Padmashree Srinivasan with Mantha Sriramya on violin and Puttur Nikshit on Mridangam. Photo Courtesy: Photo Courtesy: Paalamtv

PalamTV recently organized a Carnatic vocal concert of Padmashree Srinivasan as part of Navaratri Vaibhavam of Mudhra.

The Padmashree concert was impressive without being ostentatious and featured a judicious mix of rare and popular works. He started his concert with ‘Amboruha Padhame’, a lively varnam composed by GN Balasubramaniam in Raga Ranjani. After a stanza from Mahalakshmi Ashtakam, he presented ‘Pardevi Tiruparakadal Vanda Dheeraga Lochani’ by Neelkanth Sivan in Anandbhairavi. Padmashree’s delightful phrases like ‘Pankaja Mel Valar Thaye’, ‘Karinayaka Nadaiyale’, and ‘Kanjanabhan Manaiyale’ enhanced the appeal of the piece.

After a crisp alapana of Raga Bhavani, Padmashree presented ‘Kanikramabutho Kavve Bhavani’ composed by Kalyani Varadarajan. A cultured alapana of Kamboji before Tyagaraja’s Lalgudi Pancharatnam ‘Mahita Praviddha Srimati’. Padmashree presented the composition with full dignity. Niraval was on the phrase, ‘Pahi vadana jita sudhakare’, followed by a soothing swaraprastra.

The rare composition ‘Sharavati Tata Vasini, Hansini, Saraswati’ in Raga Sharavati by Muthuswami Dikshitar was a pleasant surprise. This short piece full of lyrical beauty ends with a lively Chittaswaram.

The centerpiece was Mysore Vasudevachar’s ‘Shankari Ninne Ika Chala Nammiti’ in Raga Pantuvarali. In this composition one can also see the smooth flow of words full of aesthetic sense of the musician. Padmashree adorned it with the vibrant Niraval of ‘Kamitarth Dayini Katyayani Gauri’.

During the light session, Padmashree sang Bharathiyar’s ‘Kalamam Vanathil’ in Kavadi Chindu. While the melody and rhythm of the verses will touch the hearts of the listeners, keen observers can see the deeply spiritual side of the fiercely patriotic poet. The joy he feels in her devotion can be seen in the words ‘Aval Anandathin Ilaiyyatra Poigai’, describing the Goddess as an infinite ocean of bliss.

After Lalgudi Jayaraman’s Bindumalini Thillana and Dikshitar’s note, ‘Vagadevi Mamav Kalyani’, Padmashree concluded her concert with Annamacharya’s ‘Ksheerabadi Kanyakaku’ in Kurinji.

Padmashree was accompanied by Mantha Sriramya on violin and Puttur Nikshit on Mridangam. While Sriramya impressed with her graceful play, Nikshit scored with his dazzling taunts.