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Serenity preserved
INRECO 2771-C-727 - Carnatic classical vocal - Merusamana - P. Unnikrishnan - Price. Rs.50.
UNNIKRISHNAN, POPULAR Carnatic Music artiste and an equally popular playback singer, has recorded six Tyagaraja songs for Inreco with R. Varadarajan on the violin, Mannargudi Easwaran on the mridangam and V. Suresh on the ghatam as his accompanists. ``Meru Samana" in the 15th Mela Mayamalavagowla in which the composer pleads with Lord Raghu Vira who is as firm as the Mount Maha Meru to bestow His blessings is sung at a pleasing kalapramanam with no excessive frills to disturb the serenity of the composition.
Vachaspati is elaborated with care and the uncomplicated prayogas that mirror the raga swaroopa in the different sthayis are totally sruthi-aligned and refreshing. The upcoming violinist Varadarajan responds with a sense of proportion and purpose. The neat rendering of ``Kantajudumi" is given an extra boost by the impeccable percussion accompaniment of the mridangam and ghatam players. The sarvalaghu swaraprastharas in the pallavi maintain the lively ambience. ``Adamodigaladhe" in Charukesi and ``Kulabhirudhunu" in Devamanohari are articulated with felicity and involvement.
Unnikrishnan's alapana of Todi with bhava and Shruti suddha has melody ruling the exercise. His madhyamakala phrasings, brighas and mild attempts at sruti bedham are well conceived and presented with much fluency.
The delineation on the violin is underlined with strong bowing and mellifluous time-honoured sancharas that make listening rewarding. The Misra Jampa Tala kriti ``Dachu kovalena" has a sculpted finish while the expansion of the lyrics, ``Soumitri Tyagarajuni" in the two speeds is impeccable and the impromptu swaraas are crowned with a simple korvai with logical, sound patterns.
One can rest assured that if Easwaran is in charge of percussion, the laya display would only be an extension of the music and his tani avartanam with Suresh amply proves the fact. ``O Rama Rama" in Nagagandhari, one of the Utsava Sampradaya Kritis of Tyagaraja, provides a sedate, soothing conclusion to the album. It is heartening that in spite of his busy schedule as a light music singer, Unnikrishnan has not neglected his moorings in the classical genre.
S.P.
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