Carnatic singer Vedavalli honors music guru

CHENNAI: The DK Pattammal Memorial Concert was organised by Malati Madhuseshan, disciple of DK Pattammal, Lalita Sivakumar and Sivakumar’s disciple, Jayashree Vaidyanathn in association with Brahma Ganasabha at Arkay Convention Centre, in addition to its other activities. The artist was the veteran Sangeetha Kalanidhi R Vedavalli. Before beginning her concert, she fondly recalled Pattammal’s musical genius and human warmth.Vedavalli began with the Manji piece, Brovamma, a typically emotional piece, that made  for an apt tribute to Pattammal. The second piece revealed Vedavalli’s musical intensity that was subdued and effective. The song Guruguha in Sama matched the mood of the occasion. Vedavalli, being a concert veteran, chose Karnataka Devagandhari Bajarere to give some momentum, and the song registered well with the audience. What followed was a well-stretched Kalyanai alapna that was deep and melodic. The Bajarerechitta, song of Muthuswamy, was a vintage Kalyani never to lose its musical appeal. In the Mukhari piece, Pahimam Jagannath, Vedavalli used her emotional depth to present the true majesty of the raga.Vedavalli, being an RTP veteran, chose Sarasangi for her precise treatment. For the listener keen for RTP, this was a delightful experience. The RTP was set in Kanda Triputa. After a ragamalika virutthan, Vedavalli concluded her fine concert. Vedavalli’s  genuine attachment to Pattammal showed in the extra glow that her singing revealed.Pattammal and Vedavalli belong to the same group of musicians that are fully committed to Carnatic classicism. This music requires hard and long practice and Pattammal took to music as a full-time profession so that she could devote all her time to it. Today, young musicians spend all their time in an engineering college and practice music in their leisure hours. There is bound to be a difference between the music of Pattammal Vedavalli and the fast music now. However, Carnatic music should adapt with the change. Vedavalli’s concert gave a good flavour of the old music that took so long to ripen.RK Sriram Kumar played with a sure touch throughout the concert. His replies and accompaniment added greatly to the concert. Arun Prakash, son of composer, L Krishnan, made his mridangam sing true to his lineage.