K in the outreach program of Karthik Fine Arts. B on violin with Gayatri. Ananthakrishnan and Praveen Sparsh performed on Mridangam. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

For a very long time, it has been a common complaint that only those living in the cultural hub of South Chennai – especially Mylapore and T. Nagar – get abundant opportunities to immerse themselves in live performances, as most of the gatherings take place in these areas. And gathered around it.

Now, Karthik Fine Arts, one of the leading houses, plans to reach out to the tastemakers in the suburbs.

“There is a lot of interest among the aficionados living in remote areas of Chennai, but they often find it challenging to attend performances by reputed artists,” says SN Srikanth, president, Karthik Fine Arts. He further said that thereafter similar programs would be organized in North Chennai and other areas also.

The inaugural ‘outreach effort’ of the meeting was organized in collaboration with Babaji Vidyashram, Sholinganallur, and was attended by K. Carnatic singing was presented by Gayatri. Sharing the stage with him were B Ananthakrishnan on violin and Praveen Sparsh on mridangam.

It was the concluding day of Navaratri, and Gayatri began with ‘Gannanayaken Thunai Varuvaya’, an intense Ragamalika varnam in Aadi taala composed by her guru Suguna Purushothaman. After this he sang five Devi kritis continuously.

‘Amba Vani Nannu’, a Muttiah Bhagavathar work in Keeravani (etc.), was the first of them. After a clean rendition of the song, Gayatri chose the charanam phrase ‘Varveena Paani’ for an extensive niraval and kalpanaswara rendition, which was a high point of the concert. While the two-kalam niraval bore his stamp, the vocal passage in the second movement was also deftly controlled. Ananthakrishnan’s responses with Dhanush were delightful in both the sections, blending seamlessly with Gayatri’s melodious flow.

A serene raga essay in Sriranjani was a perfect prelude to the prayer to the goddess of Thirumayilai in the form of ‘Matha Inum Vadha’ in Papanasam Sivan’s Aadi Taala. The spirit of her delivery also matched the meaning, and Gayatri did well except for the niraval or vocal exercises. He then presented another thought-provoking work ‘Brovavamma Tamasamele’ by Shyama Shastri (Manji-Mishra Chapu) in Aadarsha Kala Pramanam. However, two consecutive songs with similar theme and tempo could have been avoided.

Periyasamy Thooran’s ‘Thaye Tripurasundari’ (Sudha Saveri-Khanda Chapu), a fiery song praising the deity of Thiruvanmiyur, Praveen enlivened the proceedings, playing with agility for the fast Chittaswaram. The highlight of the day was Swathi Tirunal’s ‘Paahi Jagajjanani’ in Vachaspati, based on Aadi taala. After a neat rendition of the raga and lyrics, Gayatri smartly presented the Kalpanaswaras in ‘Mohandaragatri’ in Anupallavi in ​​two movements, before Praveen took over for Tani.

It was a complete team effort, with Ananthakrishnan and Praveen giving admirable support throughout with aesthetic and sensitive performances. The former’s portrayal of both Sriranjani and Vachaspati matched the singer, while the latter’s Do-Kalai Aadi Taal Tani was full of style and energy.

Interestingly, Gayatri signed off with two songs – Tyagaraja’s ‘Hecharikaga Rara’ in Yadukula Kambhoji and Veena Seshanna’s Senchurutti Thillana – both of which contain the phrase ‘Sugunasandra’ (full of virtues), perhaps as a tribute to her guru. In form. A notable feature of the concert was that all eight songs presented were by different composers.

Karthik Fine Arts has made a strong start. Although the turnout was modest that day, the Sabha expects it to increase once the venture takes root.