Veena music with a difference
Well-known veena player Revathy Krishna of Thillaisthanam lineage, and hailing from the family of a direct disciple of saint Tyagaraja, presented an enthralling devotional veena music programme at the TTD Sravana Mandiram Hall (on December 5), T
Nagar.
The programme comprised both traditional Carnatic music compositions and popular film songs, all 17 of them uncompromisingly devotional. It was also ably supported by multi-instrumental orchestral music with M Manikandan on the keyboard, Mannargudi Subramanian on the mridangam, N Sitaraman on the tabla, Suresh - rhythm pad, and Ganesh providing pleasing ‘effects’.
Revathy’s thoughtful choice, keeping in mind the TTD ambience, included Tyagaraja compositions -- Ramabhakti Samrajya (Suddhabangala – Adi), Patnam Subramania Iyer’s Paridhaanaminchite (Bilahari – Kandachaapu), Oothukkadu Venkatakavi’s two compositions – Paal Vadiyum Mukham (Naatakkurinji – Adi); Naadha Murali Gaana Vilola (Hammedkalyani – Adi – Thisra & Chatusra Nadai), Annamacharya’s Jo Achutaananda (Kaapi) and an Alwar Pasuram. However, she preferred to highlight her programme with Kannadasan’s compositions (music by MSV), four of them - Kettathum Koduppavane, Pullanguzhal, Guruvaayurukku Vaarungal, and Raaman Ethanai
Ramanadi.
But then, it was the forceful and moving song Jagam Pugazhum Punyakathai Raamanin Kathaiye from the popular film of yesteryear, Lava–Kucha (K V Mahadevan – Marudhakasi – Raagamaalika – Thalamalika music) - a mini-Ramayana in essence, that was the star selection of the entire programme.
The veena music was virtually vocal music. The words could be so easily comprehended. This particular song has all the nine sentiments incorporated in it, so to say, and Revathy succeeded eminently in delineating the manifold rasas with all strings cooperatively attached to her moving music. Later, the audience met her in person to express their deep appreciation of the way Revathy played this lyric.
Sirkazhi Govindarajan’s ‘Kannapuram Selven’, Sivan’s Krishna Mukunda (Haridas - immortalised by M K Thyagaraja Bhagavathar), Rajaji’s classic ‘Kurai Ondrum Illai Govinda’, Sri Ranga Ranganathanin (Vaali, Ilayaraja music from Shobhana in the film Mahanadhi) and Thondaradippodi Alwar’s ‘Pacchai Mamalai Pol Meni’ also deserve particular mention.
Revathy is also academically well-qualified in the theoretical aspects of music. She is a Sangeetha Vidwan from the Tamil Nadu Government College of Carnatic Music, Chennai.
