M.K.Jagannathan Memorial Concert: Smt Neela Ramgopal with R.Rahul, Poongulam Subramanian & K.V.Gopalakrishnan
Jagannathan mama, or Jaggu as he was fondly known as, was a great music connoisseur and a very close well wisher of Naada Inbam. Right from the days of Sri S.V.Krishnan, Jagannathan mama was been keenly interested in the activities and gave suggestions regarding artistes and programmes.
His was a completely passionate involvement with the purest forms of Carnatic music. Not for him the ‘modern trends’ like abhangs or fusion. Even ragas like Behag or Sindhu Bhairavi were way behind in his favourite list as compared to a Mukhari or Dhanyasi.
Jaggu mama minced no words when it came to voicing his opinion. The music that fell short of his ideals was torn to pieces, never mind who was listening. Similarly, when he was enamoured by a particularly chaste Emi Neramu or Bala Gopala, he would lose no time in sharing it with his circle.
His favourite musicians were of course, those who toed the classical line. And in this countdown, the No 1 spot fell cleanly on vocalist and composer Thanjavur Sankara Iyer.
His respect, nay, devotion for the veteran vidwan was so deep that he often went to Tirunelveli to visit him. And on one occasion, at his own expense he brought out a CD of Tanjore Sankara Iyer’s concert in which the Vaggeyakara has sang his own compositions.
Jaggu’s love for music was equaled by his devotion to Maha Periyaval and he sponsored two concerts a year during the Jayanthi of Chandrasekhara Saraswathi, in the name of Smrithi. Invariably, the late vainika, Smt Kalpagam Swaminathan found a place amongst the programmes sponsored by him. Long time rasikas will remember his delighted countenance when Kalpagam mami’s concert was going on.
In the same way, he organised several chamber concerts at his spacious residence in Mandaveli. All praise to his wife, Kalyani mami who, though never a concert goer, nevertheless, took every effort to make these concerts a delightful experience, not only by way of listening, but also, a gastronomic treat!
It’s almost exactly three years since Jaggu mama passed away at age 79, coincidentally, on the birth anniversary of Kalpagam Mami. People close to him continue to miss the typical ‘Jaggu effect’- sharp, incisive observations, a dry sense of humour, impeccable English, advice that was always good, though not always palatable, a quiet way of doing the most generous thing without any fuss whatsoever.
It is just a year since his wife Kalyani mami also passed away, thus signifying the end of a period of bright navarathri celebrations, generous donations of jackfruit and mangoes, poojas.. the list that goes on heads towards just one word: warmth.
Smt Neela Ramgopal happened to be one of Jaggu mama’s favorites and it was but apt that we featured her in this year’ s concert in memory of Jagannathan mama.
Shakespear has said of Cleopatra that ‘age cannot wither her’. If he had seen Neela Ramgopal mami, he would have said that ‘age only rejuvenates her’ For, Neela mami, all of 82 , looks and sounds younger with the passing years. The only evidence of age is the throat that cooperates less than before. Otherwise, her concert at Nada Inbam showed her at her brightest and spirited best. Hats off to mami for her enthusiasm that is manifest in her music as well as her charming, brightly dressed demeanour. Hats off to mami for still working on building up her repertoire to include rare pieces of composers like Mysore Sadashiva Rao and for taking the effort to bring about intricate ‘kanakkus’ in her swaraprasthara, not to mention the fleeting sruti bedam in her kambhoji.
The concert was replete with vidwat as mami’s voice effortlessly skimmed curves and brigas to bring out every nuance of Kambhoji, Jayanasena, Sindhubhairavi and Jhompuri (viruthams)
Her wonderful team of Rahul (violin), Poongulam Subramanian (mridangam) and K.V.Gopalakrishnan (kanjira) all contributed to make the concert one to remember and one to stay put at till the end! With such vidwat and repertoire, no wonder mami has a whole troop of students in Bangalore. May she continue to enthrall audiences for many years to come!
One of the most die-hard Rasikas of Carnatic Music, Nicholas Haynes affectionately called Nick, celebrates his 65th Birthday today. Nick is a regular member at concerts held at the Ragasudha. Though English by birth, his tastes veer towards very traditional Indian Carnatic. He has a special propensity for Sangitakalanidhi Dr. R. Vedavalli’s style. Given these details it’s not surprising that he would consider it the best way of celebrating his Birthday by having Dr.Vedavalli’s concert at his favourite venue ‘Ragasudha”! And so, thanks to Nick, rasikas are in for a Vintage Treat of Rich Classical Music on the 4th July.
