Kalpakam Swaminathan, Nada Inbam

Kalpakam Swaminathan (Veenai) - S R Padmavathi (Veena Support) - Thanjavur Kumar (Mrudangam)

Nada Inbam. Raga Sudha Hall
1st July 2007. 6pm

mAl marugA (varNam) - hindOLam - Adi - TSI
praNamAmyaham - gauLa - Adi - MV (S)
brihannAyaki - AndhALi - Adi - MD
kAmAkshi anudinamunu - bhairavi - misra cApu - SS
nAda sudhA rasambilanu - Arabhi - rUpakam - T (RS)
EkAmaranAtam - pUrvikalyANi - Adi - MD (RTN)
nagumOmu - AbhEri - Adi - T (R)
mahima daccincukOvayya - rishabapriyA - Adi - T (R)
endu dAginADO - tODi - misra cApu - T (RTNS)
tani Avarththanam
praNathAthihara - senchuruTTi - kaNDa tripuTa - MV (R)
tillAnA - kApi - Adi - RSI
simhAsanastithE - rAgamAlikA - rUpakam - MD
madhyamAvati short sketch

Two special concerts on two consecutive days. Still high on the kAmbhOji and darbAr and kuntaLAvarALi of Chingleput Sri Ranganathan, from the previous day, one entered Ragasudha Hall to be hear another doyen of carnatic music. Smt Swaminathan, (or kalpakam mami as she is affectionately refered to) was the artist of the day.

The concert began with a varNam in hindOLam. The gauLa kriti was followed by a quick round of svarams, which were well patterned. The AndhALi kriti was rendered in a moving fashion. The next was the bhairavi svarajathi. The majestic kriti got the best treatment in the hands of the veteran vainika.

The first AlApanai of the day was a moving Arabhi. The kriti was rendered with a quick round of svarams. The pUrvikalyANi was elaborated showing all the rAga bhAvam. The tAnam played was Smt Padmavathi was good. The kriti couldnt get rarer or heavier. Quick neraval was done at 'pancAkshara mantra rUpam prasanna rUpam'.

The quick AlApanai of AbhEri was followed by a rich rendition of the kriti. The rishabapriyA AlApanai, by Smt Padmavati, was the next in line with the kriti to follow.

The tODi AlApanai, was very elaborated and showed very many classical phrases all thro' it. The tAnam was amazing. The rendition of the grand kriti was just stunning. The neraval and svarams at 'alanADu kanakakashipu niNDAru' were quick and enjoyable.

The senjuruTTi AlApanai was elaborate and the kriti was rendered beautifully. The tillAnA and the rAgamAlikA mangaLam were both nice to hear as well.

Smt Swaminathan gave a truly amazing concert. The effect of her bhairavi and tODi joined to haunt me with the hangover of the previous day.

Smt Padmavathi provided valuable support to her guru. Sri Kumar played well and in anticipation to whatever the main artist played. His tani was short and sweet.