A robust exposition

Sanjay Subrahmanyan’s music, with all its sophistication, had a good impact on the audience at the annual music festival of Sri Sathguru Sangeetha Samajam in Madurai.

He started off with the Adi tala varnam in Sahana for Tiruvotriyur Thiyagaiyer’s ‘Karunimpa idi manchi tharunamu saami’ on Lord Venugopala. His next selection was ‘Raaraa maayinti daaka’ in Asaaveri, in which composer Saint Thyagaraja tells the Lord, “I know that you are my saviour. Why don't you come at once to my home; it will make me forget everything else.”

He then sang ‘Sujana jeevana’ in Kamaas, by Thyagaraja. Sanjay brought out the entire bhava and laya for the song. ‘Appa naan venduthal kettu arul purithal vendum,’ a niraval in Poorvikalyani, a Vallalar Ramalingaswami’s Tiruvarutpa.

The familiar strains of Muhari served as a preamble to Papanasam Sivan’s ‘Sivakama Sundari Jagadamba vandarul tandarul

.’ ‘Innamum tamadamen’ of Vedanayagam Pillai was taken up next by Sanjay, in Devamanohari. A stirring alapana by the singer with empathic support from Varadarajan on the violin was witnessed through the concert. Both remained focussed on a robust exposition of ragas done with such finesse.

The RTP was at its best in Abheri with strains in Karnataka Devagaandhaari for the pallavi Suddhananda Bharati’s ‘Eppadi Padinaro.’ The composer tells the Lord that he will sing as saints Appar, Sundararar, Aaludiapillai and Manivasagar sang of him. In Ragamalika, the singer sang Varali, Bilahari, Abohi and Jog. Taniavarthanam by Poongulam Subramanyam on the mrudangam and N. Guruprasad on ghatam was a treat.

The Thukkadas included ‘Karuna nihe’ in Behag; ‘Vizhikku thunai,’ a Kandar Alankaram; ‘Muruganai bhaji maname’ in Jonpuri by Papanasam Sivan; and a Thillana in Dvajavandhi.

S. PADMANABHAN