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SANGEETHA RASIKA SANGAM - October 2008
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The 110th Music Program of Sangeetha Rasika Sangam, Chennai 92 was held at Sri Varasiddhi Vinayagar Temple, Chinmayanagar (Central Chinmaya Mission Trust) on 5th October 2008. While Kum. Cuddalore S J Jananiy, a National Awardee, Kalai Ilamani, featured as vocalist, she was supported by Melakaveri K Thiagarajan on the violin, Sri Mohana Krishnan on the Mridangam and Sri Venkataramani on the Kanjira.
The musical event made a brisk start with Samidaya Varnam in Kedhara Gowla. The artiste executed the Muthayee and Chitta swaras crisply. This was followed by a mellifluous rendering of Vinayaka Ninnu vina Brovade in the owdava owdava Raga, Hamsadwani, all the Vikrithi swaras being thivra notes and producing subtle melody. The rendition of the raga Mayamala gowla, the 15th melam, brought its innate beauty into a sharp focus. Thulasi Dhala of St Sri Thiagaraja was sung with a divine melody. The artiste's expression on the salient features of Reethi Gowlam, while singing Janani Ninnuvina, drew great praise from the audience. Jananiy commnicated far more effectively the naunces of the Prathimadhyama Raga Amirdha Varshini, which is a janya raga of 66th Melam Chithrambari. The thivra notes in this raga, Anthra Gaantharam, Prathimadhyamam and the Kakli Nishaada shone brilliantly and the Raga's essence was conveyed in no small measure. Anandh Amirdha Varashini of Sri Dhikshidhar made a distinctive mark on this programme. A song composed by her Guru Sri Balamuralikrishna in Mohanam was presented melodiously. The raga Kalyana Vasantham, a janya ragha of 21st Melam, Kiravani, was handled dexterously while rendering St Sri Thiagaraja's Krithi Naadha Loludai. The main raga taken up for full throated improvisation was Kalyani. The artiste explored its depth by articulating its impressive phrases and stretching to its outer limits for conveying the esseneetial elements of this vibrant and majestic raga. Himadhri Sudhae of Sri Shyama Sastri was colourfully presented. The Sangathis, Neraval at Shyama Krishna Sodhari and also the expansionary phase of the swaras, all created a momentem of its own, taking the listeners to greater delight and divine ecstacy. Melakaveri Thiagarajan used his bow skillfully and produced subtle effect matching the genius of the vocalist. He translated the notes in his instrument to make them vibrant. Sri Mohana Krishnan produced rythmatic and symmetric beats on Mridhangam giving laya focus also to the concert. Sri Venkataramani's Kanjira performance was all the more laudable and the persussion duo, the former and the latter excelled each other, during Thani Aavardhanam. The Ragamalika Sri Chakra Raja, woven into ragas, Senchurity, Punnagavarali, Mayamalagowlam and sindhubairavi, made an impact on listeners who responded to it with applause. Through Baavayami Sahitya, the artiste revealed the finer characterists of Yamuna Kalyana. The next song in Rekasri, a master piece of her Guru Neyveli Santhanagopalan, was aesthetically pleasing. Muruganin Maru Peyar Azhagu in Behag, was presented with devine melody. A Thillana in Kathanakuthookulam, the master piece of her Guru Dr Balamuralikrishna, resembled her master style of presentation. The programme ended with a song of Papanasam Sivan, Karpagame Kadaikan Parai in Madhyamaavathi.
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