Dr Krishna Vageesh's knowledge shines through his music. His choice of songs encompasses unheard songs of known composers. When he started the concert, for Naadhabrahmam, with Khambodi Ata tala varnam, ‘Sarasijanabha,' sung in two speeds with charanam in fast pace, with his sonorous and powerful voice, the hall was filled with sunaadam.
He proceeded to sing ‘Danti Mamukha' in Nattai (Koteesawara Iyer) preceded by a virutham, and a few avartanams of kalpanaswaram. Sri Ranjani raga alapana, which followed, was beautiful with violinist Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi matching it. He sang Andal's Tiruppavai, ‘Margazhi Thingal' like a virutham as a prelude to his own Tamil composition, ‘Sri Krishna Bhakti Priye Thaye,' in praise of Andal. Niraval and swaraprastara at the madhyama kala sahithya line, ‘Soodikkodutha' were very much in tune with the flow of the sahityam. ‘Muruganai Ninai Maname,' a Dandapani Desikar composition in raga Visharada (announced by the artist) followed next with varied combinations of kalpanaswaram including jantai. The only hitch was the lyrics were not heard properly.
If the Saveri raga alapana of the vocalist was grand, that of the violinist was graceful. Yet another rarely heard Tamil composition, ‘Kapali Irukka Veen Kalakkam En Unakku' of Papanasam Sivan, was beautifully presented with niraval and swaraprastara, again at madhyama kala sahithya line, ‘Kayilai Vittu Mayilai Vandu.' Before the RTP in Bhairavi, Tyagaraja's ‘Kalalanerchina' in Dipakam and Dikshitar's ‘Nandagopala' in Yamuna Kalyani were rendered.
Dr. Vageesh seems to forget himself while singing alapana. It was a chaste and traditional style delivery with imagination gushing out. As expected yet another beautiful version of Bhairavi was played by Vijayalakshmi and her follow-up through the concert was appreciable. The pallavi ‘Brahmame Thunai' which was set to Kanta Nadai in Chatusra Jathi triputa talam with niraval and swaram was enjoyable.
Mannargudi Eswaran on the mridangam played (mridangam ‘pesithu' would be a better word) suitable anticipatory strokes and, unobtrusive wherever necessary. It was a thoroughly enjoyable thani with C.S. Venkatramanan on the ganjira.
As expressed by Maharajapuram Ramachandran, there is a lot to learn from such concerts, and hence the opportunities should not be missed and, he also had a special praise for the mridangam player, for his contribution to its success.The concert ended with Gopala Krishna Bharati's ‘Thedi Alaiginrene' in Nadanamakriya and a pasuram, ‘Thoonilum Iruppan Thurumbilum Iruppan' in Sivaranjani.
