I'm unlikely to ever forget December 14, 2019.
My article profiling Sowmya appeared on the cover of our magazine section, BLink.
That afternoon, Sujatha (my wife) and I went to a concert of Sowmya, held in the Narada Gana Sabha hall.
In that concert Sowmya proved that it was not for nothing that she was awarded 'Sangita Kalanidhi'.
The first major piece was a Gowrimanohari. The alapana was elaborate and soon, Guru Lekha followed.
Then she produced a breezy Hamir Kalyani alapana, followed by a Dikshithar kriti.
Then came Makelara in Ravichandrika--no alapana but some galloping swaras.
So far....the concert was good. But the stunning aspect came only at this point.
Sowmya poured forth a nice Panthuvarali Alapana. When she stopped at the higher notes, an RTP was cued. She leaned towards the violinist, Embar Kannan and whispered something. I saw Kannan nodding.
Then, to our surprise, Kannan started playing a Nasika Bhushani alapana and played it up to the higher notes.
Sowmya picked up the thread and took the Nasika Bhushani alapana. Kannan followed it up with Panthuvarali.
Soon, they sang and played the tanam, alternating the two ragas.The effect was beautiful.
The pallavi had to contain the names of the two ragas. It went as follows:
'Dharmartha kama vardhini, dhanini, Nasika Bhushini"
Both neraval and swaras toggled between Kamavardhini (another name for Panthuvarali) and Nasika Bhushini.
The rendition demonstrated not only Sowmya's grip over the art but also Kannan's. It looks and sounds like pure magic. I can never understand how it is possible for a person to input one raga through the year and then immediately sing or play a completely different raga.
After the concert, I congratulated Sowmya. I introduced Sujatha to her in the manner I always introduce my wife: as a friend, philosopher and bride.
Sowmya threw her head back and laughed and said, "Good one".
As for my article on her, she didn't acknowledge it at all.
Maybe she didn't recognize me.
Maybe she hadn't seen the article then.
Or
Maybe she didn't deem it necessary to acknowledge the article.
I will never know.
My article profiling Sowmya appeared on the cover of our magazine section, BLink.
That afternoon, Sujatha (my wife) and I went to a concert of Sowmya, held in the Narada Gana Sabha hall.
In that concert Sowmya proved that it was not for nothing that she was awarded 'Sangita Kalanidhi'.
The first major piece was a Gowrimanohari. The alapana was elaborate and soon, Guru Lekha followed.
Then she produced a breezy Hamir Kalyani alapana, followed by a Dikshithar kriti.
Then came Makelara in Ravichandrika--no alapana but some galloping swaras.
So far....the concert was good. But the stunning aspect came only at this point.
Sowmya poured forth a nice Panthuvarali Alapana. When she stopped at the higher notes, an RTP was cued. She leaned towards the violinist, Embar Kannan and whispered something. I saw Kannan nodding.
Then, to our surprise, Kannan started playing a Nasika Bhushani alapana and played it up to the higher notes.
Sowmya picked up the thread and took the Nasika Bhushani alapana. Kannan followed it up with Panthuvarali.
Soon, they sang and played the tanam, alternating the two ragas.The effect was beautiful.
The pallavi had to contain the names of the two ragas. It went as follows:
'Dharmartha kama vardhini, dhanini, Nasika Bhushini"
Both neraval and swaras toggled between Kamavardhini (another name for Panthuvarali) and Nasika Bhushini.
The rendition demonstrated not only Sowmya's grip over the art but also Kannan's. It looks and sounds like pure magic. I can never understand how it is possible for a person to input one raga through the year and then immediately sing or play a completely different raga.
After the concert, I congratulated Sowmya. I introduced Sujatha to her in the manner I always introduce my wife: as a friend, philosopher and bride.
Sowmya threw her head back and laughed and said, "Good one".
As for my article on her, she didn't acknowledge it at all.
Maybe she didn't recognize me.
Maybe she hadn't seen the article then.
Or
Maybe she didn't deem it necessary to acknowledge the article.
I will never know.
