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SANGEETHA RASIKA SANGAM - May 2009
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The 119th Music Program of Sangeetha Rasika Sangam, Chennai 92 was held at Sri Varasiddhi Vinayagar Temple, Chinmayanagar (Central Chinmaya Mission Trust) on Friday the 1st May 2009. Ms Ranjani Venkat, an young vocalist, is primarily a disciple of Vidhushi Smt Seetha Narayanan. She has also learnt from Sri N S Srinivasan (of Hyderabad) and from Sri Sethalapathi Balasubramamanian (a direct disciple of Papanasam Sivan) and also from Sri A S Murali (a disciple of Sri P S Narayanasamy). She has also learnt from Sri P B Srirangachar. She was accompanied by Sri Rahul on the violin and Sri Mohanakrishnan on the Mrudangam. Ranjani began her concert with the Varnam "Karunimpa Idhi Manchi" composed by Thiruvetriyur Thiagaiyer in the raaga Sahana. The Virutham of Ovvayar "Palum Theli Thenum" prefaced Pahi Pahi Bala Ganapathe, a song in Hamsadhwani, of Mazhavai Chidambara Bharathi. After a brief Alapana of Vasantha, a janya raaga of 17th Melam, Ramachandram Bhavayami, a Dheekshithar's Krithi, with swarams at "Kakustham Bhimatam" was sung melodiously. 'Amba Paradevade' in Rudrapriya came as a speedy number followed by raga alapana of Shanmugapriya, the 56th Melam. The song was Sidhi Vinayagam chosen to suit the temple deity, Varasidhi Vinayagar. The handling of Kaishika Nishadam in this Prathi Madhyama Raaga produced profusing melody. Siddhi Vinayagam of Deekshidhar, in whose parlance Shanmugapriya is known as Chamaram, was rendered in a sweet form. She explored the depth of the raaga by dwelling Madhyamakala phrase in a vivid manner, which touched the hearts of the audience. Then a Virutham, Pannum Bharathamum of Kumaraguruparar was touchy. This was followed by the song Saraswathi Dhayay Nidhi of Papanasam Sivan in the Raaga 'Saraswathi', the janya raaga of 64th Melam, Vaachaspathi. The main Raaga taken up for detailed alapana was Bilahari. The song chosen for this raaga was Dorakuna of St Thiagaraja. Ranjani's ability to perform this piece of song with neraval at Rama brahma and adequate swaras was superb. The raaga Bilahari, a janya raaga of 29th melam, Sankarabaranam, has the swara structure Sa Ri Ga Pa Dha Sa and Sa Ni Dha Pa ma Ga Ri Sa on arohana and avarohana scales respectively. Sri Rahul's creativity in the raaga handling gave a good support to the main artiste. Sri Mohanakrishnan's Thani Avardhanam was applauded by the audience with cheers. Then she took up a melody-drrivn Bhajan of Soordas "Hey Govinda Hey Gopala" in raaga Desh. Finally Karpagame Kadai Kan Paarai in Madhyamavathi took the audience to the world of ecstacy. She concluded the concert with a Mangalam in Saurashtra.
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