Sriragam Fine Arts concert at Music College


The Chennai Music College is a heritage building built in the 1700s with lovely halls, high ceilings, lake view, and a tranquil atmosphere. It was formerly known as Brodie's Castle, after its owner, James Brodie, an Englishman who worked with the East India Company in Madras. He drowned in 1802 while boating on the Adyar river. Ramakrishna Mutt road in fact used to be known as Brodie's Road.

The audience included eminent vidwans who form the faculty at the college and enthusiastic students with the will to learn and listen. The hall was fully packed with eager faces. Many of them wanted to know about film songs based on the Classical ragas that I was to handle and the request had already reached me prior to the commencement of the concert.

I started the concert with the Gambhiranattai piece "Sri Vigna Rajam" of Oothukadu Venkatakavi, went on to Saramati raga and "Arula Vendum Thaaye" of Madurai Sri Somu. This was followed by "Subramanyena" of Dikshitar in Suddhadhanyasi raga, all with swaras. I also presented GNB's "Ranjani Niranjani" this being the centenary year of his birth. The main piece of the evening was "Kapali" in Mohanam of Papanasam Sivan. Post-thani, I presented "Kanden Seethaiyai" in Bhagesri raga, and other lively items.

Very responsive and enthusiastic audience, good ambience. I congratulate the organiser Kalamamani Vazhuvoor Ravi for his efforts. I was accompanied by B. Anantakrishnan on the violin, Thirunageswaram Manikandan on mridangam, and Papanasam Sethuraman on kanjira.

Audio clips:


Comments

  1. I am wondering the tune which is(was) used to be played just before the All India Radio broadcast begins in some Indian radio stations.
    It is a recorded version from the violin of a Jewish maestro Yehudi Menuhin. I want to know the raga. I listened to Sanjey Subramaniam's recent Toronto performance. While he was singing kurai onrum illai(Rajaji's) I noticed the resemblance with All India signature tune.Please shed some light.Thanks

    Sangar A., Toronto

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rajaji's "Kurai ondrum illai" is a ragamalika including Sivaranjani, Kapi, Sindhu Bhairavi. The AIR/DD signature tune is also in Sivaranjani. Maharajapuram Sri Santhanam has in the past weaved this tune into his Sivaranjani alapanas.

    See the Isai Payanam episode on Sivaranjani:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFnDq8L8o48

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi,
    Happy to view your blog.
    Did you give any show on raga "Madhuvanthi"?
    If so please share the link.

    Regards,
    Dhivya

    ReplyDelete
  4. I have covered Madhuvanti in one of the Isai payanam episodes on Jaya TV. I shall try to upload it soon on my YouTube channel:
    http://youtube.com/isaipayanam

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Ma'am :

    Greetings & Best Wishes for a very very happy new year 2010. May god bless you with sound health, wealth, peace n prosperity to you & your family members. Regards to Parents and Grandma. Special hello to Madhu. Bye.

    Sampath Kumar, Ex Defence, Anna Nagar

    ReplyDelete

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