Praneel Kumar Murali's Violin Arangetram by Dr. Saritha Venkatesh

A blessed summer season in this Tamil year of “ Sobakrith”, for all New England Indian art lovers. As the name Sobakrith implies Mangalam, the auditoriums of Boston schools and temples was filled with an aura of auspiciousness as would be felt by rasikas on the banks of Thirurvaiyaru and Chennai in Music Academy, Narada Gana Sabha, Mylapore Fine Arts and Krishna Gana Sabha. The arangams overflowed with Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Violin, Veena and Mridangam Arangetrams.

In my journey of emcee which I have enjoyed since 2017 for Bharatanatyam, the violin arangetram of Praneel Kumar Murali was a great ice breaker. The event was held in Ashland Lakshmi Temple early in the month of September.  Praneel started his journey of learning violin from Guru Smt. Vidya Raman, an established violin teacher in the New England community.  Vidya Raman began learning Carnatic music and violin from her mother and grandmother at her young age. Later she continued her advanced violin training from Vidwan Sri. Vittal Ramamurthy, disciple of the great violin maestro, Padma Bhushan, Sri. Lalgudi G. Jayaraman. Praneel continued to master his art of violin by taking training under Vittal sir during enriching summer camps and online lessons.

The evening’s program commenced with an invocation song by Vijayashree Vittal, disciple of Smt. Bombay Jayshree on Ashtalakshmi.  This was followed by my welcome note in Tamil, saluting my mother tongue and my mother. As expected in other arangetrams, I have seen the Guru sitting in the front row of the audience and guiding the sishya during the performance.  Instead, Vittal sir seated himself beside Praneel and set an example as a true leadership that lies in guiding others to success.  

It was a memorable evening for Smt. Vidya to see her Guru and her disciple Praneel share the same stage. In her remarks following Praneel’s concert, Vidya recalled the initial days of how Praneel used to be such a shy child and would not want to be left alone for the classes. Indeed, it was a proud moment for her to see how Praneel has blossomed as a standalone violin artist through sheer hard work, persistence, focus and love for the art.

Praneel was fortunate to be accompanied by Kalaimamani Vaikom R Gopalakrishnan sir on the Ghatam, another legendary person, who has accompanied great Carnatic music singers around the world.  Three generations down the line, we had the young artist Vineeth Godavarti, disciple of Vidwan Sri. Kuloor Jayachandra Rao on the Mridangam. 

Praneel played nine songs from different composers in different ragas and thalams.  He began playing Kalyani Varnam followed by Deva Deva Kalayamithe in ragam mayamalavagowla. In Endaro Mahanubhavulu, Praneel excelled in performing with great divinity in this Pancharatna kriti and offered salutations to those great men in this world including his Gurus.  This was followed by Paridhanamichithe in ragam Bilahari with kalpana swarams and Brochevarevare in ragam Sriranjani.

The main piece of the evening’s recital was Bhavanuta in ragam mohanam, composed by saint Thyagaraja in Adi Thaalam. Praneel showcased his talent by playing the kalpana swarams in chatusram and thisram leading to korrappu in kandam and was well supported by Vaikom sir and Vineeth in a medley of violin, mridangam and ghatam. This was followed by the Thani-avarthanam (percussion ensemble on Ghatam and Mridangam). The percussion instruments complemented each other, playing a solo in chatusram, kandam, and joining with a korrappu in misra nadai. Finally, the thani avartanam culminated with the violin joining, coming together to a cadential end.  

For the rest of the evening, Praneel was blessed to play on stage with the legendary Guru Vittal Ramamurthy sir.  This is the Paramaguru’s Anugraha for the sishya to share this special unforgettable moment and they played Bho Shambho in ragam Revathi, a Thillana in Mohana Kalyani Composed by Sri. Lalgudi Jayaraman and ended with a Sri. Purandara Dasa Krithi, Bhagyada Lakshmibaramma in ragam Madhyamavathi.

During his felicitation for Praneel, Vittal sir said that he used to like him when he started teaching him. Today, after his best performance, he started loving him and, in the future, when he sees Praneel working harder and flourishing in his performances, Vittal sir will start adoring him.

Thank you to Vittal sir and Vaikom sir for appreciating my emcee in addition to felicitating Praneel and appreciating Vineeth.  You don't need too many people to be happy. Just a few real ones who appreciate you for who you are.  To hear from these legends is as close to winning academy awards and will linger in my life forever.

A very heartwarming speech by Hema, Praneel’s sister and Prajeeth, Praneel’s cousin added value to the evening's concert. It was a great milestone in Praneel Kumar Murali’s life and his mother Prema and Father Murali have played an instrumental role to enjoy this memorable evening. The entire auditorium and the entrance were adorned with decorations by Smt. Anitha Adhipathy.  The program ended with a heartwarming thank you note by Mr. Murali, Praneels’ father and sumptuous dinner prepared by Raagini mami.

“Dorakunaa Ituvanti Seva, Neepadha Raajeevamula Cheru Nirvaana, Sopaana Madhiroha namu Seyu Throvaa”. My favorite scene in Indian Cinema, Sankarabharanam where the Guru passes on his bracelet to the little boy and recites “Shatamanam Bhavathi Shathayuh Purushah Shatendriya Ayush Yevendriye Prathitishtathi”.

There is no end for any art form.  

|