S.MAHATHI AT KGS- 2/9

[CRama]

Accompanists- H.N.Bhaskar-Violin
Patri Satish Kumar- Mridangam
B.S.Purushotham-Ganjira
List of songs.
• Kedaragowla varnam
• Ranganayakam-Nayaki-MD
• Paramapurusha-Vasantha-ST (R,S)
• Kaaneere-Khamas-OVK
• Gnanamosagarada-Poor vikalyani (R,N,S)
• Edari sancharintura-Srutiranjini-T
• RTP-Thodi
• Pallavi- Azhaithodi vaadi Aayarpaadi kannanai
Gokulam Brindavanam sendru
• Misra Jhampa / Adi talam-Khanda nadai- 2 kalai
• Raga malika swaras- Kapi,Sindubhairavi, Revathi, Behag
• Thani
• Gopigopala-Gamanashrama

An excellent concert from the word go. Mahathi ‘s voice is an asset to her for it transverses all the three sthayis with enviable felicity and capable of producing any sangathy she desires. Three alapanas- Vasantha, Poorvikalyani and Thodi were testimony to her flowing manodharmam. The alapanas had the overall flavour of TNS, her Guru, but also explored some unusual sancharas in Vasantha and Poorvikalyani. The long akara sangathis, brighas, jarus added colour and substance to the alapanas. In Thodi, srutibhedam to Saramathi was commendable - not usually heard. The pallavi was first rendered in Misra jhampa till trikalam and then switched to Adi talam khanda nadai for the swara portion. The sahithyam of the pallavi was very appropriate for the on going Gokulashtami festival in KGS. The koraippu was rendered in all the ragamalika swaras which needed tremendous practice and confidence. Mahathi needs special appreciation for her planning – to include three raga alapanas and RTP also with full justification to all the necessary aspects in a concert of two and half hours. The RTP took 45 minutes.

The accompanists were source of strength and support. HN Bhaskar’s violin solos and returns were highly imaginative. Patri gave plenty of special effects with his thoppi and he played with great sense of anticipation and clarity. The thani with BS Purushotham was much appreciated by the discerning audience.

A concert to cherish for a long time.

[thanjavooran]

Shri C Rama,
Many thanx for the excellent review. Very good selection of songs. It has become rare to listen to Nayaki kriti. Purushothaman's performance would have been really enjoyable. I recollect an incident. Few years back I entered into the hall in SIFA before audience were allowed. Wow ! Purushothaman was playing for the set up of mike and acoustic effects. Could not control my passion of listening. Stayed inside till I was evicted by volunteers.
With wishes,
Thanjavooran
04 09 2015

[sureshvv]

Very enjoyable concert. Mahathi strayed away from her formulaic presentation (Vivadi kriti, kanakku swaras demo) and it was a refreshing change.Always good to keep the rasika off balance. Found the kriya for the RTP somewhat confusing - particularly the khanda nadai. Looked more like tisra nadai from where I was sitting! (Uniformly spaced double beats rather than the eccentric single followed by double beat). Of course it doesn't add up that way. May be a laya knowledgeable rasika can explain.

[CRama]

Suresh, It was indeed khanda nadai Adi. 8*5=40. Now I don't remember how she put the thalam. Because I have heard so many concerts in between.
Vivadi ragas- So far I have heard three concerts of Mahathi in the last three years. In the earlier concerts, she did sing vivadi ragas- once Gayakapriya and next RTP in Rasikapriya as a tribute to U.Srinivas. But in a concert where an artist sings three raga alapanas, I feel nothing wrong in doing one Vivadi raga alapana. Being disciple of TNS, her laya is very strong. I remember the RTP Rasikapriya was in a complex tala.