Beyond reproach
P.S. KRISHNAMURTHI
Though all those present on stage were sound in their grammar, the concert was a little noisy. Uma Subramanyam sang the age-old, evergreen ata tala varnam, "Viriboni," in style and was beyond reproach. Melakkaveri Thyagarajan was excellent; so were Mannargudi Subramaniam and S. Venkataramanan (kanjira). Through Papanasam Sivan's "Karunai Seivai" (Hamsadhwani) and "Teliyaleru," one got the same impression — grammatical inerrancy and musical paucity!
Around Poorvi Kalyani — when the artiste could settle down to demonstrate her natural voice in the alapana sans the voluble participation of percussion — Uma began to warm up. The short feature adhered to conventional patterns, and was followed by "Gnanamu Saharada" and neraval/swara at charanam, "Paramatmudu." "Himagiri Tanaye" was a jolly round of riotous noise. The piece, with its intrinsically fast-set pace, oscillating sanchara and flourish of brikhas, is often denied attention in terms of musical values.
Again, there was no gainsaying that talam and layam were perfect. Uma rendered Dikshitar's "Sri Matrubhutam" and a Tamil number, "Edo Teriyamal," as a buffer before the major item. It was heartening to listen to the committed and deep alapana in Kambodi followed by "O Rangasayee." Thyagarajan offered dependable support. The tani between Subramaniam and Venkataramanan was well executed.
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