Smt.Suguna Purushothaman-Special Simhanandana Tala Pallavi-I

mridhangam · Post by **mridhangam** » 05 Mar 2009, 10:28

Dear Rasikas

I, on behalf of Veda Vyasa Tapovanam extend a warm invitation to all the rasikas for this rare and special programme to be held this Saturday. The invitation is given below. Members are requested to make it convenient to attend the function and make it a grand success.

Mannarkoil J.Balaji

jayk_89 · Post by **jayk_89** » 07 Mar 2009, 22:39

what a concert...no words. most informative.
would have missed badly if not for Balaji sir's timely status update in facebook

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 07 Mar 2009, 23:21

i was too tired and lil busy to move myself to come... though Sri Balaji had insisted that i come..

now sad..

i missed it..

mridhangam · Post by **mridhangam** » 07 Mar 2009, 23:30

It was a fantastic evening filled with Pallavi atmosphere. Now it is too late for me to elaborate on this pallavi but surely give the details as early as possible.

J.Balaji

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 07 Mar 2009, 23:48

If possible, please do share one or two songs for rasikas living outside chennai.

mridhangam · Post by **mridhangam** » 08 Mar 2009, 10:55

I give below the Pallavi structure as such :
The Simhanandana Tala goes like this

Guru - 8
Guru - 8
Laghu - 4
Plutam - 12

Laghu - 4
Guru - 8
Drutam - 2
Drutam - 2
Guru - 8
Guru - 8
Laghu - 4
Plutam - 12
Laghu - 4
Plutam - 12

Guru - 8
Laghu - 4
Laghu -4
Kakapadam - 16

This is one of the longest Talas in the 108 Tala Scheme wherein 5 of the Shaadangaas are used. The Shaadangas are Anudrutam, Drutam, Laghu, Guru, Plutam and Kakapadam. Out of which except Anudrutam all the other angas are being used in this tala.

http://www.angelfire.com/mb/mridhangam/108talas.html

Please refer to the above for the complete list of 108 Talas.

Kalaimamani Smt.Suguna Purushothaman is always adept at singing excellent pallavis in Difficult Talas. Sarabanandana Tala, (Akella Garu Please forgive me though according to Tala Prastara there are some controversies-but we have to accept the fact that such a tala exists) Simhanandana Tala, Lakshmisa Tala etc are being handled deftly by her as "one sips water from the palm of one's hands (As C-Rajagopalachari Puts)". Madam is also adept in giving Dwitala pallavis and in various fora she has demonstrated the tala varieties.

Now for the Simhanandana Pallavi:

As i have already explained the tala goes as above. One of the longest talas in 108 Tala Scheme having 128 Aksharas in total.

Tha tala has totally 6 Gurus, 6 Laghus, 2 Drutas, 3 Plutams and One Kakapadam

Actually starts with a guru and ends with kakapadam. So we can be ready for the Pallavi Eduppu by the arrival of Kakapadam in the Pallavi.

The pallavi lines go thus and madam has superbly worded in this pallavi by bringing Simhanandana word also.

Narasimha Nandana Priya Ahobila Vaasa Bhaktha Poshaka Praklaada Varada Nin Charane Gathi --> Arudi Kaarvai 12 Aksharas

Parama Kripa Nidhi Nee Yandro Shankaranai Katha Abhath Banda Va Kaa Vaa Sri Lakshmi (Narasimha)

The Poorvangam or Poorva Bhaagam consists of 56 Aksharas with Arudi Kaarvai as 12 making the total to 68 and the Utharaangam or the Uthara Bhaagam consists of 60 Aksharas in total.

Now for the Details of how the words are split :

Nara Simha = 7
Nandana = 4
Priya = 3
Ahobila = 6
Vaasa = 5
Bhakta = 4
Poshaka=7
Praklada = 6
Varada = 6
Nin = 2
Charane = 3
Gathi =3

Arudi = 12 (one Guru + one laghu)

The utharaangam starts with Plutam

Parama = 7
Kripa = 1 + 3 = 4
Nidhi = 1+ 4 =5
Nee = 3
Yan = 3
Dro = 4
Shan = 2
Karanai = 5
Katha =3
Abath = 3
Banda =3
Vaa=3
Kaa = 3
Vaa = 4 (This falls on the second kriya of Kakapadam)
Sri = 3
Lakshmi = 5

Totally making it to 128 Akshara kalas.

In this maami did Vilamba Madhyama Durita Kala with Tisram also. Maami made the Pallavi really complicated by singing swara combinations for different eduppus. Samam, Ahobhila, Nin Charane Gathi, Parama, Shankaranai and Sri Lakshmi etc.

Different swara combinations were worked out by Suguna mami and it was fantastic to watch the entire proceedings.

V.Sanjeev on the violin was very nice and his raga aalapana was fantastic throughout. His following for the pallavi and his trikaalam was also neatly rendered.

I played a Tani avartanam with a Mohara and Korvai structured on the lines of Adi Tala. Played an Adi Tala Mohara and 3 * 4 Avartana Korvai for three times making the total to 128 Aksharas.

The Pallavi was well received and it took well over 1 1/2 hours to finish the pallavi. In the audience we had dignitaries like Saraswathi N.V.Subramaniayam, Vidwan V.Sundaresan and my very good friend Vainika G.R.S.Murthy. It was held in the immediate presence of His Holiness Kasi viswanathar Guruji who gave blessinga after the pallavi.

I have no words to express the excitement of having taken part in a Historic Event featuring a Rara Tala.

Mannarkoil J Balaji

rain_of_nectar · Post by **rain_of_nectar** » 08 Mar 2009, 14:12

Suguna Mami sang the exact same Simhanandana Tala pallavi in a festival organized by Carnatica a few years back, which they released as a commercial CD titled "Scintillating Simhanandanam", one of my treasured possessions. I am sure this latest concert was equally fantastic.

prashant · Post by **prashant** » 08 Mar 2009, 14:22

Thanks for the detailed report Balaji Sir. Suguna Mami is a real gem in the CM world and her strength in laya is nothing short of astounding. I am sure it must have been a great rendition of the pallavi capped off with sensitive and pleasing accompaniment by you and Sri Sanjeev. Feels great to read your reports especially of special occasions like this...

vanamali · Post by **vanamali** » 08 Mar 2009, 14:29

A young vocalist Sri Vinay Sharva of Bangalore also had a concert featuring this pallavi in Bangalore a few months back. He was accompanied by Smt Charulata Ramanujam on the violin, Sri Anoor Anantakrishna Sharma on mridangam and Sri Guruprasanna on khanjira. That was also a fine concert where the youngster sang the complicated pallavi very well.

mridhangam · Post by **mridhangam** » 08 Mar 2009, 16:02

Mr.Vanamaali Sir i am aware of the above as it was also listed in our forums. But the main point here is anyone who does the Pallavi has to be careful each and every time because of the Anga Complications.

J.Balaji

saptaratna · Post by **saptaratna** » 10 Mar 2009, 09:48

Suguna Purushottaman , sang the same pallavi in Music Academy last year in the morning session. Stalwarts present there appreciated her ease and "anaayaasam" with which she rendered it.

Saw a write up in rasikas.org on the MA rendition too.
Didn't venture to come, as PMK was holding a big rally !!! Roads could be blocked !!! My ill fortune.

mridhangam · Post by **mridhangam** » 10 Mar 2009, 16:38

saptaratna wrote: Didn't venture to come, as PMK was holding a big rally !!! Roads could be blocked !!! My ill fortune.

Yes that was a problem. Quite a few could not attend due to the above. But if you had taken the Velacherry Tambaram Route you could have made it on time. I went that route and i started at 5:15 and was there by 6:10 or so

J.Balaji