On the second day of Ramotsava music concert at Alamma’s Choultry in Srirampet, Vid. Sikkil Gurucharan performed for Sri Ramabhyudaya Sabha. He was accompanied by Vittal Rangan on violin, mridanga legend Umayalapuram Sivaraman and Giridhar Udupa on ghata.

Grandson of Sikkil Kunjumani, Gurucharan has music in his gene. While almost every second member in his family took up playing the flute, Gurucharan took to singing, which later made him a full-time professional.

The concert stood out because Gurucharan chose the ragas and compositions wisely and executed them with poise in the concert. The start was impressive with the unexpected Tyagaraja Pancharatna ‘Dudukugala nanne,’ in GowLa. ‘Shreemadaadi Tyagaraja Guruvaram namaamyaham’ by Mysuru Vasudevacharya in Kalyani was a pleasant surprise as it is hardly heard on stage.  The vocalist explained that it was taught to him by Umayalapuram Sivaraman, who further explained that he learnt it from his grandfather, who was a direct disciple of Tyagaraja. Kalpana Swaras developed for the pallavi of this last composition of Vasudevacharya were simple with no serious calculations but rich in essence.

A short but sublime ragalapana in sama led to Tyagaraja’s ‘Shantamuleka Saukhyamuledu,’ which emerged as a picture of beauty. Swaras knit only in the first speed suited the mood of the composition. Bhairavi was chosen for expansion. Gurucharan made good use of his vocal prowess and raga aesthetics to render the raga and the soulful kriti of Deekshitar ‘Balagopala paalayaashumaam.’ Vittal Rangan’s raga delineation also had dynamism and depth.

The neraval occurred at the expected ‘Neela Neerada Shareera,’ which was expanded unhurriedly. Sivaraman was very motivating and encouraged the vocalist and the violinist throughout. His taniyavartanam with Giridhar Udupa exhibited a wide range of percussion techniques and received applause at the right junctures. Also Sivaraman made patterns to synchronise with the tone of a car that was backing, bringing smiles on the faces of audience. The Sabha honoured young ghata artiste Giridhar Udupa on the occasion of being upgraded as the youngest ‘A’ top ghata artiste of All India Radio (AIR). Shloka ‘Vaidehi Sahitam Suradrumatale’ was presented in ragamalika with an appealing Karnaranjani and Behag leading onto Swati Tirunal’s ‘Smara janaka Shubha charita’ in Mishra Chapu. Tyagaraja’s ‘Meevalla Guna dosha memi’ in Kapi and a tillana in Bilahari by Ariyakkudi Ramanuja Iyengar brought the concert to a close. An added devaranama could be an additional attraction for Mysureans.

By Dr. Padmavathi Narasimhan