CHICAGO: Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago (HTGC) in Lemont held a Carnatic music concert by celebrated musician and playback singer Padmabhushan Dr. Kattassery Yesudas on Saturday, June 1 at the Sama Rathi Auditorium of the temple. .
Beginning from Vanajakshi varnam in Kalyani raga all the way through Mangalam, more than 650 rasikas were riveted to their seats mesmerized by the energizing music from Yesudas
The evening began with Vedic chants from the HTGC temple followed by a welcome address from Tilak Marwaha, President of the Board. Usha Pariti, the Fine Arts Committee Chair and her team graciously conducted the entire proceedings.
After the deep customary “Om” chant, Yesudas sang Vanajakshi varnam in Kalyani. He engaged in a brisk yet lilting Hamsadhwani alap that effortlessly traversed all three octaves, and then began the all-time favorite Vatapi Ganapathim Bhajeham of Muthuswami Dikishitar. Hamsadhwani neraval at “Pranava Swaroopa Vakra Thundam” was most enjoyable. “Guruleka Yetuvanti” in gowrimanohari was taken up next with neat swara prastharas that seemed to blend with the raga bhavam.
What seemed to transcend the present was the handling of “Veena vaadana Loludou” in the next Thyagaraja-krithi “Mokshamu Galada” in Saaramathi raga. The fluidity in handling sangatis and the raga was masterful.
After Varanarada in Vijayashree raga, Yesudas sang Ksheerasagara Shayana. The percussion accompaniment, particularly to this song was exemplary – T S Nandakumar on Mridangam and Santosh Chandru on Ghatam seemed to interlace rhythm and raga to deliver a sublime listener experience.
The highlight of the evening was a rich alluring Bhairavi alapana for Thyagaraja’s colossus “Upachaaramulanu”. The glides and micro intonations between the two daivathams in bhairavi brought out the essence of the raga to the fore. Throughout the concert, Yesudas regaled the audience with humorous anecdotes.
After the main raga and the delightful tani avartanam between Mridangam and Ghatam, Yesudas entertained the audience with some of the most-anticipated devotional, and light numbers. “Ennenjil Pallikondavan” in Kalyani, “Rajeeva Netraaya” in Madhyamavathi, the famous “Swami Ayyappa Swami Shabarigiri Swami” in Bhimplas – but a feast to the ear was Malayalam song “Pramadavanam” in Jog Raga, a 90s classic from music director Raveendran.
The artiste did not stop there – because the request from the audience was growing: he went on to sing “Jab deep Jale aana”, “Krishna nee begane baaro”, “Mero man anath kahaan” (Surdas Bhajan), the moving Sai song “Allah Malik”, “Ennavaram verenna varam” and the timeless “Harivarasanam”.
The concert featured “Uyyaala Jhampaala” which was a lullaby to Ayyappa. The violinist Jayashankar Balan gave excellent melodious accompaniment! Yesudas sang “Tiruppaar Kadalil”, “Swagatham Krishna”, and the popular “Ellellu Sangeethave” from Kannada movie Malayamarutha. The concert concluded with the traditional Mangalam amidst a thunderous standing ovation from the 650-strong audience.
Before the concert ended, temple secretary Prasanna Reddy and Arun Murthy proposed a vote of thanks and the artists were honored with mementos as token of appreciation by the temple board.
Ragu Baddi
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