Sathya at International Ayurvedic conference, Mahabalipuram

On the 18th Jan'06 Sathya performed yet another fusion concept concert with great success with his enhancement artsits today being Anuthama on violin, Suri Bass Guitar, Arjun Ganesh Mrudhangam and Padmanabhan on Rhythm Pad.

This was a concert thru' Shristi's Carnatica and it was after a half hour short sweet concert of both Smt Sowmya and Sri Sashikiran (probably joining together for the first time).

The team of Sathya won the hearts of the crowd right from the word go with a fast and apt Vathapi Ganapathim. This was followed by a Hungarian Dance number and this one took all the foreign delagates shake their body with the beautiful rhythm patterns. Every one was amassed on the virtuosity of Sathya's handling of both Carnatic and Western to their merits with perfection.

Alaipaydhey Kanna and Chinnanchirukiliye was followed by His won composition and the audience gave him a great applause for this number in particular. Sathya also performed a Spanish number named 54 beats and Arjun Ganesh on Mrudhangam gave a perfect pattern and enthralled the crowd.

With Bo sambo, Sankarabaranam notes and Radhasamedha krishna Sathya concluded the concert with a namavali Raghupathi raghava Rajaram which had the entire crowds involvement and the place had very good vibration. The delegates were very happy to have attended this child's concert and gave him a standing ovation.

A group of students stayed back just to take photos with Sathya and were really overjoyed.

Sathya Blessed to perform with Sri Umayalpuram Sivaraman & Sri Ravikiran

It was indeed a great day for Sathya as he had the oppurtunity to perform alongwith Sri Umayalpuram Sivaraman for the concert of Sri Ravikiran organise by Shanmuganandha Sabha, Tirupur. Yes the performance was atended by more than 500 people and Sri Ravikiran gave maximum exposure to Sathya and also made some interactive playing to demonstrate the gamakas produced on both Chitraveena evenly matched by Sathya on Keyboard.

The concert started off with Abogi varnam and moved on to Gajananayitham a Dikshidar krithi on ragam Chakravagam. The alapana was speerheaded by Sri Ravikiran and ably supported on chords by Sathya and followed by Akkarai Subulakshmi on violin. All the three gave a good imaginative swara prayogams while Sri Sivaraman enchansed the krithi with his crisp sollus. He was supported by Sri Sundarkumar on Kanjeera.

A detailed raga alapana of Anandha Bhairavi for Anandha Nadapaduvar Thillai - Sri Neelakanda Sivan's krithi from Sri Ravikiran was followed by the best of the raga essence produced by Akkarai Subbulakshmi. Having the oppurtunity to perform alongside Sri Ravikiran, Akkarai has understood the style of his playing and jaives well. This was followed by a crisp Raghuvamsa sudha - Kadhana kudhugalam.

Mel Harmony a composition of Sri Ravikiran was presented on a cd backed by live playing of the artist present. This was a real good experience for the artist and was well introduced explaining the theme to the audience.

The main krithi was Thyagaraja's Brocheva on ragam Kamas which had the audience feel at home as it is indeed a familiar krithi. Raga alapana and swaras were of top order presented by the trio on melody and the thani needs a special mention. It indeed enchansed the krithi as Sri Sivaraman gave the best of all the varieties on mrudhangam which could have been produced. Sri Sundarkumar palyed a good thani too but it is indeed very difficult to excel in present of a great senior artist around.

This was followed by intereactive session and Sri Ravikiran and Sri Sivaraman thanked for the excellent arrangements provided by the organisation. The ambience with a big back drop having the images of the great mastreos like GNB, AKC, MSS, MLV, Flute Mali to name a few was weel aprreciated by Sri Sivaraman in particular.

It was also the occasion used by the organisation to felicitate Sri Paladam Balu a renowned flute artist. The jewel of teh concert was the own composition of Sri Ravikiran on ragam Boopalam namely Vidhiyin vindhayai arindhavar evaro which was also sung by him. The raga essence was at its best and what a great talented man he is!

With Thirupugazh and mangalam concert came to an end and the entire audience enjoyed the fusion concept presented by this team.

06 January, 2006 Private concert for ICWAI Concference in Chennai

Sathya presented a concert with Ananthapadmanaba on violin, Thillaisthanam Suriyanarayanan on Mrudhangam and Kanjeera, Saravanan on Rhythm Pad and Suri on the Bass guitar.

The concept of fusion was insisted for this concert and Sathya and team presented the following:

01) Mallari Gambeera Naatai – Kandajathi Thriputa
02) Vathapi Ganapathim Hamsadwani – Athi
03) Titanic Theme music
04) Nagumomu Aberi – Athi
05) Mad Max A western piece
06) Chinanchirukiliye Ragamalika – Thisra Athi
07) Raghuvamsa sudha Kadhanakudhugalam - Athi
98) Theme music from Fox A western piece
09) Ra ra Based on srothaswani with raga alapana,
thanam and kalpanaswaram with thani avarthanam
10) Alaipayudhey Kaanada – Athi
11) Notes Sankarabaranam – Thisra Athi
12) Kurai onrum Illai Ragamalika – Athi
13) Medley comprising
* Brahma mokete
* Aiye methakadinam
* Chennikula nagar
* Radha samedha
* Vandhey Matharam

It is interesting to note that the audience were spell bound on seeing this concert and gave Sathya and team great appreciation for the concept. All the artists were giving their best and had their portions highlighted in appropriate placements. It is interesting to see what way Sathya is going to grow i.e a Carnatic musician, a fusion artist or a composer. What ever it is it is sure Sathya has been bestowed with the blessings of god and may he get the right direction from the almighty and be there as a star in the future.

04 January, 2006 for KALARASANA

Sathya had the opportunity to present his new concept ‘The Coarnatic Medley’ under the auspicious of KALARASANA at the Rani Seethai Hall. Sathya had Sridhar on Drums, Vikram Sarathy on the Rhythm Pad and Suri on the Bass Guitar as the Enhancement artist.

Sathya teaming with Embar S Kannan had just presented an excellent fusion concert for Brahma Gana Sabha and had already created high expectation and probably his parents were under real pressure on this day. Well Sathya led the team and won the hearts of the well attended concert (considering that entry on payment only).

The team started off to present their new concept of medley on Carnatic krithis starting with a Varnam on ragam Mohanam and continued to perform 6 kritis namely Mahaganapathim – Naatai - Ekkam, Nadhaloludi – Kalyana Vasantham – Rupakam, Theeradha villayatu pillai – Ragamalika – Thisra athi, Marukelara – Jayanthashri – Athi, Bo sambo – Revathy – Athi, Aiye methakadinam - Ragamalika followed by Sathya’s own composition based on three ragams namely Kaapi, Keerawani and Gowri Manohari. All these krithis were presented with no breaks in between like a chain and Sathya gave alapanas for Naatai and Revathy also. The success was seen with the audience requesting during the 6th song to give a break in order to make applause (clap). When Sathya made a brief stop after his composition and the concept was explained in detail. When a mention on Sathya’s fete of completing 8th Grade of Trinity College, London the crowd gave him a standing ovation and being probably the youngest in world to achieve this deserved the same.

The second half started off with a composition of Embar S Kannan on ragam Srothaswani and had the nuances of Hemavathy including thanam in the krithi Mathurambike. This alsao had kalpana swarams and Sathya switched to different instrument tones during the kalapana swarams. A sweat and short Thani avarthanam by the percussion artist showcasing their talents also was a highlight of the concert. Kurai onrum illai – Ragamalaika, Radha Samedha – Misra Yeman were followed with the fitting finishing number Raghupathi Raghava Rajaram which had the entire crowd present chanting the Rama Mantra and the concert was concluded with a fitting applause to the team headed by Sathya.

It is indeed a nice thought to have a chain of Carnatic krithis presented in the medley form and may be Sathya should also try this not just with western percussion and should also try it with regular instruments. It is really commendable to see this child artist getting accustomed to different style of presentation with ease. May god give the best he deserves in the years to come.

01 January 2006 Indian Fine Arts, Balamandir German Hall

“Wishing you all a Happy New Year” was the greetings from Sathya today to the decent number of audience who had turned up for his show today. He started the year’s first concert, his 225th in all with a varnam on Ragam Thodi set to athi thalam. It has been a brave start with the pure gamaka oriented raga to begin with for this year. His confidence I think is upbeat and wishing him all the best.

Sathya then moved on to Gamganapathim – Hamsadwani – Thisra Athi, with a brief raga alapana and a brisk kalpana swara to end the song. The enhancement artists of the day Sri B Ananthakrishnan on violin and Sri B Sivaraman on mrudhangam presented themselves with precise application and did their part to a commendable level.

The next number Entharo Mahanubavulu, a Thyagaraja’s Pancharathna krithi on Sri ragam was presented in the apt tempo and made the entire crowd involve and joined singing the krithi. Detailed Hemavathy raga alapana for the krithi ‘Mathurambike’ set to rupakam by Sathya was of quality with gamakams matching to any other accepted instruments in the traditional Carnatic music.

Before getting on to the main ‘Devi Neeye thunai’ on ragam Keeravani, Sathya performed brisk paced Malavi krithi Ithinyayama and also Nadhaloludai on kalyanavasantham. Keeravani alapana and kalpanaswaras had the nuances of Carnatic presented on keyboard by Sathya. Anathakrishnan was at his best and B Sivaraman gave a sweat short thani considering the time duration. The concert duration of 1hr 30 min was well utilized by Sathya to present his talents, being the first opportunity to perform for this organization. Sathya ended the concert with Sri Lalgudi’s thillana on ragam Jonpuri with all the three asrtists enjoying the values of this rhythmic composition

Fresh from the audience’s mind of having seen Sathya with Sri Chitraveena Ravikiran yesterday evening in Marghazhi Mahautsavam of Jaya TV, one had the opportunity to see his lively presentation of performing the traditional Carnatic on the western instrument – Keyboard. Kudos to this child and May god bless him with the best he deserves in this New Year.