Chennai Music Season 2006 - A peek

I think it is my great fortune that I am able to immerse myself in this season of music every year. I think it is also great that my family is able to spare me alone for these few days as they know how crazily I can get lost in this world of music.

When I listen to some of the best that several of my favourite musicians have to offer, almost 14 hours a day, it seems as if I can pick up the threads wherever I left off last season.

Concerts at the Music Academy:
Bombay Jayashree: She has not lost any sheen since last year and has developed an impressive and unique style. It is truly a musical experience. Her concert is as good or better than last year’s. It is a well crafted jewel and her music is calm and not at all blaring. Her technical strengths came out in her dual raga RTP (Mohana and Kalyanavasantha). Her ability to convey the bhava came out in her ‘Mayamma’ (Ahiri) and her Talattu song in Neelambari. Her ‘Hari Tum Haro’ is the next best to MS’s. The way she crafts silences into her music is something I don’t see too often. Her extremely clear enunciation of the sahityam only adds to the positive musical experience. Too many sisters/brothers (Malladi Brothers, Chinmaya Sisters etc.) fill up the space with non-stop sound and is a bit aggressive or loud to my liking.

Neyveli Santanagopalan: This was ‘shockingly’ exceptional. I had such low expectations thinking that his voice is not that great etc. It was like chamber music without any frills and volume. His classicism in Ritigowla(Janani), Sankarabharanam (saroja dala netri) and in several ragas of his RTP (Sahana, Hamir Kalyani etc.) is pristine and touched me and several others. There were several trying to thank him on the stage. I need to check with my guru as to what the raga for RTP was: either Brindavani or Bhageswari. It sounded like Bhageswari to me.

TNSeshagopalan: He gave a lec-dem on Muttiah Bhagavathar’s kritis. I believe the varnam that Sudha sang ‘Mathe’ in Khamas is his. His voice seems to be just the same as it was – a bit higher than his speaking voice and bordering on falsetto and strained. But, I love his elucidations of musical aspects, musical tradition. He is a man of great erudition and wit. Rare Tyagaraja kritis sung by PS Narayanaswami’s students was very good and enjoyable though several of them have not been heard often in the concerts these days. E.g Mati Matiki (Mohana), Etla Manaku (Deva Gandhari) etc. Some of the kritis were from Nowkacharitram and Prahlada Bhakthi Vijayam.

TM Krishna: He seems to be a bit more balanced on the stage than he was last year. He added a lot of balance this year with more mellifluous, slow, thoughtful music compared his usual virile fare. I really enjoyed his concert this year. He sang Saraguna (Kedaragowla) and Neerajakshi (Hindolam) extremely well. Nirajakshi is a super slow one and was extremely enjoyable.

MS Sheela: I went to her concert since she is a disciple of RK Srikantan Sir. She is good and seems to be an expert artiste. But, sometimes, most artistes can offer music in all its precision, but not any kind of unique experience like Bombay Jayashree, Aruna Sayeeram or TM Krishna.

Malladi Brothers: They are good, sharp, but seem to be on the edge in terms of trying to be laser perfect on the talam. Music doesnot have to be such a painful and conscious display of art.

Srikantan: It was as good as expected. The unexpected thing was a great voice and style that his son Ramakanth demonstrated. Several Sangita Kalanidhis were in attendance – TK Govinda Rao, B Rajam Iyer etc.

Narada Gana Sabha:
Sudha Raghunathan: It is an ok concert for the most part. I liked her Kambodhi. Though she strained a bit in trying to outdo herself in the O Rangasayee kriti on account of vaikunta ekadasi tomorrow. I felt she should have chosen a major raga for her RTP in stead of ‘Vandana Dharini’ (no kidding) and it was shallow besides. The way she ended her concert with a pedestrian nama sankeertan was not a great choice.

Malavika Sarukkai: It was more of a dance drama in stead of a regular concert. It was lightly attended. Good thing was it was brief.

Questions: Kannada vs. Natakurinji; Devamritavarshini vs KH Priya; Brindavani vs. Bhageswari; Bhoopalam with G1; Gamakakriya vs poorvikalyani; Malayamarutam vs. Valaji; Devamanohari vs. Suddha Saveri

Musings: I meet interesting people and mamas/mamis. One mama was lamenting that all his children were in the US unlike me. One other mami and I discussed music as if we were long lost friends. She was appreciative that I make the journey just for the music and was emphatic that there was no other way! Another lady wished me all the best in my musical essays. Another lady from Mysore settled in Chennai happened to be a Telugu and we were however mutually joking on the apashruthi of Ms. B Arundati!!
It is interesting also how Tamil is the lingua Franca at the music festival/sabhas. Even my Intel colleague broke into Tamil ‘Nee Intel dane!” when he saw me! I also find general bon homie at the concerts. Very friendly people at the counters and in the audience. A sea of like minded people charged with musical fervor!!