Strict adherence to sruti, tradition
A. SANGAMESWARAN
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Palakkad Ramaprasad's concert highlighted quality and not quantity.
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Palakkad Mani Iyer is revered as a colossus in the art of playing the mridangam. However, except a fortunate few who were closely associated with him, not many knew he was an exceptionally talented singer. In fact, he is reported to have taught a few kritis to KVN, before introducing him to Ariyakudi. That talent has percolated down to his grandson Ramaprasad, who presented a memorable concert at Nadopasana, Irinjalakuda.
Palakkad Ramaprasad, a student in the United States, presented a short but sweet concert. The stress was on quality rather than quantity. In fact, the six or seven kritis sung by him had a distinct stamp of their own.
Ably supported on the violin by his father and mentor ,T.R. Rajaram, and on the mridangam by his paternal uncle T.R. Rajamani - authority and torch bearer of the Mani Iyer bani - the concert evoked memories of past masters. After the customary varnam, for which he chose Kanada (`Neranammithi'), he sang `Bhajanaseya' in Kedaram. Poorvikalyani was taken next for a detailed alaapana, his voice effortlessly and effectively gliding through the three octaves and majestic kriti `Paramapavana' of Poochi Sreenivasa Iyengar. It was embellished with brilliant kalpanaswaras. A slow succulent alaapana of Dvijavanthi preceded the Swati Tirunal padam `Tharunee njan,' which had a KVN touch.
A short speedy alapana of Bilahari contrasting with the kriti, `Doraguna' of Tyagaraja, was the main piece. The neraval for the line `Ramabrahma thanayudu,' where the saint identities himself as the son of Ramabrahmam, was noteworthy.
Timely thaniavarthanam
Thaniavarthanam by T.R. Rajamani was timely and in unison with the structure of the kriti and he was supported by Pramod Mangad on the ghatam. An alluring Neelambari (`Vimalakamaladala' composed by Swati Tirunal) and a Pahadi Thillana composed by Lalgudi Jayaraman comprised the final phase.
Strict adherence to sruthi and fundamentals of tradition were the hallmarks of the concert. It was evident that in addition to the guidance received from his father, he has acquired a lot of nuances by listening to the concerts of masters. Above all, he is blessed with a voice that can scale any musical phrase.
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