Young Carnatic Vocalists in Splendid Arangetram
After systematic training and practice under the guidance of a music teacher comes the first public performance of the student. This debut performance to all music-enthusiasts, by climbing (etram) on to the stage (arangam) is what the term ‘Arangetram’ means in the divine arts traditions of India. This debut event is thus an arangetram or ranga pravesh, meaning “entering the stage”.
Auckland born young musical siblings Sayi Meerah Yogakumar (15) and Shivarama Yogakumar (12) had their Carnatic Vocal Arangetram at the Dorothy Winstone Hall, Auckland on the 21st April 2012.
This was the first Arangetram in New Zealand for their well renowned teacher Smt. S Rajeshwari of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Music enthusiasts in Auckland have witnessed their talents and progress over the years epitomized by their hard work and dedication. Their first Guru, Mrs Rani Nadarajah who is well known for instilling discipline, commitment and a desire to excel in her students had a significant influence on their development. Over the last few years, Smt. S Rajeshwari has been working intensely with them to enable both of them to perform at this high calibre. It is indeed very satisfying for all their vocal and instrumental teachers to see their achievements.
They have been outstanding students of the Auckland Academy of Fine Arts, winning all the prizes at every grade in vocal, instrumental and Pannisai. They have set a record in the Auckland Academy of Fine Arts as the only two students to have consistently achieved that feat.
The Arangetram has been a memorable event to all those who attended. It started with a poojai to Lord Ganesha and Goddess Saraswathy. This was followed by an introduction by the Master of Ceremony, their uncle Mr S Sathiyaselvan who also introduced the highly reputable accompanying artists Kalaimamani Padmanabhan T Krishnamoorthy (violin), Vidvan Mannarkudi A Easwaran (miruthangam), E M I Subramaniam (Gatam) and Divya Jammalamadaka (Thambura).
Their proud father Mr A Yogakumar welcomed all invited guests. The concert started with the Kanada varnam “Nera nammi” in Kanda jathi ata thalam. They set the evening in a very strong footing with confidence ease and composure.
This was followed by “Vathapi” in the bhakthi raga, Sahana and mesmerised the audience. This feeling of wanting to listen more was noted from the beginning. This was followed by Muthuswami Diskshitar’s composition – “Parvathi Pathim” in Hamsadvani ragam in a good tempo and precision.
They sang the Saint Tyagaraja Pancharatna composition – “Jagadanadakaraka” in Nattai with ease and fluency like a Vidvans. Lord Rama would have been pleased with this beautiful rendition. This was followed in veera rasam by Saint Puranadara Dasar’s composition “sakalagraha” in Atana ragam covering all the navagrahas. Surely the Gods were pleased and showered blessings for the bhaava they put into their singing. The compositions in Subhapantuvarali – “Sarigadha niinu” was rendered with such ease touching many a hearts with their bhakthi-bhaava.
The rendering of “Gurulekha” in Gowrimanohari ragam was done with great devotion and I am sure all their Gurus would have been very proud to witness their performance of this calibre. The Thodi raga alapana was with such feelings that touched many hearts by their manodharma and precision and so was the keerthanam “Ninne Nammi”. The karnaranjani raga keerthanam – “Om Namo Naraynana” was another beautifully rendered piece with bhakthi and ease.
They displayed their innate maturity in music with their ragam tanam pallavi set in two gathi’s for the two halves of the thalam was par excellence in tala, bhavam and precision. I am sure Lord Subramaniya which it was sung too would have definitely blessed the two of them for their brilliant effort. Smt S Rajeshwari’s vidvathvam was clearly executed by these talented two.
Both of them did show their individual talents and all present have not witnessed a brother and sister duo like this in Auckland ever before. We have only witnessed DK Pattammal and her brother DK Jeyaraman in the yester years with such fond memories.
The Thiruvasagam in virutham showed their manodharmam further. This was followed by Tamil compositions by Sudhahanadha Bharathiyar’s – “Eppadi padinaro”, “Nallador veenai” in Ragamalika, “Asai mugam” in Johnpuri by Subramaniyar Bharathiyar, Madurai srinivasan’s composition “Karunai Deivame” and “Kuraiyondrum Illai” of Rajagopala Chariyar enthralled all Tamils with such bhakthi and beautiful renderings brought tears to many in the audience.
The Sai Bhajan was sung with such devotion and bhakthi and Sri Sathya Sai Baba would have been very happy for this beautiful offering. The Chief Guest for the occasion was Dr Yogini Ratnasabapathy, one of the primary architects of the development of Carnatic Music in New Zealand and a founding trustee of the Auckland Academy of Fine Arts.
The Thillana was a treat in Desh and conclusion with Thirupugazh and Managalam left all present with such a mesmerised feel with contentment and happiness and wanting more from them in the future.
The Miruthangist Mannarkudi Easan, Violinist –Padmanabhan T Krishnamoorthy and the Gatam by Sri Subramnium kept perfect synchrony to their singing and the whole orchestra indeed filled the auditorium with their vibrant accompaniments. The Arangetram without an intermission showed their endurance and hard work that has paid towards delivering such a wonderful experience to all who attended. All these compositions are prayers to god and sure the Gods will bless the two of them long life and many years of wonderful signing. The audience absolutely felt with a standing ovation of their brilliant performance and we all wish gods blessings and all the very best for a bright future for both of them.
After systematic training and practice under the guidance of a music teacher comes the first public performance of the student. This debut performance to all music-enthusiasts, by climbing (etram) on to the stage (arangam) is what the term ‘Arangetram’ means in the divine arts traditions of India....
After systematic training and practice under the guidance of a music teacher comes the first public performance of the student. This debut performance to all music-enthusiasts, by climbing (etram) on to the stage (arangam) is what the term ‘Arangetram’ means in the divine arts traditions of India. This debut event is thus an arangetram or ranga pravesh, meaning “entering the stage”.
Auckland born young musical siblings Sayi Meerah Yogakumar (15) and Shivarama Yogakumar (12) had their Carnatic Vocal Arangetram at the Dorothy Winstone Hall, Auckland on the 21st April 2012.
This was the first Arangetram in New Zealand for their well renowned teacher Smt. S Rajeshwari of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Music enthusiasts in Auckland have witnessed their talents and progress over the years epitomized by their hard work and dedication. Their first Guru, Mrs Rani Nadarajah who is well known for instilling discipline, commitment and a desire to excel in her students had a significant influence on their development. Over the last few years, Smt. S Rajeshwari has been working intensely with them to enable both of them to perform at this high calibre. It is indeed very satisfying for all their vocal and instrumental teachers to see their achievements.
They have been outstanding students of the Auckland Academy of Fine Arts, winning all the prizes at every grade in vocal, instrumental and Pannisai. They have set a record in the Auckland Academy of Fine Arts as the only two students to have consistently achieved that feat.
The Arangetram has been a memorable event to all those who attended. It started with a poojai to Lord Ganesha and Goddess Saraswathy. This was followed by an introduction by the Master of Ceremony, their uncle Mr S Sathiyaselvan who also introduced the highly reputable accompanying artists Kalaimamani Padmanabhan T Krishnamoorthy (violin), Vidvan Mannarkudi A Easwaran (miruthangam), E M I Subramaniam (Gatam) and Divya Jammalamadaka (Thambura).
Their proud father Mr A Yogakumar welcomed all invited guests. The concert started with the Kanada varnam “Nera nammi” in Kanda jathi ata thalam. They set the evening in a very strong footing with confidence ease and composure.
This was followed by “Vathapi” in the bhakthi raga, Sahana and mesmerised the audience. This feeling of wanting to listen more was noted from the beginning. This was followed by Muthuswami Diskshitar’s composition – “Parvathi Pathim” in Hamsadvani ragam in a good tempo and precision.
They sang the Saint Tyagaraja Pancharatna composition – “Jagadanadakaraka” in Nattai with ease and fluency like a Vidvans. Lord Rama would have been pleased with this beautiful rendition. This was followed in veera rasam by Saint Puranadara Dasar’s composition “sakalagraha” in Atana ragam covering all the navagrahas. Surely the Gods were pleased and showered blessings for the bhaava they put into their singing. The compositions in Subhapantuvarali – “Sarigadha niinu” was rendered with such ease touching many a hearts with their bhakthi-bhaava.
The rendering of “Gurulekha” in Gowrimanohari ragam was done with great devotion and I am sure all their Gurus would have been very proud to witness their performance of this calibre. The Thodi raga alapana was with such feelings that touched many hearts by their manodharma and precision and so was the keerthanam “Ninne Nammi”. The karnaranjani raga keerthanam – “Om Namo Naraynana” was another beautifully rendered piece with bhakthi and ease.
They displayed their innate maturity in music with their ragam tanam pallavi set in two gathi’s for the two halves of the thalam was par excellence in tala, bhavam and precision. I am sure Lord Subramaniya which it was sung too would have definitely blessed the two of them for their brilliant effort. Smt S Rajeshwari’s vidvathvam was clearly executed by these talented two.
Both of them did show their individual talents and all present have not witnessed a brother and sister duo like this in Auckland ever before. We have only witnessed DK Pattammal and her brother DK Jeyaraman in the yester years with such fond memories.
The Thiruvasagam in virutham showed their manodharmam further. This was followed by Tamil compositions by Sudhahanadha Bharathiyar’s – “Eppadi padinaro”, “Nallador veenai” in Ragamalika, “Asai mugam” in Johnpuri by Subramaniyar Bharathiyar, Madurai srinivasan’s composition “Karunai Deivame” and “Kuraiyondrum Illai” of Rajagopala Chariyar enthralled all Tamils with such bhakthi and beautiful renderings brought tears to many in the audience.
The Sai Bhajan was sung with such devotion and bhakthi and Sri Sathya Sai Baba would have been very happy for this beautiful offering. The Chief Guest for the occasion was Dr Yogini Ratnasabapathy, one of the primary architects of the development of Carnatic Music in New Zealand and a founding trustee of the Auckland Academy of Fine Arts.
The Thillana was a treat in Desh and conclusion with Thirupugazh and Managalam left all present with such a mesmerised feel with contentment and happiness and wanting more from them in the future.
The Miruthangist Mannarkudi Easan, Violinist –Padmanabhan T Krishnamoorthy and the Gatam by Sri Subramnium kept perfect synchrony to their singing and the whole orchestra indeed filled the auditorium with their vibrant accompaniments. The Arangetram without an intermission showed their endurance and hard work that has paid towards delivering such a wonderful experience to all who attended. All these compositions are prayers to god and sure the Gods will bless the two of them long life and many years of wonderful signing. The audience absolutely felt with a standing ovation of their brilliant performance and we all wish gods blessings and all the very best for a bright future for both of them.
Leave a Comment