Home
Editorial
Letter Box
Rasika Forum
Current Affairs
  > News - Views - Reviews
  > Photo Gallery
  > Calendar of Events
Music Appreciation
Fun & Features
Dance & other Arts
Shopping & Services
Artistes' Homepages
About us
Mail us
  

   
   
    
    
    
     
     
   
     
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
  

News - Views - Reviews

       

SOUL-STIRRING CONCERT BY OCTOGENARIAN

    

His ears were completely zeroed in on the two tamburas on either side. His face was constantly lit with a smile as he sang each phrase with the complete enjoyment that only a true rasika of music can radiate. With experience came completeness to every swara, every phrase and every song. The unison with sruti happened as a matter of routine and effortlessly. Each swara was truly soaked in the raga bhava. The tempo was kept alive throughout without any sagging. The sahitya was showcased in all its beauty with devotional fervour and a genuine enthusiasm to share it with the audience.

    

Veteran vocalist and octogenarian R K Srikantan provided music lovers of San Diego the wonderful privilege of hearing him on May 31, 2003. His reputation from earlier performances during this tour had preceded him, and there was a huge turnout at the temple hall to witness this master perform. Nobody was disappointed in the least. Right from the first piece to the last, the audience sat through, thoroughly savoring every moment and saving memories.

Sri R K Srikantan, accompanied by his son R S Ramakanth (vocal support), Anuradha Sridhar (violin) and Sriram Brahmanandam (mridangam) rendered an all-Purandaradasa concert. Even the cynics who entertained doubts about how an all-Purandaradasa would be, as opposed to a regular concert with the usual popular mix of compositions, left feeling that the concert was a top-notch success. The compositions were mostly familiar ones, with a few rare ones thrown in now and then. Some of the known songs like Gajavadana beduve (Dhanyasi) and Innudaya barade (Kalyani) were also rendered in Srikantan's own tunes, the reasoning being that Purandaradasa had used only 32 ragas that were known in his times. Since the original tunes are anyway unavailable to us now, Srikantan has made an attempt to tune them in the ragas indicated in older sources.

This write-up is not a review, but only a young musician's perspective of a veteran in action. One noticed several things before and during the concert. He was at the venue well ahead of time, and ready to start on the dot. He was by then totally focused on the task ahead. This being an exclusively Purandaradasa concert, he had planned the concert to the last detail. That showed immense dedication and respect to the art and to the composer, especially in a day when most musicians like to claim that they sing spontaneously, without much planning. Srikantan didn't hide the fact that he had planned the concert. His concert list was written down neatly on a piece of paper, which he referred to after every song. At the same time, manodharma aspects of the concert were rendered with great verve, abandon and creativity. The neravals in Vasanta (Kodu bega divya mati) and Kalyani were especially soulful and brought tears to one's eyes. Also touching was the fact that he took care to sing every charana in each song.

Sri. Srikantan didn't seem to need any time to warm up nor did he tire down towards the end. He was in full flow all through and sounded absolutely fresh. In fact, for the first 2 1/2 hours of the concert, he didn't even take a sip of water!

It was apparent that throughout the concert that his attention was totally fixed on the music, the applause and audience excitement being merely incidental to his perception. This is the stage where every good musician secretly aspires to be. It was also obvious that he was in complete control of his voice and mentally ripe to deliver whatever he conceived of. This in turn freed him to enjoy every note and every word that he sang. Instead of showing off his virtuosity, Srikantan chose to use his skills and experience to present pristine emotive music with an enviable sense of balance and proportion. That he accomplished it without much ado is worthy of emulation. There was no need for a listener to make concessions for his age. Nor did he try to exploit that fact at any point of time. This total honesty and sincerity to the art was indeed very moving.

    

Navaratna Malika group led by R K Srikantan

Earlier the same day, Srikantan led a group in rendering the Navaratna Malika (a set of nine compositions) of Purandaradasa in celebration of his aradhana. This again he had planned well in advance and had come prepared. He also conducted a 4-day workshop on the Navaratna Malikas, which was attended by 10 members of the San Diego music community. The aradhana was conducted in a traditional manner, complete with an unchavritti. The temple priest, Pandit Srihari, donned the role and costume of

Purandaradasa. The Bhajana for the unchavritti was led by Ramakanth. Following this, Smt. Alamelu Iyengar, a pillar of the Kannadiga community in California, spoke very highly of Srikantan and presented a detailed talk on Purandaradasa's works as well.

Kiranavali Vidyasankar
Date: June 4, 2003

  

More Music & Dance News

   
Unique albums and titles... the popular and the rare... the traditional and the novel... the young and the old...

    

Where can you find them all?
     
Only at Carnatica Products!
       

     

Attended a concert and would like to discuss it?

Post your views in our forum!

     

   
Get your own website today!

At rock-bottom prices!
   

    

    
The biggest hits in the market... now on your desktop!
     

Shop at our Arcade!
   

   

    
Listeners' Choice

A music-lover's dream come true!
    

    
     

  
In today's world, it is difficult to teach your kids good cultural values!

But don't worry! Carnatica will shoulder your burden hereafter.

Just enroll your kids in the Kids Club!
  

  
     
    

Questions or comments? Send us a mail.

Copyright: Srishti's Carnatica Private Limited

     
     

themehome.jpg