Report on Lec Dem Mela in Sruti Magazine

A report of the Lecture Demonstration on  "Different Aspects of Siva Bhakti" that I had presented on the 14th of December 2014, jointly organized by Sruti and Karnatic Music Forum, has been given on Sruti's online blog, written by Smt.Gayathri Sundaresan of Sruti.

The link of the same is given below:

http://srutimag.blogspot.in/2015/01/lec-dem-mela-part-6.html

Sathguru Rasaanubhava - 27/1/12

Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai, has been conducting the 'Sathguru Rasaanubhava' series for about 6 months now. This thematic concert is a monthly one, featuring exclusively Saint Tyagaraja's compositions.






Accompanists:

V.V.Ravi - Violin
Poongulam Subramanyan - Mridangam
Madipakkam Murali - Ghatam






The theme that I took up for this concert was "Moods and emotions of a devotee(Naadopasaka) during the spiritual journey towards the Supreme".

Saint Tyagaraja has expressed these sentiments very beautifully in many of his compositions. Any devotee experiences emotions like a deep longing to see the Lord, longing to converse with Him, self-depreciation, pleading with the Lord, doubt,disappointment, anger, introspection of his own disqualification,steadfast faith in Him, taking playful liberties with Him, gratitude and finally sharaNAgati.
I took one example for each such emotion and briefly explained the composer's outpouring of Bhakti before rendering each of the kritis.


Song List:(R-Raga Alapana,N-Neraval,S-Kalpanaswaram,T-Tani Avarthanam)

1. entarAni - harikAmbOji - Adi (longing for His company)
2. rA rA mA inti - asAveri - Adi (longing for His Darshan)
3. suguNamulE - chakravAham - rUpakam(S)(Keertana)
4. sArvabhowma sAkEtarAmA - rAgapancharam- Adi (longing for a conversation with Him)
5. nEnendu - karnAtaka behAg- Adi (self-depreciation)
6. E rAmuni nammithinO - vakuLAbharaNam- misra cApu (R) (doubt)
7. mAmava satatam - jaganmOhini- Adi (faith in the Lord)
8. enthanuchu - yadukulakambOji - Adi (R) (pleading)
9. ennaLu oorakE - subhapantuvaraLi- misra cApu (R) (anger,grievance)
10.calamElarA- mArgahindOLam - Adi (dejection)
11.dAsarathE - tOdi - Adi (R,N,S,T)(gratitude)
12.badalika dIrA - rItigowLa - Adi (humor, playful liberty)
13.etulaina bhakthi - sAmA - misra cApu (encourage the Mind)
14.tava dAsOham - punnAgavarALi - Adi (sharaNAgati)
15.mangaLam - rAgamAlikA slOkam - wAlajApet venkataramaNa bhAgavatar


Here is a review of the concert that appeared in the HINDU dated 3/2/2012:

Newspaper Articles and Reviews(Dec 2011-Jan 2012)-Part 2

Article in 'Life In Adyar'(21/1/2012):





















Concert at Music Academy-23/12/11 : (Review in the HINDU on 13/1/12):





















Article in DECCAN CHRONICLE(7/1/2012):

Newspaper Reviews (Part 1/2) - December 2010

Concert at Vani Mahal : 26/12/10 : Review in Tamizh Daily DINAMANI:













Concert at Nungambakkam Cultural Academy : 11/12/10 : Review in Tamizh Daily DINATHANDHI:






















Concert at Shanthi Arts Foundation : 10/12/10 : Review in Tamizh Daily DINAMALAR:

Jugalbandhi Concert Review in HINDU - 24/9/10

Jugalbandhi Concert on 27th of August under the auspices of Hamsadhwani :

You can go the following link to see a review of the above concert in today's Hindu newspaper:http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/09/24/stories/2010092451090200.htm

Concert Review in Hindu

Tyagaraja Aradhana Concert on 21st of January under the auspices of Mylapore Fine Arts :

You can go the following link to see a review of the above concert in the Hindu paper dated 5th February,2010:http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/02/05/stories/2010020551281000.htm

December 2009 Concerts-Newspaper Reviews

The following review of my concert for Brahma Gana Sabha (26th Decemeber 2009),appeared in The Hindu,Chennai Edition dated 1st January,2010.




















The following review of my concert for Bharat Kalachar (2nd January 2010),appeared in Dinamani,Tamizh Daily dated 3rd January,2010.





















The following review of my concert for Chennayil Tiruvaiyaru (19th December 2009),appeared in Ananda Vikatan,Tamizh Weekly Magazine dated 6th January,2010.

The Hindu (Chennai Edition)- Dated 20/2/09

Here is a review of the concert held under the auspices of Sri Tyaga Brahma Gana Sabha, at Vani Mahal,Chennai, on 14/2/09:
(This appeared in the Hindu,Chennai Edition dated 20/2/09.)

HINDU-Bangalore Edition- 30/1/09

Here is a review of the concert held under the auspices of BTM Cultural Academy,Bangalore on 23/1/09:
(This appeared in the Hindu,Bangalore Edition dated 30/1/09.)











IMPRESSIVE Devoted performances



The17th Aradhana Sapthaha of the BTM Cultural Academy, Bangalore, featured a vocal concert by Gayathri Girish on Friday, accompanied by Nalina Mohan (violin), C. Cheluvaraju (mridanga), Vyasa Vittala (khanjari) and Karthik Mohan (ghata).

The concert, devoted entirely to the compositions of Muthaiah Bhagavathar, commenced with “Manamohana”, the atta taala varna in Mohana, followed by “Sakthiganapathim” in Nattai raga and rupaka taala, to which were appended some free flowing kalpana swaras. A crisp alapana in Vijayasaraswathi preceded the krithi “Saranam Vijayasaraswathi” in adi taala. The raga identity of Shahana was established in the very first phrase of its alapana, notable for mellifluous sancharas around the dhaivatha in the ascent and the lucidity of notes right down to the mandra panchama in the final phase. The krithi, “Manamu Kavalenu Thalli”, was succeeded by “Giripriyam Gangadharam” in Kadanakuthuhalam.

“Sarasadalanayane” in Saramathi, one of the most beautiful renderings of the concert, underscored the widely spaced syllables of its sahithya and its leisurely gait. “Saravanabhava” in Pasupathipriya led to an elaborate alapana of Sankarabharana that revealed the artiste’s felicity of expression in all three octaves without exaggerated efforts at modulation, enhanced by the smooth overtones of her voice. “Manadirkisainda” a heavy composition in adi tala incorporated a detailed neraval and kalpana swaras with alternating passages in the tisra gathi. The concluding segment of the concert included, among others, “Vanchathonu” in Karnaranjani and a tillana in Hamsanandi. The efforts of the accomplished accompanying artistes would have had greater impact with better balancing and adjustment of the sound system.

MADHAVI RAMKUMAR
* * *

HINDU-Madurai Edition-23/1/09

Here is a review of the concert held under the auspices of Sri Sathguru Sangeeta Samajam, Madurai on 4/1/09:
(This appeared in the Hindu,Madurai Edition dated 23/1/09.)















Fest Music lovers enjoyed a variety fare as eminent artists performed during the 57th anniversary of Sri Satguru Sangeeta Samajam, Madurai.

Rajalakshmi Padmanabhan


Excellent alapanas

Gayatri Girish, on the second day, brought out the inbuilt rhythm in ‘Swagatham Krishna’ that followed the soothing strains of ‘Nadasudha Rasa’ (Tyagaraja) in Arabhi. The chords of Akkarai Subbulakshmi’s violin blended well with Gayatri’s vocal chords, to produce excellent alapanas in Purvi Kalyani and Khambodi. Palladam Ravi and Adambakkam K. Shankar made creative contributions on the mridangam and ghatam respectively. The tukkadas were exclusively on Lord Krishna, including ‘Kakkai Chiraginile,’ ‘Katrinile Varum Geetam’ and ‘Kunidadi Krishna.’

The Hindu- Dated 23/12/08

Here is a review of the concert held under the auspices of Music Academy,Chennai on 18/12/08:
(This appeared in the Hindu dated 23/12/08.)

Dinamalar-Daily Newspaper Dated 15/12/08

Here is a review of the concert held under the auspices of Nungambakkam Cultural Academy on 10/12/08:
(This appeared in Dinamalar dated 15/12/08.)

Shanthi Arts Foundation and Endowment- 13.12.08

This was held at Srinivasa Sastri Hall, Luz.

Accompaniments:
Mysore Srikanth - Violin
J.Vaidyanathan - Mridangam
Raman - Morsing


Song List: (R-Raga Alapana,N-Neraval,S-Kalpanaswaram,T-Tani Avarthanam)

1. Varnam - Thodi - Adi - Patnam Subramanya Iyer
2. Makelara - Ravichandrika - Adi - Tyagaraja (S)
3. Virutham (Ezhai Thozhumban) - Saveri (Dharmasamvardhani Malai)
followed by Varmamaa - Saveri - Rupakam - Anai-ayya
4. Nadhupai - Madhyamavathi - Kanta Chapu - Tyagaraja (R,S)
5. Utrumai Servadhu - Shankarabharanam - Adi - Tirugnanasambandar Tevaram
6. Ninne Nammithi - Simhendramadhyamam - Misra Chapu - Mysore Vasudevachar (R,N,S,T)
7. Sri Madhava - Behag- Adi - Papanasam Sivan
8. Thillana - Chandrakouns - Adi(Tisra) - Madurai.T.N.Seshagopalan
9. Mangalam


A review of this concert appeared in today's Tamil Daily, Dinamani.
Here it is:

Dinathandhi-Daily Newspaper Dated 12/12/08

A review of my concert at Meenakshi College on 5th December,2008, appeared in the Dinathandhi daily on the 12th December.
I have scanned it and I am publishing it here.

Indian Express- Dated 9/12/08

(Actually, if you noticed, even the corrigendum is wrong - in the above review,only the photograph was wrong, caption for photo and review are correct, but the corrigendum seems to mention it wrong.)