Carnatic musician M.K. Sankaran Namboothiri is a master of melody; he has developed and polished his music throughout the years. In his concert at Kalikkotta Palace, Tripunithura, Sankaran Namboothiri effortlessly and melodiously sang ‘Nee Irangai’, composed by Papanasam Sivan in raga Atana. Only an artiste of such mastery over the art form and vocal range could possibly impress with the alaapana and swaraprasthara in a raga like Atana. Prayogas in thara sthayi rishabham during the swaraprasthara were particularly masterly.
‘Bhuvini Dasudana’ in Sreerangini is one of Tyagaraja’s less popular kritis. But Sankaran Namboothiri added such dimensions to the rendition that the audience fell for the kriti. So too, his rendition of ‘Sahasikadanujahara’ in Suddha Saveri by Swati Tirunal.
The beauty of the raga alaapana and rendering of the keerthana once again revealed his proficiency in music. He also sang ‘Sambho Sathatham’ in Karnataka Kapi, composed by Swati Tirunal, another less popular kriti.
Throughout the concert the vocalist rendered swaras in each keerthana. The swaraprastharas were different in style and method from one to the other. In fact, his swaraprastharas were so good that one felt they were often better than the ragalaapana and the rendering of keerthanas themselves. The vocalist began the concert with a padam, ‘Paripahi Ganadhipa’, a Swati composition in raga Saveri.
The selection of main raga ‘Mohanam’ was peculiar. The alaapana was mellifluous, doing full justice to the raga. He impressed the audience by using only relevant swarasthanas to showcase the ragabhavas. It flowed among the three octaves easily, mesmerising in adi thara sthayi and adi manthrasthayi too.
C. Rajendran accompanied on the violin, peaking at his craft during the main number. ‘Ra ra rajeevalochana’, composed by Mysore Vasudevachar, was the main kriti and the vocalist rendered only the niraval followed by swara. Taniavarthanam on mridangam by Parassala Ravi revealed his scholarly approach.
The rendition of Pattanam Subrahmania Iyer’s ‘Raghuvamsasudha’ in Kathanakuthoohalam was spot on. Another popular kriti rendered was Swati Tirunal’s ‘Sarasaaksha Paripaalaya’ in Poorvikalyani. In this, he explored the varied possibilities of ragabhava in the alaapana .
The vocalist did not forget thukkadas. He rendered Purandaradasa’s ‘Thampuru meettidhara’ in Sindhubhairavi, Swati Tirunal’s ‘Madhavalokanan’ in Jonpuri, and Gopalakrishna Bharathi’s javali ‘Adu Chithambaramo’. Hearing the thillana, composed by M.Balamuralikrishna in the raga Kunthalavarali, was as exciting as watching fireworks.
The concert was organised by Sree Poornathrayeesa Sangeetha Sabha.
