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Clear and strong voice
IT WAS difficult to believe that such a frail-looking Mahalakshmi could have so clear and strong a voice. Her concert was quite appealing, beginning with a varnam in Kadanakuthoohalam.
But within a short time she sang "Raghunatha Nannu,'' which also sounded similar to that raga. Perhaps she could pay better attention to planning the programme.
Her rendering of "Sri Vignarajam Bhaje'' was in the right tempo. The raga elaborations of Mayamalavagowla and Pantuvarali, to be followed by "Tulasidala'' and "Siva Siva Siva'' respectively were commendable, though quite conventional.
Though violinist Charumathi Raghuraman has quite a fan following, she seemed a little off-colour. However, there were no flaws.
Mahalakshmi's effort in kalpanaswara singing for both the ragas was decent, but she should try to avoid repetition of phrases too often.
Sreesundarkumar gave understanding support on the mridangam.
Erroneous sahitya
Suryaprakash began his concert with "Vidulaku'' in Mayamalavagowla right away, with neraval and swaras.
The elaboration of Poorvikalyani was reasonably good but in the kriti, "Deva Deva'' of Swati Tirunal one could not escape noticing the errors in sahitya.
In fact, the same was noticed in the sloka he sang preceding the kriti, "Kayarohanesam'' in Devagandharam (according to Muthuswami Dikshitar), and in "Entavedukondu'' in Saraswatimanohari.
Nevertheless, the Dikshitar kritis, "Kayarohanesam'' and "Pahimam Ratnachala'' in Mukhari were rendered well in a proper tempo too.
The Mukhari raga alapana was developed well but suddenly there seemed to be some ambitious attempts, which marred the effect the singer had achieved so far.
Mullaivasal Chandramouli on the violin was good, except that he too went out of control for a moment. But while playing the songs, particularly in the lower octaves, his violin sounded almost like a vocal accompaniment!
The kalpanaswaras for the Pallavi were well designed. Suryapraksh's sruti alignment was commendable throughout.
Mannargudi Eswaran, an experienced mridangam artiste, gave ample support to the vocalist. He also gave enough opportunity to the young ghatam artiste B. Ravi to showcase his talent.
LAKSHMI VENKATRAMAN
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