Summer is a scorcher in Chennai. With the temperature soaring sky-high…the highly-cultured and musically-inclined citizens turn to music for refreshing and cooling themselves.
Here is a short write-up of Nityashri Mahadevan’s concert that I was privileged to attend.
Music is not new to Nityashree, for it runs in her genes. She is extremely lucky to be born in a great musical family. She was brought up in a musical atmosphere being the grand - daughter of the great vidushi, Dr. D.K.Pattammal and the daughter of equally talented parents. She is carrying the music lineage with ease and perfection.
I remember her saying in one interview how much emphasis and importance her grandmother used to lay on practice or sadhana. This was evident in her musical recital. The whole atmosphere reverberated that it was not surprising to see many more people listening standing on the road!!! The whole atmosphere was elevated to a new level where one could not only hear but also feel music.
She began the concert by singing a tamil song set to the melodious raga Charukeshi. It was a perfect beginning. From there she took off, soaring high up taking us through this wonderful journey called music.
She sang many kritis dedicated to Lord Rama. The setting could not have been more perfect. We were all mentally transported to the Treta Yuga when the dear Lord incarnated as Rama. The Ayodhya Mandapam, the venue for the concert, became for about three hours the Ayodhya of Lord Rama and all of us the inhabitants of the town!!!
The Tyagaraja krithi, Unnai Illam Gati Yenaiaah, Oh Rama set to the raga Bhairavi was mellifluous and touched all our hearts. The song with its deep meaning had a lasting effect on all our minds. For a moment, we realized the real purpose of our birth and what would happen to us if not for the loving and merciful Lord!!!
Another krithi composed by the same ardent devotee, saint Tyagaraja, soothed the mind. The lyrics were so meaningful that it unlocked many of the labyrinths and made the thinking process more clear. For example, the phrase, Vande Lokabhi Ramam, Sakala Bhaya Haram was enough to calm the confused mind.
A look at the watch and I suddenly realized how fast the time went. It was already past 8 and the Thaneyavarthanam commenced. She concluded the concert with a ragamalika krithi. Very soon, the wonderful evening came to an end. But then, the notes and the music still continue to echo in the ears and linger in the heart!
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