Reviews

Concert Review-Ramakrishnan Murthy

By Asmita Padmanabhan 

Vidwan Ramakrishnan Murthy's concert for Brahma Gana Sabha was a late start but worth the wait. Accompanied by what probably is his best team, vidwan N.C. Bharadwaj on the mridangam and vidushi Charumathi Raghuraman on the violin, the synergy between the trio, built over years of performances and tours, was palpable.

The concert opened briskly with Nadachi Nadachi in Kharaharapriya. The kalpana swarams, though a tad fast, were engaging, supported by Ramakrishnan's bold, resonant voice that drew the audience into the music. However, the speed occasionally overpowered the nuances, making it feel slightly rushed.

Telisi Rama followed at a lively pace, where the swift tempo felt right initially but eventually became a bit tiring without the needed contrast. The niraval at Ramayani Brahma was quite brief, and the mel kalam niraval, each less than an avartanam, felt more like additional sangatis rather than a deep exploration. The kalpana swarams here, too, suffered from the relentless pace.

Sindhubhairavi alapana was a spectacular highlight, with Ramakrishnan Murthy navigating almost all notes beautifully. It was unusual to hear Sindhubhairavi so early in the concert, but a welcome move. His handling of the higher octaves was exceptional, though the pace never quite slowed, leaving little room for pauses. The rendition of R.K. Shriramkumar’s Apara Karuna Sindhum Bhairaveesham was slow-paced. The soulful interpretation, brought out the composition's full emotional depth, specifically the line Nijaananda anubhava pradam.