Wednesday, 5th February 2020 – a memorable evening spent at Ravindra Bharathi to my heart’s content, enjoying a three hour non-stop Carnatic music concert by the adorable, most celebrated, Dynamic voiced CARNATICA BROTHERS - Kalaimamani Shashikiran and Ganesh. I convey my profound thanks to SICA who organized this event in association with Cultural Relation and Dept of Languages & Culture, Govt. of Telangana.
We all believe that the Chathaka Bird (Jacobin Cuckoo) is considered a harbinger of the monsoon rains due to the time of its arrival. And I was a Chathaka Bird yearning for the monsoon of Carnatic Music from CARNATICA BROTHERS being brought to us by SICA. I am delighted to have soaked in this monsoon rain called Kacheri which was most welcome for the beautiful harvest that our mind and soul deserved.
As I said, yesterday evening was most memorable, because it was indeed an enthralling, enchanting, fascinating, riveting, absorbing ( all these words carry same meaning though) one to express my heart’s content and excitement about the wonderful and memorable Kacheri that I enjoyed every moment. I was mesmerized, clean bowled, lived in oblivion during the entire session of the concert. I was not myself. The music masters duo, Carnatica Brothers cast a magical spell with their everlasting, creative style of renditions one after other with such ease and finesse that it took time for me to get back into conscious to step out after the concert. I had to believe that I have to go back home as the musicians too packed up!
They sound contrasting but surprises me that though they are two different individuals, souls and voices, they culminate as one voice when they perform and the listener gets confused as to how/what? But the beauty of this hypnotizing act is par excellence to bring joy. The base and the punch, the melody and the modulation and the throw and pitch control besides the voice management are all not traits, nor tricks, neither inherited nor imbibed – but I feel it is sheer, pure sadhana that they have struggled to build it as a commendable skill. Ragam, Tanam, Pallavi in tact but beautifully held and presented.
What a beautifully, equally complimenting accompaniments to this Game Changing Duo of Carnatic Music, on Violon by Rajsheker, on Mridangam by Jayabhaskar and on Ghatam by Somayajulu, each of these gentlemen who are aces and stalwarts in their assumed forms embedded in handling the entire session with such ease and finesse. The Rasigas definitely were served with the most sumptuous, feasty music and all of us, I bet, returned only with complete delight and utmost satisfaction.
The Duo set the stage on fire right from the word GO: They started with a Kruti composed by their Guru Dr.Balamurali Krishna “Amma Ananda Dayini/Gambheera Nata Raga”, then “Ramabhakti Samrajyam/Tyagaraja/Shudha Bangala”; “Nerevarare Ragalapana / Bahudari”; “Pasupatheeswaram/Muthuswamy Dixitar / Subhapanthuvarali”; “Marivere Gathi yevaramma / Syama Sastry / Ananda Bhairavi”; “Sarasa Sama Dhana / Tyagaraja/Kapibnarayani ; “Narayana Ninna Name/ Purandara Dasa/ Shudha Dhanyasi”; “Saraguna Palimpa / Ramanadhapuram Srinivas Iyengar / Kedaragowla”; - (Thaniyavardhan by the dancing fingers on Mridangam by Jayabhaskar and on Ghatam by Somayajulu indeed brought ecstacy in the auditorium, the percussions pierced through the lilting hearts - And Rajaseker on Violon, as usual we could see his fingers on the strings were hopping like butterflies and on strings with great concentration and perfection); “Venkatachala Nilayam / Purandhara Dasa / Sindhu Bhairavi” ; “Thillana / Maharajapuram Santhanam / Mishra Sivaranjani” and what a beautiful way they concluded with “Maithreem Bhajatha / His Holiness Chandrashekara Saraswathy Swamigal/” – Unity& Peace.
Looking at the name CARNATICA BROTHERS I was curious all the time to know why this title and I asked, then Shashikiran said, it’s a self proclaimed identification they chose as they started teaching Carnatic music with such name. It’s praise worthy to mention, they started as child prodigies, became wizards and wonder boys of the Carnatic music and in the last three and half decades plus, they have established themselves as one of the best voices to reckon with if we were to enjoy Carnatic Music in many forms. In their renditions, I felt and experienced the legendary stalwart styles of Sri Madurai Mani Iyer, MS Subbulakshmi amma, Maharajapuram Santhanam, and one major metallic voiced John Higgins Bhagawathar too. I praise: Kudos to the Carnatica brothers for their flawless performance style, their passion, their focus, modesty, humbleness and warmth with which they treat the co artists and how respectful they are towards the audiences. Cheers.
Most important point to note is they are born in a family of Carnatic Music, grandsons of the one of the greatest all time legendary Gottuvadyam Sri Narayana Iyengar. They were well trained by many Gurus from within the family and outside too of the nuances of Carnatic Music and the tenets they hold and demonstrate today only speaks volumes of their continued hard work and accomplishments.
It is not out of place for me to applaud the yeoman services that SICA has been rendering in promoting Carnatic Music, Dance and Culture in the last 60+ years for the benefit of the Rasigas of the Twin Cities. It is needless to mention that SICA and the fully acoustic loaded Ravindra Bharathi, the iconic A.C. auditorium are inseparable that such noteworthy programs we get to enjoy, bringing to us some most eminent performers in all forms of music and dance only to lilt our hearts.
I dare to comment, each one Rasiga who missed to witness (for whatever reason one could not come) this beautiful kacheri yesterday has really missed a life time chance of such a wonderful musical event which was so painstakingly organized by SICA. They may be performing in many places and many times but every kacheri is a pearl by itself to treasure. I am glad I gathered one yesterday.
I wish both of them for a continued, long and happy musical journey in the many years to come. Divinity be their side and god bless.
- S. Srinivasan