Soul Stirring to Soul Searching

While some people dearly miss hearing Sudha Raghunathan, TM Krishna, Bombay Jayshree and Vijay Siva this season, I miss listening to Parasala Ponnammal and Late R.K.Srikantan and Kalpagam Swaminathan who even at their ripe age strictly adhered to classicism and performed with so much energy and passion. The only performing artist in this league are Vidushi. Neela Ramgopal and R. Vedavalli, while the later has called off her concerts this season, the former, a sought after teacher is performing only at a few places.   

At Raga Sudha, Neela Maami began the concert with Ritigowlai varnam followed by a sedate Rave Himagiri swarajathi in Thodi and then moved on to sing Devi Thava Pada in Sahana, a rare krithi of Thyagaraja on Devi. Ashwin Anand, a veena artist who played before Neela mami was among the blessed ones to enjoy her exquisite Vachaspathi (Pahi Jaga Janani - Swathi Thirunaal). Nereval at Mohanadaragaatri will ring in my ears for years to come and may be this rendition will stay in AIR archives for another century like the Chennai rain record from 1918.

While missing the  senior brigade in action, I anxiously went in search of youngsters and discovered a fresh crop: Vignesh Ishwar, Venkat Nagarajan, KP Nandini, NJ Nandini, Ashwath Narayanan, DB Ashwin, Akshay Padmanabhan, etc. in whose hands Carnatic music seems to rest safe, at least for now. One other reason for me to hear the new shoots is also because they are devoid of gimmicks, which is often transmutation of arrogance and complacence.

Vignesh's manodharmam in exploring Mukhari at the Music Academy, KP Nandhini's adherence to grammar of an accompanist despite being a vocalist, while playing for Ashwath Narayanan at Mylapore Fine Arts, and Venkat Nagarajan's guru bakthi that came to light when he went bare feet on the street to get an auto for his guru are all litmus test of a kind that exposes the character of the crop.

The morning slots in Music Academy and a few other sabhas also offer a chance for both rasikas and musicians to rediscover and reconnect with each other through music. And that is how I discovered Vidushi. Seetha Narayanan's unhurried and soulful rendition of Charukesi, Devagandhari and Kalyani that brought sowkhyam to both music and listeners just like her Guru Sangita Kalanidhi Dr. S. Ramanathan.

Only Carnatic music has the capability to stir your soul and also make you search your soul. As much as music transforms in the hands of a musician it also transforms the character of the musician. The transformed artist could take on the establishments for the right reasons like TM Krishna, realize their purpose as a responsible teacher and some may even take up a musical instrument to better express their inner call. As a listener, please put aside our prejudice, bias, political leanings and get out there and listen more. And don't be surprised if you get transformed in the process. If you do, pass on the credit to Carnatic Music.