Sikkil Gurucharan presented a traditional musical program with a touch of creativity

Sikkil Gurucharan. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

H. Ramakrishnan

Sikkil Gurucharan once again proves that he belongs to that rare group of musicians who absorb the culture they need and discover enough techniques to express it creatively. His perfect Bhairavi alapana brought out all the melodious shades of the time-tested raga. The opening notes created a serene atmosphere in the auditorium. This Rakta Raga has a wide scope to instantly generate an emotional expression of complete peace. And, the coins evoked serious beauty as well as a flash of craftsmanship and fancy. The talented L. on violin. Ramakrishnan succeeded in portraying an equally luminous and extremely sensitive Bhairavi.

When one was expecting a composition by the Trinity, Gurucharan surprised everyone with Arunachal Kavi’s Ramanataka kriti ‘Yaaro Ivar Yaaro’ in latekala, the range of which displayed the gamut of raga. Although it was originally tuned in Saveri, Ariyakkudi Ramanuja Iyengar and later MS and DKP popularized it in the charming Bhairavi. Sikkill chose the first line of the third Charanam, ‘Chandrabimbha Mukh’, for Niravala and Kalpanaswaras, both of which again distilled the sweetness of Bhairavi.

Sumesh Narayanan (Mridangam) and S. Krishna (Ghatam), who enriched the concert with his precise anticipation and perfect execution, offered a Tani which was actually a raga in rhythm.

Earlier, Gurucharan started his recital with Virutham, ‘Paalum Thalithenam’, followed by a rendition of Periyasamy Thooran’s ‘Gananathan Gunabodhane’ in Saranga. The vocal expansion was in Pallavi. After this, starting with Anupallavi, he presented Mysore Vasudevacharya’s popular work ‘Brochevarevarura’ in Khamas. It has a beautiful Chittaswaram. His sketch of Raga Devagandharam for Dikshitar’s ‘Panchashat Peeta Rupini’ was aesthetic and attractive.

Gopalakrishna Bharathi’s ‘Kanden Kali Theeranthen’ was a unique Kalyani (Roopakam) in ‘Ninren Sannidhi Arugil’.

Sant Tyagaraja’s ‘Sita Kalyana Vaibhogame’ (Kurinji), which Gurucharan had started with Anupallavi ‘Pavanaja Stuti Patra’, came as a fresh wave. The highlight of the concert was a composition in Raga Kapi copy (Coffee), ‘Kalaiyail Kuthithu Ezhave Kohinoor Kapi’, written by Sudarshan. There is mention of Kumbhakonam Kapi who is capable of awakening even Kumbhakarna.

Sikkil Gurucharan concluded his fascinating concert at Behag with Lalgudi’s Thillana and ‘Vaziya Senthamiz’. Overall, it was a well spent two hours of traditional, creative music singing.