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Good grasp of raga
PALGHAT R RAMPRASAD is endowed with a robust voice and at this young age he knows how to exploit it to his advantage. In his concert, his raga exposition of Kedaragowla (`Tulasi bilva') and Kalyani (`Venkataramana pankaja charana') substantiated this. His swaraprasthara goes a little fast but is fairly enjoyable. But earlier Ramprasad made it a battlefield for Poorvikalyani by a breakneck speed niraval and thundering swaras at ``Jananadi loka bhayathulache" of ``Paralokasadaname." That it drew applause is a different issue. His good grasp of raga was evidenced in his neatly laid out viruttam in Tamil set in Varali, Nattakuranji, Saranga and Hamsanandi. With little tonal control and check on excesses, Ramprasad is a potential contender for first liners. B. U. Ganesh Prasad played his part with sincerity and creativity on the violin and veteran Srimushnam Raja Rao supported on the mridangam with Madipakkam Murali on the ghatam with special care on the youngsters.
T. K. Ramachandran's music hardly had anything to charm the audience. The magic potion to draw the audience is sadly missing though he confidently presented a detailed Vasantha (``Seethamma Mayamma") and Simhendramadyamam (``Rama Rama Guna Seema"). Melakkaveri Thyagarajan, his accompanist on the violin provided strong support. So did Madipakkam Suresh (mridangam) and B. Ravi (ghatam).
Which is the magnetic factor of Unnikrishnan's music? His golden vocal chords? His effortless and strongly open throated singing or his charming stage presence sans mannerisms? Perhaps all. Every one has favourites; so also Unnikrishnan. Two of his main ragas — Vasanthabhairavi (``Needyaradha") and Bilahari (``Srichamundeswari") were often heard from him but was done with many fresh and imaginative sancharas to the delight of the audience. But the soul of the concert was the Madhyamavati he sang and the touching rendition of ``Adigisukhamu" of Thygaraja and the matured and balanced niraval and swaras at ``Neeke daya putti brothuvo." The long train of swaras in Bilahari with a crescendo might be an anathema to the critics; but that seems to be the connecting cord of Unni with his audience. R. K. Sriramkumar is an able violinist. His interpretation was confident and competent. A senior Trissur Narendran joined hands with young B. S Purushotham to provide commendable percussion to Unnikrishnan.
G. SWAMINATHAN
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