Veteran Carnatic musician Suguna Varadachari’s engagement with the Capital’s music lovers over the past weekend was productive, enjoyable and a rewarding experience. On the first day, the Chennai-based vocalist conducted a workshop. The workshop was divided into two parts. While the first one was a lecture-demonstration in which Suguna explained in detail various facets of manodharma (creative) music in Carnatic music, the second part dealt with three rare compositions of Mysore Vasudevcharya. The receptive audience comprised of young students of Carnatic music, music lovers and teachers. Though the time at her disposal was limited, Suguna made good use of it. On the forenoon session of the second day, Suguna, along with six of her students (all Chennai based), took part in the Tyagaraja Aradhana celebrations by singing the legendary saint composer’s Pancharatna kritis. These two programmes were organised by the Shanmukhananda Sangeetha Sabha in association with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts at the latter’s sprawling campus in the Capital.
In the evening, the Sabha had organised a vocal concert of Suguna at Uttara Swamimalai, popularly known as Malai Mandir, in the city. In a recital of about two hours, she delighted those present with her brilliant performance. Trained, amongst others, by the renowned late Musiri Subramanya Iyer, Suguna’s rendition of the compositions was deeply rooted in the classical values of Carnatic music.
Suguna began her concert with an Ata tala varnam, ‘Viriboni’, in raga Bhairavi in two speeds and in a riveting rhythm. The opening piece itself spoke highly about the musical talents and depth of the vocalist. The invocation song to Ganesha was ‘Sri mahaganapathim bajeham’, a composition of Jayachamaraja Wodeyyar in Atana raga. The selection of the raga at the initial stage and the introduction of Kalpanaswars for the song gave a bright start to her recital.
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Tyagaraja’s ‘Dinamanivamsa’ in raga Harikambhoji, which she handled very well too, contained kalpanaswaras that flowed with rich creativity. While singing Papanasam Sivan’s Tamil composition, ‘Chitam Irangada’, in the raga Sahana, Suguna brought out the emotive contents of the lyrics to the fore.
For detailed renditions, Suguna took up yet another Tyagaraja’s composition, ‘Entani ne’, in raga Mukhari and Mysore Vasudevacharya’s ‘Marachiti vemo nannu’ in Poorvikalyani (a song she had taught the previous day in her workshop). Both the songs were preceded by detailed and excellent alapanas which brought the features of the ragas to the fore and contained neravals and kalpanaswaras that brought out the talent of the vocalist. Renditions of these songs were a treat to the audience.
In the concluding session, Suguna presented another song of Mysore Vasudevacharya, ‘Janaki manoharam’, in raga Mand (She taught this song too on the previous day) and a thiruppugazh.
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Delhi R. Sridhar on the violin and Kumbakonam N. Padmanabhan on the mridangam rose to the occasion and added value to the concert. Padmanabhan’s support was a noteworthy feature. His taniavartanam in Adi tala was engaging. Suguna’s prime disciples, Aishwarya Shankar and Brinda Manikavasagam, provided the vocal support.
On the whole, a concert that will remain etched in the memory of the music lovers for years to come.