A Concert of K J Yesudas at Chennai on December 16 2012

Had the privilege of attending the concert of Dr.K J Yesudas at Ramarao Kala Mantap (Chennai Cultural Academy Trust) on December 16, 2012. The Hall was filled to capacity and as usual, the rasika's were left asking for more. Age has not made any difference to the quality of the voice or his music and S R Mahadev Sarma on the violin, Harikumar on the Mridangam and Vaikom Gopalakrishnan on the Ghatam provided excellent support.

Yesudos started the proceedings with the rendition of the Ganeshopanishath and followed it with Shri Gananadham in the Raga Kanakangi of Thyagaraja. The standard Pavana Guru in raga Hamsanandhi followed. For the second time in the day we were exposed to Athana and the singer presented Thyagaraja's Bala Kanakamaya. Next to follow was Raga Kiravani and after an elaborte alapana it was Thyagaraja again with Kaligiyunte. Yeasudas next presented a rare piece of Muthuswamy Dikshithar in the raga Shadvidhamargini (also known as Stavaraajam in the Dikshithar school) and the kriti was Madhuraam Bhajare. Thyagaraja's Marukelara in Raga Jayantasri was presented in a fast tempo followed by Garuda Gamana in raga Nagaswaravali. Karunai Cheiyvaan was a moving experience and then it was time for the raga Chakravakam (main piece). 

On request he presented Kshira sagara sayana in devagandhari and then followed some small pieces in Telugu, Hindi etc. We had to leave at 10.30 pm though we very much wanted to listen to him ending the programme with Yogendranam and Harivarasanam. Yet to get over the feeling of having heard it live.

Chennai season kuthceri experience

Despite hectic planning etc we could not attend a single concert during the Annual December Music Season in 2011. To ensure that the same is not repeated in 2012, set out on Sunday morning (16.12.2012) to book tickets in advance. First call was at Krishna Gana Sabha on Maharajapuram Santhanam Road, T.Nagar which had a concert by Aruna Sairam at 16.30. The tickets for all the seats inside the auditorium were sold out and managed to get a ticket to watch the concert on a CCTV outside.

When we reached the venue the programme had already started with Aruna Sairam rendering the first of Andal's Thiruppavai (it being the first day of Margazhi). Soorya moorthe of Muthuswami Dikshithar in raga Sowrashtram followed next. A fast paced alapana of Ragam Athana followed by Illalo Pranathaarthi of Thyagaraja livened up the proceedings. Enna Punniyam Seidhano of Oothukadu Venkata in raga reethigowlai was rendered in low and slow tempo. A detailed delineation of Raga Pantuvarali followed and the kriti presented was Siva siva enaraadha of Thyagaraja. Next to follow was Brindavana Saranga and the item sung was Soundararajam of Dikshithar. The main piece of the concert was raga Kharaharapriya. We could not stay for a complete listening because we had a ticket to K J Yesudas's concert at Chennai Cultural Academy Trust at Ramarao Kala Mantap, T.nagar at 7.00 pm.

Aruna Sairam was ably supported by an excellent team of accompaniments - J.Vaidyanathan on the Mridangam, B Raghavendra Rao on the Violin and Giridhar Udupa on the Ghatam.

 The concert on the whole was a wonderful and divine experience.