The 56th Annual Art festival of South Indian Cultural Association (SICA) was inaugurated by state Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan at a well attended function, held at Ravindra Bharati, last week. He conferred on the renowned vocalist Sanjay Subramanyam the title of ‘Sangeetha Chakravarthi’ and lauded his services to Carnatic music.
Later Sanjay presented the inaugural concert in the company of S.Varadarajan on violin, Neyveli Venkatesh on mridangam and Venkataraman on Kanjira.
Sanjay opened the concert with Alwaru Pasuram Pallandu Pallandu in Nata that generally finds place towards the end of the concert. This was followed by Balakanakamaya Chela of Thyagaraja in Athana and with extensive delineation of the raga. He also expanded well the raga Sama for Santhamuleka Soukhamu Ledu of Thyagaraja. The raga essay was built with methodical approach that resulted in well laid structure. The kriti rendition was quite expressive. The swarakalpana part too was well built. Later he went for Sriranjani raga that he essayed well for Dikshitar’s composition Sriramachandro Rakshatumam . The raga essay shaped up to enchanting levels that laid way for the kirtana rendition in the same measure. The kalpanaswaras were awesome. Later he presented Muddu Kumara a Tamil composition in Kuranji that served curtain raiser for the concert’s highlight Chatura Raga Simhendramadhyamam comprised of Begada, Poorvikalyani and Abheri. After the raga he presented pallavi in Tamil, Mayavamanane Madhusudana Neelaruluye that he presented with astounding command on pallavi sahitya, followed by swarakalpana in Simhendramadhyamam. This was the time for percussionists of high calibre to come out with Tani avartanam that made the number lustier.
Later part of Sanjay’s concert had some rare numbers — Devaranamalu in Behag of Purandara Dasa, Slokam in Mohana, Swathi Tirunal’s slokam in Mohana, a composition in Pahadi, Bansi Vimala Moha , Muthiah Bhagavatar’s Kalilo Harinama Smarana and Akhila Chara Chara Pasupathi in Yamuna Kalyani.
