Ranjani & Gayathri
Bhaskar H.N
Manoj Siva
N.Guruprasad
Date- 14th December 2014
For Thyaga brahma Gana Sabha
Venue-Vani Mahal.
When we go to attend a concert, we have some expectation. The expectation, obviously, changes from artist to artist. For ex-if Abhishek raguram’s concert, it will be a“high voltage” concert. If it is Vijay Siva, it is “madi” kutcheri. Etc.,. If it is Sanjay- each and kriti was rendered exceptionally in his own way. TMK-at least one kriti in his concert “stirs” your soul.
I always go to R&G’s concert with high expectation as they exhibit a great performance every time.
On stage improvisation, I found MLV was an expert and after that I certainly say, R&G. Their success despends on a simple equation. Ie Gayathri is a sort of “dare devil’ whereas Ranjani is quite and singswithin the precincts of “musical law” and carries through the audience. Thus, they satisfy a normal rasika and also adventurous rasikAs.
I don’t see this combination with any “duo” artists. If you take Malladi Bros-both are quiet and deliver within the “strict” adherence to Gurukulam. If you take Trichur Brothers- both are two Abhishek ragurAms. Not so many like Trichur Bros because of this “over music”. I don’t see any other Sisters/Brothers in line with the above.
They rendered RTP in malayamArutham which merits special mention. kanda jAti triputa- RTP swaram, Gayathri rendered a mixture of Abheri-mohana kalyani –swara bhedham or griha-bhedam. (in swaram) This was stunning.
A fresh Todi by Gayathri and a melodious Ranjani by “Ranjani” were truly the shot of the day.
Bhaskar needs to have a special mention here. RAnjani-return of swaram, he slipped a bit. But his todi and malayamArutham RTP– reply was superb. I saw a different Bhaskar today, compared to the previous two concerts.
Manoj siva and Ghatam’s tani was steady and soothing. This is also because he had to return the swaram rendered by Gayathri which is very difficult...Kudos to him. Since he scored 10/10, he would be BhaskOr.
• nEE kEla daya rAdhu- sarasAngi- well rendered without chitta swaram which is rAmaswamy sivan’s special. But she finished with swaram in the same line.
• manasAra madhiyEni- sAramathy- Thanjavur Shankara Iyer kriti. This kriti has a special element, the name of the rAgA comes in the kriti, that to in the first line itself. Maharajapuram
Santhanam, once rendered this.
• Ranjani-rAgam by Ranjani followed by kannadA kriti “kAriruvEnAnu”- by Ambujam Krishna. Surprising that AK has penned kriti in kannadA. Swaram in “pAdhambujagala pUjaya mAdi”. Special mention about Gayathri’s swaram in this Ranjani. Well well well…
• SoundararAjam – Brindavani- Kriti by Muthuswamy Dikshitar on Nagappatnam SoundararAja perumAl. Going with the tempo of kriti was very soothing.. Like taking the lower berth on a night train, keep the door half open…..
• Todi-Ragam by by GAyathri- followed by dAchUkOvalEna –Thyagaraja’s another mAster piece. Swaram in “sowmitri ThyAgarAju”
• Tani
• Gowri manOharA-gowri manOhari-P.Sivan
• RTP-MalayamArutham-pallavi-“kaNNan tiruvadi eNNuga manamE, thiNNamazhiyA vaNNam tarumE”- pallavi rAga mAlika- husEni, Arabhi-mohanakalyAni, madhuvanthi & mAnd.
• dEvAram - kAdhalAgi kasindu- kAmbodi
Adiya pAdhanAi ninRa- Abhogi & Chenchurutti- followed by Chidambaram pOgAmal iruppEnO-
GopAlakrishna bhArathy.
• Abhang-Chandrakauns. (yesteryear actor and stage actor NEElu requested from the audience)
Mangalam
Such a concert is rare. Thanks R&G and Team for that wonderful evening.