When Aazhwars landed in Chennai

Recently, I had been to Margazhi Maha utsavam organized by Jaya TV, Maximum Media. First, hats off to the team for consistently doing it for over 15 years!. Taking a theme and giving a concert is very challenging to ensure there is no repetition. When it is a thematic concert, the rasikas should bear in mind that it need not be a typical "concert pattern". 

This Friday, it was an "Aazhwargal vaibhavam". The hall was full well before the concert began. Sanjay began the concert in Naattai. The pasuram he chose was the first of 4000 hymns - "Pallaandu Pallaandu". He brought out the feeling with which Periaazhwar composed it.

The next mangalasasanam came from ThiruppaNaazhwar's "Kondal Vannanai" in one of the best ragam for pasuram Yadhukula Kambhoji set to Triputa thalam. The power of Simmendhra Madhyamam followed with a brief raga aalapanai. A quick Madhurakaviazhwar's pasuram followed by Nammaazhwar's "Maaya Vaamananai" in detail.

After the Prathi Madhyamam came a soothing Sama. Sanjay's selection of raga was very apt for the evening. The Sama raga pasuram was from Nachiyar Thirumozhi, "Madhavan en Maniyinai". Bhairavi came all the way to Chettinad Vidyashram. The hymn chosen was Thondaradipodiazhwar's ever beautiful "Pachai maa malai" (pasuram #873). Sanjay painted an excellent picture of Bhairavi with a detailed raga aalaapanai and neraval, swaram at "Oorile kaani illai". The violin support from Shri. S. Varadarajan added more flavor to the pasuram. This was followed by a superb thani aavarthanam by Shri Neyveli B Venkatesh.

Sanjay brought out the exact feeling with which Kulasekaraazhwar recited "Mannu pugazh Kosalai" a lullaby by mother to her son. This was in ragamalika.

The rest of the azhwars came in succession followed by a pasuram of Thirumangai azhwar in Sindhu Bhairavi. On the whole,it was a superb concert. One small thing missing I felt, Sanjay could have done is instead of just mentioning azhwar name, he could have added the divya desam on which the pasurams were recited on. A tough topic nonetheless!. The choice or selection of songs would have definitely been very challenging as there is not 10 or 20 or 30 but, 4000 to select from!!. Shri. Varadarajan's deft handling of the bow in his solo versions were too good and impressive. 

One needs to be really skillful in taking the thukkada song segment as main piece and ornating it further with a perfect diction. Sanjay displayed it brilliantly!!