Yesterday was the first time I went to a concert of Gayathri Venkataraghavan. If I remember correctly, the first time I listened to her sing on TV was about a year and a half back. At that time, I didn’t like her singing much. After that, I didn’t listen to her much. But, a 4-hour concert yesterday was too tempting to miss. Since the only thing that I wanted to listen to was Raagam Taanam Pallavi and being a 4-hour concert, there was no way an will not be sung, I went only at 6pm to the concert that had started at 4 itself. The next 2 and a half hours turned out to be the best part of the day what with the concert turning out to be an excellent one! I will surely go to Gayathri Venkataraghavan’s next concert if I am free on that day!
When I entered, Gayathri was singing Maara Jananim in Natakapriya (a raaga I am not familiar with). She was accompanied by Charulatha Ramanujam on the violin, Neyveli Narayanan on Mridangam and Ghatam Karthick on the Ghatam. What followed next was Sri Matrubhootam in Kannada, a favourite of mine. Mohana Rama and the one for which I had gone to the concert in the first place, RTP in Bhairavi, were excellent!
The Ranjani Mrudu Pankaja (Ranjani Maala – Ranjani, Megha Ranjani, Sri Ranjani, Janaranjani), is one song that I just love listening to when sung by Nithyasree Mahadevan. Even though Gayathri sung it well, for me, Nithyasree’s will always remain the best! Before Mangalam, the last two songs for the day, Bhavayami (Yamun Kalyani) and Naada Vindu (Chenchurutti) were two songs that I couldn’t enjoy completely since the person sitting next to me had decided that he will surely sing along with her! 🙁 I had to with a great difficulty, stop myself from telling him to sing a little less loudly.
On the whole, I absolutely enjoyed every bit of the concert. For the complete list of songs and more details about the concert, check out Ram’s post.
I Haven’t listened to Gayatri Venkatraghavan sing 🙁
And Ranjani is a wunnerful number…naadha vindhu is another very popular ditty right…Love that too 🙂
And Poor you…how did that person sing by the way ? Was it bearable ? 😛
Oh! You were there too,Aparna!You didn’t miss much. Ritigowla with a rare composition was nice.But,as Ram has said,she sings Ritigowla at many concerts.
Shyama Sastry pieces are really delivered nicely by her.
Sathej
> concert
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wow, sounds interesting. 🙂
Hi Aparna,
I have been reading ur blog for quite sometime. I could clearly see ur interest in carnatic music. I too like to listen to them, but the only problem is just cant understand them. I really want to know about carnatic music. Though I know its quite a huge task to really understand them.
I would like you to please let me know from where can I get the basic information regarding them and also list of some music compositions which help me identify a bit of raagams. Being out of India I cannot really join any carnatic music class.
Keep up your good work.
I follow ranjith. 🙂
Nithya,
That person sang very well! You missed it! 😛
Sathej,
Hope I get to attend her next concert whenever that is
Ranjhith,
Adhu enakku theriyunga 🙂
Chiroti,
🙂
Girish,
Belated welcome to my blog! Thank you.
Great to know that you are interested in knowing more about Carnatic Music.
carnatica.com is one website which might be of help to you. Check it out.
Adiya,
You do listen to Carnatic music dont you? 🙂
Just to add to Aparna’s suggestion, rasikas.org is one great website for Carnatic music lovers.
Sathej
Hello Aparna,
Hope you got to know about the accompanist I was referring to!
Sathej
Sathej,
Oh yes! Sorry forgot to reply!
Sri mAthrubUtham..aaha..what a wonderful krithi..thalaivar is the best ever 🙂 Will blog on it soon 🙂
Sai,
Of course thalaivar is the best! 😉 Hope you blog about it soon!