Saturday, December 21, 2019

Margazhi Musings 2019: V. Krupaa Lakshmi


Date: 17th Dec 2019 - Venue: Vani Mahal, T. Nagar

Team: V.Krupaa Lakshmi, T.Kishore (Violin), Shankar Prasad (Mridangam)

Time to go to the concerts of budding youngsters. I decided, in no particular order, to select a few artists and try to listen to them. Nalli’sguide (the ready-reckoner) helped me to arrive at this list. An useful indicator, in the absence of anything else, is the number of concerts the artist has this season.


It was Ms V.Krupaa Lakshmi at Vani Mahal. When I was entering the hall, I happened to meet Kaustubh, a first-year engineering student in Hong Kong and a classmate of my son Saishankar. Kaustubh Chandamouli has given many a concert on his own and a promising youngster. He expressed surprise at seeing me in this concert. I explained the background to my choice. It turns out that Krupaa Lakshmi is the daughter of his music teacher. As usual, the mini hall was barely occupied testing the fortitude of these youngsters.

She started off with a Sriranjani kriti of Papanasam Sivan Gaja vadana Karuna Sadana. Puliyur Doraiswamy Iyer’s Nattai kriti Sarsiruha Sana came next. She did a decent rendition. Thyagaraja’s Manasa etulortune in Malayamarutham filled the hall. She tried to do niraval with Kalpanaswarams at Kalilo rajasa tamasa gunamulu. I am afraid that was a little below part. Perhaps, stage blues?

A Rudrapriya was chosen next with lot of scope for Chittaswarams. Amba paradevate anadi Shiva sahite was attempted next. This was followed by a Kalyani alapanaa. The sahityam was Kamalambam Bhajare re manasa of Dikshitar. I felt her alapanaa was good. The violin support was excellent outshining the vocalist. The thani was decent too. The mridangist came to bloom only during the thani. A Behag thillana was chosen next before Mangalam.

It is very important that they plan the kritis and practise them well. Practice of Chittaswarams and control over the laya are extremely important. Moreover, it is an art to get along with co-artists and make the concert as enjoyable as possible. I am sure she will do an impressive job in her other concerts.


  
Ambience: ***
 Vocalist: *
Accompanying artists: *
Raga of the Concert: Kalyani

Overall: *


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