On Tamil New Year Day (April 14), a devotional music concert by O.S. Arun was jointly arranged by S.V. Ramani Music and Arts Academy and Valayappatti Kaashyap Nadhalaya at Ranjani Hall, Nanganallur.
For the special occasion, Arun had selected 14 songs, beginning with ‘Prabho Ganapathe’ in raga Thilang.
Tradition was maintained with the invocation of Saraswati. ‘Sakalakalavani’ in Kedaram followed by ‘Padame Thunai’ (Valaji) delighted the audience with the clarity of raga swarupa and sahitya bhava.
Audience connect
The vocalist’s connect with the listeners peaked when they joined to sing along chanting Rama Nama as he rendered ‘Sri Ramachandra Krupalu bhajamana.’
‘Ramanuku Mannanmudi’ was moving with a swaraprastara at ‘Pattam Katta Etravandi...’ Devotional mood prevailed as Arun sang ‘Chandana charthita’ in Brindavani, ‘Aasai mugam’ (Jhonpuri), Nalae nalla nall’ (Kaapi) and Subramanya Bharati’s ‘Kaakkaichiraginile’ (Chandrakauns) and ‘Venkatachalanilayam’ (Sindhubhairavi) and Tiruchitrambalam (Behag).
Arun was ably assisted by Srinivas Rao on the violin, Harishankar on the mridangam, Krishnan on the harmonium, Karthick on dholki and Selvam maintaining talam.
The rhythmic patterns executed by Harishankar, and the raga alapana by Srinivas Rao especially in Hindolam and Valaji supplemented by the tuneful harmonium strains of Krishnan acted as an apt foil to Arun’s singing.
At the end of the concert, Arun was felicitated by Valayapatti Malarvannan.
