Devotional values of music score over aesthetics

Bhakthi is the personal relationship between a man and his creator. It is said only in this respect that the devotional value of the songs are superior to aesthetics and that the sangathis brought down to the cutchery platform should be soaked in Bhakthi.The ambience created by Tapovanam Leelavathi Ammal at Srinivasa Sastri Hall brought out the ennobling values, which are fundamental to Carnatic music, as embodied in the sahitya.The raga Mohanakalyani (Siddhi Vinayakam...) of Muthaiah Bhagavathar revealed spiritual and aesthetic music concepts that help us realise God’s existence. Certainly, one has to go beyond their compositions to know the Vageyakaras.When she delineated (Bhagayanae...) in raga Chandrajyothi (41st Bhavani Janyam) and later took up Tanjore Sankara Iyer’s kriti (Ezhil Udaya Hamsanadham...) in raga Hamsanadham (Janya of Dharmavathi), revealing the Oudava raga aspects, it was revealing and educative. When she started rendering the alapana in raga Kalyani before singing Himmadrisudae... of Shyama Sastri, propitiating Devi, rasikas had realised that her exposition had served the purpose of elevating their consciousness about the nature of divinity.If we had looked for entertainment and exhilaration, this concert cannot be measured to scale but yet it was a ‘Sangama’ of devotional reverie.Hema malini, on violin, was sharp in absorbing the vocalist’s musical thinking. Uzhavur Babu was sufficiently supportive.