Vijay Siva@Nadasurabhi

Vijay Siva is one of my all-time favourite carnatic musicians and the sole reason being, he is the best exponent of the DKP-DKJ baani today. It takes a seasoned rasika to appreciate his style. The only way I can think of to describe Vijay Siva is thus :- "When he sings, it feels as if one is listening to DKJ" That says it all..

Coming to yesterday's concert,unfortunately, I went an hour late :(
Anyway, the guilt and pain of reaching a concert late vanished the moment I entered the hall,when the words 'Veda Shaastra tatvaartha' echoed across the hall :)- I sat thorugh the niraval and swarams so beautiful, now I don't need to discuss 'Shankarabharanam' and 'Enduku Peddala'

This was followed by Mariyaada Gaadayya in raga 'Bhiaravam', a new one to me. Am glad I knew a new one!(meant to be a tongue twister!)

What followed was 'Bhairavi that brings about happiness',yes an RTP in 'AnandaBhairavi', Mishra jati triputa taalam with Pallavi going thus:- 'Kamalavadanae,Kamaladalanayane,kamala sadanae'. The ragamalika was 'Hameer Kalyani,SalakaBhairavi(?) and Kadanakutoohalam. Charulata Ramanujam deserves a special mention here,superb simply superb!

The next ones were 'Maathadabaaradeno' in Kamas and 'Intha Cheluvage' In Abheri.

The most important piece of the evening was the shlokam 'Maanikya veenam' followed by the song 'Shubaksoja kumbam' on the Goddess. This was a ragamalika with ragas like 'Nalinakanthi(?),Manirangu,Keeravani,Sama and Jaganmohini.

Later he wound up the concert with Muddugare Yashoda(Kurinji), the DKJ trademark Paras Javali 'Chelinenetlu', a mukhari 'Unayenadhu'( not sure about this kriti) and mangalam in his usual style of singing 'Swasthi praja paripalayantham' at the end.

Can someone fill up the songs I missed out in the beginning ?

TNK@ Nadasurabhi

I just attended a brilliant violin concert of Prof T N Krishnan at the Koramangala Sangeetha Sabha. The most sedate piece of carnatic music ever found in this universe was just created a couple of hours ago. It felt like a boat ride,slow,peaceful,serene and silent. This was the first time I experienced silence in its most musical form. For someone to play 'Niravadhisukha'(Ravichandrika) in the tempo of probably,'Jagadodhaarana' takes a maestro and thats what Prof TNK is all about.

Ok, am not qualified to talk about TNK's music. For me it is just divinity!
I'm qualified however to list the concert :)-

1.Natai - Mahaganapatim
2.Evarani - Devamritavarshini ( The highlight of kriti was the barely audible yet richly musical 'Evarani' rendering of the Pallavi after each stanza.
3.Niravadhisukha - Ravichandrika
4.Sriranjani - Sogasuga ( Most beautiful alapanam I heard in this raga, very unique,sancharas like 'GaMaNida' 'MaNida'unlike the regular 'madadamamagaga' sorts!
I couldnt figure out which swaram he sustained,it definitely was not the standard 'Da' and 'Ni' but then I guess he really did not play it conventionally.
5.Saaarasaaksha paripalaya - Pantuvarali (Here I should be whipped,caned and banned from singing carnatic music because I could not figure out this raga! Damn! Why did I assume it was 'Hamsanandi'
6.Nadupai - Short and sweet!
7.RTP in Begada (Venkataramana Sankata Harana Tirupati) Mishra Chapu taalam with ragamalika swarams in Taanam (Behag,Shivaranjani,Kaapi) The smoothest transtion from Kaapi to Begada in the reverse order!
8.Kandu Dhanyanadeno - Behag
9.Venkatachala Nilayam - Sindubhairavi with an elaborate 10 minute aalapanam which felt like 'a thousand glorius years', a perfect example of Einstein's Theory of Relativity!!
10. Jagadodharana - Kaapi mostly copied from KVN's style,obviously he used to accompany him many many times,it was divine, brilliant and joyous.
11.Mangalam

I'm blessed to have been in this concert!

All I need now is a Haggis trip!!!

Comments: All I need now is a Haggis tour of Scotland and stories of Nessie,Rob Roy,William Wallace aka Braveheart... oops..Robert Bruce,the only real Braveheart according to the Scots,of the feud between the Campbells and the Macdonalds,of the battles of Culledon, of white horses and maidens,of the old man and his wife in Skye and more,the sound of bagpipes,the smell of whiskey and a bright YELLOW BUS!

And I badly need to see Edinburgh, all over again,again and again!

My friend sent me this video from the net and since then I have gone back to my dreams!

Video Content: Summon Nessie the Haggis-way,action by Rab!
Courtesy:Angela