A review of Pranav's concert by a Dallas Rasika -
Dallas area’s own 14 year old Pranav Kikkeri has been giving quite a few performances this season; but I could only make it to his concert for Maduradhwani at Arkay convention center. He was accompanied by Apoorva Ravindran on the violin and Mysore Vadiraj on the mridangam. I had no idea that Apoorva played the violin. I have seen you tube clips of her singing with her sister Anahita.
Pranav started with Sarasjinabha in Natai. Next was Sivan’s Tatvam Ariya tharama in Ritigowla. I particularly liked how well he enunciated the words tatvam and ariya. Often people split it as tatva mariya. I have heard him sing this in a Dallas area performance a couple of years back. I was happy to see how he has matured in his rendition, not only of the kriti but in kalpana swara rendition as well
He took up Pantuvarali for a detailed alapana which earned him appreciation from Shri Chitravina Narasimhan who was sitting next to me. Apoorva played a very melodious response. The kriti presented was Enna ganu Ramabhajana . Pranav performed neraval at premamira Bhadradri with kalpanaswaras.
Rendition of a tirukkural in Athana was next. The verse had been set to tune by Pranav’s guru Chitravina Ravikiran. Pranav’s pronunciation was commendable for a kid born and raised in the USA and whose parents are not native Tamil speakers.
The main raga was Kharaharapriya. Pranav rendered a very good alapana. As his voice matures to that of a young man , he has enhanced his singing his ability to sing in lower octaves with clarity. Apoorva once again gave a fine response on the violin. The main piece that followed was Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi’s Rasakheli. In the presentation of this kriti and the tillana that followed a little later, the advantage of having a violinist who knows the same patantharam came to the fore. Wonderful kalpanaswaras were rendered by both Pranav and Apoorva. Due to the time factor the tani was limited to an elaborate teermanam
Pranav wrapped up with Entati kuluke in Kalyani and a tillana composed by his guru in Sindubhairavi. Hope all the young performers continue to delight audiences for many years to come.