That was a blissful musical evening, thanks to Sriram Parasuram and Anooradha Sriram. The programme was christened ‘Songs on Lord Krishna from all over India.’
Alternately they presented songs of South India (with violin and mridangam) and North India (with harmonium and tabla). The evening commenced with ‘Gopalaka Pahimam Anisam’ (Misra Chapu) of Swati Tirunal in a pleasing Revagupti. They rendered kalpanaswaras as well.
The next piece was a Bandish in Basant Mukhari, which is close to our Vakulabharanam. It gives the feel of Vasanta Bhairavi. The song, ‘Jal Jamuna Bhar Nikasi Gori Aaye Achanak’ truly created the mood of pathos and puzzle. The swaras generated all round applause.
After a leisurely alapana in Behag by Anooradha, Mysore Srikanth (violin) offered an equally superb elucidation. The Thiruppavai, ‘Oruththi Makanaay Pirandhu followed. Then there was a Marathi composition, ‘Utah Pandarika’ in rag Deshkar (It is like our palliyezhuchi, normally sung early in the morning) .
Anooradha’s detailed alapana in Pantuvarali, taken over by Sriram in the middle, was followed by ‘Idhu Bhagya Idhu Bhagya’ of Purandara Dasa in Khanda Chapu. The swaraprastara concluded with a lengthy, but attractive korvai.
They then presented a traditional piece, ‘Man Mohan Shyam Rasiya’ in Khamaj. Their ‘Thaye Yasoda’ in Thodi of Oothukkadu was an instant hit. It was followed by a delightful thani by Ramesh Babu (mridangam) and M.T. Aditya (tabla). The latter’s tisra nadai was particularly enchanting.
Annamacharya’s ‘Muddugare Yasoda’ in lovely Kurinji was well received. Brahmanand’s ‘Jo Bhaje Hari Ko Sada’ in Rag Bhairavi was another devotional piece.
Umakanth Puranik on the harmonium was an asset to the programme. With a feather touch, he produced soft and sweet music. Young M.T. Aditya on the tabla delighted the audience with his dexterity.
The evening programme was appealing as well as entertaining. Those who couldn’t make it have certainly missed something special.
Yet, this writer has this to say: Let’s leave alone Narayana Theertha, Leela Sukar, Poonthanam, Narayana Bhattathiri, Vyasaraya, Dikhithar, Ambujam Krishna or Thyagaraja (Samajavara Gamana and Nauka Charitham!). However, a programme on songs on Lord Krishna without Mira, Surdas and Jayadeva is unthinkable. The alapanas, swaraprastharas and thani avarthanams were truly brilliant; However, for a special programme on songs, they seemed out of place. Instead a few more songs would have been welcome. Our artistes and listeners have been perhaps too much attuned to the concert pattern!
ramakrishnan.h@gmail.com
