Chennai, sure has emerged as the capital of Carnatic music. But the activities are confined to the south. Thus the initiative taken by Sai Vivekananda Matriculation School, Kodungaiyur, in organising a four-day music festival on their school premises, at Vallalar Arangam, deserves praise. This included Thevara Isai, two dance events and an equal number of Carnatic vocal performances.
On the inaugural day Subha Ganesan was given the D.K. Pattammal Memorial Award by K. Vaidhyanathan, Editor, Dinamani . Music education must be included in school syllabus at the elementary level, he said.
In her acceptance speech Subha said that she dedicated the award to her guru Sangeetha Kalanidhis MLV and her present guru Madurai T.N. Seshagopalan.
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Subha showed acumen in the selection of songs that evening. She began with a Viruththam,
‘Paalum Theli Thenum’ (Avvaiyar) and chose ‘Thiruvarulum’ (Abhogi, Gowrishankar Sthapati). The highlight was a thillana of TNS set in the raga Niroshta. It was composed in such a way the lips didn’t touch each other when rendered, very much on the lines of ‘Raja Rajadithe,’ (Niroshta), a composition of TNS’s illustrious guru, Harikesanallur Muthaiah Bhagavatar. Other songs included ‘Karunanidhiye Thaye’ of Sivan, ‘Ongi Ulagalandha’ (Tiruppavai), GNB’s composition ‘Unnadiye’ in Bahudhari and ‘Eppadi Padinaro’ in memory of DKP. Earlier Subha gave a lilting alapana of Hindolam (‘Ramanukku,’ Arunachala Kavi) that had many landmark brigas.
Melakaveri Thyagarajan presented an alapana of Hindolam that was at once convincing and was marked by some original phrases. Karaikudi Ganesan on the mridangam showed the value of anticipation and gave a thani that had brevity as its soul.
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The audio arrangements, to one’s relief, were as perfect as it could be.