Flautist Mysore Chandan Kumar, great grandson of violin wizard T. Chowdiah, is known for rendering complex aspects of Carnatic music in his concerts. At a recital at Nellayi, near Thrissur, Chandan Kumar, gauging the pulse of the audience, kept the music, simple.
After the customary varnam, ‘Sarasooda’ in Saveri, he switched to a brief alapana in Natta as a prelude to the invocatory kriti ‘Mahaganapathim’. The manodharma swaras imparted by him for this kriti was an indication to what was in store from this artiste. The Jandaswara passages were alluring. The Sreeraaga Pancharathna piece, ‘Endaromahaanubhavulu’ was delivered with the flautist and the violinist sharing swara and sahithya passages.. The alaapana in Hindolam for ‘Samajavaragamana’ was played in detail; the musician showing his ability to traverse both the upper and lower octaves.
T.H. Subramanian on the violin explored the nuances of the raga. It would have been more soothing had the flautist restrained from playing some frills intended for the gallery during the presentation of ‘Alaipayuthe’ (Kanada). ‘Venkitachalanilayam’ (Sindhubhairavi), ‘Ennathavam’ (Kaappi), ‘Bhosambo’ (Revathy)’, ‘Vande Matharam’ (Desh) and a Thillana in Dhanasree were the pieces played during the concluding half of the conert. Sreedath (mridangam) and Payyannur Govindaprasad (morsing) were the percussion artistes. The concert was organised by Sopanam Sangeetha Sabha.
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