Saint Tyagaraja’s devotion to Lord Rama has innumerable facets. He showers endearments on the Lord, fights with Him for not showing mercy and expresses gratitude. There is a jewel of a song for each mood.
The 60th Thyaga Brahma Gananjali in Coimbatore, held at the precincts of Sri Venugopalaswamy Temple, provided one the opportunity to listen to some of the gems.
Ramakrishnan Murthy’s well-planned inaugural concert spoke of his dedication and hard work. He began with, ‘Lokavana Chathura’ in Begada, praising Rama’s skill at protecting the worlds. Then, with ‘Upacharamu Jesevarunarani Maravakura’ (Bhairavi) and ‘Evari Maata Vinnavo’ (Khambodi), he voiced Tyagaraja’s anguish. He drew delightful portraits of the ragas and was quite comfortable in swarakalpanas. He sang all the charanams of ‘Bhajare Bhaja Maanasa’ in Kannada. ‘Thelialeru Rama’ (Dhenuka) and ‘Haridaasulu Vedale’ (Yamunakalyani) brought out two totally different moods. After a lovely viruttam of the shloka, ‘Janati Rama Tava Nama Ruchim Mahesha,’ Ramakrishnan Murthy concluded with ‘Sri Rama Jaya Raama in Yadukulakhambhodi.
M. Rajeev followed Murthy on his violin like a shadow, besides playing excellent raga essays and sprightly swara repartees. Neyveli Venkatesh on the mridangam and G. Suresh on the ghatam lent apr support.
Mambalam Sisters Vijayalakshmi and Chithra presented excellent raga delineations and swaraprastharas. Their synchronisation was pleasing to the ears. Filial affection and support was brought to the fore that day. As Chithra had a throat infection, Vijayalakshmi led the evening, letting her sister sing only those portions that were not very demanding. Their violinist sister Hemalatha did not lag behind either. She took over whenever Chithra found it difficult to proceed.
They began with ‘Vara Sikhi Vahana’ in Supradeepam, one of the few songs that Tyagaraja composed on deities other than Rama. (This one was on Muruga). ‘Ela Thelialeru’ in Durbar was impressive. After a detailed alapana in Kalyani, they presented a Kovur pancharatnam on Lord Sundareswara, ‘Nammi Vachina Nannu Nayamuga Brovave’. ‘Intha Thamasamaithe’ in Saveri and ‘Bhagayanaya’ in Chandrajyothi followed. Vijayalakshmi gave a lovely portrait of Thodi preceding ‘Dasharathi Nee Runamu Theerpa Tharama’ in which Tyagaraja expresses his gratitude to the Lord. Niraval for ‘Prakaasimpa Jesina Rasika Siromani’ was full of ragabhava. ‘Laali Yugave’, ‘Kamalapthakula’ and ‘Rama Namam Bhajare’ made up the lighter session. Hemalatha’s deft fingers poured out pleasant melody. Salem K. Srinivasan on the mridangam and K.S. Rangachari on the ganjira (father of Vijayalakshmi, Chithra and Hemalatha) gave excellent support.
Gayathri Venkataraghavan’s concert stood out for its liveliness. She began with ‘Naradamuni Vedalina Sugunathishayamu Vinare’ in Panthuvarali. One got to hear the old favourite, ‘Chalagallaladukonna Sowkhyamemira’ (Arabhi) in which Tyagaraja accuses Rama of falsehood, as he has not come to his rescue as promised.
Gayathri followed it with alapana of Devamanohari and ‘Evarikai Avataaramethidhivo’, where the saint demands to know for whose sake did Rama condescend to come down. ‘Paraaku Jesina Neekemi Palamu Galigaraa’ in Jujahuli was a rarely heard composition. It was a delight to listen to the singer open out the beauty of Ritigowla in her pliable voice. Gayathri out did herself in portraying Kalyani. Belying guesses, she sang, ‘Endhuko Nee Manasu Karagadhu’, another moving kriti where he pleads for the Lord’s mercy.
Her mastery over the raga blended aesthetically with the emotions expressed in the kriti, lifting the listeners to a higher plane. She concluded with the soft, Divyanama kirtana in Nadanamakriya, ‘Karunaa Jaladhe, Dhaasharathe’.
Mysore Srikanth on the violin laced the presentation with melody and etched out excellent portrayals of the ragas. N. Manoj Siva (mridangam) and H. Prasanna (ghatam) played with great understanding and sensitivity.
The ‘Gananjali’ festival was inaugurated by N. Sehasayee, District & Sessions Judge, Coimbatore.
