DICTION….DEDICATION…..DEVOTION……….AND DISTINCTION - N.Vijay Siva

DICTION….DEDICATION…..DEVOTION……….AND  DISTINCTION

Dedication, devotion, wide range of repertoire, concrete commitment to classicism without compromise and clarity in presentation make N.Vijay Siva stand out as  a distinct classical musician in the realm of carnatic music. 

Vijay Siva commenced his concert with a heartwarming “Pagavari…” Hamsadhwani varnam composed by Patnam Subramania Iyer. That was followed by a clear-cut Jayamanohari raga krithi of Thyagaraja “Nee Bhakthi Bhagya Sudha..” The beautification at “Naadhathmaka Thyagaraja Nadha Aprameya sadhaa..”was so clear with a wonderful diction that it was easy to note down the entire song. That proved Vijay Siva is undoubtedly the torch bearer of DKP/DKJ legacy presenting the song with utmost clear diction in his own inimitable style without producing any mirror images of his mentors.

Mysore Vasudevachariar’s Kalyani raga krithi “Kailaasa pathe maam paahi…Boo kailaasa pathe…” received a regal treatment with a good aalapanai. Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi reproduced the version in technicolour adding her brilliant bowing techniques.

Shyama Sastry’s “Brova vamma” in Maanji was the next good delivery followed by Thyagaraja’s “Raama kathaa sudhaa..” in Madhyamavathy. The violinist gave a memorable account followed by delineation at “Bhaama mani Janaki Soumithri…” 

Then came Thyagaraja’s fast paced “Manasuloni marmamulu thelusuko..” in Suddha Hindolam.

The Piece de resistance of the evening was a grand Raagam-Thaanam-Pallavi in Naattakkurinji. The vocalist explored and explained the inner beauty of the raagam elaborately with the violinist providing an excellent support. “Sathyananda Saanandaa…Nithyaananda Govindhaa..” was taken for Pallavi singing. His manodharma singing traversed through Kaanada and Amruthavauhini interludes intelligently woven with intricate beauty in Naattaikkurinji. The Thani that followed sparkled with beauty. What a dedicated effort…

A sloka from Sri Rajarajeswari Stotram was followed by “Annapoorne sadhaa poorne” that culminated in Muthuswami Dikshithar’s Punnagavarali song “Yehi Annapoorne…” which was well presented soaked in devotion.

A devotional hymn was followed by a rasikas request “Nambik kettavar evar Aiyya” in Hindolam. This Papanasam Sivan song was popularized by Sri DKJayaraman. With due respect Vijay Siva paid his sincere homage to his Guru through this song. What a diction…! 

“Paathi mathi nadhipodhumani sadai Naadhan aruliya kumaresa”….a Thiruppugazh in praise of Swamimalai Murugan was presented in Karaharapriya with aplomb.

The concert concluded with a devotional song in praise of Bhagavan Ramana Maharishi.

Special mention must be made about the two sishyas who accompanied Vijay Siva on tempura and provided vocal support…..the legacy continues…

It will not be an exaggeration if one says that Vijay Siva inspired awe in the minds of his rasikas because of his inherent and inbuilt prodigious talent backed by his neat presentation. His diction, dedication and devotion has earned him the distinction. 

   About the Author:

SHANKAR VENKATRAMAN, a practising company secretary by profession, hails from a family with musical lineage. On the maternal side, his mother’s great grandfather Nemam Subramania Iyer was one of the last disciples of Saint Thyagaraja Swamigal. His maternal grandfather Nemam Nataraja Bhagavathar was the disciple of Mahavaidhyanatha Sivan and an Asthana Vidhwan of Sringeri Samasthanam. His son “Kalaimaamani” Prof N.S.Ramachandran was the Director of different  Kendras of All India Radio and the  Dean and Director of Music Department, University of Delhi. He had composed many kruthis out of which “Sri Chandrasekhara Yatheendram Aashrayae”on Sri Kanchi Paramacharya in Sankarabharanam popularized by Dr.M.S.Subbulakshmi and “Sree Maha Ganapathae..” in Aabhogi an evergreen hit of M.L.Vasanthakumari are very popular.

Shankar Venkatraman’s father (Late) K.V.Venkatraman, son of Kanjanur-Kottur S.Vaithyanatha Swamy Iyer was an ardent devotee of Sri Kanchi Paramacharya and had served as the Correspondence-in-charge for Sri Paramacharya while Shri Periyavaa was camping in Kumbakonam during 1930-31(When Periyavaa was referred as Kumbakonam Periyavaa). Sri Sengalipuram Anantharama Deekshithar is Vaithyanathaswamy Iyer’s maternal cousin.

Shankar did his schooling at Vidya Mandir, Mylapore (1968-1982) Chennai and obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce from Loyola College, Chennai. He did his Company Secretary course from the Institute of Company Secretaries of India, Chennai-600034.

(*The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and not necessarily those of Music of Madras.)