Ranjani Gayatri - Vocals; HN Bhaskar - Violin; KV Prasad - Mridangam; Guruprasad - Ghatam; Nandini and Nandini - Tampura
On a Christmas evening, what is the best gift one can get other than getting soaked in a wonderful musical experience. It was a vocal duet performance at the Music Academy. It was an absolutely house-full hall. Yes, it has to be the numero uno(err... it has to be numero duo) Ranjani Gayatri at the prestigious Music academy. Sitting on the ground floor hall and listening to them is a great experience. Ranjani Gayatri chose to start the concert on the raga that is used in fundamental lesson in Carnatic music. "Meru samana" in Mayamalavagowlai was the krithi rendered by the sisters. It was a real firework right from the first krithi. The subtle inter-relationship between the raga and the krithi was well expressed by the sisters and their neraval and swarams at "gaLamula shobillu" was just simply amazing.
If the first krithi was brilliant, I must say that the next set of krithis were just out of the world. It was surprising to note the usage of plastic chairs at the academy. So much of a crowd that they had to keep plastic chairs to accommodate the late comers (err. pass holders??)
If in the first krithi, the saint pleaded to Lord Rama to bestow his blessings, in the next krithi Shyama Sastry pleads to Goddess to protect him. After an enchanting alapanai by Smt Ranjani and a wonderful violin support by HN Bhaskar, the sisters sang "Marivere gati" in Anandha Bhairavi. The chittaswaram embellished the krithi adding a different dimension to it. The next was a vivadi raga krithi, "Mara vairi ramani" in NAsikabhushani, a saint's composition where he refers the consort of Lord Shiva at Tiruvarur as "manju bhashini (sweet spoken)" with quick swaras for Pallavi lines was the next fragrant melody.
The first half of the concert captivated the audience and kept them do the guess work for the main piece. The main raga essay was in Mohanam. Gayatri gave a joyous Mohana raga alapanai followed by a rarely heard Tamizh krithi - "Jagadeeshwari Krupai puri", a master piece by Thiruvarur Ramaswami Pillai, a disciple of Ramaswamy Dikshitar. Gayatri gave a complete essence of Mohanam. The chittaswaram after Anupallavi was interesting as there were recurrence of dhaivatam in different places. This krithi needs a particular mention of the chittaswaram and sahityam. The dhaivatham swaraksharams and beauty of how the words land in that 2 kalai adhi talam made ending like veruLatha, indha, peridha, varam tha really exquisite. The sisters rendition of Mohanam kept the audience glued to their seats. The tani avarthanam that followed had both Prasads (KV Prasad on Mridangam and Guruprasad on Ghatam) and was very lively and energetic.
On a Christmas evening, what is the best gift one can get other than getting soaked in a wonderful musical experience. It was a vocal duet performance at the Music Academy. It was an absolutely house-full hall. Yes, it has to be the numero uno(err... it has to be numero duo) Ranjani Gayatri at the prestigious Music academy. Sitting on the ground floor hall and listening to them is a great experience. Ranjani Gayatri chose to start the concert on the raga that is used in fundamental lesson in Carnatic music. "Meru samana" in Mayamalavagowlai was the krithi rendered by the sisters. It was a real firework right from the first krithi. The subtle inter-relationship between the raga and the krithi was well expressed by the sisters and their neraval and swarams at "gaLamula shobillu" was just simply amazing.
If the first krithi was brilliant, I must say that the next set of krithis were just out of the world. It was surprising to note the usage of plastic chairs at the academy. So much of a crowd that they had to keep plastic chairs to accommodate the late comers (err. pass holders??)
If in the first krithi, the saint pleaded to Lord Rama to bestow his blessings, in the next krithi Shyama Sastry pleads to Goddess to protect him. After an enchanting alapanai by Smt Ranjani and a wonderful violin support by HN Bhaskar, the sisters sang "Marivere gati" in Anandha Bhairavi. The chittaswaram embellished the krithi adding a different dimension to it. The next was a vivadi raga krithi, "Mara vairi ramani" in NAsikabhushani, a saint's composition where he refers the consort of Lord Shiva at Tiruvarur as "manju bhashini (sweet spoken)" with quick swaras for Pallavi lines was the next fragrant melody.
The first half of the concert captivated the audience and kept them do the guess work for the main piece. The main raga essay was in Mohanam. Gayatri gave a joyous Mohana raga alapanai followed by a rarely heard Tamizh krithi - "Jagadeeshwari Krupai puri", a master piece by Thiruvarur Ramaswami Pillai, a disciple of Ramaswamy Dikshitar. Gayatri gave a complete essence of Mohanam. The chittaswaram after Anupallavi was interesting as there were recurrence of dhaivatam in different places. This krithi needs a particular mention of the chittaswaram and sahityam. The dhaivatham swaraksharams and beauty of how the words land in that 2 kalai adhi talam made ending like veruLatha, indha, peridha, varam tha really exquisite. The sisters rendition of Mohanam kept the audience glued to their seats. The tani avarthanam that followed had both Prasads (KV Prasad on Mridangam and Guruprasad on Ghatam) and was very lively and energetic.
RTP with dwiraga Pallavi in Saranga and Nayaki. The alapanai and tanam besides Pallavi was shared equally with the lines "Saranganai Rangai ninai maname Ranganayaki sametha" set in Chatusrajathi Triputa taalam in KhanDa NaDai. The RTP had a garland of ragams - Bhoopalam. Deva Manohari, Jog and Brindavani. The concluding piece had an abhang in raag Lalith. There was "Kotinadalu" in Todi as well.
It definitely is a pleasure listening at the Music Academy as it had no own sruthi singing ;) by the audience sitting next/front row and the audiences maintained the decorum.
The sisters' concert today was special such that every piece was perfectly packed and had strong support from the accompanists. It was such a listening experience that Saranga and Nayaki conquered and will stay fresh in the hearts of the rasikas. The concert by the team requires a standing ovation.!!
In total, it was a sumptuous treat!!
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