R Raghavendra at Naada Sudhaa, Velachery,03Jan

[kunthalavarali]

Finally we managed attending Raghavendra's concert. It was at far away Velachery. Far away, because the Sri Ganapathi Sachidanada Hall is difficult to access, being located in an interior part of Velachery (even autos are hard to get). But inside the temple precincts where the hall is located the ambiance is excellent.

RR was accompanied on the violin by Rahul (who reminded me of M Chandrasekaran) and Harinarayanan on the Mrudangam. After the sahAna varnam RR sang crisp and neat alapana for mAyAmALavagowLa, and sriranjani before taking up kalyAni (E tAvunarA). His singing in the madhyama kAla is very appealing though he seems to have some problem in the upper octave. He concluded with two lighter songs (gOvardana_darbAri kAnada)) and pagaivanukku (rAgamalikai).