A Tribute to Brindamma
Nov. 6th, 2005 - A report by Tejusvini Varadachari

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Sangita Kalanidhi Smt. T. Brinda, was well known for her sharp wit and candour. Iindeed she was just as expressive with her comments as she was with her music. One such oft quoted by her dear ones is that just as one needs ‘gnaanam’ to sing, one needs ‘gnaanam’ to hear and appreciate music as well! On November 6th, a packed Raga Sudha hall probably vindicated her statement. On the occasion of Brindamma’s birth anniversary, her disciples organized an evening dedicated to remembering the great artist. The day began on a cloudy note and remained firmly drenched with incessant rain. Despite the downpour, it was gratifying to see the hall almost full. The evening began on an auspicious note with a group of T. Brinda’s students rendering the Dikshitar masterpiece and Brindamma’s signature song, Vina Pustaka Dharini. The group comprised of classical artists such as Chitravina Ravikiran, Geetha Raja, Savita Narasimhan, Kiranavali Vidyashankar, Chitravina Ganesh, playback artist Anooradha Sriram, and Brindamma’s oldest disciple A. R. Sundaram. As the sonorous notes of the song, rang out clearly through the hall, alongside the smiling visage of their Guru, the audience settled in for an enjoyable evening.

Brinda, one of the most eminent musicians to have graced the firmament of Carnatic music has left behind a robust legacy of music, majestic in style and impeccable in purity. Besides her music, she is also acknowledged as a great Guru – loving and firm, both in good measure. The musical evening was a stringing together of Brindamma’s music by  her students, students who have learnt from her at various stages of their career. Thus, if on one hand, we had A. R. Sundaram, her first student, render her songs beautifully, supported by Savita Narasimhan, we also had at the other end of the spectrum, artistes such as Geeta Raja, K. N. Shashikiran, Anooradha Sriram and Brindamma’s grandson Girish. All of them were supported by the sensitive accompaniment of Amrita Murali (Violin) and Pathri Sahtishkumar (Mridangam).

The series of performances included one by Brindamma herself through a delightful video recording of one of her concerts. For eyes used to a dance performance by default at most music concerts, even this one song was an eye opener. Not one unnecessary movement or facial twitch from the legend, so much so that this writer even thought the audio was playing, and the video was stuck, until a close-up revealed that Brindamma was indeed singing!

The highlight of the evening was Chitravina Ravikiran’s audio presentation on the salient aspects of Brindamma’s music. Carefully delineating her music, he demonstrated various nuances – the unique amalgamation she managed between Dhanammal’s grace and Naina Pillai’s robustness, the meaning of her gamakas, her beautiful viruttams, the list goes on…each aspect probably merits one dedicated evening each. It was an emotionally involved Ravikiran we got to witness, quite a departure from the suave performer. Indeed, Brindamma lives through her students who venerate the personality that she was, and the music she has bequeathed. An evening that will be cherished fondly by music lovers...

Tejusvini Varadachari


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