Dr.Vijayalakshmy Subramaniam sings on 19th May 2013

Vidushi Dr.Vijayalakshmy Subramaniam        Vocal

Vidushi Sandhya Srinath                              Violin

Vidwan Anoor Ananthakrishna Sharma        Mridangam

Vidwan Phanindra Bhaskar                          Ghatam

Concert review

Soothing Thematic concert by Dr.Vijayalakshmy at Nadasurabhi

Dr. Vijayalakshmi Subramaniam is a scholar and popular performing artist in the field of carnatic music. In recent years, she has directed and popularised dedicated concerts devoted to each Kshetra (holy temple city). On Sunday 19th May 2013, she presented an adaptation of this theme in her concert at Nadasurabhi. In a brief introduction, Dr.Vijayalakshmy first defined what a Kshetra is and how it is different from a normal temple. She said that the concert in Nadasurabhi will be in the standard concert format but the selection of songs will take the listeners on a trip of various Kshetras through her music. She indeed took everyone along on the smooth, soothing tour of music, covering various famous temples where the presiding deity is Devi,  in one of Her myriad manifestations.

The journey started closer home at Mysore with the Dharu Varnam in Kamach and went on to the famous Kanchi with the Kamalamanohari song of Muthuswami Dikshitar followed by a brief set of swarams. An elaborate raga alapana in Nasikabhushini with the inimitable Thyagaraja kriti Maaravairi Ramani landed us on the feet of Dharmasamvardhini of Thiruvaiyaru. Swaraprasthara embellished the beautiful raga further. The ever green Hindolam came next with a visit to Sringeri Sharada. A pleasant Nilambari on Thanjavur Devi followed. A sprightly Ganges of Varanasi got a fitting treatment with an equally sprightly Tungatarange Gange in Kuntalavarali which also carried a swaraprasthara.

Kanchi Kamakshi who had drawn all the great seers, saints and composers to Her temple, was crowned in this concert too to be the centre of the Main song. Kamakshi Amba, the magnum opus swarajithi of Syama Sastri was selected for elabrate treatment.
The song itself is a long vilamba kaala piece, and the artist chose to further add glory to it by an extensive raga alapana, neraval and swaras, making it a truly memorable musical experience. The closing pieces were a Bhagesri composition on Madurai Meenakshi, a Thyagaraja's Yamuna Kalyani number and the concluding piece in Madhyamavathi on Mayilai Karpagambal of Chennai, by its staunchest devotee, Papanasam Sivan.

Overall, the concert gave great satisfaction to the large audience due to the pleasant listening experience (sowkyam) , good selection of ragas and songs without losing sight of the selected theme. Accompanying artists, Smt. Sandhya Srinath on violin, Sri.AAK Sharma on Mridangam and Sri.Phanindra Bhaskar on ghatam gave understanding and valuable support to the concert.

List of Songs – by Dr.Vijayalakshmy Subramanyam

1. Maate Malayadwaja  - Daru Varnam  by Muthiah Bhagavatar  on Devi Chamundeshwari  Mysore-  Raga Kamach
2. Kanjadalayathakshi   by Muthuswami Dikshitar  on Kamakshi  Kanchipuram-  Raga  Kamalamanohari          (S)
3. Maaravairi Ramani   by Thyagaraja  on Devi Dharmasamvardhini  Thiruvaiyaru -Raga  Naasikabhooshini   ( R ) and  (S)
4. Abhayavarade Sharade  by Indira Natesan  on Devi Sharada  Sringeri  - Raga Hindolam   ( R )
5. Amba Neelambari  by Ponniah Pillai  on Devi   Ambal  Thanjavur-  Raga Nilambari
6. Tungatarangae Gange  by Sadasiva Bramhendra - on  Gangai  Varanasi (kasi)- Raga Kunthalavarali   (S)
7. Kamakshi Amba  by Shamasastri on Devi Kamakshi  Kanchi -Raga Bhairavi   (main)  ( R ), (N) and (S)- Tani avartanam 
8. Madhura Madhura Meenakshi  by Swami Dayananda Saraswathi -Devi  Meenakshi  Madurai - Raga Bhagesri
9. Vidhichakradulaku  - Group compositions of Thyagaraja  on  devi Thiruvaiyaru- Raga Yamuna Kalyani
10. Karpagame Kanpaarai  by Papanasam Sivan  on Devi  Karpagambal  Chennai- Ragam Madhyamavathi
11. Mangalam

Vidushi Vijayalakshmy Subramaniam is one of the leading carnatic vocalists from Chennai. In addition to being a performing artist Dr.Vijayalakshmy has also produced a large body of reseach work covering literature and music. In a recent monumental work “Kshetra Sangeetham” she performs specialised concerts highlighting the inspiration that our temples have provided to leading carnatic composers. In an ongoing effort she has performed Kshetra sangeetham concerts on Madurai, Srirangam, Kanchi, Tiruvaiyaru, Sringeri, Tirupati, Guruvayoor and many more.

Dr.Vijayalakshmy has been awarded Ph.D in Music for her in-depth thesis titled “Tamil Composers of Twentieth Century”. She is an A TOP grade artist of AIR. She has been Fulbright visiting lecturer and also a visiting lecturer at Duke University, both in USA. She has received numerous awards from prestigious organisations like the Music Academy Chennai and Shanmukhananda Sabha in Mumbai. She has travelled all over the world popularising Carnatic music through concerts, workshops and lecture-demonstrations.