Reviews
Season Reviews - E R Anirudh

Date :
4.1.24
Venue :
Naada Inbam December Music Festival
Artist : E
R Anirudh
Violin :
Mantha Sri Ramya
Mridangam :
Sai Nivaeithan
By Sivapriya
Krishnan
Twenty-one-year-old
E R Anirudh, a disciple of Alepey Venkatesan, presented an enjoyable concert at
Naada Inabam. Under the careful guidance of his guru, he has been meticulously
groomed with a focus on pathantara, raga lakshana, and lakshya aspects,
showcasing his skill and dedication.
Anirudh started
with Jagadanandakaraka, a Tyagaraja
pancharatna in Nata. Neekelana Yeda in
Devamanohari was the next in the right kalapramana. A detailed Pantuvarali raga
alapana followed by Appa Rama bhakti
with niraval and swaras. The raga alapana was of a very high order, without dilution
or mixing it with any allied ragas. Manaviyalakincara
and Kuthuvilakkeriya, that days’ Tiruppavai was next. A wonderful
ragam-tanam-pallavi followed in Todi. The pallavi line was Sree Rama Jaya Rama Jaya Jaya Rama Hare Rama set in khanda jati
Jhampa tala in rettai kalai. What marked his pallavi singing was the adherence
to the rules whilst creatively elaborating it. Todi was expanded in all its
glory, followed by tanam, sung in the madhyamakala, from start to end. The pallavi
line was minimal in words and a lot of karvais, the way yesteryear stalwarts
sang it. This tests the mettle of the singer to keep tala correctly. Niraval
was done elaborately, followed by trikalam and ragamalika swaras in Athana,
Varali, Mohanam. Vandan Vandan Bharata
in Mohanam followed suit. Ayodhi Managar,
a kavadi chindu was an interesting piece. Antaa
Rama mayam of Bhadrachala Ramadasa in Subhapantuvarali had all the required
poignancy.
He concluded the
concert with a Tillana in Kapi, Taradipanana,
a composition of Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar in Lakshmeesa tala. The seven angas of Lakshmeesha tala
dhrutam -(2) anu dhrutam -(1) dhrutam - (2) laghu - (4) laghu - (4) laghu - (4)
guru - 8 2+1+2+4+4+4+8 = 25 aksharams . Anirudh
announced that the concert was a tribute to the Ayodhya Ram Temple.
Anirudh's performance evoked a sense of optimism and
joy. Having listened to his previous performances, the upward trajectory in his
musical prowess was discernible in this concert.
Violinist Mantha Sri Ramya was melodious and
supported the concert intelligently, as was Sri Nivaeithan on the mridangam.
The author is a Carnatic vocalist, writer and
management professional