Gaana Kala Bhushana Vidwan R.K.Padmanabha- March 2010

Vidwan Padmanabha is one of the most popular and senior most carnatic vocalists in Karnataka. RKP's concerts are invariably an enjoyable and enriching experience due to his deep booming voice and strict adherence to sruthi. Besides being a performing artist, his service to carnatic music is multifaceted. A devotee and admirer of Guru Vadiraja, RKP has not only popularised many of Vadiraja's compositions but also composed the "Vadiraja Naamavali". RKP also has more than 80 other compositions to his credit and well respected as a Vaggeyakara. He has played the lead roles as Purandaradasa, Dikshithar and Thyagaraja to great popular acclaim, due to his skills as both a good singer as well as an actor. He has also been a good guru having produced students who are now, themselves renowned performing artists. Sri.Padmanabha has the unique disinction of taking carnatic music even to villages in Karnataka using the medium of group renditions, music courses and workshops at many places. After eminently managing the construction of the huge Vadiraja Kala Bhavana in Bangalore, he is also responsible for the construction of the monumental 60 feet high Tambura shaped Saptaswara Devatha Dhyana Mandira in his hometown Rudrapatna. RKP is currently President of Karnataka Gaana Kala Parishad as well as Rudrapatna Sangeetothsava samithi.

Full Concert Review

It was a  Power packed  concert by Gaana Kala Bhushana Vidwan R.K.Padmanabha on 21st March 2010.A rich and scholarly presentation of Vidwan R.K.Padmanabha enthralled the packed hall at the Indian Heritage Academy. The artist developed a rapport by communicating with the audience ,the speciality and intricacy of each composition. The amount of learning and training that must have gone in, to be able to make such an impactful presentation was evident during the concert. Sri. Padmanabha was generous to give credit to the great masters from whom he has learnt many of the present concert's attributes, either directly or through listening to their performances- Titte Krishna Iyengar, Musiri Subramani Iyer, and Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer.  The deep resonant voice with flawless adherence to Sruti, will be long remembered by the august assembly of rasikas.

The artist gave a vibrant start to the concert by opening with the Abhogi varnam Evari Bhoda and singing in four speeds. After passing through two popular kritis Anandamrudakarshini and Entaveduko, Sri. Padmanabha presented his own composition on his maanasika guru Vadiraja in the rare raga, Sambhodyuti. Then he plunged into a bhava laden elaborate presentation of Mukhari alapana followed by Talachi Nanthanenaa of Thyagaraja. One more own composition on Shiva in the raga Sivasakthi was the next piece. One Vadiraja composition for which explanation was given, was followed by the main piece, a detailed RTP in Pantuvarali. The thaanam is probably one of the most extensive ones, one could have heard in recent times. The different types of taanams namely Mayura thaanam (peacock dance with its wings spread out), Rudra thaanam (Shiva thandavam), Ghanta thaanam(Bell) , Ashwa taanam (Horse trot), Shanka thaanam (blowing of the conch), Markata taanam (Jumping), Bhringi taanam (buzzing of the bee) and Naabhi taanam (deep sound from naabhi) were demonstrated, as part of this taanam presentation.Rudra and Bhringhi taanams are his own creations. A quick succession of ragamalika swarams were embedded in the Pallavi. The thani avarthanam was followed by a few Devarnaamaas.

The concert was definitely an impressive one with both its variety and depth. Violinist Vidwan C.N.Chandrasekar gave gentle support to the powerful vocalist. Veteran percussionists Sri. Cheluvaraju and Sri. M.A. Krishnamurthy had to work hard not to lose steam and to keep pace with the long strings of high speed sangathis, neraval, thaanam and swaraprasthaarams of the main artist, which they did admirably.

List of Songs

1. Slokam - Sarvo vidya vivardha – Abhogi

2. Varnam- Evari bodhana – Abhogi

3. Anandamrutakarshini – Amrutavarshini

4. Enta veduko  – Saraswati Manohari 

5. Ninna daya iralu nanage – Sambhodyuti - RKP

6.Talachi Nantane – Mukhari

7.Ganabhaktiya Shivashaktiyu - Shivashakti – RKP

8.Mokshamu galadaa – Saaramati

9. Hanave Ninnaya Gunavenu -  Mohanam – Vadiraja

10. RTP – Panthuvarali - 

11.Tani Avartanam

12. Slokam - Jwalat kaanti manthram  – Ragamalika

13. Shringa Purandheshwari Sharade 

14.Papavimochani paavani – Revathi – RKP

15.Slokam- Shruti smriti puranam – Hamsanandi

16.Thillana – Hamsanandi- RKP

17.Ellanu balle  – Madhyamavathi – Purandara Dasar 

18. Mangalam