Talent tuned to the audience
B.R.C. IYENGAR
|
He is a genius but he reinvents himself for the viewers.
|
PHOTO: R. SHIVAJI RAO
MELODIOUS MOOD Sanjay Subramaniam in concert.
A vocal concert of Sanjay Subramaniam was organised by `Savitri Foundation' at hotel Green Park last week and the Chief Guest was Dr. C. Rangarajan, the former Governor of Andhra Pradesh. Varadarajan accompanied Sanjay on the violin and Arun Prakash on the mridangam. The Trust has been promoting the cause of Carnatic music in various ways one of which is to invite leading artistes in the field of music; thanks to the philanthropic stance of its Chief, J. Balsubramaniam.
Sanjay is irrefutably the leading vocalist in Carnatic music today and has occupied the centre stage for a couple of years now. The simple explanation is his work never fails to move and inspire, excite and brace up. There is in him, occasionally, an invention so sharp that it almost stings and a reckless profusion of energy suitably to be called, genius. His music moves the heart, excites the nerves, also it arrests and engages the most acute intelligence. Constant self-mastery is the sign of a hero; Sanjay always reaches beyond his grasp. His marvellous technique is usually strained to the limits, sometimes the string tension positively aches! After all, we are the losers if we miss the good things given to us by him! There are no difficulties about listening to Sanjay; he asks only some insight and a great amount of patience.
Different context
However, it was different Sanjay at the concert under review. In this context, his judgment needs admiration. He was quick to assess that the situation was different, the audience diverse and the connoisseurs wanting to choose more of amusement rather than solemn substance. The concert was intelligently based on a lighter format with little or no sensationalism, most of it running through the mill and ending on a formal procedure. All in all, instead of a cocktail, he offered pure cold water! Yet, it was a concoction material, oddly low in inventiveness, but for a few short flashes of breathtaking ingenuity, pouring out inadvertently, more as an inherent aptitude rather than purposely designed. The recipe was a mixed fair of both orthodox and the nonconformist neither of them dominating nor understated. The cadence was immediately built up with the ata thala varnam in the raga, Kaanada. A short alapana of Malayamarutha led to the popular song, Mansa etulorthune and a shower of swaras in swarakalpana with countless and attractive combinations put the audience at peace. In truth, the highlight of the entire concert was the fluidity and eloquence with which Sanjay played his swarakalpana in several other items too. The choice of Madhyamakala for a couple of these songs was clever thinking. Seethapati in Kamach, was vibrant. The concert did include some weighty and slow-moving items as in Kalavathi (a composition of Thyagaraja), Keeravani (a song of Bharathiar) and sahana (a composition of Vedanayakam Pillai) all significant with classicism.
Lighter items
Realising the need for populist aspiration, a couple of lighter items in Tamil interspersed with lyric in the form of slokas, were also tailored. However, distanced from Sanjay's usual classic performances, the concert under review was yet a different dish enjoyable for a change and relished in limitation.
Young Varadarajan on the violin is known for the pure notes he produces. Every note he generates has at once a harmonic and melodic functional connotation.
The rapport between him and Sanjay had an emotive significance. Add to this the excellent and vivacious playing by Arun Prakash on the mridangam, where every sound had a lilting swing and divine dance. The teamwork had an awe-inspiring sway over the audience.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
