The Chennai-based youngster Akshay Padmanabhan gave a scintillating concert last week at the Malai Mandir during the Skanda Shasti celebrations 2018 organised by New Delhi’s Sree Swaminatha Swami Seva Samaj at their temple complex. In his concert of close to two hours, Akshay took up predominantly songs on Lord Kartikeya (also know by the names of Subramanya, Muruga, Skanda, and other names). He also took up some songs not heard frequently in the concerts.
In fact, the opening piece itself in his concert, a pada varnam “Senthil mevum” in the raga Neelambari, was on Lord Muruga, which Akshay sang in a delightful manner. His embarking on Tyagaraja’s “Marubalka kunna” in the raga Sriranjani (on Lord Rama) and taking up the phrase “Dari nerigi santasilli natti” for neraval and the subsequent kalpanaswaras not only kept his proceedings lively, but also brought to fore his creative skills. Akshay’s next item, Papanasam Siva’s composition “Karpaga manohara” in the raga Malayamarudam (on Lord Shiva), too seemed to be aimed at keeping the proceedings lively. However, here one did not quite understand the need for taking up neraval and kalpanaswaras in quick succession.
Uncommon song
Akshya thoughtfully took up Ramaswamy Sivan’s “Muthukumarayyane” in Shankarabharanam, a song not frequently heard in concerts. In a detailed raga alapana, he brought out the features of this raga to the fore in a delightful manner. Akshya took up Koteeshwara Ayyar’s “Een maname” in the raga Namanarayani (the 50th melakarta raga in the 72 melakarta scheme), again a song not heard frequently in the concerts. In a way, the music concerts organised as part of religious festivals gives an opportunity to the artistes to take up such compositions. Music lovers too get to savour such rare compositions. In their ten-day Skanda Shasti celebrations, the Samaj make it a point to feature Carnatic music concerts, including a grand Nadaswaram concert every year.
Another song that Akshay took up for detailed presentation was again on Lord Kartikeya, which was Papanasam Sivan’s “Kundramkudi konda” in the raga Todi. The youngster’s creative talent came to fore when he sang a scintillating raga alapana, the neraval of the phrase “Undan pugazh kanavilum oru kanamum marandhirundhariyene” and the subsequent kalpanaswaras.
Akshay concluded his concert with a Thillana in the raga Mohanakalyani on Lord Muruga, in a befitting manner. However, one felt that Akshay could have invested a little more time in structuring his concert which was loaded more on improvisation techniques. By reducing these, he could have given a better texture to his concert.
The Delhi-based youngster Raghavendra Prasaath on violin provided excellent accompaniment. He followed closely the vocalist and rose to the occasion to exhibit his skill, whether it was playing the raga alapana, neraval or the kalpanaswaras. In particular, his sketch of the ragas Shankarabharanam and Todi were delightful. Delhi’s seasoned mridangam artiste Kumbakonam N. Padmanabhan along with Elathur N. Harinarayanan on ghatam paired to provide excellent percussion accompaniment. The duo’s riveting tani avartanam in adi tala was enthralling. On the whole, a concert that lifted the festivity of the religious celebrations.
