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In true MLV style

Photos: S.R. Raghunathan and M. Karunakaran

Aesthetic: Sudha Ragunathan.

Two concerts were held as part of MLV’s birthday celebrations at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. Violinist Kanyakumari, who had accompanied MLV for nearly two decades, presented as many as twenty numbers, along with Embar Kannan and Sanjeev and underst andably all songs were MLV specials and this was true of Sudha’s concert too.

The violinists began with ‘Vara Vallabha Ramana’ (Hamsadhwani-GNB) and on its completion Kanyakumari explained how she was adopting a novel way of combining three violins.

Kannan’s violin had as Adhara Sruthi the top shadjamam of the main violinist (Kanyakumari) and Sanjeev’s had the lower shadjamam as its pitch. Three octaves were thus sounding simultaneously — an independent initiative reminding the very approach of MLV, who obtained “unusual success with unusual means” in her concerts. Dikshitar’s Chathurdasa Ragamalika was played where the accented notes of each raga was made to stand out by design. The other two violinists banked well with the needed push. Palimparavadhelara (Arabhi-Pallavi Seshaayyar) was played with a graceful alapana and Andolika (Raga Sudha Rasa-Tyagaraja) too had its creative prayogas in keeping with the aesthetics of the raga.

The thukkada phase became interactive where listeners’ requests were in plenty — ‘Ellam Inbamayam,’ ‘Aarumo Aaaval,’ ‘Aadal Kaneero,’ ‘Baro Krishnayaa,’ ‘Om Namo Narayana’ and ‘Innu Dhaya Bharadhe.’

Sudha Ragunathan’s voice level, its intensity, strength and alignment were at their peak. The magnetism in her voice had an amazing consistency.

The Panthuvarali alapana (Raghuvara Nannu-Tyagaraja) had both thunderous and persuasive phrases which had the MLV spirit in them. Earlier her compelling affinity with her Guru’s manodharma was on display with improvised swara patterns at Prasiddha Gana Nayakam for the song ‘Siddhi Vinayakam’ (Dikshithar-Chamaram). An elaborate Bhairavi alapana which flowed with fresher and fuller phrases was followed by Balagopala (Dikshitar) and she too presented many MLV’s other favourites – ‘Raka Sasivadhana’ (Dakka), ‘Mangalavaradhayaki’ (Kathanakuthoogalam-GNB), ‘Harismarane Maadu Niranthara,’ ‘Yadavaraya,’ ‘Thikku Theriyadha Kaattil’ and ‘Chinnanjiru Kiliye.’

A. Kanyakumari flanked by Embar Kannan on right and Sanjeev.

Sudha was at her vivacious best when she gave many impromptu variations while rendering the thillana in Revathi.

Mannargudi Easwaran on the mridangam and B.S. Purushothaman on the ganjira were the layam accompaniments for both these concerts.

They accompanied admirably with controlled strokes while playing for the niraval and swaras and provided brief thani avarthanams that were loaded with substance.

These concerts began rather late but the artists satisfied the wish-list of the audience present. They put their mind, body and soul into its rendering resulting in the music of the past era being re-enacted with commitment and sincerity.

A word for the organisers will not be out of place here. We need to be more conscious of time and learn to begin events at the appointed hour. Regular and routine announcements can wait and should not disturb the concert flow.

The kuthuvilakku that is lit has its sanctity and should retain its flame till the end of the day. And finally, all and sundry should not be allowed to climb on the stage when the concert is on. We need to respect the artists and the art.

The Kharaharapriya that wafted across and greeted you as you entered Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan was quintessential MLV. It began as it would - a suggestive drizzle that progressed in its intensity and depth and then. the downpour. One state of joy leading to another.

MLV Rasikar Manram celebrated her 80th birthday and eminent speakers shared cherished moments. T.R. Rajagopalan, Senior Advocate and Trustee of the Manram welcomed the gathering and Chandrika Rajaram, secretary, detailed the tasks the Manram was performing and its future plans in spreading music and how it sought to focus on the MLV Bhani. N. Murali, M.D., The Hindu and president of The Music Academy, who inaugurated the function, recalled the rich tribute paid by the late Sulochana Pattabhiraman, who expanded the acronym MLV to be read as Melody, Laya and Vidwath and made special mention about how MLV entered certain areas of music which were hitherto considered male preserves and also highlighted the wide spectrum of musical knowledge she possessed.

R. Krishnaswamy, secretary, Narada Gana Sabha, said that his family had a long and deep association with MLV since 1945. MLV, he observed, had the gift of notating songs even at a very early age and her music won encomiums from no less a person than Ustad Bade Gulam Ali Khan. Her magnanimity knew no bounds and this noble trait remained with her till the very end of her life.

M. Murali, MD of Sri Krishna Sweets, said that MLV's music took the listener to ecstatic heights. The MLV legacy lives on, he said, in the form of many talented and performing disciples, who had organised the function.

The Manram honoured all the disciples both young and old by presenting mementos to them. `Vasanthakumari Pillai Thamizh' a book by Parvathy Gurumurthy was released by Mr. N. Murali and the first copy was received by MLV's son, Sri Shankar Raman.

On the second day the proceedings began with "Aadal Kaneero", a thematic presentation of evergreen melodies of MLV, by dancers Shobana Ramesh, Aishwarya Narayanaswamy and others.

R. Seshasayee, MD, Ashok Leyland, said that he was privileged to learn a few songs directly from MLV and marvelled at her brilliance in handling ragas such as Gamanasrama. Madurai T.N. Seshagopalan said that he always remembered MLV, whenever he performed at the Shanmuganandha Sabha in Mumbai as she was instrumental in TNS making his debut there.

The second day also saw Sudha Ragunathan presenting snippets from "Maiden of Spring," which she described was a prelude to the DVD to be released on October 31. The video captured MLV's life and her music through many photographs in vintage black and white and had excerpts from her concerts. It also included accolades by Balamuralikrishna, Mannargudi Easwaran, Dr. Rajagopalan, Mangala Srinivasan and many of her other senior disciples. This presentation also had a glorious piece by MLV from "Vanangamudi" in Suddha Dhanyasi that portrayed through gestures of dance and lyrics, the significance of the five great epics of Tamil literature.

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