Margazhi Musings 2019: Ananya Ashok

Date: 17^th Dec 2019 - Venue: Charsur, Mylapore

Team: Ananya Ashok, Vittal Rangan (Violin), J.Vaidyanathan (Mridangam), Karthick (Ghatam)

It took a while for me to locate the Ramanujan Millennium Hall on D’Silva Road. I could have easily come to the venue from Luz Church Road! Google led me to believe coming from C.V.Raman Road is the better choice! I think this is the first time they are arranging in a hall at this venue. As soon as went to the second floor, we were greeted well and ushered into the hall. A professional set up indeed with excellent acoustics as well as dais for the artists. The cleanliness of the hall and facilities were spot on. The theme, for this year’s concerts, is Kshetram, from Mylapore to Kanyakumari.

Ananya Ashok at Charsur

Ananya Ashok has more than 6 concerts this season. The accompanists are also top class. No reason to miss this concert. By the time I located the hall and got into the seat, Ananya was into the second kriti Kunjitha pathathai tharum of Gopalakrishna Bharati in Pantuvarrali highlighting Chidambaram. We were transported to Swamimalai, one of the six major abodes of Lord Subrahmanya, next. Dikshitar’s Shri Balasubrahmanya reverberated next in Bilahari. It was an excellent rendition with Vittal Rangan’s support. Tanjore was our next stop. A brilliant, albeit short, alapanaa of Anandabhairavi filled our lungs and heart. Tanjore Sivanandam’s Kappathuve unathu baram was the chosen kriti.

                                                                       

Tanjore, as we all know, is a land of Kshetrams. Tiruvarur came next where we have so many kritis extolling Thyagaraja, its principal deity. A Thevaram “Sula padaiyanai” in Kamalamanohari followed us. Ananya chose a lovely Shankarabharanm next and showcased her absolute control during the alapanaa. Shyama Sastry’s kriti, extrolling Madurai Meenakshi, “Devi Meena Netri Brova” was a melting rendition. All the accompanists rose to the occasion. After a brief stopover at Tiruchendur with a Thiruppugazh, we were led to Kanyakumari. Ananya chose a kriti, composed by her father Subrahmanyan, in Punnagavaraali. It started with “Bhagavathi Parashakti Amme”. Ghatam Karthick as a picture of joy. Both he and Vaidyanathan were brilliant encouraging each other.

A very satisfying concert indeed.

  

Ambience: ****

 Vocalist: **

Accompanying artists: **

Raga of the Concert: Shankarabharanam

Overall: **