I attended a blissful concert rendered by Gayathri Venkataraghavan, in San Jose. I went in a little early for the show with the hope of meeting her and wishing her luck. I am one of the gifted few to learn music under her and her guru Acharya Choodamani Sri. Sunderesan. I distinctly remember asking her to teach me Muruga Muruga in Saveri and I had the best time of my life learning that from her. I even remember Gayathri spotting a peacock outside Haripriya's home the day we were learning the song. My only wish from this concert was hear her sing this again.
The concert started late (wth...we are indians and atleast are obedient to our IST tag!). The concert started with a slokam on Ganesha. She stopped and a high note and started with an alaap in Naatai. A quick one and followed with a varnam in Naatai. I think she intended to do a pancharatnai style, with Naatai, Varali (Shyama Sastri krithi), Shree Ragam (Dhikshatar krithi) and Arabhi. The goulai was missing. The main piece was Evvari Maata in Khamboji. The coolest part about Gay is her ability to sing the toughest of nuances with so much ease! She rendered all these songs (which require years of practice) like a breeze. After her main piece, I sheepishly wrote Muruga Muruga on a piece of paper and pleaded Shankar to give it to her.
After her quick Kaapi tukuda, Shankar gave it to her. She looked at it, immediately looked at me as she spoke on the mic...She said "naane varali paadi yellarkkum heavy song deliver panniken...do you want me to still sing Saveri now?"....I shrugged my shoulders....sank in my seat and listened to the most beautiful song about Muruga. I realised how long it had been since I waxed my arms (blame it on mommy-hood) when I felt my goose flesh all along. I cried, rejoiced, was happy, was sad, was devotional, was guilty, all at the same time. Thats what a good song can do to you. Gay's inner beauty was conveyed to the audience with her ever smiling face, constant encouragement to the violinist (Ranjani Arun) and mridangam player. She is a wonderful person and the most unassuming carnatic musician we have today. My mom was always against people who sing with "Seshtai" coz it so disturbing to watch. Music soothes the soul more when its delivered with so much ease as in Gay's case. It was one of the best concerts I've ever attended.
1 comment:
Can't agree more with you. GV's renditions leave us speechless. So many nuances, she just breezes through all of them. I was stunned listening to her Arul Mazhai Purivai which is on youtube (that she has sung in a Margazhi Mahotsavam concert). So many Ragas and all heavy ones - Bhaiarvi, Anandabhairavi, Kalyani and so on. And my God, the way she makes the transitions look so effortless is just too good.
About the bhavam and so on, there is no second question. We just close our eyes and soak in her music.
So unassuming with all her knowledge too.
The technical brilliance together with one of the best bhavam based singing and a wonderful voice makes her a great singer.
You are indeed fortunate to learn from her!
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