T K Govinda Rao, Asthika Samajam Thiruvanmiyur

T K Govinda Rao - Vocal
M Chandrasekaran - Violin
Palghat Suresh - Mrudangam

Asthika Samajam, Thiruvanmiyur at Amarabharathi on 16th Feb 06 6:30 pm

Thyagaraja aradhanai series.

ragunAyakA - hamsadvani - Adi (RS)
appa rAma bhakti - kAmavardini - rUpakam (NS)
evarani nirNayincirirA - dEvAmrutavarshini - Adi (S)
vidhi shakrAdulaku dorakunA - yamunakalyani - rUpakam (RS)
rAga ratna mAlikacE - rItigauLa - rUpakam (RNS)
tani
sAntamulEkA - sAmA - Adi (S)
pAhi rAmacandra rAghavA - yadhukula kAmbhOji - rUpakam
nI nama rUpamulaku - saurASTRam - Adi
mangalam kOsalEndrAya - madhyamAvati

The concert started with a short and crisp expansion of hamsadvani and the kriti was rendered well with nicely structured svarams in various nadais. The kAmavardini kriti was rendered with the usual vigour with neraval and svarams at 'kapi vAridhi dATunA kaliki rOta gaTunA'. The kriti in dEvAmrutavarshini was rendered in an amazing kAlapramANam which was too good and so were the svarams.

The ultimate treat of the evening was a 12 minute yamunakalyANi AlApanai. The AlApanai took one complete round of the rAga svarUpam and it was too good to say the least. The kriti taken up couldn't get rarer. 'vidhi shakrAdulaku' was rendered with absolute bhavam and it was just ecstacy to listen to the kriti and the svarams which followed.

The main course was even more interesting and enjoyable. rItigauLa was elaborated to all its limits. All sancarams that could show the rAga svarUpam were interwoven in the AlApanai. The kriti was rendered very well with neraval and svarams at 'bhAgavatOttamulu gUDi pADE kIrtanamulaTa'. The sAmA kriti and svarams and yadhukula kAmbhOji kriti were rendered in true TKG style.

To go to a TKG's concert, one must go with a mindset which will not expect anything from the voice. All those who entered the hall with the same mindset will definitely agree with me that it was a rare treat to listen to him singing.

Sri M Chandrasekaran on the violin was his usual self. He was visibly clueless during all parts of the yamunakalyANi. One could actually see him sitting enjoying all that TKG did that he forgot to play when his turn came, more than once.

Palghat Sri Suresh played with good anticipation. One was quite worried as to how a man could sit in such an uncomfortable position for not less than 2 hours and play so good. His tani was good also.