Accompaniments : Kanyakumari Violin, Haridwaramangalam Palanivel thavil, Bangalore Satish Kanjira, Bangalore Rajasekar Morsing
Song list :
1. Abeeshta varadha Hamsadwani
2. Sathinjane Arabi
3. Kamalapthakula Brindavana saranga
4. gnanmosagaratha poorvi kalyani
5. Chakkani raja karaharapria
6. ennu daya barathe kalyanavasantham
7. theeratha vilayatu pillai ragamalika
8. bajan bimblas
9. muthai thiru shanmugapria
10. bagyatha madhyamavathi
I went with a guilt that I am going to the same concerts every year. I wasn’t prepared for an elaborate raga and kalpanaswara in hamsadwani to begin with but kadri did not seem to give any time for rasikas to settle down. After sathinjane, the brindavani raga was excellent. I see this as a symbol of cuddling a naughty child. I did not want the usual acrobatics in kalpanaswara. Kanyakumari played an inticate raga alapana and kadri also restricted to subdued kalpanaswara realizing the mood of the raga. Gnanamo sagaratha was very fast. Why? It normally symbolizes ‘viraha’ and pleading by nayaki but here it was threatening and demanding. Chakkani raja was elaborate and outstanding. With due regards to kadri I rate kanyakumari one up above him. She is more precise at the same time more minute and intricate. This was followed by a special thani by haridwaramangalam with sound and vigor. With due regards to him I always felt that he is slightly over rated. I prefer valayapatti. Satish was a great find for both gnana and nadha. Bangalore rajasekar who many times acts as a conductor in an archestra played a speaking morsing. This I have not found even in pudukkottai mahadevan.
Overall a nice concert. Kadri has a tendency to go the kunnakkudi way. Some restraint is required.
Post script: from the balcony we could see only the figures of gnananadha giri and haridass giri only up to the neck in the posters displayed on both sides of the stage. Probably the sabha people think that the balconites are entitled only that for the money they have paid. They have to facilitate view of the full figures from head to toe.