/* START Google Analytics Code*/ /* END of Google Analytics Code */ A home called "Parvathi": November 2012

Monday, November 26, 2012

Classicism as the Core: Vidwan O. S. Thyagarajan - 1994



[ The following text is due to R.Sachi ( click ) ]


This time we are happy to feature a well-known senior vidwan, Sri. O.S. THyagarajan. He has come and performed in Parvathi around 8 times over the past few decades.

Recalling his music, Sri K. Srikantiah says, “there are a few artistes who are simple, not after crowd-pulling music, and focused on giving a wholesome concert with classicism as its core value. The foremost among such artistes was Palghat K.V. Narayanaswamy. Sri O.S. Thyagarajan comes in the same mold. A man of few words, I found his music and personality endearing for its calmness."


[Courtesy: The Hindu ]


Gleaning from various sources on the Internet:

Sri O.S.Thyagarajan was born on April 3,1947. He is a classicist who paints in glorious colours the fine shades of raga, krithi and swara in his numerous concerts.

He had his earlier training under his father Sangeetha Bhooshanam O.V. Subramanian, and later under the celebrated maestro Lalgudi G. Jayaraman and finally, Sangeetha Kalanidhi T.M. Thyagarajan. An ‘A- Top’ graded artist of the All India Radio and of Doordarshan, he has been giving a large number of concerts well appreciated and relished.

The titles conferred on him are “Sangeetha Choodamani” (Sri Krishna Gana Sabha), Sangeetha Kala Sagara (Kalasagaram, Hyderabad), “Nada Gana Kala Praveena”, “Sangeetha Samrajya” Madurai, “Nadha Booshanam” Shanmukhananda Sangeetha Sabha, and New Delhi.

He is regularly featured by all leading sabhas in Chennai as well as throughout India and has toured many countries, including USA, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Middle East, Malaysia, Hong Kong, South Africa, and many cities in Europe. He worked as Dean, Faculty of Fine Arts, and Annamalai University for 5 years. He has trained many disciples too.

In an interview he gave a couple of years ago, OST, as he is fondly known, called upon artistes to spread “Sasthriya Sangeetham." He recalled his first lesson from his guru in 1980. “Never try to get applause by singing something absurd and if you don’t get applause despite sensible singing never bother. This is one lesson I remember even today,” he said, revealing his utmost reverence for the two Thyagarajas – the saint composer and his guru.

In this concert held in Parvathi in 1994, we enter straight away into a concert in full swing, to the strains of the raga Asaveri. Featured in Thyagaraja’s opera, Prahlada Bhakti Vijayam, the song is a plaintive cry by the devotee to the lord:


" RARA MAYINTIDAKA " (Asaveri)

Oh Raghuvira! Tyagaraja's fortune! Pray, come to my house; I bow to you. Bless me. I cannot bear the separation any longer. Till now, with unfulfilled desire, I have been in long and vexatious search for you. Pray, do come today at least, in all your glory. My purpose in seeking you is to implore you every morning to teach me, to have the privilege of the Darshana of your enchanting face, to stand by your side and worship you every day, and thus be blessed. Believing that you alone are my refuge, I have allowed myself to be in your grip. Why do you forget this, and why do you not come to me promptly?

(Taken from The Spiritual Heritage of Thyagaraja)


The other songs, with enthusiastic accompaniment on the violin and mridangam, are a scintillating Shanmukhapriya “Marivere”and “O Rangashayi”rendered in a majestic Kambhoji by Vidwan O.S. Thaygarajan.

The concert is well recorded and the five items featured all showcase melody, virtuosity and bhava, all in the mould of pure classicism.


Concert Details: ( "Parvathi" Ramanavami, April 12, 1994 )

Vocal - O.S. Thyagarajan
Violin - H.K. Venkatram
Mridangam - T.A.S. Mani
Ghatam - G.S. Ramanujam

Song List:

01.Rara Mayintidaka – Asaveri – Thyagaraja*** 02. Marivere – Shanmukgapriya – Patnam Subramanya Iyer *** 03. O Rangashayee – Kambhoji – Thyagaraja *** 04. Narayanaya Namo Madhavaya – Karnaranjani – Narayana Tirtha *** 05. Sri Raghavam - Shloka – Kapi, Varali, Sindhu Bhairavi ***