Even at 88, T.N. Krishnan proposes and his faithful violin, disposes, reposefully as ever. In a sparkling recital at the 41st Neelakanta Sivan Aradhana festival at Karamana here on Thursday, along with his daughter, Viji Krishnan, the maestro transported the audience to classicism at its best. Perfectly intact was the tonal quality of his bowing, the measured phrases, the quickening flashes and the sancharas, for which he is famous.
Starting off with an indolent Varnam in Khamboji, T.N. Krishnan quickly took up Thyagaraja’s Pancharatna kriti in Sri Raga, Entharo Mahaanubhavulu. The cascade of swaras of this popular composition reflected the innate nature of his playing -- an ideal blend of briskness as well as poignant pauses.
Pathos and piety
The father-daughter duo then took up for exposition Kharaharapriya, a raga which evokes pathos and piety. Again, it was a Thyagaraja kriti, Rama Nee Samaanamevaru. It was a stately presentation of the weighty raga, which has been a favourite of Thyagaraja. It is said that neither Syama Sastri or Muthuswami Deekshithar composed any songs in this raga.
A lullabic Neelambari followed, adhering fully to the sahitya of Narayana Theertha’s well-liked Madhava Mamava Deva. The gamakas flowed impeccably from one note to the next and the canvas was filled with all the shades that one associates with the tranquillity of this raga.
Neelakanta Sivan’s Ananda Natamaatuvar is every listener’s favourite and Krishnan did not disappoint the audience with his foray into the composition.
The evergreen one
He did not linger long in essaying the full architecture of the swaras but the essence was nevertheless captured, in homage to the singer-saint.
A quick Shyama (Maanasa Sanchara Re of Sadasiva Brahmendra) followed and then came Swathi Thirunal’s evergreen offering, Ramachandra Prabhu in Sindhu Bhairavi.
Thrissur K.M.S. Mani on the mridangam and Anchal Krishna Iyer on the ghatom gave commendable support.
