New England rasikas were treated for two scintillating kucheris on April 28: one by our own local talent Sudarshan Ajai Thirumalai and the other by a senior artist from Chennai  Sri Delhi V. Muthukumar. These concerts, hosted by Malini and Ravikant Rayadurgam of Acton, were organized by the young organization, Kalatarangini.

The evening began with an hour long concert by the local budding artists. Sudarshan Ajai Thirumalai presented a captivating concert accompanied by Sahana Srinivasan on violin and Tarun Anand on mridangam. Sudarshan’s  main rendition in Todi  was presented beautifully with a melodious alapana followed by expressive neraval and kalpana swarams. Sahana showed maturity in accompanying on violin and Traun’s brisk Thani on mridangam was quite impressive. It was a fitting start to the next “All Tamil Krithis” concert that followed.

For the next two and a half hours, the audience was treated to a soulful music of Sri Delhi V. Muthukumar. Mutukumar hails from a family that is deeply involved in music. Initiated into music by his mother  Smt. V. Sowdhamini and by Sri Sengalipuram Ramamurthy Bhagavatar, he had advanced training under Prof. Radha Venkatachalam and Prof. T.R.Subrahmanyam on a scholarship from the Delhi Government. For the past decade, he has had the fortune of being a senior disciple of Sangeeta Kalanidhi Sri  T.N. Seshagopalan. He has been performing musician for over two decades and he has won several accolades including the title of “Asthana Vidwan” from Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam.

Mr. Mutukumar’s rich and soul-inspiring concert was perfectly assembled and marvelously executed. He opened the concert by a brisk Varnam (Senthil Vaazh Murugayya) in Hamirkalyani. This was followed by the beautiful krithi Vaaranamukhava of  Koteeshwara Iyer in Hamsadhwni that ended with brisk swarams. Following this, Marimuthu Pillai’s popular Sevikka Vendum Aiyya was rendered at a delightful pace. Then the detailed Ananda Natamaaduvar  with alapana and swarms was presented and the exchange with violin was superb! Vinay’s response to ragam was awesome. This was followed by Shivakamasundari rendered at a lively pace with chittaswarams. Kadaikann Veithennai Aalamma in Begada with alapana was rendered beautifully that showed his neraval /swaram singing skills and exhibited his mastery. This was followed by brisk Velum Mayilum in Sucharita with an alapana and Tangai Valar in Todi. The center piece, Sivanai Ninandu in Kamboji, with warm raga elaboration was rendered quite elegantly - a brisk Thani avartanam follo
wed that was superb keeping the meter of the song in mind. Mr. Mutukumar concluded the concert with a few tukkudas. The highlight of the concert was the emphasis on Tamil compositions; nadam and soukhyam were abundant throughout.

No concert is complete without the complementary role by the supporting artists. Both K.V.S Vinay on violin and Pravin Sitaram on mridangam played a good supporting role which elevated the concert to a different level. Pravin’s unique style of anticipation and unobtrusive accompaniment was evident all along. Vinay lifted the performance by his crisp performances in alapane and swarams.

Thanks to Kalatarangini and Malini & Ravikanth – we got an opportunity to listen to some of the rare Tamil krithis rendered in utmost Bhavam and devotion.

|