Bhavya Hari, Vidya Kalyanaraman, and Sandhya Ramaswamy rendered six Kandapuranam works and related Thiruppugazh verses to him in a well-executed thematic singing concert.
Bhavya Hari, Vidya Kalyanaraman, and Sandhya Ramaswamy rendered six Kandapuranam works and related Thiruppugazh verses for their thematic renditions.
Sri Guhadas Trust paid a fitting tribute to composer and composer Maha Vaidyanath Sivan on his 178th birth anniversary by organizing a thematic concert of Kandapuram works composed by his younger brother Ramaswamy Sivan and relevant songs from Tiruppugazza by Arunagirinathar. The Sivan brothers were 19th century musicians and composers. Both learned music under the Anai and Ayya brothers and Manambuchavadi Venkatasubbayar, a direct disciple of Tyagaraja.
Bhavya Hari, daughter and disciple of veteran singer TV Sundarvalli, who specialized in Thiruppugazh; Suguna Varadachari’s disciple Vidya Kalyanaraman and Maha Vaidyanath Sivan’s great-granddaughter Sandhya Ramaswamy, who is currently under Suguna Varadachari’s tutelage, performed these works.
He aptly started with ‘Pankajakshi’, Kamboji pada varnam by Maha Vaidyanath Sivan, and ‘Sri Sankaraguruvaram’, the Nageshwarali work (Rupakam) by Maha Vaidyanath Sivan. In the latter, the trio sang Kalpanaswar, a fitting reply by Usha Rajagopalan on the violin.
Ramaswamy Sivan composed short Kandapuranam works, 40 of which were published by Annamalai University in 1948. The singers opted to submit six acts.
In the main section, Vidya introduced Sriranjani Raga Vinayaka Stuti, ‘Kunjara Mukhane’, by Ramaswamy Sivan, which was set to Chatusra Matya Taal. He sang the related Thiruppugazz, ‘Umbartharu’ to the Goulai (Chandam metre) on the elephant-headed deity.
Bhavya sang a second piece in the spring, ‘Avadharitanae Dhinaragalai Aadharrithana’, with the imagery shared by the trio. It describes the incarnation of Arumugan. He then offered the thiruppugazz, ‘alametra viziyinar’, fused in a melodious ragamalika (saam and shanmukhapriya) in (chandam metre).
Pranav Mantra Episode
The third work ‘Vedanai Sirai Sethan’ (in Sudha Saveri, Ramaswamy Sivan) was performed by Sandhya. The song refers to the famous story of Muruga in which Brahma was detained for not being able to explain the significance of the Pranava mantra ‘Om’. In Rameshwaram Thiruppugazza, ‘Vala Vaythagi’, Arunagirinathar mentions this episode. Sandhya sets it to Khanda Chapu Taal in a gentle ragamalika (Sinendramadhyam, Begda and Baoli).
At the request of the Devas, Shiva sends Muruga with a mighty army to destroy Surpadaman. This incident is described by Ramaswami Sivan in his work, ‘Vidaai Koduttan Vidan’. Vidya sang this work in the pleasant Kurinji raga, and followed it with the episodic Thiruppugazza, ‘Nirudhararkkoru Kala Jayajaya’, in which the episode is mentioned in a ragamalika (Navaroz, Kavadichindu, Sindhu Bhairavi and Madhyamavathi).
To reward Muruga, who defeated Suryakula and protected the gods, Indra married his daughter Devayanai to him. In the divine marriage held in the presence of gods and sages, Shiva and Uma personally come to offer their blessings. Ramaswami Sivan has described this incident in his work ‘Singathanatiruntham Sivaperuman’. Bhavya rendered this lovely Nattakurinji (Khand Triputa Taal) composition with devotion. He then sang the respective Thiruppugazz ‘Vandu Than’ (Volume Chapu) in Ragamalika (Panthuvarali, Kalyana Vasantham and Atana).
divine marriage
For the sixth work, he chose ‘Arul Sitanan’ in Malayamarutham. The musician narrates how Muruga married Sri Valli with the help of his brother Vinayak. A brief but comprehensive alapana was rendered by Sandhya Ramaswamy, with an equally splendid interpretation on the violin by Usha Rajagopalan. The imaginations were shared by all three. On the mridangam was Kumbakonam Swaminathan, a disciple of Pungulam Subramaniam. His Thani was played mainly in the river Tisra. In the related Thiruppugazza, ‘Tholelumbu’, Arunagirinathar mentions this subject. Sandhya performed it in Ragamalika (Ranjani, Durga, Dwijwanti) in Adi Taal (3rd Nadai).
A lot of effort and practice must have gone into this wonderfully planned and skillfully executed thematic concert. Valayapettai Krishnan did extensive research on this subject.
The trio concluded the evening concert at Arke Convention Center with Simhanandan Thilana of Maha Vaidyanath Sivan in Canada. The concert, which conveyed the spirit of the songs and emotions of the musicians, left an indelible impression on the audience. The concert is available on Madhurdhwani’s YouTube channel.
The Chennai-based writer specializes in Carnatic music.