GAYATHRI GIRISH IN NGS (MINI) HALL- 6/5/19

[CRama]

Saraswathi Vaggeyakara Trust organised the Syama Sastri Remembrance Day with the concert of Gayathri Girish accompanied by Shraddha Ravindran on the Violin and Melakkaveri Balaji on the Mridangam. The concert started at 6.30 P.M. List of songs.

• Sri Kamakshi kaavave nannu Karuna kataakshi- Kalyani- Adi. (S)
• Dayajooda samayamide- Jaganmohini- Mishra chapu
• Kamakshi- Swarajati- Yadukulakambodi- Mishra chapu (R)
• Karunajoodavamma- Varali- Mishra chapu (R,N,S)
• Mayamma- Ahiri- Adi
• Devi Meena netri- Sankarabharanam- Adi (R,S)
• Tani avarthanam
• Akhilandeswari- Kapi
• Karuna joodu ninnu- Sri- Adi.

It was another exhilarating concert from Gayathri Girish. She has proved on many earlier occasions that when it comes to thematic concerts, she puts her heart and soul for learning and presenting unheard songs, well polished and well ornamented. This was another instance of her perseverance, hard work, diligence and craftsmanship. Many were rare uruppadis- presented in an unhurried manner without loss of aesthetics. Syama Sastri kritis are mostly in vilamba kalam and pulling off a concert of all vilamba kala kritis is not an easy joke. There is no space for shifting of tempo within the concert. But the concert was totally absorbing and the house full audience enjoyed and appreciated each musical phrase and stayed till the end.

The song in Kalyani was totally new to me. The opening song in Kalyani gave a weight to the entire proceedings. It was in medium tempo with entire charanam in madhyamakalam and lot of swaraksharams. Gayathri further embellished the kriti with imaginative kalpana swarams at the pallavi. The next kriti in Jaganmohini is also a rare kriti. Kamakshi swarajati in Yadukalakambodi is the longest swarajati of Syama Sastri. The rendition of M.S is the gold standard for the kriti and she has performed in many concerts which are available in commercial releases as well. Gayathri made a sublime rendering of the swarajati in an unhurried manner, highlighting the subtle nuances of the ragam and exploring the raga bhavam and sahitya bhavam admirably.

The kriti Karuna joodavamma in Varali on Dharmasamvardhini of Tiruvayyar is a very rarely heard song in the concert circuit. The raga alapana was presented in a detailed manner for about ten minutes with stop over at vantage points and imaginative sancharams infused with gamakams and brighas bringing out the colourful picture of the ragam. Neraval at Marakataangi Panchanadeesu raani and the two kala kalpana swaras were well executed. Interestingly, the same kriti has been rendered in Panthuvarali by D.K. Pattammal in one of her concerts in the early 1950s. Mayamma in Ahiri was rendered in the characteristic style without loss of aesthetics and bhakthi bhavam.

Ragam Sankarabharanam was taken up for the detailed exploration. The raga was presented with its multi hued layers carefully unfolded in a systematic manner and the rare monumental composition was presented diligently. This song is one of the Meenakshi Navarathnamalika kritis and TNS used to sing this in his demonstration on the topic. The kriti was presented with the gauravam it deserved and decorated with liberal bouts of kalpana swaras in mel kalam.

Akhilandeswari is listed as Karnataka Kapi in the books, but sung in Kapi by many musicians. Dr.Balamuralikrishna sings it in Karnataka Kapi which gives it a different flavour. Vidushi Vidya Sankar, who is considered to be an authority on Syama Sastri kritis has sung it in Kapi ragam. Gayathri presented the song in Kapi ragam and concluded with the customary Sri raga kriti- Karunajoodu.

Shraddha Ravindran, the upcoming violinist has got adequate potential and I have heard her in a few concerts. Today she was slightly restrained in her manodharmam, but good in follow up. She had some difficulties in the kalpana swara segment in Sankarabharanam. With getting more experience, she should come to the top. Melakkaveri Balaji, the seasoned vidwan embellished the concert with his anticipation and sensitive accompaniment and tani avartanam.

A memorable concert for two hours and ten minutes.

[rajeshnat]

For the first time I also heard this devi neeye when GG's guru shri TNS sang. It is quite a different flavour of shankarabharnam. Also very nice to hear the Yk swarajati , vijaysiva sings that very well and not many take up , it is a very special number to me . I have heard Shraddha Ravindran in few slots as junior artist , good to see her moving up .Thank you crama for your lovely review.

[thanjavooran]

CRama,
Many thanx for the best review.
With wishes
Thanjavooran
07 05 2019

[bhasi]

Lovely review, filled with details, trivia and all the salient aspects of the concert. Methinks it's time I listened to Shyama Sastri's compositions seriously - will start with the Kamakshi swarajati!

[HarishankarK]

Akhilandeshwari is not in kapi it is in Karnataka kapi a slightly different ragam. Hope she sang in the latter

[CRama]

Akhilandeshwari is not in kapi it is in Karnataka kapi a slightly different ragam. Hope she sang in the latter

Even though it is listed in some books as Karnataka Kapi, it is generally sung in Kapi only. As I already mentioned, Vidya Sankar, who is an authority on Syama Sastri Kritis has sung it in Kapi only . Similarly a few other musicians like Sulochana Pattabhiraman. Gayathri Girish sang it only in Kapi.