How the Music Academy’s ‘Nadotsavam’ turned the spotlight on the nagaswaram-OxBig News Network

Mylai Karthikeyan and Koleri G Vinoth Kumar with Nayudupetta E. M. Sanjeev Kumar and Mandaveli Mohanraj
| Photo Credit: K. Pichumani

Confining nagaswaram and thavil to weddings and religious gatherings does not augur well for these instruments as they represent a rich tradition of classical music that requires dedicated platforms for propagation. Nagaswaram festivals are important as they provide much-needed visibility to this rare instrument that is steeped in antiquity. The Music Academy recently featured several nagaswaram and thavil artistes as part of its Nadotsavam, an annual music festival dedicated to these instruments.

Commencing their concert with the classic Abhogi varnam “Evvari bodhana”, Mylai Karthikeyan and Koleri G Vinoth Kumar took up the pre-charanam portion in two speeds. The chittaswarams were creatively paced by incorporating a trikalam element in them. ‘Unnai thudhikka’ is a lively kriti in Kuntalavarali composed on the deity Tyagaraja of Tiruvarur. It was a prudent choice before taking up Atana (‘Anupama gunambudhi’), a raga that offered Karthikeyan ample scope for exploration. He brought out the distinct flavour of the raga by focusing on the nishadams during the alapana. Swift swaras in melkalam ending at the upper rishabham exhibited Karthikeyan’s adeptness at handling the instrument. The final round of kalpanaswaras involved careful coordination between both the nagaswaram artistes as they alternated avartanams, finally coming together during the kanakku.

Suposhini is an Ekaika raga created by Tyagaraja. His composition ‘Raminchuvarevarura’ is rendered in a fast tempo and has similarities to Western tunes. The duo took up this piece next much to the delight of the thavil artistes Nayudupetta E. M. Sanjeev Kumar and Mandaveli Mohanraj, who enthusiastically traced its patterns.

The evening’s main piece was a Ragam Tanam Pallavi in Kalyani. The pallavi line in Tisra Jati Triputa talam was dedicated to Kapaleeswararof Mylapore — ‘mayilaiyil vaazhum Kapali unadhu thiruvadiyai panindhen’. The recital ended with Thanjavur Sankara Iyer’s Anandabhairavi thillana. Sanjeev Kumar and Mohanraj provided competent support.

Chinnamanur A Vijay Karthikeyan and Idumbavanam V Prakash Ilayaraja with Nangoor N. K. Selvaganapathy and Idumbavanam KSK Manikandan
| Photo Credit:
K. Pichumani

In another concert from the festival, Chinnamanur A Vijay Karthikeyan and Idumbavanam V Prakash Ilayaraja chose to present a uniquely themed concert titled ‘Tamizhum Nadamum’. Nangoor N. K. Selvaganapathy and Idumbavanam KSK Manikandan accompanied the artistes on the thavil. The theme also showed how exclusive nagaswaram festivals encourage these artistes to rethink their approach and presentation. A great way to turn the spotlight on the instrument.

The compositions, all in Tamil, highlighted the distinctiveness of the nagaswaram tradition. For instance, their first piece ‘Rishabhashta ragamailkai’ is a rare varnam composed by maestro Dharmapuram A Govindarajan with eight ragas focusing on the rishabha swaras of the ragas. The eight ragas are Kanada, Sahana, Saranga, Gowlai, Sri, Suruti, Saraswati and Madhyamavathi. The rishabha is the jeeva swara in these ragas and in its handling lies the beauty of this varnam.

Nagavalli is a janya of Kharaharapriya and a rare composition of Ku. Sa. Krishnamurthi ‘Vara venum velane’ was presented next by the duo. The kriti ‘Kadaikkan vaithennai’ in raga Begada followed. It was played commendably by Kavin, Prakash Ilayaraja’s son, who continues the family legacy.

Chinnamanur Vijay Karthikeyan has composed several kritis. ‘Unnaiyallal’ in raga Gunavathi, which was taken up next, is one of them. This was followed by Dandapani Desikar’s ‘Anjezhuthinai’ in Ragavinodhini.

The main piece of the evening was in raga Dharardari, a janya of Harikamboji. The kriti ‘Asaiyai uraikkindren’ is written by Devakottai V. Ramanathan Chettiar and tuned by Thiruppamburam Swaminatha Pillai. After an electrifying tani avartanam by the thavil vidwans, the recital concluded with a thillana in raga Desh.