Bharat Sundar impresses with his Harikamboji explanation

L. at the Kedaram music program organized in the memory of NV Subramaniam, founder of Saraswati Vaggeyakar Trust. Bharat Sundar with Ramakrishnan (violin), Vijay Natesan (mridangam) and Sai Subramaniam. , Photo Credits: Courtesy: Kedaram

Kedaram recently organized a concert in the memory of NV Subramaniam (NVS), who founded the Saraswati Vaggeyakara Trust, a performance-oriented organisation, focusing on the deeper aspects of Saraswati and music. NVS was much more than just a concert organiser. He learned to play the violin and became proficient in the art to such an extent that he even worked with senior artistes like Maharajapuram Santhanam and TR Subramaniam. Despite holding a senior position in Southern Railways, NVS tried to find time to pursue his passion for music.

Bharat Sundar impressed with his voice and presentation in his concert at Ragasudha Auditorium. For example, his Harikamboji interpretation with attractive gamakas and clear phrasing had a long-lasting influence. Senior violinist L. Ramakrishnan played the phrases with equal enthusiasm.

Bharat Sundar chose ‘Enta Rani Tankenta’ in Nadai appropriate to the raga. The saint says, O Lord, no matter what happens, I will never go away from you. Niraval and Kalpanaswaras were aptly presented in the Charanam ‘Seshudu Sivuniki Bhushudu Lakshmana’. If the elaborate Niraval was equipped with aesthetic phrases, the improvised vocal groups displayed the singer’s imagination.

On the mridangam, TV Gopalakrishnan’s disciple Vijay Natesan played a brilliant thani punctuated with several brilliant passages. On the second day, AS Krishnan’s disciple Sai Subramaniam was able to produce the desired tone with his restrained playing.

poignant presentation

Before this, Bharat Sundar sang the famous Dhanyasi. Dhanyasi is a raga which makes the rasika experience many rasas. Papanasam Sivan’s ‘Balakrishna Padamalar Panivorakku’ (Roopakam), which followed, expresses devotion and compassion.

The singer made a proper start to his concert with Kedaram. He chose Dikshitar’s ‘Ananda Natana Prakasam’ (Mishra Chapu), a Panchabhuta work on Nataraja in Chidambaram. It has an inbuilt Jathi-swara with Solukattu in line. The charanam section in ‘Neekela Dayaradu’ (Khanda Chapu) in Sarasangi by Ramaswami Sivan featured ‘Nerataka Bhuvi Mida’ and Niraval in an elaborate swaraprastra.

At this point, Bharat Sundar remembered how once TR Subramaniam had stopped him while singing this Niraval to point out a mistake in the pronunciation of the song.

He then sang Tyagaraja’s ‘Shara Shara Samarika’ (Kuntalavaraali) along with Chittaswaram performed by the famous M. Balamuralikrishna.

‘Udayadri Pai’ was part of the popular Lalitha Sangeetham (light music) program broadcast by Akashvani Vijayawada in the 1980s. The lyrics of the song were by Rachakonda Lakshmi Narasimhan, and it was tuned in Ragamalika by Malladi Suribabu. This song salutes the Sun. Bharat Sundar presents this song with impressive modulation giving it a special touch.

‘Charana Kamalalayathai’, a Tiruppugazh in Subha Pantuvarali, and a Thillana in Khamas were the concluding pieces.