Nityashree - Concert at Sri Thendayudhapani temple, Singapore

A spectacular concert that was embellished with excellent Manodharmam & Bhavam. Here is the Song list / Review :

1. Gananadhane ( raga : Saranga , Composer : Periyasamy Thooran) - Concert started briskly with the kriti in Saranga.

2. Varasikhi ( raga : Supradeepam , Composer : Thyagaraja) - A rare piece by Saint Thyagaraja on Lord Muruga.

3. Padumanabham ( raga : Nagaswarawali , Composer : Papanasam Sivan)

4. Thirupugazh Kettanayo ( raga : Shanmukhapriya , Composer : N.S.Chidambaram) - Splendid raga alapanai in Shanmukhapriya rendered with great "Bhavam".

5. Vidalagumo ( raga : Devagandhari , Composer : Arunachalam) - After the breezy earlier song, this was delivered in a slow tempo.

6. Thanigaivalar saravanabhava ( raga : Thodi, Composer : Papanasam Sivan) - A short piece that still managed to capture the essence of Thodi.

7. Sri guruguha ( raga : Suddha Saveri , Composer : Muthuswamy Dikshathar) - Another brief piece that set the stage for the upcoming RTP piece ( which turned out to be sans "T").

8. Karthikeya Kamalekshana ( raga : Valaji , Composer : Srivatsa) - Beautiful rendering of Valaji raga. However there was no Thanam and the swaras were sung only briefly.

By now , she had got at least 10 "chit" requests and I was mentally preparing myself for a rehash of familiar tukkudas. However, I was proven wrong as this turned out to be the most enlivening part of the evening.

9. Sandanamum ( raga : Abheri , Composer : Arulavan) - rendered amidst huge round of applause from the audience.

10. Vizhikku ( Virutham) - Kanda nee oru Malai vaasi ( raga : Ahir Bhairav , Composer : Neelakantan) - The best piece of the evening. Ahir Bhairav can melt even the stone hearted . She made everyone emotional with her rendition.

11. E Endru Naan ( Virutham in Kedaragaula) followed by ragamalika in Hamsanandhi , Mohanam and Sindhubhairavi , ending with the kriti - Koovi Azhaikka.

12. Muruganai Ninai nenje ( raga : ??, composer : Papanasam Sivan) - I couldn't identify the raga ( seemed to be Hindustani based).

13. Mayil meedhu ( raga : Vasanthi , Composer : Sathur Karpagam) - A song that is not often heard and I suspect this could have been an audience request.

14. Aarumuga ( raga : Madhuvanthi , Composer : Sai Bhajan) - When she started the brief alaap, I was jumping with joy since this is one of my favorite ragas. Rendered very well.

15. Paar Alaum ( raga : Hamsanadham) - A very different mangalam in Hamsanadham !