on 22/12/11. She was accompanied by Embar Kannan on the violin, Manoj Siva on the Mridangam and Anirudh Athreya on the Kanjira. The list of songs:
Varnam-Kanada-Ata thalam
Manasunilpa-Abhogi,Adi,Thyagaraja
Parasakthi-Saveri,Adi,Thyagaraja
Koluvaiunnade-DEvagandhari-Adi,Thyagaraja
Mamavapattabhirama-Manirang,Misrachapu,Deekshitar
Nee padamule nammithinee-Natabhairavi,Adi,HMB
Meevallagunadosha-Kapi,Khandachapu,Thyagaraja
RTP-Jyothiswaroopini
Pallavi-Swaroopini Samudraroopini Paahimaam jyothi
Thani
Ramachandraprabhu-Sindubhairavi.
The start with the Ata thala varnam was a pointer to the exquisite fare that was to follow. After the varnam, Manasunilpa which was popularised by GNB and Radha Jayalakshmi which is rarely heard nowadays was presented in an appealing manner and ornamented with some nice pattern with kanakku oriented swarams at the pallavi. This was followed by the first alapana of the concert- Saveri in an elaborate manner with time tested sancharams for about 10 minutes. Parasakthi- a kriti of the bard of Thiruvayyaru on Dharmasamvardhini was presented neatly. This song is also not frequently heard in the concert circuit. Neraval was done taking the lines Puranee Dharmasamvardhini and swaras in two kalams were rendered. This was followed by Koluvaiunnade- a masterpiece of her Guru Dr.S.Ramanathan which was presented with due emphasis on the sahithya bhavam. After a leisurely Mamavapattabhirama Natabhairavi was taken up for a detailed treatment and a rare kriti- Nee padamule nammithinee was presented with swara very appropriately rendered at Natabharavi in the charanam line. The entire exercise was simply awe inspiring. After the filler in Kapi, ragam Jyothiswaroopini was taken up for RTP. This vivadi ragam is rarely taken up for elaboration in the concerts. Lo, Sowmya chose this for presenting the RTP. The raga was rendered very elaborately for 15 minutes clearly showing the vivadi swarams. The pallavi was presented with customary trikaalam and she announced that it was violinist Kannan's request for this ragam for the RTP. We should thank Kannan because of whom we got this rare treat. I thank my stars for I was fortunate to hear two RTPs in this rare ragam during this season- one by TNS and another by Sowmya.
The ragamalaka swarams were rendered in Hindolam,Chandrakauns, Hamsanandi, Kalyanavasantham,Sree and Thodi. While doing ragamalika swarams the camaraderie between the vocalist and violinist was appreciable. Sowmya rendered swarams in Hindolam and Kannan, while return, played Hindolam and then switched on to Chandrakauns. Sowmya then sang swarams in Chandrakauns and continued in Hamsanandi. Now Kannan played in Hamsanandi and followed in Kalyanavasantham. This way the entire segment was rendered. The concert came to close with Ramachandraprabhu.
The accompaniments played a significant role in raising the standard of the concert to a superior level. Kannan's violin was dipped in honey and his solo essays and violin returns for neravals and swarams were highly engaging. Manoj Siva and Anirudh Athreya followed Sowmya very closely and with much anticipation. They were never intrusive and the team spirit among the artists was very much evident as each person enjoyed the other's music. The thani by Manoj Siva and Anirudh was highly enjoyable and the audience appreciated their each avarthanam.
It was an excellent concert by all standards.