Published by Aparna on 06 Jul 2007 at 07:56 am
An RTP that made my day!
Just a few days before T M Krishna’s concert, I was telling my friend how great it would be if Sanjay or TMK sings Ragam Tanam Pallavi more often in concerts. Little did I know that I would be rewarded with one so soon! 
I loved the Latangi RTP I would say the Latangi compensated for the main piece in Todi. Yes you read it right. Hey wait! I am not saying anything about the way TMK sang it! His Todi was excellent as usual!
I know not many would like to hear this but, on any day, given a choice between Todi and some other raagam, I would happily choose the other one! Is it because I have listened to Sanjay’s and TMK’s Todi too many times or is it because I don’t enjoy it as I enjoy many other raagams? I don’t have an answer for that. Now, don’t get me wrong. It’s not like I don’t like Todi or anything! Anyway, back to the concert now.
Another one that comes close in competition to Latangi (It is a raagam that I am not familiar with. But, after the concert, I guess it has changed ) is Andolika. Had he not sung the RTP, I would have said it’s the Andolika that made my day! 
The alapana of Andolika itself lasted for nearly 7 minutes! The alapana by Amritha Murali, on the violin, was also too good!
Songs List:
1. Varnam - Abhogi
2. Charanu Siddhi - Sowrashtram
3. Raga Sudha Rasa - Andolika
4. Raaka Sashi Vadana - Takka
5. Kaddanuvariki - Todi
6. Raagam Tanam Pallavi - Latangi
Pallavi - raja mathangi lathangi maam pahi mathangi
Pallavi was sung in raagams Sri Ranjani, Begada, Madhyamavati.
7. Baaro Krishnayya - Ragamalika
8. Venkatachala nilayam - Sindhu Bhairavi
9. Aarumo - Maand
10. Tillana - Behag
11. Mangalam - Sowrashtram
With Arun Prakash on the mridangam and Amritha Murali on the violin, it turned out to be a concert where each one delivered their best. With this being the only live concert of TMK this month in Chennai, I am happy that I didn’t miss it.
Sathej on 06 Jul 2007 at 8:18 am #
Hello Aparna,
I would choose Thodi any day! Even a Thodi a day would not matter for me!
And well, the Lathangi RTP,well, some people don’t seem to agree atleast on Rasikas. I don’t know. Must listen to it before I comment. But, I would have preferred some other RTP as only recently I heard a Lathangi by Sowmya. And did he do a Neraval for Thodi at Nidura Niragarinchi?
Looks a great list thought. Andholika by GNB is out of the world. You must hear it, maybe! Carefully chosen Ragams - Andholika, Lathangi (both sung lot by GNB school) and Venkatachala Nilayam of course!
Sathej
Aparna on 06 Jul 2007 at 5:26 pm #
Sathej,
Anyway, to me all that matters at the end of the day is I should enjoy the music & that I did! I don’t bother much about the technicalities or whatever you call it as long as it sounds pleasing to the ears 
I think so. I don’t really remember much about the Todi.
Oh I saw rasikas.org just now. If TMK’s RTP was really not that great, then, it shows how limited my knowledge is
Yeah after all the concert was a dedication to MLV.
Sathej on 06 Jul 2007 at 5:35 pm #
Limited knowledge, no way! Just different opinions by different people.
Sathej
Adiya on 06 Jul 2007 at 8:19 pm #
Sathej on 06 Jul 2007 at 9:05 pm #
Just a clarification, Aparna! Was the Pallavi itself a Ragamalika( like the Chathur Raga Pallavi) or were there Ragamalika Swarams? And interesting as he chose not to sing an interlude between the Thodi and the RTP.
Sathej
Sai Prasad Viswanathan on 07 Jul 2007 at 4:29 am #
I would totally agree with Sathej on preferring tODi any day..a rAga with 14 gAndhAra prayogas and 9 nishAdha prayogas..what more can a rAga have..It is beauty to the core :). For a detailed understanding of the different shades and versatility of tODi check out this blog if you already havent. http://punar-nava.blogspot.com/
And ofcourse if you want to hear “the tODI”, check out this amazing piece by TNS.. http://www.sangeethapriya.org/Downloads/tns/tnscle83/TNS__05Enduku_dayaradu_ra_Todi.mp3
And as sathej mentioned, Andholika and lathangi rendered by GNB..amazing stuff.
Sathej on 07 Jul 2007 at 5:17 pm #
TNS and Thodi - Oh! Just out of the world. On one occasion, he does an extraordinary Alapanai for 18 minutes accompanied by Shri Lalgudi on the violin, at the end of which there is resounding applause and the great Lalgudi himself is all praise! He follows it up with Dasharathi.
Sathej
Sathej on 08 Jul 2007 at 8:27 am #
Sai,
Thank you so much for the first link with different shades of Thodi. Really nice. Shri Chembai doing it with flat notes seemed extremely interesting. And shades of Sindubhairavi by Alathur Bros and the inimitable presentation Shri Balamuralikrishna.
Sathej
Aparna on 08 Jul 2007 at 2:56 pm #
Sathej,
There were only ragamalika swarams. The pallavi was not a ragamalika.
Sai,
Thanks a lot for the link
Sai Prasad Viswanathan on 08 Jul 2007 at 7:35 pm #
You are welcome Aparna. Hope you found the links useful.:)
@Sathej..ya..thats a wonderful blog showing all those shades of tODi and TNS..what can one say about him..feels really fortunate to hear such wonderful music in our lifetime.
Sathej on 08 Jul 2007 at 8:30 pm #
Thanks for the clarification, Aparna!
Very true, Sai
Adithya on 10 Jul 2007 at 9:50 pm #
hi
i too was present at the same concert at PS high skool where he sang the lathangi RTP.. his technical expertise and prowess… just amazing ! can say he is the best among all today.. man, did u notice the thalam for that RTP ?!! too good he is !
Aparna on 10 Jul 2007 at 10:04 pm #
Adithya,
I did notice the taalam.
Oh that’s great. Yes he is the best!
Sathej on 10 Jul 2007 at 10:33 pm #
Why? What about the Talam?
Sathej
Adithya on 11 Jul 2007 at 10:27 am #
it was jumpa thalam with the laghu in thisra nadai, anudhritham and the dhritham in kanda nadai ! TMK must’ve got a high degree of concentration ! too good…
Sathej on 11 Jul 2007 at 10:39 am #
Yes, Smt MLV used to sing Rettai Nadai Pallavis often. And TNS has done it a few times!
Sathej