Sathya in Thiruvaiyaru - A dream come tru day!! 25th Jan'08

It was always a dream for Sathya's family to have him perform at the Thyagaraja Vaibavam in Thiruvaiyaru and it became true on the 25th Jan'08. What a great experience!! A sudden turn out of audience in large number for this 15mt concert, Sri Srimushnam Raja Rao sir and Sri Haridwaramangalam A. K. Palanivel sir being there through out the concert to bless him, Mr Krishnamooorthy Secy. Thrimoorthy Sangeetha Sabha, Pozhichalur, Chennai, Sri Raja BJP Secy and many more known faces for this concert!

Sathya had a full bench team of B Ananthakrishnan on violin, Thillaisthanam Suriyanarayanan on Mrudhangam, Thirukannapuram Sowrirajan on Thavil, Guru Bharadwaj on Kanjeera and interestingly Krishnababu on Thalam was also announced which brought great cheers in Sathya's face. In the allotted 15mts Sathya and team presented Sobillu - Jayanthasri, Koluvamaragadha - Thodi and Kantajudumi - Vachaspathi.

Sathya said that "on this performance i felt i was indeed performing in front of the god and on arriving i did not expect this much of audience. I am blessed and i am thankful to the committee and in particular Sri Palanivel and Sri RajaRao uncles."

You can view the video clippings and listen to audio in the following links.

Video link : http://uk.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=901A2610CA36D01D
Audio Link: http://tinyurl.com/3ay48p

Concert in Mylapore street on 16.01.08

After the park concert on the 11th Jan'08 this time it was in the chithra veedhi of Mylapore near the chithrakulam on the 16th Jan'08, the day Sathya arrived from Kakinada. This was for the Dharmasatha Temple maintained by Sri Magarajothi Chandran and the concert was organised by Sri Thirukannapuram Sowrirajan. It was a percussion team of Sri Sowrirajan on Thavil, Guru Bharaswaj on Mrudhangam, Ramkumar on Tabla and Sathyanarayanan on the morsing which performed popular krithis performed to the listener's choice.

The concert had good audience response and also came out good inspite certain hardships of performing on the road side. Kudos to the general public / residents of the area who all had teamed up to make this a great successful event. Sathya was blessed to have Kalaimamani Smt Vasantha Krishnamurthy, a famous veena vidwan as one of the audience who also honoured Sathya with a shawl.

Short video clipping for your viewing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcnZkr6a9bc

The list of krithis performed are as follows:

01. Mallari - Gambeera Natai - KandajathiThiruputathalam
02. VathapiGanapathim - Hamsadwani - Adhi [S] Audience choice
03. Sabapathikku - Abhogi - Rupakam - [R}
04. Poiindri Meiyodu - Iyyapan krithi
05. Kaliyugavaradhan - Brindhavani - Adhi
06. Akilandeswari - Swajawanthi - Adhi {Audience choice]
07. Theeradhavillayatupillai - Raagamalika - Tisranadai Adhi
08. Vakulabaranam Audience choice after seeing recent Podhigai telecast
09. Bo Sambo - Revathy - Adhi (Percussion solo)
10. Jagajanani - RAthipathipriya - Adhi
11. Thirupavai - Ungal Puzhalkadai - Anandha Bhairavi - Adhi
12. Sai Bhajan
13. Carnatic Medley
14. Harivarasanam

A prestigeous concert for Sangeetha Vidwath Sabha, Kakinada on 14th Jan'08

After the concert at Hyderabad Sathya and team was rushing to the catch up train to Kakinada for a concert next day. It was probably the first time Sathya is not in Chennai with his mother for celebrating the Pongal festival. Also this is one of the times where the team had the luxury of traveling by air-conditioned class due to want of seats in sleeper class. It did give a good period of rest for the team and where very much fresh when they reached Kakinada. After having enjoyed the Boghi Lunch the team was ready to perform in the evening where specific request for performing Buntureethikolu, Pakalanilapadi and Inthasowkyamu came in as they reached the hotel room in the morning itself along with that of a krithi in Sivaranjani.

Starting the concert with Bhairavi varnam in two speeds Sathya went on to perform Sri Mahaganapathim in ragam Abogi. Sathya preferred to play elaborate raga alapana fro Vasantha, Karaharapriya and Kaapi. Ananthakrishnan excelled throughout and was seen enjoying the concert throughout. His kalpanaswarams kept Sathya improvising and this became a feast for the audience. This was seen particularly in the main krithi for which Sathya performed ragamalika swaram in ragas, Sivaranjani, Brindavani, Mohanam and Sindhubhairavi. Suri and Hari were their usual best and made the audience enjoy their thani. It was a team effort once again which was the cause for winning the hearts of the audience. One of the organisor had listened to the track of Vakulabaranam performed earlier day at Hyderabad which Sathya was checking in his system and on his request performed the same here and won special applause for the speed control on the instrument.

The list of krithis performed are as under:

01. Varnam - Bhairavi - Atathalam
02. Sri Mahaganapathi - Abogi - Kandachappu [R & S]
03. Seethamma - Vasantha - Rupakam [S]
04. Sadhimchane - Arabi - Adhi
05. Buntureethikolu - Hamsanadham - Adhi [R & S]
06. Vakulabaranam - a piece from remember Sakthi
07. Pakalanilapadi - Karaharapriya - Misra Chappu
08. Inthasowkyamu - Kaapi - Adhi
09. Ennakavipadinalum - Sivaranjani - Ahdhi
10. Palluke - Anandhabhairavi - Adhi
11. Brahmamokate - Bowli - Adhi Tisranadai
12. Thillana - Jonpuri - Adhi follwed by Mangalam.

A privilege and honour was for Sathya having got an oppurtunity to perform in one of the oldest forums of over 100 years. The success of the concert was seen with the fact that there were two concerts booked after the concert, one on the 21st Jan'08 which could not be accepted due to want of train tickets and the other in Feb'08 which probably will be effected. Also on the return travel we had a TTE who was happy to have been with musicians and even sang a song for us and HAri played Ghatam. Also one of the squad members checking the passengers Sri Gandhi, on knowing about Sathya bought his newly released Sathya's Synthesis album of Moserbaer and this was indeed a interesting happening!

Sathya in Hyderabad for the concert on 13th Jan'08

After the great Chennai Sangamam experience Sathya traveled to Hyderabad for a concert for Hyderabad Mahanagar Tamil Sangam held on the 13th Jan'08. Understand this forum conducts major shows and it was indeed a fully packed auditorium which was a great sight. Sathya started the celebrations of the forum as it had conducted many competitions, with breaking of coconut. [lighting of kuthuvillaku probably is reserved here for female artists!]He also gave away prizes to all the children who ahd won the competitions.

Sathya requested to play popular krithis and not necessarily to be in Tamizh. Sathya with the team of B. Ananthakrishnan on the violin, Thillaisthanam Suriyanarayanan on Mrudhangam and Valaingaiman Hahrihara Subramaniam on Ghatam presented a concert to the liking of the audience and that was revealed by the fact that the crowd remained almost intact till the end.

The team was appreciated for the presentation of a number from "Remember Sakthi" on ragam Vakulabaranam for which Sathya exhibited his prowess on the speed control in the instrument and was supported to the best by the rhythm team. Ananthakrishnan gave great boost in terms of playing more of chords than the melody which was a good idea.

As per request of the audience Sathya took a film song "Ammaendrazhiakatha" from the film Mannan, based on Kalyani ragam and performed kalpanaswaram apart from playing a medley of old film songs. It was the jugalbandhi performance with Samajavargamana on Hindolam for which Malkowns was taken as the Hindustani raga and for this thani was also performed by the percussion team. Sathya and Ananthakrishnan switched over from Carnatic to Hindustani and the percussion team showed great anticipation and changed over to different styles to enhance the melody team and the team got special applause for this venture. Ananthakrishnan sang the pallavi of the Malkowns number for which Sathya was playing in the Harmonium mode, just to highlight the different genre of music being presented. Performing a Sai bhajan the team completed the concert with the hope to have given the audience their due. The list of songs performed are as follows:

01. Vaathapi - Hamsadwani - Adi [S]
02. Sobillu - Jayanthasri - Rupakam
03. Thayethripurasundari - Suddha Saveri - Kanda chappu [R]
04. Ammaendrazhaikadha [R & S]
05. Krishnanee begane - Yamuna Kalyani - Misra Chappu [Audience choice]
06. Medley based on old film songs
07. A piece based on Vakulabaranam
08. Jugalbandhi on Hindolam & Malkowns [R & S]
09. Sankarabaranam notes
10. Raghuvamsa Sudha
11. Ennathavam - Kaapi - Adhi
12. Sai bhajan

Cheenai Sangamam 2008 - 10th and 11th Jan'08

It was a great day for Sathya and his family as Sathya's mother was singing the prayer song for Chennai Sangamam 2008 inauguration at the IIT on the 10th Jan'08. It was a great show considering a team of 40 carnatic musicians with a lead guitar, drums and a bass guitar with all 43 artists going on individual mikes. The end result was indeed great and was appreciated specially by the Chief Minister Hon. Sri M. Karunanidhi who was the chief guest for this show.

The Carnatic team included violin, mrudhangam, ghatam, kanjeera, morsing, thavil, nadaswaram, veena, flute, sax. clarinet vocal artists apart from Sathya on his keyboard. Mr Yogeswaran from UK also was a part of this presentation. The total duration of this team was for 15 mts and in all the show was for 90 mts which was done by Mr Paul Jacob for Tamizh Mayam and many agencies of TN Govt. Mr Kumaravel was the chief co-ordinator / director and Mr Paul Jacob was the person for the MUSIC.

View a short video clipping in
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=A07D5297E1CB3F0D

Go through photos in the link http://picasaweb.google.com/keyboardsathya/ChennaiSangamam

Sathya on 11th Jan'08 at Nageswara Rao Park for Chennai Sangam

Sathya after the concert in the morning went straight to school for writing the exam and later proceeded to IIT for the rehearsal. After the show at IIT for the inauguration of Chennai Sangamam Sathya reached home around 11pm on the 10th night and was already in the car at 530pm to got to Nageswara Rao Park, Mylapore on the 11th morning to perform a concert from 630 - 8am under Chennai Sangamam. For the first time he was teamed up with Harisundar on Mrudhangam and Ananthakrishnan was on violin. The trio gave an excellent performance.

Sathya with self decided to present a jugalbandhi based on Hindolam, Malkowns, Ragashree, Kalyani & Mohanam seeing the interest shown by the audience. Both Ananthakrishnan and Harisundar jumped on the idea and there was a marvelous exhibition of a jugalbandhi concept by the Trio which was welcomed by one and all. Many expressed that it was indeed a first time experience of having to hear good traditional carnatic, devotional, Hindustani and some light classical from an artist with no planning. This is indeed a feather in Sathya's cap!!!

Smt Vimala Jayaraman said that she was about to leave the park after the daily routine of her Yoga but was pulled by Sathya's music performance and was glued ill the end. She remarked that she probably need not go to a temple as she could feel the god's presence in the music of Sathya. Smt Girija also a regular visitor to the park appreciated the musical expressions of Sathya with the keyboard and blessed him to reach greater heights. Sri Seattle Raman who also was there taking his morning walk appreciated Sathya's manodharma and wished to him tour USA soon. Many of the morning walkers expressed that they were happy to have been there to listen to Sathya's musical expressions during their walk and that it gives them lot of peace. The perfect end to the concept was given with Ragupathy raghava rajaram in which almost all the audience joined in reciting it. The krithis performed are as under.

01. Vathapi - Hamsadwani - Adi

02. Sriman Narayanan - Bowli - Adi [R & S]

03. Sobillu - Jaganmohini - Rupakam

04. Jagajanani - Rathipathipriya - Adi

05. Jugalbandhi

06. Theeradha Villayatupillai - Ragamalika - Adi

07. Venkatachalanilayam - Sindhubhairavi - Adi

08. Bo sambo - Revathy - Adi

09. Karpagame - Madhyamavathi - Adi

10. Rama namam.

Here is the video clipping of one of the songs

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ_bNP3JvpA

Jan 10, 2008 concert at Panjamuga Anjaneya Temple

It was after 3 years Sathya has got an oppurtunitry to perform here at the Panjamuga Anjaneya Samithi, Chitrakulam, Mylapore. The concert was requested by Sathya to advance it to the morning as he was in the 40 member carnatic team under Mr Paul Jacob to perform for the inaugural function of "Chennai Sangamam 2008" He also had to proceed to do his exam and then to IIT for the dress rehearsal at 1pm.

Sathya was teamed up with Akkarai Swarnalatha on Violin, Santhosh Kumar on Mrudhangam and SriKrishna on Ghatam and the presentation was good. Sathya performed the krithi Thulasibilva on seeing a rasika who had requested him to learn and perform almost 6 months back and he was applauded for the same. The audience were very happy on the choice of kithis and appreciated the team work. The list of songs performed is as follows:

01. Varnam - Mohanam - Adi
02. Sri Mahaganapathim - Atana - Adi
03. Bavayami Gopala - Yaman Kalayan - Kanda chappu [ R & S]
04. Entharomahanubhavulu - Sri - Adi
05. Thulasibilva - Kedharagowla - Adi
06. Deva Dev kalayamithey - Mayamalavagowla - Rupakam [S]
07. Samajavaragamana - Hindolam - Adi [R S & N]
08. Sri Chakrarajasimhasaneswari
09. Bagyadha lakshmi - Madhyamavathi - Adi

7th Jan'08 - Concert in a Temple in Neelangarai

It was a nice ambience to be in for a concert in a temple with rasikas interested to listen to you. This was one of the venues where any artist would be loving to perform and it is the Ishtasidhi Vinayagar Temple in Sri Kapaleeswara Nagar, Neelangarai on the New Mahabalipuram Road. Kunnakudy School of Music in association with M/s T.S. Mahalingam & sons has been conducting concerts in various small venues and this is one of their finds.

It was indeed a honour for Sathya as this was the first concert to happen in that premises and for sure will be in the minds of people for ever. There was indeed a good knowledgeable audience for the concert and Sathya with Ananthakrishnan on violin, Arjun Ganesh on Mrudhangam, Valangaiman HariharaSubramaniam on Ghatam and Venkatramanan on the Kanjeera gave a presentation which was well received and applauded. In fact choice of krithis was for much appreciation as it suited the occasion with familiar krithis for the audience. The list is as follows:

01. Varnam - Sri - Adi
02. Vaathapi Ganapathim - Hamsadwani - Adi (N & S)
03. SaraswathiNamosthuthey - Saraswathi - Rupakam (R & S)
04. Sadhimchane - Arabi - Adi
05. Bavayami Gopala - Yamunakalyani - Kandachappu
06. Marugelara - Jayanthasri - Adi
07. Bo Sambo - Revathy - Adi (S)
08. Buntureethikolu - Hamsanadham - Adi [Audience Request]
09. Sai Bhajan [Audience Request]
10. Raghuvamsasudha - Kathanakuthukalam - Adi [Audience Request]
11. Alaipayudhey - Kaanada - Adi [Audience Request]
12. Raghupathy Raghava Rajaram

Back to back concert for the third day for SriRanjani Sabha at Mandeveli.

Not many is blessed to perform back to back concerts for three consecutive days starting Jan1st of a year and Sathya is one who was blessed to do. After the concerts on the 1st and the 2nd Jan, he followed with a scintillating performance for SriRanjani Sabha on the 3rd Evening.

With Ananthakrishnan on violin and Umayalpuram Kalyaraman on the Mrudhangam[for the first time playing with Sathya] it was a good performance from all the three. When Sathya was announcing the song a rasika asked for the composer's name of the krithi "Manaveeche" in Sarasangi he informed that he does not know and that would be happy if some one can give the name. After a while a rasika came out with the composer's name as Patnam Subramanya Iyer.

Sathya was probably at his best mood as the performance level was of great quality. Ananthakrishnan matched Sathya phrase by phrase and were enhanced by Sri Kalyanaraman on the Mrudhangam who gave various patterns. He was indeed praised by many for his great showing during the thani avarthanam. It was nice to see http://www.kumudam.com/ recording this concert on video to be uploaded in their site and it will soon be available for public viewing. The details of the krithis performed are as follows:

01. Varnam - Vasantha - Adi
02. Varavallabah - Hamsadwani - Adi [R & S}
03. Manavechey - Sarasangi [ R & S]
04. Thiruppavai -
05. Arulseiyavenum Aiya - Rasikapriya - Adi
06. Krishna Nee begane [ Audience request]
07. Vitajalathura
08. Maarubalka - SriRanjani - Adi
09. Arabimanam - Raagamalika - Adi
10. Chinanchirukiliye -

Indian Fine Arts concert on the 2nd Jan'08.

It was indeed one of the well attended concert considering it being a working day and the time slot of 1030 - 12 noon. Sri Srinivasan was all praise for Sathya and requested Sathya to finish the concert with "Enna Thavam Seidhannai". As discussed with one of the rasika who is also a critic, Sathya decided to present Thodi raga krithi "Sri Krishnam" as his main krithi for the day., He was enhanced by Ananthakrishnan on violin and Sri Bhoovaraghavan on the mrudhanga [for the first time] This krithi and one of the saptharathnams of Oothujkadu - Balasaramurali were infact a testing point for Sathya as he had committed this to a senior vocal artist cum critic and he got all praise for the same after the concert. Bhhovaraghavan on mrudhangam was excellent and always watchful on the fingers of Sathya and had good anticipation. The trio looked great indeed!

The greatest New Year gift for Sathya was Sri Srimushnam Raja Rao's visit for his concert while playing the Thodi alapana. In fact Sri Raja Rao sir appreciated Sathya in quoting the words "God requires a new form of expression for our music and Sathya is here to do it on this western instrument. He also highlighted the importance of usage of pitch bender and explained how the sahithya bavam is being brought out by Sathya on Keyboard. Sri Raja Rao also informd that "It was here in Indian Fine Arts many years ago Sri Mandolin Shrinivas was presented with a diamond ring by Sri TN Seshagopalan and he said for this Thodi i do not know who is here to repeat the fete for Sathya". In fact his kind words of encouragemnt is indeed a greatest gift for Sathya. A real good sign and Sathya needs no looking back at all. The details of the songs performed:

01. Varnam - Hamsadwani - Adi
02. Varasidhi Vinayaka - Kaanada - Adi
03. Thiruppavai - Kalyani - Kanda Chappu
04. Balasarasamurali - Keeravani - Adi
05. Om Namo Narayanan - KarnaRanjani - Adi
06. Sri Krishnam Baje - Thodi - Adi
07. Ennathavam Seidhanai - Kaapi - Adi

A chamber concert to remember on the 1st Jan'08

A chamber concert to remember on the 1st Jan'08

On the first day of the new Year, Sathya performed a chamber music concert for private gathering in one of the well wishers house and with Rajeev on Violin and Thillaisthanam Suryanarayann gave agreat performance. After the concert the organiser said that it was indeed a good sample dipslayed by Sathya of what is in store ahead for the rest of the year. Looking forward to all your blessings to achieve greater heights.

A successful concert for Padma Sarangapani Cuyltural Academy - Villiwakkam on 30th Dec'07

A back to back concert in the evening after the Vanimahal concert in the morning was meant to be little stressful but Sathya took it in his stride and came out successful. With Trivandrum Balaji on Mrudhangam opting out due to ill health Thillaisthanam Sruyinarayanan fitted in to the team which had Kandadevi Vijayaraghavan on violin and Valingaiman HariharaSubramanian on the Ghatam. The energy level was so high that the four on stage were competting and complimenting each other which paved for a great concert performance for the well attended show. Sathya took up Charukesi as the main raga for the day and gave an excellent presentation which was matched note to note by Kandadevi Vijayaraghavan on violin. The percussion team of Suri & Hari perfoemd well through out and gave a good sweet thani.

The success of the concert was seen when the Sri Varadhan, President of the forum confirmed a 2 and half hour concert at their branch in Saligramma for the 3rd Jan'09. What else can be the emasure of success after a performance! The details of teh songs rendered are as follows:

01. Sri Mahaganapahey - Aboghi - Kandachappu [R & S]
02. Swaminatha Paripala - Naatai - Adi [R & S]
03. Ninuvina - Navarasakanada - Rupoakam
04. SAdhimchane - Arabi - Adi
05. Chinanchirukiliye - Raagamalika - Tisra ekam
06. Mamavasadha - Natakurunji - Rupakam
07. Adamodigaldha - Charukesi - Adi
08. Raghuvamsasudha - Kadhanakuthookalam - Adi [Audience choice]
09. Lalgudi's Thillana - Desh - Adi
10. Vignavinayaka - Madhyamavathi - Adi

Concert at Vani Mahal for Sri Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha on 30th Dec'07 AM

It is indeed a milestone concert for Sathya as this was first official Live concert being recorded by a premium Music Recording company - HMV SaReGaMA. This concert is to be released by SaReGama as a "live concert series of Dec'07" which features many great artists with few upcoming. The team of B. Ananthakrishnan on the violin, Trivandrum Balaji on Mrudhangam, Valangaiman HariharaSubramaniam on Ghatam and T. Krishnababu on Thalam (first time probably this name will feature in the audio wrapper as thalam artist) gave a concert which was indeed a rasikas delight. The quality of sound and the ambience enhanced the entire concert.

Sathya started with a varnam in ragam Amruthavrshini composed by Kotivakkam Sri Seshadri and touched on the kalpanaswaram as a sample to follow during the other krithis. Varanam with sahithyam "Vigneswaram Baje", Sathya went on to salute the gurus with the krithi "Guruleka" on Gowrimanohari with alapana and swaram. With a elaborate saveri alapana Muruga Muruga was rendered which was followed by a Thirupavai on ragam Anandha Bhairavi. Sathya played China Natana on kalanidhi which was on sowkya kalapramanam followed by Sri Parthasarathy on Suddha Dhanyasi set to rupaka thalam. This brought in the mood to get on to the main krithi on Begada - Kamakshi Nathao of Shyama Sastri. The detailed alapana probably will have a new discussion coming up as Begada is one of the ragas which is defined as one not possible to be performed on Keyboard. Sathya was his usual best on this and gave a good expression of his musical thoughts and mathematical calculation thoughout the kalpanaswaram sections.

Special mention is to be made on B. Ananthakrishnan who was at his best throughout and was giving "tit for tat" for Sathya during the kalpanaswarams which was interesting or the audience. Trivandrum Balaji on mrudhangam took the concert to a higher level of enjoyment with his great patterns and he was well supported by HariharaSubramaniam on ghatam. The two gave a short but good thani and he team at the end had given a concert to the satisfaction of themselves, audience and the recording company.

Sathya performed a bhajan and rounded of this concert performance with a thillana composed on ragam Sindhubhairavi. This is a thillana composed by Kalaimamani Kum. A. Kanyakumari which was well received by the rasikas. Thanks to SaReGaMa for having recognised and well wishers are requested to buy original cds and listen to it.

The deails of the songs performed are as follows:

01. Varnam - Amrudhavarshini - Adi [Composed by Kotivakkam Seshadri]
02. Guruleka - Gowri Manohari - Kandachappu
03. Muruga Muruga - Saveri - Misrachappu
04. Thirupavai - AnandhaBhairavi - Adi
05. ChinaNatana - Kalanidhi - Adi
06. Sri Parthasarathy - SudhaDhanyasi - Rupakam
07. KamakshiNatho - Begada - Adi
08. Sai bhajan
09. Thillana - Sindhubhairavi - Adi [Kum. A. Kanyakumari]