Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Madurai G.S.Mani-Bhandup Fine Arts-18.9.10 - Concert report

( Thyagaraja Kriti - Chinna nadana - Kalanidhi raga )





Vocal – Shri Madurai G.S.Mani
Violin – Shri R.Madhavan
Mridangam – Shri Thanjavur Ramadas
Konnakol – Kumari Neeraja
1. Vanajakshi -Kalyani Varnam
2. Daya jucutakidi -Ganavaridhi
3. Sobillu Sapthaswara-Jaganmohini
4. Chinna nadaena Cheyi - Kalanidhi
5. Rama Nanu Brovara – Harikambhoji
6. Arjuna Saradhimaashraye Ambuja Lochana- Jayantasena
7. Mari vere Dhikkevaraiya Rama Maati Mati – Shanmugapriya
8. Meluko Meluko Madhangi talli– Bowli
9. Sive Pahimam – Kalyani
10. Jagat Janani – Rathipathipriya
11. Ani Thomasaa ( Marathi )
12. Kandena Udupiya Krishna – Purandaradasa
13. Chidambaranai Dhigambaranai Gangadharanai – Sindhu Bhairavi - Madurai G.S.Mani’s own composition
14. Chandrachooda Shiva shankara Parvathi Ramana – Purandaradasa
15. Erumayil Eri Vilayadum mugam ondre

Shri Madurai G.S.Mani gave a surprise by introducing Kumari Neeraja as a Konnakol artist making a debut . Neeraja, daughter of Shri Thanjavur Ramadas , a disciple of Shri Palghat Mani, made her mark during the mini thani avarthanam at the end of Sive Pahimam . After gradually picking up the confidence, the challenge between Father and daughter was absorbing and Shri Ramadas and Shri GS Mani were guiding her and were giving constant encouragement. Good to see a woman taking up a different form of music . Mani Sir gave a brief on the art of Konnakol and the earlier convention was that the Konnakol artist used to occupy the position where Mridangam Vidwan sits now. It was Palghat Mani whose class had changed the scenario.

Shri G.S.Mani stressed the need for parents to bring the children though he admitted that it is very difficult today considering the diversion . He raised his concern that unless the current generation of parents pursue with their children, the divine music may find it difficult after sometime.

Bhandup Fine Arts founded in 1989 has successfully completed 22 years . The concert was sponsored by Dr. Smt Padma and Shri V.Ramakrishnan , President of Powai Fine Arts. Nice to see sabhas mutually supporting each other.

The concert took off at a brisk pace with the 4 fast paced kritis and settled down nicely at Mari vere Dhikkevaraiya , a Patnam Subramania Iyer Kriti (Shanmugapriya ). The alapana and Violin return was elaborate . Sobillu sapthaswara also had small but beautiful swara exchanges between GSM and Madhavan.

The main item was however Sive Pahimam , a Thyagaraja Swamigal Kriti ( Kalyani ). Shri G.S.Mani went indepth into each note back and forth . At one stage, he himself remarked .. ALAPANA PANNINDE IRUKALAAM POLIRUKKU. DON’T FEEL LIKE ENDING IT.. Violinist R.Madhavan gave very good accompaniment throughout the concert. He presented very good alapana during Shanmugapriya and Kalyani. Madhavan’s play has good melody and the violin play is of high quality. Veteran Mridangam vidwan Shri Ramadas showed his class.
Shri G.S.Mani, as ever, gave short description of the kritis, nuances of ragas and the story behind them. He always touch upon a Kannada kriti, a bhajan during the thukada section. Today , it was Ani Thomasaa and Kandane Udupiya Krishna . A patron of Bhandup Fine Arts, he admired the sabha administrators that they have come a very long way. G.S.Mani sir’s style has always been to interact with the audience regularly with some serious thoughts about the kriti , aarohanam and avarohanam and some light hearted comments .

It seems Shanmugapriya is the flavor of the month as TN Krishnan, Bombay Jayashri and now Mani Sir !

The 50 odd rasikas were happily greeting the artists after the concert ended at around 9.30 pm ( around 2hours and 45 minutes ). The concert was well organized and the Bright High School at Bhandup West has been nicely renovated for the concert hall to carry a capacity of atleast 150 plus.

The audio quality is not that great. Please excuse me for this.

Madurai G.S.Mani-Bhandup Fine Arts-18.9.10- Ani Thomasaa

Madurai G.S.Mani-Bhandup Fine Arts-18.9.10-Arjuna Saradhimaashraye Ambuja Lochana- Jayantasena

Madurai G.S.Mani-Bhandup Fine Arts-18.9.10-Daya Jucu- Ganavaridhi raga

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Madurai G.S.Mani concert @ Bhandup Fine Arts-18.9.10-Konakol by Kumari Neeraja

Kumari Neeraja , daughter of Shri Thanjavur Ramadas, the Mridangist made her debut on 18th September 2010 at the Bhandup Fine Arts organised concert of Shri Madurai G.S.Mani. God bless her with all the blessings and Neeraja should emerge as a role model to women to take up the art of Konakol. Neeraja ably presented konakol during the Thani avarthanam part of Sive Pahimam . It was nice to see Father and daughter doing a mini challenge on thalam . Kudos to the organisers , Bhandup Fine Arts for encouraging talent.

Madurai G.S.Mani-Bhandup Fine Arts-18.9.10-Rama Nanu Brovara-Harikambhoji

Madurai G.S.Mani-Bhandup Fine Arts-18.9.10-Sive Pahimam-Kalyani

Madurai G.S.Mani-Bhandup Fine Arts-18.9.10-Marivere Dhikevaraiya-Shanmugapriya

Madurai G.S.Mani-Bhandup Fine Arts-18.9.10-Meluko meluko Madhangi

Madurai G.S.Mani-Bhandup Fine Arts-18.9.10-Sapthaswara Sobillu-Jaganmohini

Madurai G.S.Mani-Bhandup Fine Arts-18.9.10-Kalyani Varnam - Vanajakshi

Friday, September 17, 2010

Madurai G.S.Mani concert at Bhandup West - 18.9.10


Gana Kalanidhi, Madurai G.S.Mani will be giving a Carnatic concert today at 6.30 PM at Bhandup.

Violin - R.Madhavan

Mridangam - Thanjavur R.Ramadas

Konnakol - Kumari Neeraja

Venue : BRIGHT HIGH SCHOOL - BHANDUP WEST

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Manoj Shiva & Anirudh Athreya - Shanmukananda - 5.9.2010- Thani Avarthanam

A thunderous performance by Manoj Shiva and Anirudh Athreya. The percussion artits provided terrific support that evening and enthralled the audience. Thani avarthanam video annexed here

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Bombay Jayashri-Shanmukananda-5.9.10-Thillana - Yamuna kalyani

Bombay Jayashri-Shanmukananda-5.9.10-Alo Hare Krishna

Bombay Jayashri-Shanmukananda-5.9.10-Muruganin marupeyar

Bombay Jayashri-Shanmukananda-5.9.10-Muruga unai maravaa

Bombay Jayashri-Shanmukananda-5.9.10-Shanmugapriya-Ragam and thanam

Bombay Jayashri-Shanmukananda-5.9.10-Swara raga sudha

Bombay Jayashri-Shanmukananda-5.9.10-Shankarabaranam -Alapana

Bombay Jayashri-Shanmukananda-5.9.10-Maaravairi Ramani - Nasikabooshani

Bombay Jayashri - Shanmukananda - 5.9.10- Sangeetha gyanamu - Dhanyasi

Bombay Jayashri - Shanmukananda-5.9.2010-Maya theertha swaroopini- Maya Malava Gowlai

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

T.N.Krishnan & Viji Krishnan performance at Chembur Fine arts - 4.9.10- Images
















A remarkable performance considering Shri TNK is around 82 years ! TNK yet again proves that age is no factor . Viji Krishnan gave tremendous support . Melody just flowed incessantly with ragas like Bhairavi , Devagandhari, Ravichandrika , Suruti etc.
While finishing the alapana on Devagandhari , Viji suggested Ksheera sagara sayana. However, TNK was in a different mood ! He chose KARUNASAMUDRA and at the finish confessed that he himself is playing this kriti after a very long time !
A short alapana on Reedhigowlai was followed by JANANI NINUVINA .
Ragam Thanam Pallavi was on Shanmugapriya . In between, the duo seamlessly switched over to various ragas and looped back to Shanmugapriya. Viji matched TNK stroke by stroke . At oen stage, Viji virtually did a solo by playing both bass and lead at once. At times, TNK would give a pause and watched his daughter taking the lead and acknowledging the nuances. The programme started at 6.30 pm and at around 9 pm, TNK was looking for the Sabha Secretary ! " May I know where the Secretary is around anywhere here ? " Pat came the reply from the Secretary with folded hands " Sir , the rasikas want some more . Pls oblige ''. A wholehearted laughter was followed by the ever famous WESTERN NOTES popularised by Shri Madurai Mani Iyer. This was received with thunderous applause . What followed was EPPO VARUVARO . Then came BAGYADA LAKSHMI BARAMMA . The accompanying artists did their Thani well.
The knowledgeable crowd gave a standing ovation to the Maestro and Viji .
A memorable concert from a legend and we were really fortunate to witness the live performance one of the all time greats of carnatic music

TN Krishnan & Viji - Chembur Fine Arts - 4.9.10- Suruti raga

TN Krishnan & Viji - Chembur Fine Arts - 4.9.2010-Niravadhi sukha- Ravic...

TN Krishnan & Viji - Chembur Fine Arts - 4.9.2010-Niravadhi sukha- Ravic...

TN Krishnan & Viji - Chembur Fine Arts - 4.9.10- Devagandhari - Karuna...

TNKrishnan & Viji Krishnan - Chembur Fine Arts - 4.9.2010-Shanmugapriya ...

TNKrishnan & Viji Krishnan - Chembur Fine Arts - 4.9.2010-Shanmugapriya ...

TNKrishnan & Viji Krishnan - Chembur Fine Arts - 4.9.2010-Shanmugapriya ...

TNKrishnan & Viji Krishnan - Chembur Fine Arts - 4.9.2010-Shanmugapriya ...

TNKrishnan & Viji Krishnan - Chembur Fine Arts - 4.9.2010-Shanmugapriya ...

TNKrishnan & Viji Krishnan - Chembur Fine Arts - 4.9.2010-Shanmugapriya ...

TNKrishnan & Viji - Chembur Fine Arts - 4.9.2010-Panthuvarali -Saarasaks...

TNKrishnan & Viji - Chembur Fine Arts - 4.9.2010-Panthuvarali - Saarasak...

TNKrishnan & Viji Krishnan - Chembur Fine Arts - 4.9.2010- Panthuvarali ...

Friday, September 3, 2010

Concerts in Mumbai - September 2010

Wed Sep 1 - 6pm - Shri Mandolin Srinivas - Nehru Centre - Worli

Sat Sep 4 - 6pm – Ms. Ranjani and Ms. Gayatri- Vocal - Shanmukananda Hall -Matunga

Sat Sep 4 - 6:30pm Shri T.N.Krishnan - Violin - The Fine Arts - Chembur

Sat Sep 4 - 6 pm Kumari Aishwarya Venkatraman - Violin
SANGEETHA KALANIDHI SHRI VELLORE RAMABADHRAN - MRIDANGAM
and Shri Vinod Venkatraman - Kanjira
At Vashi Fine Arts
The evening will also witness the honouring of Shri Vellore Ramabadhran on his Sadhabishekam

Sun Sep 5 6:30pm Ms. Bombay Jayashree - Vocal - Shanmukananda Hall


Thur Sep 16 6:30 pm - Pramila Gurumurthy- Vocal- NCPA