FROM THE ARCHIVES
Chembai's Music Has Swing Even at 75
There is swing in Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar's music even at 75 and the veteran sang with spirit, in fact, an excess of spirit, at the `Little Hut' in Ashoka Hotel, Egmore, on Monday last under the auspices of the Music Club.
His powerful voice, strong in timbre and in breath, was particularly arresting while staying for long spells in unison with the thambura on the top shadja.
Of his raga efforts, mostly brief, Hamsadhwani ("Vatapi") was the best but his rousing concert- making gifts really shone in his kirtana and swara-singing. There was an interesting spell of seasoned "Saralis" in "Vatapi." In "Sambho Mahadeva" (Pantuvarali) there was skilled neraval at "Paramadhayakara." In Kambhoji "Sri Subramanyaya" filled the auditorium.
T. N. Krishnan (Violin) provided the element of refinement to the proceedings. His Hamsadhwani and Kambhoji were extraordinarily sweet. Tiruchi Sankaran (Mridangam) was remarkable, matching the veteran vocalist in power, verve and melody.
(An extract from a review published in The Hindu on December 19, 1969)
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