Sangīta Kalānidhi Sangamam - Sudha Raghunathan, M Balamuralikrishna & Ravikiran - Rāga Kalyāñi

Sangīta Kalānidhi Sangamam - Sudha Raghunathan, M Balamuralikrishna and N Ravikiran -- Kalyāni (2010)
This concert by the trio in 2010 with the maestro Sangita Kalanidhi (SK) Dr M Balamuralikrishna (BMK) in the centre flanked on the right by SK Sudha Raghunathan and on the left by the 2017 SK awardee Chitravina N Ravikiran is memorable for many reasons. It showcases the best of the three prime artists and portrays the finest of the maestro.
The first, that is evident from the beginning till the end, is the liveliness on the stage, thanks to BMK, at 80 then, and still infectious as it always was. Then, his come down to accommodate the two younger artists is a most graceful one, while also inspiring both of them to reach higher during the performance, is also an equally graceful one.
While any Carnatic music concert is a collaborative one, not all collaborations need be successful. More so, if the members are accomplished high profile musicians -- two vocalists and an instrumentalist. Additionally, there was no rehearsal before the concert. This has been put very well by Ravikiran in his opening remarks as, “Even with 1000 rehearsals you cannot match him on the stage,” to which there was instant assent by Sudha Raghunathan. Yet with all these the collaboration was a successful one probably because of the absolute spontaneity that BMK was always best with, and which the other two younger artists willingly took upon themselves as a privilege and a blessing. This concert is a showpiece for a joyful concert when BMK was around.
BMK lauds his two music compatriots on the stage and then refers to the other accompanists, comparing them to the different gods. Playfully drawing a parallel to a divine gathering on the stage, the audience is compared to an all knowing one. He then assures them that the gathering on the stage will assuredly make music-nArada gAnam (referring to the Sabha), with the highest awareness (referring to the name of the hall). That was a spontaneous and subtle way of dispelling any doubt, in the minds of anyone in the hall on that day, if they could make any music without a rehearsal.
The kalyAnI rAgam AlApana is like three sculptors fashioning out a masterpiece working on the same stone. The restraint that each artist exercises to present only so much without overdoing it matches the liberty that each artist takes to portray much more so that melody always stands out. The maestro enters on and off with a measured élan to enliven the collaboration. He even performs a neat but brief graha bedham to show a glimpse of tODi.
The starting of the krti with the line, “mandagamana” of Tyagaraja’s ‘sundarI nI divya rUpamu’ by BMK is arrestingly dramatic. In the krti presentation too he leads the way but the other two join in their own manner. Together they give us a great rendition, a melodious sAhitya vinyAsam, and a stirring svaraprastAram. After a brief violin follow through there is finally laya-vinyAsam. Fittingly after the laya-vinyAsam , BMK ends the presentation with the rightly chosen words “saphala mAyenamma,” meaning that their effort ended successfully.
Before the beginning of the presentation Sudha Raghunathan has alluded to her experience of performing with BMK on the stage on that day as truly unbelievable.
Ravikiran on his part refers to BMK as the single most versatile Carnatic musician and the pride of all us. BMK responds saying the Chitravina sings when Ravikiran performs on it. It is apt to recall here Ravikiran’s tribute to the maestro. In it Ravikiran has recounted how BMK gave away a silver medal, that BMK had received when he was young, to Ravikiran when the latter performed his first full fledged concert at the Madras Music Academy.
To those among us who may have felt that Balamuralikrishna left us this day last year, it is only reassuring that he lives on in muraLI gAnam which will live forever for posterity sake.
Acknowledgments :
1. Sincerely thank and appreciate Sri. T K Ramkumar for selecting the video for the occasion and to passionately write the narration presented here.
2. Grateful thanks to Sri. Ravi Joshi for his admirable efforts in sourcing the video.

[@subrahmanyadikshitulu5923]

Excellent performance 🙏🙏🙏🌹🌷by Sri బాలమురళీ కృష్ణ గారు 🙏🙏🙏మనం చాలా అదృష్టవంతులం... వీరి గంధర్వ గానం విని ఆస్వాదించినందుకు

[@narasimhamurthy9041]

Am at raptures lo behold Great ensemble embellished By incarnation of harada so to say of DR SIR BMK GANA GANDHARV

[@narasimhamurthy9041]

Superb inall respects

[@csbalachandran]

One way of looking at the intro is "oh, look, a mutual admiration society general body meeting on stage!" But that would be cheating ourselves of what this represents. To the end, he maintained a most positive outlook on life and the talent around him. Never a discouraging word, always encouraging and, above all, *challenging* others to explore new paths. These on-stage remarks epitomize this about BMK. (Just listen to the interviews in which he has commented on, and given advice to, the 'younger generation' of musicians and you can see what a positive person he *is*!) As for the younger artistes, their love for the maestro is open-hearted and unstinting. *This* is the kind of camaraderie that so heartens me in any field. Among the accompanists, I have a special regard for Sri Karthik because he is such a very *lively* and jovial person - he doesn't let his vidvat get in the way of his ebullient personality. Many years ago, on a visit to Chennai, I met Sri Shriramkumar who made a comment, "Bālamuralī does not sing Carnatic music ... he sings *Bālamuralī* music!" This was said with much evident respect and admiration for our beloved maestro. I did not understand that remark at the time, but over the years, as I listened to BMK's many diverse remarks, music, and lec-dems, I gradually got to understand what Sri Shriramkumar meant. This upload is an apt tribute to the living memory of the musical genius of the century. This is no exaggeration. The irrefutable proof lies in the corpus of his work. My thanks to everyone who made this upload possible.

[@swarsur]

If I listen to Carnatic music, it's because of Bālamuralī music!

[@girijakrishnan6310]

V true! ​@@swarsur

[@narasimhamurthy9041]

Divinity is all about this

[@buddhavarapumurthy8953]

"Sundari nee .." - kalyaani Reagam adhbhuthaha! An out of the world experience - all artistes at the peak of their skills - performing alongside the magnanimous guru and relishing respectfully guru 's ambience.

[@krishna527]

Dear Murthy Sir, time and again, the music fraternity is so much indebted to you for making these jewels available. It was just a wonderful satsang where the subject was Kalyani and vicariously the goddess parashakthi is all over!. What a treat!. Thank you sir. God bless you.

[@rajananantharaman4298]

Dear friend thank you for this rare feast by BMK and SR also RK.pl continue

[@tmadanmenon]

No words to write on the graceful way the legendary maestro Dr. .M Balamuralikrishna guided Sudha n Ravikriran without any inhibitions of a greatest exponent to the Carnatic Music!!! Of course, I have listened to this concert earlier ( in fact missed the live concert of 2010 at Chennai while I was frequently travelling n was away in outstation). "Sundari nI divya rupamunu juda tanaku dorikenamma...y favorite song....Love the Charanam....'nannu ganna talli na janmamu nadu saphala mayenamma '.........Pranams..

[@sailajakuravi2584]

Excellent. Balamurali sir is a legend whom no one can match.

[@rkrishna1965]

Shri Sreenivasa Murthy, Thanks for the upload. One year has just like that passed. Great tribute to Guruji. Great to watch geniuses performing together.

[@rajananantharaman4298]

Thanks for the incomparable

[@suryaprakasaraovishnuvajha2048]

What a great piece of bmk’s music could we hear on the first anniversary after his exit from this world. Thanks to Mr. Murthy for quenching our thirst of Muraliravali.

[@hnmanohara]

Scintillating performance by Stalwarts. For me the best part was when the Maestro described the Violin as 'VaayuLeenam', I'm not sure whether this exists in theory or whether the Maestro Effortlessly plucked out of the thin crisp air of the Sabha. Thanks a lot for this upload Sir.. awaiting more from your channel

[@raghunandansrinivasan773]

Wonderful opening remarks by the naada upaasakas with reverence and admiration to each other's talent! Great to watch them approach the concert with an OPEN and exploratory mindset! Lot to look forward to! Thanks to Sri. Murthyji, Sri. TKR and Sri. Ravi Joshiji for sharing this memorable video.

[@climbeverest]

Sudha is to be admired, BMK is a challenge to everyone, she is bravely staying in the game

[@vallursivaraman4201]

What a difference of scholarship this maestro BMK. He was like a teacher on the podium & Sudha couldn't repeat the sangadhis of maestro. But both violin & Chithra veenai are better . Nuances of Kalyanam was demonstrated wonderfully by the master. Sudha is no match in technicalities of the master. But this stage shows the difference a peacock & turkey.

[@bouquet3216]

Lyrics --- ?

[@rangasreenivasan3813]

Unusual combination of uncommon talent! producing a unique concert!!!

[@pavankrovvidi8706]

Simply superb!

[@pdamarnath3942]

dumbfound. No words to express. Two great voices accompanied by ravi kiran sir . More than asked for. I will be thankful if somebody provides lyrics

[@dhasarathyraghavan]

Is there any specific reason, why Guruvarya’s name is found below Sudha Raghunathan ?

[@raghugk09]

Fitting upload to remember genius............last year on this day we heard the demise of genius.........

[@udayshankergopalakrishnan691]

He has not gone anywhere. He is with us all and will remain for ever

[@p.suneeth6171]

Shri Balamurali ji this is what "gandharwa ganam"♥️

[@varadarajdesikachar7558]

What a treat to the ears and eyes!

[@venkatayadavalli7548]

Excellent

[@prasadmalladi6174]

Great fusion.namaskarams.

[@venkat6260]

3 Sangeetha Kalanidhis on stage !

[@pdamarnath3942]

Something beyond description. Excellent.

[@t.r.madhavarao7403]

Raga --- Kalyani

[@maheshplus]

🙏🙏🙏

[@narayanababuvedula8446]

It was something similar to (CON) FUSION music and defying the mood of lyricist I mean devotion.

[@subramanyag3727]

Whenever I listen Balamuralikrishna two things strikes our conscience---1) failure to honor him with our highest honour, I mean Bharatha Rathna and 2) whether we have failed to document and record all his works with due perfection comparable to global standards. What a great genius, talent...and what not?.

[@krishnamacharcn4932]

One BMK SONG a day keeps your earthly thoughts away CNK