Special cheer for talent
ENDOWED WITH a voice full of sweetness and malleability M.S. Sheela has a wealth of talent. Her concert at the TTD Information Centre was spicy too with the addition of a few lilting songs in the tukkada section. In the more serious section she included Madhyamavati, Khamboji and Malayamarutham. Patnam Subramania Iyer's "Dhanyu Devvado" in the last-named raga evoked special cheers as it is not heard frequently.
After a detailed Madhyamavati alapana, Sheela, appropriately enough — it was the Brahmotsavam fest — selected Tyagaraja's "Venkatesaninu Sevimpanu" and did an evocative neraval at "Bhagavatapriya Tyagarajanuta", followed by scintillating swaras. It seemed to bring particular delight to mridangist Kallidaikurhci S. Sivakumar who transferred his adulation, to percussion partner, Coimbatore S. V. Viswanathan, on the ghatam. Violinist V.L. Kumar was a faithful ally.
Mixed response
Abishek Raghuraman has potential and commendable music sense. But he appears to lay much store by speedy brigas, little appreciating the importance of vishranti. It was evident in his RTP (Adi Khanda nadai) in Karaharapriya.
The alapana was one of a long series of brighas and sancharas of dubious value. The swaras in the pallavi would have pleased laya buffs. But the effect on the vintage rasikas present at the Anjali celebrations of Alathur Brothers at Narada Gana Sabha mini hall was mixed. As a refreshing contrast, came violinist Mullaivasal G. Chandramouli's display.
His exposition of alapanas was soothing and technically sound. In the swara duels also there was no aggression, but quite effective answers.
As for the percussionists T.K. Murthy and disciple B. Sivaraman, their beats were loud and clear and the cheer-raising teermanams met with the right response!
KSR
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