San Diego Music Season 2005

Saturday, April 16, 2005

Savitha Narasimhan : Vivid Imagination

Savitha started her concert with the Hamsadhwani Tana Varnam ("Jalajaksha") in two speeds. Durbar ("Yochana") of St.Thyagaraja was rendered off the textbook with hardly any imagination. Pantuvarali ("Appa Rama") flowed with relative ease because of Nirmal Narayan's sense of rhythm. It was when she got to Nata Kuranji ("E kalathilum") that she really warmed up. The Raaga per se was rendered well.

Jayanthasri ("Marugelara") was a prelude to Kalyani ("Nidhi Chala"). Savitha's approach to Kalyani as a second main item was a bit different. She delivered the raga followed up with the Krithi & Nereval. Her Nereval had a vivid imagination but she dumped all the effort by concluding the song without swara prastharam. I was amazed as to why a person would do that !!

Vasantha ("Ramachandram Bhavayami") was crisp & clear. Kiravani ("Kaligi unte") was pleasing and was the saviour of the concert. This time main item had the swara prastharam sans nerevel. I can’t understand this artist. Always seems to miss something.

She concluded her concert with lighter numbers in Maand, Saveri & Thiruppugazh.

Raagam: 5/10 Nereval: 5/10 Kalpanaswaram: 5/10 Sowkyam: 5/10 Pataantharam: 6/10 Gimmicks: 2/10 Seshtai: 0/10 Acting: 0/10 Commercial Approach: 4/10 Thani Avarthanam: Good. Voice Culture: 5/10 Overall: Miles to Go.