HYDERABAD BROTHERS AT MYLAPORE FINE ARTS CLUB
The concert started with Swati Tirunal's kriti 'Deva Deva Kalayami' in raga Mayamalavagowla, a popular number. Predictably the neraval was at 'Jata roopa nibha chela' in the Charanam. The brothers showed their penchant for Tyagaraja kritis in their next choices, 'Yagnyadulu' (Jayamanohari) and 'Kanugonu sowkhyamu' (Nayaki). Both were beautifully rendered.
Next was Muthuswami Dikshitar's masterpiece 'Ramanatham Bhajeham' in Pantuvarali, rendered briskly. The neraval and kalpanaswaras were again at the predictable point 'Kumara guruguha mahitam'. Following this, the brothers rendered Neeketeliyaka in Anandabhairavi, which they themselves have helped popularize. Raga Anandabhairavi, incidentally is considered the property of Syama Sastri owing to the huge number of kritis he's composed in it! As the brothers started this kriti, an old lady who was sitting next to me asked me for the opening words. She felt that their pronunciation was always difficult to understand and added that it'd be easier if musicians could announce the opening words of the song, raga and other details before they sang it. Quite surprising to hear such a viewpoint since the Hyderabad brothers are reputed to have a good knowledge of sahitya and known for their clear pronunciation and enunciation.
Following the popular Kannadagowla kriti of Tyagaraja 'Sogasu jooda tarama', the brothers went on to the main raga of the evening, Sankarabharanam. Sankarabharanam is known as a sarvakalika raga, meaning, it can be sung at all times of the day. Although the concept of morning and evening ragas are not as strong in Carnatic music as it is in Hindustani, we do believe that certain ragas are suitable for only certain times of the day. Now, a funny thing happened! When they opened the kriti, even I couldn't figure out the opening words! It seemed as though they were so involved with the raga (of course, a commendable thing!) that they didn't realize that the rasikas would be eager follow the song too! As I was not familiar with the song, I had to change places to ask a vidwan who was fortunately there. I was told that it was 'Buddhi radu', a composition of Tyagaraja in Misra Chapu. It turned out to be a lovely kriti though with gems of sangatis. However, it wouldn't be fair on my part if I didn't appreciate the creativity they exhibited in their raga alapana, neraval and kalpanaswaras. V V Ravi on the violin was also equally good.
It was time for interval. Sorry, Tani Avartanam! It was actually appalling to see the great exodus that started with the Tani avartanam. Showed complete disregard for the great masters on stage. The mridangist was none other than the recent recipient of the award 'Nadabramam', Sri Palghat R. Raghu. V Suresh was the Ghatam accompaniment. For the few who stayed on though, it was a great treat. Both artistes excelled themselves and it was indeed an exhilarating experience.
There is a saying that singing raga Ahiri deprives one of food. I think that the crowd had misunderstood this bit and most of them were already in the canteen by the time the brothers moved on to 'Mayamma', a masterpiece of Syama Sastri in this raga! Then followed a couple of Javalis in ragas Natakurinji and Saveri. The concert came to an end with the very popular Tamil kriti of Papanasam Sivan, 'Karpagame Kann Paarai', in Madhyamavati. The lady next to me remarked, "This is the only Tamil kriti they've sung. Maybe because they don't want to disappoint the Tamil kriti lovers!"
As I came out of the hall, I decided to find out the views of few rasikas. The first one I met was Mr. Lakshmanan who said that he took 2 weeks off from work every year just to attend concerts during the December season. About the concert of Hyderabad brothers, he said that it was simply superb and added that it was because they understood the meanings of the Tyagaraja kritis. He also said that the secret of an excellent concert lay in singing as many Tyagaraja kritis as possible. "Each kriti of Tyagaraja is composed with utmost devotion and makes a true rasika shed tears when sung by devoted vidwans like these brothers", he added emotionally.
Another rasika, Mrs. Saroja, who apparently has come down from Bangalore just to attend the season concerts, had a different opinion. She felt that the Hyderabad brothers' concert wasn't upto the mark as it usually is. I came away musing on the different opinions that the same concert generates!
Pushkala Ramakrishnan
Posted on 19th December 2000
