Sathya in Thirupoonthurhti Narayana Theerthar's 262nd Aradhana Festival on the 13th Feb'08

It was another blessed oppurutunity for Sathya to perform in the 262 nd Aradhana of Sri Narayana Theerthar at Thirupoonthurthi which is being celebrated from 2 - 14th Feb'08. Sathya also had a teamed up for the first time with Sherthalai Shivakumar on Violin, Sherthalai Ananthakrishnan on Mrudhangam and Nerkunam Sankar (who incidently held a remembarance day for the great Kalaimamani Harishankar - the synonym of Kanjeera) on Kanjeera. Sathya had learnt this great composer's tharangam, thanks to Sri Yessel, an active member of rasikapriya & carnaticsangeetham- yahoo groupss, who had helped with tracks of tharngams sung by Sri Udayalur Kalyanaraman.

Sathya learnt around 8 of them and performed 5 from this, apart from one in Neelambari he had already learnt, as per details below. Sri Shivakumar who also performs violin accompaniment with Sri Udayalur Kalyanaraman appreciated Sathya's efforts in learning those tracks and playing to his best in ashort time. Sri Ananthakrishnan on Mrudhangam and Sankar on Kanjeera encouraged and embalished the concert in a great way. While the audience appreciated Sathya's efforts special applause was given for the tharangams in ragam Kalyani & Neelambari This team looked good as though they had been perfoming for nth concert even though it was the first time they were playing together. Look forward to this set many more times in the future.

It was also nice to see Sathya's well wisher's, like Sri Subramaniam (Nalinakanthi & Hamsavinodhini), Sri Gopal from Chennai & Smt Swarna Swaminathan family from Pondy to name a few blessing him with their presence.

01. Jaya Jaya Ramanartha - Naatai - Adhi (R & KS)
02. Jaya Jaya Swamin - Mohanam - Ekam Thisra nadai (KS)
03. Veeksheyam Kadha - Ahiri - Misrachaapu
04. Kalaya Yeshodhe Thava balam - Karaharapriya - Adhi (Ragam)
05. Narayana Hari - Kalyani - Ekam
06.. Madhava Mamava - Neelampari - Adhi

Here is few video clipping's link

Concert for Ganabharathi, Mysore on 10th Feb'08

After reaching Mysore, Sathya was happy to get a hotel room with TV to watch the India Australia one day match. He was happy about the outcome of the result and so was the audience at the end of the concert here in Mysore for Ganabharathi on the 10th Feb'08. This concert was enhanced by Mysore Sri Rajesh on Violin, Sri G. Ramanujam on Mrudhnagam and Mysore Sri Ramesh on the Ghatam. Sathya presented composition of Sri Purandharadhasar and Sri Thyagarajar as per following details and completed the concert with the audience request of Sri Rajaji's Kurai Onrum Illai at the end. The composition Birana Brovayide by Tarangampady Panchanada Iyer fitted in as mentioned by Sri SR Krishnamurthy in his review in Star of Myosre as teh main krithi for the day. Link is http://starofmysore.com/main.asp?type=specialnews dated 18th Feb'08

01. Gajavadhanaveduve - Hamsadhwani - Adhi [R & KS]
02. Guruleka - GowriManohari - Kandachaapu[outline raga & KS]
03. Odibharaiya - Bhairavi - Adhi [R & krithi]
04. Ninuvina - Navarasa Kanada - Rupakam
05. Rageethandheero - Punagavarali - Adhi
06. Sivasiva - Panthuvarali - Adhi (audience request) [KS]
07. KanduKandu - Desh - Kandachaapu
08. Biranabrovayithe - Kalyani - Adhi (thisranadai){R, N, KS on ragamalika]
09. Thumburimeetidhava - Sindhubhairavi - Tisra nadai Ekam
10. Vandhanamu - Sahana - Adhi
11. Bagyadhalakshmi - Madhyamavathi - Adhi
12. Kurai onrum illai - Raagamalika - Adhi [Audience request]
followed by mangalam

The audio link for this concert is http://tinyurl.com/38hjmm

Special mention should be made on the ambience and the PA system which was one of the reasons for the success of the concert apart form the lovely learned audience who appreciated every effort made by the artists to present a good concert.

On the request of the audience Sathya performed ragamalika swaram in the main piece taking Rasikapriya, Mohanam & Charukesi. He also played these ragas on korappu format and then went on to play Kalayani for the final big round before the korvai. Mysore Sri Rajesh accompanying for the first time was all praise for Sathya's talents and expressed that he did not expect this level of proficiency from Sathya. Sri Ramanujam and Sri Ramesh were at their best and having already been with him in Shimoga were encouraging him all through out. They also presented a an elaborate thani avarthanam which added flavor to the concert.

Sri Iyengar, Secretary of Ganabharathi referred to Sri Mali and Sri Mandolin Shrinivas and blessed Sathya to come in their foot steps. While we are not sure if Sathya has got the qualities of these MahaVidwans at this stage, with the blessings of the almighty if he can get a percentage or two of their vidwath it will indeed be good for Sathya. A rare photograph of Purandharadhasa and Sathya took this photograph to be preserved.

At Padma Sarangapani Cultural Academy for Pancharathna krithi presentation 9.2.08

It was another great day for Sathya as he was invited in the Saint Thyagaraja's aradhana by Padma Sarangapani Cultural Academy, Villiwakkam where there was pancharatha krithi's performed by eminent musician under the leadership of Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sri T N Seshagopalan. Sathya was blessed to have been given an oppurtunity to perofrm along with him and it was indeed a great experience.

Sathya with Embar Kanna in Ghatam Karthick's heArtbeat Ensemble on 7th Feb'08

It was indeed a great day for Sathya as he was in for a kind of litmus test. Yes just two days before Dr. Karthick enquired if he can perform heArtbeat's ensemble at NSTSS, Nanganallur on the 7th Feb'08 and on checking with Sathya and Kannan, same was accepted. H/ever it was decided that Sathya has to take a new piece in a new raga (for Sathya) Bhujangini. Sathya took this as a test for his ability and informed that he would like to take the 7th off from school and do a session with his uncle. So we went to Kannan's house in the morning around 1130 am where Kannan informed that he has planned to perform a pallavi in Gowri Manohari with words "Thyagarajaswamikku sari evvaru rama bakthudai sri" as the concert was for his aradhana at NSTSS, Nanganallur.

Sathya with no hesitation sat with Kannan and tried the numbers for the day to be performed. While we were little anxious if Sathya can do, in the evening Sathya proved too good to be praised by Embar Kannan and the entire team of heArtbeat. The audience were also applauding the efforts of Sathya. It was a great day for Sathya and here is the audio link of this concert http://tinyurl.com/2vfwsv

Do listen, enjoy and forward your valuable comments, if possible.

Thyagaraja Ardhana at Bharat Kalachar - 3rd Feb'08

It was a day of Thyagaraja Aradhana probably in many of the leading sabhas in Chennai and Sathya had the blessings to participate at Bharat Kalachar. It was indeed a gathering of artists in good number and the perfect presentation by all the artists was appreciated by a well attended audience. Special mention was made by Smt YGP on the children approx 10 in number, trained by Smt Kunnakudy Bala who has been training not only children but also elders for the pancharathana krithis. Sathya's mother Smt K. Lalitha also participated as a singer in this aradhana. Here is the link for 3 video clipping of the performance.

A fine concert to end Jan'08 for Vignan Samithi Hyderabad - 29.1.08

A great ambience was the secret of the success of this concert with a big stage, good PA system, learned audience etc. Sathya with the team of Ananthakrishnan on violin, Thillaisthanam Suriyanarayanan on Mrudhangam and Sai sundar on Kanjeera gave another good presentation of only Thyagaraja krithis as requested by the forum. Starting off with a brief alapana on Kanakangi for the krithi Sri Gananatham with elaborate kalpanaswaram Sathya played Ramananu Brovara in the correct kalapramanam on Harikamboji. The alapana, krithi and kalpanaswaram presented for Saranga was indeed a highlight as it was tried for the first time in the submain format. As requested by rasikas EntharoMahanubhavulu, Sobillu and Ksheerasagara were performed with a successful attempt to perform kalapanaswaram for Devaganthari krithi.

Sathya took Koluvamaragatha on Thodi as the main and gave a presentation of alapana and swaras which was applauded by one and all in the audience and special appreciation to do this raga as main was given as in this series till then no one had taken so. Sathya completed the concert with the Sahana raga krithi Vandhanamu.

Ananthakrishnan was at his best through out the concert and excelled in his raga alapanas and was always competitive during kalpanaswaras which made it interesting for the audience. Suriyanarayanan was enhancing the concert to a great value with his "sowkya vasippu" and gave an excellent thani along with the kanjeera artist Sri Sai Sundar who is actually a good mrudhangam artist. The Thyagaraja's photo was indeed a great one here! Sathya had a 86 year old well wisher by name Sri Royallu, son of the first Gyanpeeta awardee Sri Viswanatha Royallu for his literary works. He was much impressed and invited the team for lunch the following day and details on same can be had in Sathya's personal blog http://keyboardsathya.blogspot.com