Sri S Kasthuri Rangan, Vyalikaval, Bangalore 2/4/14

[sangeethadasan]

My Second concert of Sri S Kasthuri Rangan. I happened to be in Bangalore this week. And While was checking through the schedule of concerts in the city, I spotted Sri S Kasthuri Rangan's concert in Vyalikaval Ram Mandir. Went in to the concert. And was a bit late. He was singing neraval and Swarams for Sri Raghukula Mandu putti in Hamsadhwani at Parama Bhaktulanu. He has got fantastic control and command over the raga that was evident while he was singing swaras for 3/4 edam in Hamsadhwani. Then came an unexpected Marga Hindolam - Chalamelara Saketha Rama of Thyagaraja Swamigal which was rendered in a madhyama kala pramanam and enthralled the audience. The Sub Central piece he handled for the day was Rama Rama Eniro of Purandara Dasa in Raga Pantuvarali. The Raga Essay was simply Stupendous.. A right mix of melkala prayogams and jaarus made the raga essay an interesting one. Once Again, Neraval Swaras were handled at Vara Purandara in charanam, Neraval Handling is a tricky skill which was appropriately presented by the vidwan. Swaras had interesting korappu patterns to 1/2 edam from samam followed by a porutha korvai. Then he proceeded to sing the 19th Melakarta Raga Outline and presented the Dikshithar Composition Kodanda Ramam in Kokilaravam.

The Main piece of the day was a Ragam Tanam Pallavi in Ragam Mohanam. Raga Mohanam was explored in detail and the Thanam part excited me the most. There was no "Thaganam" nor was there any ragam interspersing in the thanam, it was exactly like hearing a Veena Thanam. This was followed by a detail exploration of the Pallavi "RArA RAjIva LOchanA Nannu BrOchutaku" in Kanda triputa with 6 Kaarvai. Trikalam, Tisram were justified and he moved on to the swaras part. Interesting Raga Malika Swarams in Khamas, Shubapantuvarali, Vaasanthi & KApi were enjoyed by the Audience gathered. Without elongating the piece (may be due to lack of time), after the ragamalika swarams, Kasthuri Rangan let the dais to the percussionists for the Thani. Enjoyable Thani was delivered by Bangalore Praveen & his student Karthik (I think) on the Kanjira. The concert concluded with Rama Mantrava Japiso, a devarnama in Jhonpuri followed by Mangalam..

Sri CN Thyagaraju on Violin did manage to give able support.


7:00 - 9:15pm

Sri Raghukula - Adi, thyagaraja, Hamsadwani (N,S)
Chalamelara - Adi, Thyagaraja, Marga Hindolam
Rama Rama Rama Enniro - Rupakam, Pantuvarali, Devarnama (R,N,S)
Kodandaramam - Adi, MD, Kokilaravam
RTP - Mohanam (R,T,P,Thani)
Ramamantrava Japiso - Jhonpuri, Devarnama, Adi
Mangalam

Sri Kasthuri Rangan - Vocal
Sri CN Thyagaraju - Violin
Sri Praveen - Mridangam
Sri Karthik - Kanjira.

[kssr]

Sri.Kasturi Rangan has all along been an excellent performer. True disciple of Sri.TNS. At this stage of the guru's career, KR has an opportunity of being more recognised and appreciated.