Vinay and Vidya come up with an impressive array of Tamil songs for their Chennai day concert
Vinay and Vidya come up with an impressive array of Tamil songs for their Chennai day concert
On Chennai Day, a thematic concert was presented by Vinay Karthik Rajan and Vidya Kalyanaraman under the aegis of Hansdhwani along with CII (Confederation of Indian Industry) and Sri Krishna Sweets at Youth Hostel, Adyar. Hansdhwani’s secretary R. Sundar talked about how Chennai is unique, highlighting how the city preserves and promotes classical arts.
Vinaya-Vidya’s concert had Tamil songs that paid tribute to the city. Blessed with melodious voices, the duo gave a short preface to each song.
The concert began with the shloka ‘Gajananam’, an invocation piece by Vinay, followed by Agathiyar’s ‘Prabho Ganapati’ in raga Tilang, and ‘Eppadi Padinaro’ in raga Bhimpalas, a composition by Sudhananda Bharathi, and popularized by DK Pattammal.
Since the singing of Thiruppavai and Thiruvempavai hymns is an integral part of Margazhi Sangeet Season, Chennai’s historic annual event, the duo also included verses from each in their repertoire. He sang ‘Oruthi Magnai Pirandu’, (Behag), Thiruppavai and a Thiruvempavai poem in Raga Khamas. In praise of the Thiruvanmiyur temple deity, Periyasamy Thuran’s popular work ‘Thai Tripurasundari’ came forward in Sudha Saveri.
a wide loincloth
Following the format of the concert, Vinay expanded the Latangi raga to the middle and lower ranges, and Vidya eloquently rendered the Tara stable communication. The Raga Granth was impressive as both the singers acted meticulously.
When a concert features exclusive Tamil works, can one forget Papanasam Sivan, who is known for his Tamil compositions? Both sang ‘Peerva Varam Tharam’. Tej Swara Saliyah happened on Pallavi. Karaikkal Venkatasubramaniam gave competent backing on the violin.
A precise Tani Avartanam was executed by Ganapathi, who was on percussion. Ramalinga Adiglar’s ‘Orumayudan Ninathu Thirumalaradi’, which has a reference to Kandakottam in Raga Hindolam, was followed by the popular song ‘Karpagavalli Nin Porapadangal’ in praise of the goddess Karpagambal of Mylapore, composed by Veeramani in Ragamalika. His next stop was Tiruvallikeni, the birthplace of the great poet Bharathiar. Both remembered the poet with their song ‘Theeradha Vilayattu Pillai’.
Vinaya and Vidya recounted MS Subbulakshmi’s contribution to Carnatic music and the city and rendered ‘Bhavayami Gopala Balam’ in Yamuna Kalyani, a popular Annamacharya work, and the evergreen ‘Kurai Ondrum Illai’ in Ragamalika written by Rajaji.
Karaikkal Venkatasubramaniam enhanced the appeal of the songs with his short preludes or connecting notes at appropriate places. Vinay and Vidya concluded their concert with ‘Bhagyatha Lakshmi Baramma’ in Raga Shree.
Raga essays and vocal sections were not presented for many pieces as the purpose of the concert was to feature songs that connect with the city.
Chennai-based author reviews Carnatic music.