Navaratri 2009

As always, the Navaratri experience was both exhilarating and at times daunting.

I had four concerts back to back in various parts of Kerala and the travel back and forth can be tiring at times.

But once you get on stage and have the pulse of the audience…out goes the fatigue!!!

The audience in most parts of Kerala is considerably different from other parts of South India.

For starters, they don’t applaud in a pre-programmed manner after every item – be it a warm-up varnam or a mangalam!!!

You get a nice round of applause sometimes for just one half avarthanam swaram, sometimes for a round of neraval or sometimes for some sangathi.

The other great thing is their choice of ragas – owing to their Kathakali background, in most parts of Kerala, they love it when you sing Mukhari, Kedaragowla, Kambhoji and other such quintessential Carnatic ragas.

This Navaratri I tried out one new thing from my side – I sang thaanam in every concert, for the main item. Worked out well.

I also sang several kritis that I had not sung in concerts before, e.g.: Sri Sathyanarayanam (Shubha pantuvarali), Pahi Janani (Natakuranji), etc.

The response was very encouraging everywhere.

I got to sing with some really experienced mridangam vidwans from Kerala such as Prof. Dinesh Kumar and Palakkad Mahesh Kumar.

An enriching Navaratri comes to an end….