Thursday 20 December 2012

Ravikiran's tribute to centenarian vidwan Alathur Srinivasa Iyer


This year being the centenary year of many Carnatic music legends like T. Brinda, Madurai Mani Iyer, Palghat Mani Iyer and the living legend Dr. Sripada Pinakapani, many musicians pay tribute to these greats in their concerts during the season.

But Chitravina Ravikiran paid a special tribute to Alathur Srinivasa Iyer, elder of the musicians, who performed as Alathur brothers in his concert at the Narad Gana Sabha on Dec. 19. This year is marks the centenary of Alathur Srinivasa Iyer also.

Before playing 'Vidulaku' in Mayamalavagowla composed by Thayagaraja, he announced to the audience that Alathur brothers used render this keerthana very well and remembered having learnt it form his guru T. Brinda.

The main item Munnu Ravana, a rare kriti in Todi was also rendered in memory of Alathur Srinivasa Iyer. Ravikiran said it was the last kriti he learnt from his guru Brindamma, though she taught him many padams and javalis after that.

Senior mridangam vidwan Trichy Sankaran who accompanied Ravikiran along with Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi on the violin, also had a short story to share. He said, his guru Palani Subramania Pillai had played for Alathur brothers for this song. And this was the first kriti Sankaran heard his guru singing for a recording by the All India Radio. This kriti is the favourite of he and and his guru as percussionists, he added.

Ravikiran has informed his rasikas that he would be continuing his tribute to Alathur Srinivasa Iyer in his concert at The Music Academy on Dec. 21.

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