Tirupur Shanmukhanandha Sangeetha Sabha offered a delectable variety of music and dance this year too during the Pongal festival. This is the 10 edition of Isai Amudham, and the five-day festival began auspiciously with Samathur T.S. Arulmani’s nagaswaram followed by Kadri Gopalnath’s saxaphone concert.
S. Saketharaman enthralled the audience with his rich music soaked in Lalgudi bani. He began with the Navaragamalika, ‘Valachi Vachi’ by Patnam Subramania Iyer. ‘Vallabha Naayakasya’ in Begada with the niraval for ‘Valli Vivaaha Kaaranasya’ was full of verve. ‘Nambikkettavar Evarayya’ in Hindolam filled the hall with positive vibes. Syama Sastri’s ‘Marivere Gathiyevaramma’ in Anandabhairavi brought out the essence of devotion and total surrender.
Saketharaman went into great depths while depicting Kalyani and presented ‘Unnaiyallal Vere Gathi Illaiyamma’ by Papanasam Sivan followed by enjoyable repartees towards the end. ‘Maanasa Sanchara Re,’ ‘Vetta Veli Thannil’ by Kudhambai Sithar and the usual favourites of Lalgudi Jayaraman such as ‘Theeraatha Vilayaattuppillai’ and ‘Chinnanjiru Kiliye’ brightened up the tail end of the concert. Though devotion dominated in this concert, it provided ample room for liveliness too.
Sound support
The vitality, swiftness and creativity with which Nagai Sriram nourished his violin made it an aural treat. As an accompanist, he was amazing; but while he was on his own, he set a new standard for himself and others.
Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman made his presence felt from the beginning. Obviously he knows how to keep the audience hooked. He towered like a Titan during the thani and had a lion’s share.
B.S. Purushothaman on the ganjira met his challenges with aplomb, thus proving his mettle. There seemed to be a fan club for the doyen of the mridangam on the stage itself, the vocalist being its leader.
Dance by Sri Ramana Maharishi Academy for the Blind from Bengaluru, ‘Ellaame Sangeetham Thaan’ by popular musical pair Sriram Parasuram and Anooradha Sriram and the Carnatic vocal concert by Priya Sisters were featured in the following days.
During the junior session, there were vocal concerts by Kovai R.P. Darshan and students of Swara Vani Kalalaya Music School, Tirupur. The students of Sai Kalalayam, Tirupur, presented a dance programme on the final day.
