Sudha Raghunathan @ BVB
Varnam
sri ganapathini sourashtram thyagarajar
Annapurni vishalakshi sama Mdixitar
Thyagarajaya namasthe begada dixitar
I started my season with the Leading Lady's concert. It was a completely packed BVB.No space to sit even in the corridors. I sneaked inside the hall to stand in a corner.She just started the varnam when i entered. Since i was searching a place to stand, i did not listen properly to the varnam. Hence for me it started from the second song.
Sudha was amazing from the word go. Sri Ganapathini in Saurashtram was started with a bang. She sang crisp swaras and the violinist (Ragahvendra Rao)? simply followed her.
It was followed by Annapoorni Visalakshi.It was rendered well. She followed this with Begada Alapana. The Alapana was nice surely built up the mood and the violin return which follwed was good. I expected Nadopasana/Vallabha Nayakasya in begada. But Thyagarajaya Namasthe followed.
What annoyed me was Sudha was constantly referring to paper when she was singing.I always believe that if the singer refers to the paper it takes some joy out of the rendition and the song looses its charm.
At this pint more and more crowd strated to come in and it became very difficult to hold on to my place. Hence i decided to move and Sudha started a Sivan's krithi on Mayilai Kapaleeswarar.
Nithyasree Mahadevan @ NGS for KFA
Sunday it turned out to be NM's concert at NGS.
1. Varnam Charukesi Lalgudi Jayaraman
2. Lochana Durbar ThyagaRajar S@ Lochana
3. Entoki chupala mo maanava Mandari Pattanam Subramanya Iyer (Submain - A for 7 mins,Vio Return,N,S @ parama bagavathula)
4. Ennalum Inda bagyam mukhari P.sivan
5. vijayambike vimalambike vijayanagari HMB
6. Sri Soundara rajam brindavana saranga dixitar
7. kaligiyu kiravani thyagarajar (Main, A for 10 mins,Vio ret,N,S @kaligiyu,T for 15 mins)
8. Virutham -Orumaiudan ninadu thiruvadi on Kandakottam Murugan
8.b.Mayil meedu Vilayadum Vaasanthi saathur Karpagam
9. Sarvam brahma mayam madhuvanti? sadasiva brahmendra
NM's concert at NGS was brisk right from the word go. She atarted with Charukesi varnam and sang a quick round of chittaswaras. This certainly lit up the mood on a dull sunday evening. What followed this was a even brighter Yochana in Durbar.The lightening fast swaras at Lochana was a treat. I always admire this lady for her ability to sing at that speed with that commanding high pitch.
What followed next was a very sublime Alapana in Mandari. A rare krithi of Pattanam was taken up(I have never heard this krithi before.Hence a rare one for me). This Krithi was built in a brick by brick manner. The neraval and Swaras was done at Parama baghavathula. This was followed by a short alapana on Mukhari and Sivan krithi followed. This was followed by quick filler in Vijayanagari. A very brief sketch of Brindavana Sarangi followed with Sri Soundara rajam.
Kiravani was taken as main and she sang a Kiravani Alapana. More than NM rendition, i loved Violinist's Kiravani. The krithi was rendered well and the Neraval and Swaras were handled at Kaligiyu.Then an explosive thani followed. Patri and Alathur complimented each other.
An interesting virutham on Kandakottam Murugan followed.thukkada- Mayil meedu vilayadum ensued.
She ended the concert with Sarvam brahma mayam.
There are some other aspects as well i observed in this concert.
1.She covered a gamut of composers possible
2.A good mix of languages and Krithis- rare and familiar was visible
3.She looked a bit mellowed down.Hence her renditions in thara sthayi were not much jarring
4.Her staple thukkadas were missing
5.Her father who usually accompanies her was not there.