Concert Reviews

[R.Latha]

GS Mani concert

A demonstration cum delivery was presented by the versatile musician and musicologist G.S. Mani at the FGN Hall of Rasika Ranjana Sabha, Tiruchi, in the monthly ‘Eppadi Paadinaro,' music programme organised by the Sabha in association with Sri Krishna Sweets. The AIR artists, N.C. Madhav (violin) and Salem K. Srinivasan (mridangam), were the accompanists.

Following a distinct manodharma and rendition, this veteran presented an enjoyable solo with frequent elaborations on the ragas and their octaves conforming to the grammar of Carnatic music always.
Brief swarams

He treated all the ragas alike with brief swarams and sargams in all the kritis.

He commenced with a rare raga Kanthamani for Kotteeswara Iyer's kriti, ‘Nadhasukham Tharum.'

This was followed by Tyagaraja's ‘Raghuveera Ranadheera' in Husseini, Subbaraya Sastri's ‘Janani Ninnuvina' in Ritigowla and a rare Suryakanti for Tyagaraja's ‘Muddumomu.'

The veteran dealt with Bagesri and Mohanam with ease and poise and ended the concert with a traditional Purandaradasa's bhajan in Charumathi and Vallalar's ‘Thanayarinthinbamura' in Jhonpuri.

The accompanying artists lent able support. The mridangam of Salem Srinivasan was subtle and his thani was stupendous.