Saketharaman

Tribute to Lalgudi Jayaraman

Vidwan Saketha Raman, a prime disciple of legendary violinist Padmabhushan Sri Lalgudi G Jayaraman presented a memorable concert at Nadasurabhi on the occasion of 87th birth anniversary of the maestro. Vidwan Lalgudi Jayaraman is known to the Carnatic Music world as genius violinist, a revered Guru and a great composer. Having been trained in the Lalgudi style, Sri Saketha Raman made the concert highly impressive by including select compositions which were either composed by his Guru, or made popular by him or which had made astrong impression on him. Giving a brief introduction to the style and compositions of the maestro Saketha Raman chose a varna in raga Neelambari, a raga generally sung towards the end of a concert. Lalgudi sir had taken a bold step of to compose a varnam in this raga and it turned out to be a gem of a composition! After a sweet rendition of the varnam, next was a Kalyani raga kriti, Isha pahimam, one of the Lalgudi Pancharatna kritis of Saint Thyagaraja. Beautiful bunch of swaras followed for this at the line ‘shamadi nigame…’ Charukesi was a raga popularised and monopolised by his guru. This got an elaborate treatment by the artist with pleasing sancharas. The song was ‘Adamodi galade’, with brilliant set of swaras at pallavi.

The soulful presentation of the kannada song – Kande kande namma kangala of Sri Purandaradasa in raga Varamu was melodious and beautiful. Saketha Raman’s speciality lies in adding melody with ‘bhava’ to such devotional songs. Madhyamavati raga alapana was a treat in itself and the immortal ‘Paalinchu kamakshi’ of Shamasastri was cherished by one and all. The neraval at ‘Kaantamagu’ was sensuous. ‘Kannai kaanbadeppo’ in ragamalikai was filled with spirit and verve. Another special and rare type of composition of Lalgudi Jayaraman that was highlighted by the artist was a ‘Jathiswaram’ in Sindhubhairavi, its speciality being each swaram giving rise to a different ragam throughg ‘Graha bedham’. The artist demonstrated with great skill. Kandena Goviundana seems to be his favourite just as the audiences’! It was zestful! Ab thillan of his Guru in raga Pahad was relished for the content as well as the beauty of the raga. Saketha Raman paid his tribute to the guru with a most satisfactory concert in all respects, ending with a mangalam and a few avartanams of “Jaya rama, Jaya rama”, reaching out to his great guru!

The acompanying artists played their role equally well with a perfect understandiung. Young, upcoming artist Kumari Apoorva Krishna, yet another product of Lalgudi School, (disciple of Smt. Lalgudi Sreematyhi Bramhanandam) played with all enthusiasm, trying to follow the main artist admirably well on the violin. Vidwan Sai Giridhar, a senior, accomplished mridangam artist from Chennai, played extraordinarily well following the nuances of the kritis with all keenness. He once again displayed his skill during the tani avartanam and Vidwan Omkar Rao on Ghatam showed his high level of competence throughout the concert including the tani avartanam.