Vikram presented his concerts based on three regions – Madurai, Rameshwaram and Thanjavur. He is accompanied by Shraddha Ravindran on violin and Akshay Ram on Mridangam. , Photo Credit: Courtesy: Nada Inbaum

Nada Iambam’s Kshetra Sankirtana Vaibhavam series was an exciting musical journey through the temple towns of Tamil Nadu. Thematic concerts were by young artists. P. Vikram led a tour of Madurai, Rameshwaram and Thanjavur through singing of creations from these cities.

The tall, majestic spiers of the Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple dominate the Madurai skyline. Much of the business and life of the city revolves around the temple and its festivals, including Thirukalyanam [celestial wedding] During Chithirai Brahmotsavam, Navaratri festival held during September–October and Masi Mandal Utsavam during February–March.

This temple dedicated to Meenakshi and Sundareshwar finds mention in Sangam literature. Spread over 14 acres, this huge complex has 14 colorful gopurams, a thousand pillared hall, a hundred pillared hall, the Portramarai Kulam (Golden Lotus Pond) and the Kambhattadi Mandapam, which is famous for depicting all the 25 forms of Shiva. .

P. Vikram chose Madurai, Rameshwaram and Thanjavur for his thematic concert series. , Photo Credit: Courtesy: Nada Inbaum

Of the nine songs performed by Vikram, six were on Madurai. The piece de resistance was Shyama Shastri’s ‘Sarojdala Netri’ on Meenakshi. His rendition of the entire raga, Shankarabharanam, brings out the grandeur and melody of this Sarva Gamak Rakta raga. Vikram Venika-singer is the son and disciple of SP Ram. Vikram’s musical assets include a voice capable of negotiating the tristhayi with ease, his inventiveness in raga interpretation and his expressive ability.

Niraval and Swarprastar were in ‘Samgan Vinodini’. On violin, Shraddha Ravindran, who is currently undergoing advanced training under violin virtuoso A Kanyakumari, rose to the occasion and offered effective responses in the Alapana, Niraval and Kalpanaswara sections. On Mridangam, Akshay Ram presented a Thani whose rhythm had immense dimensions from the aesthetic point of view. The Khand Naadai he explained had a comfortable gait.

Vikram started his concert with Lalgudi Jayaraman’s wonderful Navarasa Varnam, ‘Angayarakkanni’. This Ragamalika varnam includes Bilahari, Huseni, Valachi, Saranga, Sucharitra, Atana, Rasikapriya, Sahana and Nadanamkriya. Shyama Shastri’s Anandbhairavi work, Pallavi, was a fine rendition followed by a brilliant alapana with vocals. Another composition of Lalgudi Jayaraman that Vikram sang was ‘Thenmadurai Vaz Annaiye’ in Hamsarupini, which had a melodious Chittaswara. This raga is born from Harikamboji. Another song Vikram presented on Meenakshi was Swami Dayanand Saraswati’s ‘Madhura Madhura Meenakshi’ in raga Bageshri. He first rendered Ragamalika Virutham. Thiruppugazh in Thilanga, ‘Nee Thathuvamaki’ was on Muruga of Madurai.

One of the largest temples in India, Brihadeshwara Temple, also known as Peruvudaiyar Kovil, is in Thanjavur. The temple was built by King Rajaraja Chola I around 1010 AD. One of the main attractions of the temple is the huge Lingam and Nandi. The tower of the main temple is 216 feet high and is the tallest of its kind in the world. The entire structure of the temple is made of stone.

Vikram presented two songs at Thanjavur. Pallavi notes were used in a pleasant Kalapraman in ‘Paranthama Yuvati Jayati’ (Rupakam) composed by Dikshitar in Raga Dharmavati. The Thevaram verse ‘Ulagellam Thozhavanthu’ composed in Manirangu by Karuvur Thevar was on Rajarajeswarar.

The legend behind the Ramanathaswamy temple in Rameshwaram is associated with Rama. It is believed that Rama wanted to worship Shiva as an atonement after defeating Ravana. There are 22 theerthams in this temple.

At Rameshwaram, Vikram offered Dikshitar’s ‘Ramanatham Bhajeham’ (Roopakam), after an elaborate Pantuvarali Alapana. Niraval and the vocals were generally on ‘Kumar Guruguha Viditam’.

Shraddha Ravindran’s reactions to Dharmavati and Anandabhairavi Alapana were excellent. Akshay Ram also enriched the concert.

Thematic concerts require diligent research and careful planning and Vikram did not disappoint.