The Excellence of Flute in Carnatic Music - Vid. N. Ramani

Vid. N. Ramani - Sri Ramanavami 1980

The world of Carnatic music is best described in two words - Sangeeta and Sahitya. The compositions of the great vaggeyakaras are like mantras that invoke the Nada Brahmam in us as we listen to a chaste rendition of their songs.

But as सङ्गीतरत्नाकर declares, गीतं वाद्यं तथा नृत्यं  त्रयं सङ्गीतमुच्यते - the trinity of Song, Instrument and Dance is Sangeeta.

The Srimad Bhagavatam declares that as soon as Sage Narada received spiritual instruction from his father, Lord Brahma, he began travelling the three worlds, singing the glory of Sri Hari, accompanying himself on the Veena!

But what about pure instrumental music? The instrumental soloists have etched a permanent place for themselves in Carnatic music. Notable among them, and the favourites of the home of Parvathi, were Vid. Lalgudi Jayaraman, Vid. Chitti Babu, Vid. Mandolin Shrinivas, and, last but not the least, Vid. N. Ramani.

The Wikipedia informs us that Vid. Ramani was born into a musician family in Tiruvarur. He learnt the art of the flute from his maternal uncle and legend Vid. Mali, and carved a significant place for himself with the best of the gayaki style of Carnatic music combining his instrumental virtuosity with adherence to the Pathantara of songs rendered by the best vocalists of the time.

In this concert, Vid. Ramani is accompanied by the maestro Vid. M. Chandrasekharan on the violin, Vid. Vellore Ramabhadran on the mridangam and Vid. M.A. Krishnaswamy on the ghatam. The repeated exclamations of "Bhale", 'Bhesh", and "Kya Baat Hai" can be heard peppering the wonderful flow of music. Notable renditions are Hindolam, with wonderful essays by the flute and violin, and also Kharaharapriya, an eternal favourite of Sri. K. Srikantiah.

Concert Details

Ramanavami 1980

N. Ramani - Flute

M. Chandrasekharan - Violin

Vellore Ramabhadran - Mridangam

M.A. Krishnamurthy - Ghatam

Date 26 March 1980

Song List

1. Chani Todi Teve - Harikambhoji - Thyagaraja

2. Sri Narada Nada - Kanada - Thyagaraja

3. Enta Muddo - Bindumalini- Thyagaraja

4. Manasulo Ni Marmamu - Hindolam - Thyagaraja

5. Palintuvo - Kantamani - Thyagaraja

6. Rama Nee Samanamevaru - Kharaharapriya - Thyagaraja

7. Ni Dayache Rama? - Yadukula Kambhoji - Thyagaraja

8.  Bhajan- Shivaranjani

9. Bhajan - Sindu Bhairavi

10. Arumugam Arumugam - Kuntalavarali- Arunagirinathar (Thiruppugazh)

(The recording is 42 years old and any shortcomings may be kindly excused.)

Sudha Raghunathan – A Worthy Inheritor and a Shining Star

Padma Bhushan Vid. Sudha Raghunathan - Sri Ramanavami 2005

The mantle of the MLV bani sits lightly on the most successful lady musician on the Carnatic scene of the past 30 years. Vid. Sudha Ragunathan has performed at the Madras Music Season every year since 1990, the very year in which her Guru Dr. ML Vasanthakumari breathed her last. 

In 2013 she was awarded the Sangita Kalanidhi of the Madras Music Academy. She was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian honour, in January 2015. 

Her charities are very well known, carried out by her trust. Her musical collaborations, from performing with Dr. Balamuralikrishna to joining groups that created world music, are prolific and fascinating.

Vid. Sudha’s energy, charm and creativity were on full display during the Covid lockdown. She conducted a number of exciting sessions with musicians and other personalities of all ages in a warm tête-à-tête style. She even had live cooking sessions on her YouTube channel, where she sang and cooked at the same time!

We have featured several concerts of Vid. Sudha Raghunathan in the Parvathi blog already. She has been a regular in our festivals and a much acclaimed star for the Parvathi audiences.

In this 2005 concert, Vid. Sudha presents a rich bouquet of songs from many composers. Her easy style of reaching top octave notes is on display early in the concert. . All the accompanists are established names from Karnataka. Her essay of Todi and the song Chesinadella are captivating. Behind her ease in negotiating the high notes and an easy fluidity characteristic of her music lies hidden her lifelong Sadhana in a successful journey prophesied by none other than Bhagavan Sathya Sai Baba.

Concert Details

 Sudha Raghunathan - Vocal

 Mysore V. Srikanth - Violin 

 C. Cheluvaraj - Mridangam 

 M.A. Krishnamurthy - Ghatam 

 Date 21 April 2005 

 Sri Ramanavami Festival conducted at the home of "Parvathi"

Song List

1. Viriboni – Bhairavi Atatala Varnam – Pachimiriyam Adiyappayya
2. Gajavadana Beduve – Hamsadhvani – Purandara Dasa 
3. Ramanatham Bhajeyam – Pantuvarali – Muthuswami Dikshitar 
4. Mokshamu Galada – Saramathi – Thyagaraja 
5. Bhavayami Raghuramam – Ragamalika – Swathi Thirunal 
6. Dayarani – Mohana – Thyagaraja 
7. Akhilandeshwari – Dwijavanthi – Muthuswami Dikshitar 
8. Vidajaladura – Janaranjani – Thyagaraja
9. Jesinadella Marachitivo – Todi – Thyagaraja 
10. Kurai Onrum Illai – Ragamalika – C. Rajagopalachari 
11. Maneyinda Santhosha – Ugabhoga – Yamuna Kalyani – Sripadaraja 
12. Hari Smarane Mado –Yamuna Kalyani – Purandara Dasa 
13. Brahmam Okate – Bowli - Annamacharya 
14. Mangalam

ಉಗಾಭೋಗದ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ: 

ಮನೆಯಿಂದ ಸಂತೋಷ ಕೆಲವರಿಗೆ ಲೋಕದಲಿ 

ಧನದಿಂದ ಸಂತೋಷ ಕೆಲವರಿಗೆ ಲೋಕದಲಿ 

ವನಿತೆಯಿಂದ ಸಂತೋಷ ಕೆಲವರಿಗೆ ಲೋಕದಲಿ 

ತನಯನಿಂದ ಸಂತೋಷ ಕೆಲವರಿಗೆ ಲೋಕದಲಿ 

ಇನಿತು ಸಂತೋಷ ಅವರವರಿಗಾಗಲಿ ನಿನ್ನ ನೆನೆವೋ ಸಂತೋಷ ಎನಗಾಗಲಿ ನಮ್ಮ ರಂಗವಿಠ್ಠಲ ॥