A brief sketch Hariprasad Subramanian delivered in Surutti at the beginning reinforced the raga’s sober nature, but the young flautist followed the alapana with a varnam that brought to the fore its ebullient character. Thiruvottriyur Thyagayyar’s ‘Ento premato’ in Adi tala displayed how dynamic forays, more so along the swara sequences towards the culmination of the speedy second half, can set the tone for an energetic concert.
In fact, effervescence turned out to be the overall feature of Hariprasad’s two-hour performance at the Venuganam festival that Mudhra organised across six evenings last month. For instance, Nattai was the Kerala instrumentalist’s choice as the second piece. The inherent sprightliness in this asymmetric raga resounded further in ‘Jaya jaya (Purandaradasa), with the five-beat khanda chapu adding to the momentum.
Hariprasad’s grip over the woodwind was obvious by now: no shrillness towards the top registers, never a slip down the rhythmic path. Both features not only encouraged his much-senior accompanists but made their job easier — a hint of smile would light up the responses from M.R. Gopinath on the violin, while Sherthalai Ananthakrishnan (mridangam) and Madipakkam Murali (ghatam) were always cheerful. Hariprasad, who hails from a family of musicians near Guruvayur, is the son of nagaswaram vidwan O.K. Subramanian.
Natakapriya was the first parent scale in the presentation of eight pieces. The seven-minute alapana threw light on the kaleidoscopic nature of the tenth melakarta, which also gave Gopinath his first opportunity to show his neat artistry in response. The delineation of ‘Karuna jesi’ (of Mysore Vasudevacharya’s ‘Idi samayamu’) hinted at an upcoming swaraprastara set to Rupakam. Barring a cursory jarring, this solfa stretch bloomed as an excellent instance of individual imagination and harmonious teamwork. Nalinakanti (‘Natajana palini’ by Thanjavur Sankara Iyer) came next as just a bridge to the centrepiece.
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The centerpiece of Hariprasad’s recital was Purvikalyani, which really allowed him to exhibit his finesse in ensuring the tonal quality of the emotive core of the raga. The alapana was refreshing even while treading the customary path, though the cooling-down was somewhat abrupt. The seasoned violinist, despite a few shortcomings in his solo reply, made up for it, and joined in ‘Padmavati tamanan’. The mellowness of the melody graced each breath of the Oothukadu Venkata Subbaiyer kriti that had its final stanza branching out to niraval.
This elaborate corridor featured a fair share of improvisations underscoring the happy results of any collaboration steeped in cooperation. Things progressed to the swaraprastara stage in a way that it reinforced the role of the uneven Misra chapu tala in lending the rallies a special charm. The increasing prominence of the mridangam and ghatam in the soundscape had its natural culmination in an 18-minute tani avartanam that adhered to the aesthetics of the principal composition.
The final lap of the concert comprised three pieces: Sadasiva Brahmendral’s ‘Manasa sancharare’ in Sama, ‘Bhavayami gopala balam’ (Yamuna Kalyani, Annamacharya), and a Lalgudi Jayaraman thillana in Maund. Though they came in as tukkadas, they were unhurried even while sounding vivacious.
These concluding pieces provided a soothing end to an otherwise high-energy performance, bringing in a touch of tranquillity after a series of dynamic renditions. The manner in which Hariprasad handled these tukkadas underscored his versatility and deep understanding of the varied emotional landscape of Carnatic music.
The six-day Venuganam festival organised by Mudhra drew to a close with Hariprasad’s performance leaving an indelible mark on the audience. The concert was a testament to his meticulous preparation and innate musicality, reflecting the traditions he upholds and the innovation he brings forward. His ability to balance technical prowess with emotive expression is a promise of greater laurels in his budding career.
Hariprasad Subramanian’s name is already being whispered among Carnatic connoisseurs as someone to watch out for. This evening’s performance certainly reinforced that belief, leaving many eagerly anticipating his future concerts. As the applause resonated through the hall, it was clear that Hariprasad’s concert had struck the right chord, not just with the musical compositions but with the hearts of the audience as well.
