A tribute to the famed music maestro

CHENNAI: Harikesanjali organised a Muthiah Bhagavathar Day at Naradagana Sabha which featured Tiruchur V Ramachandran’s vocal recital. Ramachandran, who was mentored by GN Balasubramaniam, presented kritis of Harikesanalur Muthiah Bhagavathar. Muthiah Bhagavathar was one of the finest composers of songs and ragas of his time, and also, a Hariktha exponent and concert performer. His music was rich like his life as patronised by maharajas and landlords.Tiruchur Ramachandran began his performance with Gamganapate (Hamsadwani raga). He crafted the resonance of the raga beautifully to give the concert an exquisite start. In the following  raga Bowli, Ramachandran brought down the level of his excitement a little to balance the mood of the song, Chamundiswari. Ritigowla was Ramachandran’s first raga, which he handled slowly but brilliantly. Sakalasamvar, however, was clouded with the beauty and charm of Ritigowla.Dhanyasi had its own lilt and structure. Ramachandran, while performing Jabakusuma, kept in mind its quiet majesty. Sarasadalanayane in Saramathi right after Dhanyasi was delightful. Sudhamayee in Amrithavarshini is a fast and peppy interlude in between longer songs, and that was what set the mood of the concert.However, Ramachandran settled for Kharakharapriya which offered immense scope for raga elaboration. Saranagatha Vatsale, was truly a Kharakharapriya delight. Ramachandran concluded the song with a thillana and mangalam.On the violin was MA Sundareswaran along with Ramachandran and his melifluous raga replies, while Neyveli Narayanan made the rhythmic instrument come alive with his adroit fingering. On the other hand, Vaikom responded to every mridangam syllable with his brilliant ghatam playing style.  Ramachandran and his team brought their talents together and paid tribute to the legend that was Muthiah Bhagavagthar.