Sikkil Gurucharan: Brilliant Concert

Gurucharan began his impressive recital with Natakuranji (Chalamela) varnam. Hamsadhwani (Varana Mukha) flowed with absolute ease. Jyothiswarupini (Kanda Amuda ) was really impressive.

Begada (Anudinamu Kavumayya) was filled with bhava & the raaga was rendered without any hurry. Marga Hindolam (Chalamela) was crisp & clear. Hamir kalyani (Andal Pasuram) was the bridge to the main item of the day. Bhairavi (Enati Nomu Phalamo) was the highlight of the day. Awesome nereval at "Sundaresa Suguna..." followed by neat kalpana swaram added the icing to the cake.

I guess Gurucharan should be upgraded to evening slot. I am sure he will give quite a bit of folks a run for their money.

Raagam: 710
Nereval: 7/10
Kalpanaswaram: 7/10
Sowkyam: 8/10
Pataantharam: 8/10
Gimmicks: 0/10
Seshtai: 0/10
Acting: 0/10
Commercial Approach: 8/10
Thani Avarthanam: Great.
Voice Culture: 8/10
Overall: Fantastic.

Madurai Sundar: Sans Creativity

Naata (Maha Ganapathim manasa) was a nice start. It was followed up with Varali (Seshachala Nayakam) that lacked manodharmam with nereval at regular phrase. Saranga (Mari vere kavalenu) was neatly rendered.

RTP in Surati was next on cards. The drag phrases in the thanam were missing. He skated around the arohanam/avarohanam making it absolutely a useless exercise. Neyveli Radhakrishnan's violin version of Surati was crisp. The pallavi was set to Chatusra jathi Triputa Thalam -vilamba (16 counts - eduppu one aksharam after samam) with the lyrics Raghuvaram Raghavam ramam sadha smaramyaham.

Sundar has great knowledge and a good voice to support his imagination. Its time he stops trailing Seshagopalan(style) and concerntrate on manodharma (creative) sangeetham. After all thats what carnatic music is all about !


Raagam: 4/10
Nereval: 4/10
Kalpanaswaram: 5/10
Sowkyam: 4/10
Pataantharam: 6/10
Gimmicks: 2/10
Seshtai: 5/10
Acting: 3/10
Commercial Approach: 2/10
Thani Avarthanam: o.k
Voice Culture: 5/10
Overall: Good.

Trichur Ramachandran: Immortalising GNB

Ramachandran started his concert with Gaulam (Sri Mahaganapathi) with beautiful swara prastharam at "Ravi Sahasra Sannibha Deho !" M.A. Sundaresan's quick reflexes added grace. Tyagaraja's Kalala(Pantuvarali) was neatly rendered in a brisk tempo.

Ritigowla (Janani) showed the strain in the voice probably due to extesive singing. A composition of Swati Tirunal in Begada(Karunaka) was real impressive. Sriranjani (Bhuvini dasaudane) with nereval at "Padumule gathi" was pleasant on ears.

Thodi (Thamatham Yen Swami ) was the main item of the day with all the usual colors. Thani avartham by Srimushnam Raja Rao & Suresh was a treat to the ears. Poorvi Kalyani (Karanam Ketu Vadi). Kuntavarali (Ninnu podaga tharama) breezed past. He concluded the concert with verses from the Narayaneeyam & a purandaradasa composition.

Ramachandran by immitating GNB can make people come to his concerts and also immortalise the great GNB further but will he ever be remembered in the annals of Carnatic music?


Raagam: 7/10
Nereval: 7/10
Kalpanaswaram: 8/10
Sowkyam: 7/10
Pataantharam: 7/10
Gimmicks: 4/10
Seshtai: 2/10
Acting: 1/10
Commercial Approach: 8/10
Thani Avarthanam: Honours with Special Mention.
Voice Culture: 8/10
Overall: GNB Remembered !

Sowmya: Lack Lustre

Sowmya's Bilahari was passable despite the repetitive sancharams. A lack lustre Kalgada (Parvati) followed. Dwijawanthi (Akhilandeswari) was rendered well. Next to follow was Gangeyabhushani (Evvare Ramayya) Sriramkumar's version was more filled with more bhava.

Kalyani (Ini elam) was the immidiately followed up with Sankarabharanam (Sarojadala Netri). What a waste of experience. This makes me wonder how she's got a slot for herself in the music season. Is it because there's no other female singer to displace her ? Hey ! You young female vocalist(s) here's your golden chance to get a slot. The lesser I talk about her version of Sankarabharanam the better it is.

At the end of this piece it felt as if Sowmya was providing the vocal support to a violin recital. I better conclude.


Raagam: 5/10
Nereval: 5/10
Kalpanaswaram: 5/10
Sowkyam: 3/10
Pataantharam: 3/10
Gimmicks: 8/10
Seshtai: 5/10
Acting: 8/10
Commercial Approach: 7/10
Thani Avarthanam: Good.
Voice Culture: 4/10
Overall: No value for money.

Sriram Parasuram & Anuradha : Improper Cocktail

Let me restrict myself to talking about the carnatic part of the concert for now. Naata (Swaminatha Paripalaya) was a great start. Nereval at "Vamadeva Parvathi Sukumara" was followed with very creative kalpana swaram. M A Krishnaswamy on the violin was brilliant. Varali (Eti Janmam idi) was next on cards.

Subramanya Bharathi's composition in Madhukauns was a well deserved tribute to the great patriotic poet on his birth anniversary. Ravichandrika (Makelara Vicharamu) was very colorful. Satish kumar's percussion support added lusture to the golden Ravichandrika . The Ma-ga-sa-re-ga prayogam brought out the delicate twists of the raaga.

The concert would have been great had it just been a pure carnatic performance. Before I conclude I have one thing to say about the the raagas chosen for the hindustani part. They were more closer in "spirit" than in "technical closeness" causing the non-effectiveness of the kutcheri.

Wouldn't it be better to educate the finer nuances of carnatic music instead of thrusting hindustani music onto to the carnatic audience ?

Raagam: 7/10
Nereval: 6/10
Kalpanaswaram: 7/10
Sowkyam: 5/10
Pataantharam: 4/10
Gimmicks: 4/10
Seshtai: 8/10
Acting: 4/10
Commercial Approach: 8/10
Thani Avarthanam: Great.
Voice Culture: 8/10
Overall: Felt like an Oil-Water mixture.

Sunanda: missing concert essentials

Sunanda began her recital with the Sahana varnam (Karunimpa) . Mayamalavagaula(Thulasi dalamulache) was passable. Atana(Yela Nee daya radu) was next on cards. There was no effect of Atana on anyone. Poorvi Kalyani (Gynanamu Osagarada) came to the rescue.

Saveri (Muruga Muruga) was shivering. Suddha Saveri (Samaja Varada Neeku sari) flowed with relative ease. Bhairavi (Balagopala) again rescued the concert for Sunanda. She conculded the concert with bhajan.

Saviour(s) : R.Kailasm & Madurai B Sundar navigated the concert to the harbor.

Raagam: 2/10
Nereval: 2/10
Kalpanaswaram: 3/10
Sowkyam: 2/10
Pataantharam: 2/10
Gimmicks: 3/10
Seshtai: 0/10
Acting: 0/10
Commercial Approach: 2/10
Thani Avarthanam: Good.
Voice Culture: 3/10
Overall: Difficult to sit through the concert.

S R Veeraraghavan: Seasoned Voice.

Veeraraghavan began his recital with varnam followed up with St.Thyagaraja's Kanakangi kriti (Sri Gananadham). Two quick numbers in Natakuranji (Parakela Saraswathi) and Valaji (Kai Vidamatan) followed.

Veeraraghavan's tradional approach brought out the colors of Bilahari (Parithanaminchite. Ravichandrika (Niravathisukha) was the bridge to the main item of the concert in Kalyani (E thavunara). He conculded the concert with Bharatiar's Raagamalika (Chinanchiru Kiliye).

Raagam: 7/10
Nereval: 7/10
Kalpanaswaram: 7/10
Sowkyam: 7/10
Pataantharam: 8/10
Gimmicks: 4/10
Seshtai: 1/10
Acting: 1/10
Commercial Approach: 5/10
Voice Culture: 7/10
Overall: Very Good.