Priya Sisters Concert in Madras - Concert review
Hemavathy Lakshmanan
Priya Sisters - Kum. Shanmukha Priya and Kum. Hari Priya gave a unique
classical-devotional two and one-half hour Carnatic Vocal concert with a
FULL HOUSE at Sastry Hall, Chennai under the auspices of Saraswati
Vaggeyakara Trust on July 18, 1999. This concert featured three keerthana
(devotional) composers - the 15th century's Sangita Pitamaha Sri
Purandaradasa and Pada Kavita Pitamaha Sri Annamacharya, and the 17th
century's Sri Bhadrachala Ramadas. Needless to say, the dominant theme of
the concert was sringara rasa. Compositions of a philosophical nature for
the contemporary man were also presented.
Priya Sisters were accompanied by Sri Gowrishankar on the Tamboora, Smt.
Usha Rajagopalan on the Violin, Sri K. R. Ganesh on the Mridangam, and
Madipakkam Sri Murali on the Ghatam.
Priya Sisters started traditionally, with a chowka kala Sanskrit composition
of Purandaradasa in praise of Lord Rama - "Jaya jaya" in ragam Nattai set to
Khandachapu talam. Pirya Sisters followed-up with a Telugu composition of
Annamacharya in praise of Lord Venkateswara - "Nallani Meni" in ragam Poorvi
Kalyani set to Adi talam. Free flowing kalpanaswarams by the Priya Sisters
in Poorvi Kalyani was noteworthy. Priya Sisters then set the stage for the
evening's theme - sringara rasa. They chose Badrachala Ramdas' Telugu
composition in praise of Lord Rama - "Ramachandrulu naapai" in ragam Asaveri
set to Misrachapu talam. Kum. Hari Priya led this presentation with an
inspiring alapanai in Asaveri. Their rendering of emotion filled diction,
coupled with K. R. Ganesh's superbly played percussive phrases with
appropriate tonal quality and kalapramanam to match the lyrics, indeed
brought Bhadrachala Ramdas vicariously in our midst. Melodious endings by
the vocalists and percussionists were memorable in the next rendering, a
popular Kannada composition of Purandaradasa - "Narayana" in ragam Suddha
Dhanyasi set to Khandachapu talam. Then followed, another movingly rendered
Telugu composition of Bhadrachala Ramdas in praise of Lord Rama - "Ikshvaaku
kula tilaka" in ragam Kambodi set to Misrachapu talam. Kum. Shanmukha Priya
then gave an exquisite protrayal of the ragam Amritavarshini, matched
equally by Smt. Usha Rajagopalan. This set the stage for Annamacharya's
Telugu composition in praise of Lord Venkateswara - "Annimantramulu inde
aavehinchenu" set to Adi talam. Deft kalpanaswarams by Priya Sisters and
Smt. Usha Rajagopalan, with beautiful and contrasting percussive support
made this rendering memorable. This was followed with a madhyama
kalapramana Telugu composition of Bhadrachala Ramdas in praise of Lord
Rama - "Thakkuvemi manaku" in ragam Sourastram set to Adi talam.
Kum. Hari Priya led off the evening's main piece, with an excellent,
soothing and detailed alapanai exploration, exploiting the full two-octave
range of Bhairavi, with traditional and new prayogas. Smt. Usha Rajagopalan
matched with a mellowed portrayal of Bhairavi through the magic of her
fingers and the expressive bow. Priya Sisters chose the popular Kannada
composition of Purandaradasa - "Oodi baarayya" set to Adi talam. Their
neraval for the phrase, "sangita lola satguna sheela" was rendered with
brilliance filled emotion. Musical kalpanaswarams by Priya Sisters followed
to complete their rhythmic melody, and setting the stage for the Thani
avarthanam. Sri K. R. Ganesh showed the total mastery of the instrument and
his rhythmic knowledge, with a whole range of tonalities, rhythms and
speeds. Sri Madipakkam Murali had a good answer on the Ghatam to show his
mettle. The thani avarthanam brought a huge audience applause.
Following the main piece, Priya Sisters shifted the theme from devotional to
philosophical. They started out with the popular Invocation Slokam in
praise of Annamacharya - "Srimatvadiya charitaamrita" in Bouli, and followed
up with his Telugu philosophical composition - "Yekkadi manusha janmamu" set
to Chatusra Eka talam. It appeared that this song brought the audience,
from the blissful devotional world above, to the earthly philosophical world
below, for, the audience requests started pouring into the hands of Priya
Sisters one after the other in rapid succession. They obliged, pleasing the
audience with rendering of the following compositions:
· Rama Rama, a Kannada composition of Purandaradasa in Tilang set to Rupaka
talam.
· Yee theeragananu, a Telugu composition of Bhadrachala Ramdas in
Nadanamakriya (Mayamalavagoula sung in Madhyama sruti) set to Adi talam.
· Thirumalagiri raya, a Telugu composition of Annamacharya in Misramohanam
(it contained kakalinishandam in addition to the mohanam swarasthanas) set
to chatusra eka talam.
· An Ugabhoga - Indiravaara shubhavara in Kannada in ragam Brindavanasaranga
followed by the Purandaradasa composition - "Nee yako ninna hangyako" set
to Adi talam.
Priya Sisters ended their concert with a Mangalam composed by Annamacharya,
and set to tune in raga Brindavanasaranga in Adi talam by their Father and
Guru Vidwan V. V. Subba Ram.
Often carnatic and/or devotional concerts with a special theme, lacks unison
among the accompanists. This may perhaps due to the lack of knowledge of
the songs by the accompanying artistes. However, this carnatic concert by
Priya Sisters of the pre-kriti era composers, sung in contemporary carnatic
classical (kriti) format was a grand success. Smt. Usha Rajagopalan, Sri K.
R. Ganesh and Sri Madipakkam Murali accompanied Priya Sisters in perfect
unison. Thus, the audience was able to truly feel the devotional import of
the lyrics as aptly rendered with full bhava by Priya Sisters.
Overall, it was a great team effort indeed, with five smiling faces on the
stage; finding the artistes and the audience enjoying musically with full
devotional fervor. The testimony to this lie in the fact, that the audience
remained in their seats for the full two-and-one-half hour concert, with a
Full House and not getting off their seats, till the mangalam was completed
and the artistes thanked individually. Such was the devotional musical
ambience, of the aesthetically appealing musical fragrances of the keertana
composers, engulfing the listeners. A very memorable experience indeed, one
that cannot be forgotten!
R. Ravi Iyer
Swaralayam Arts Forum
Houston, Texas
Malur
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