Vocalist enthrals rasikas with Bharati’s songs at Tamil Isai Sangam music festival in Madurai

Kashyap performing a vocal concert organised by Tamil Isai Sangam at Raja Muthaiah Mandram in Madurai on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: R. Ashok The fifth day concert at the 51st anniversary of Tamil Isai Sangam in Madurai witnessed a full-fledged ‘Tamil Isai’ by Kalaimamani Kashyap to the accompaniment of Nella Ravindran on violin and Salem K. Srinivasan on mridangam. Commencing with Gambhira Nattai as raga for the Mallari, he hailed Lord Ganesha ‘Jnana Vinayakane sharanam nallavane matrellam vallavane’ by Sharavanabhavananda. Appreciating Annamalai Chettiar through a Virutam ‘Thillai pathi udayan,’ he rendered ‘Pada vendume isaip-pavin’ in Hamsanaadam by M.M. Dandapani Desikar. The song explains that music is a dedicated and knowledgeable device to connect to the divine and experience a profound spiritual journey. Bharathiar, who envisioned a united India, free from hunger, poverty and narrow domestic divisions, through his ‘Nallakalam varugudu’ in Malayamarutham , was rendered by Kashyap inspiring the audience. The main raga of the evening was Panthuvarali (known as Sadari Pann ), which witnessed a good elaboration bringing out the powerful spiritual desire and happiness for Ilango Adigal’s ‘Kundrak Kuravai’. The violinist brought out the nuances of the ragam very well. The Tani that followed showcased the skill and talent of the mridangist. Praying to Goddess Abirami for her blessings for a complete life through Abirami Pattar’s ‘Kalayatha Kalviyum’ (viruttam), Kashyap rendered Ulundurpet Shanmugam’s ‘Madurai arasalum’ on Goddess Meenakshi (a song from the film Thirumalai Thenkumari and popularised by Madurai Somu) was applauded well and was a good tribute to Seerkazhi Govindarajan. The final pieces include ‘Thunbamnergayil’ by Bharathidasan in Desh , ‘En appan allava’ by Papanasam Sivan in Ragamalika , ‘Mannupugazh Kosalai’ by Kulasekarazhwar and Thirupugazh ‘Muthaitharu’. The concert brought out the richness of the Tamil language within the structure of Carnatic music. Published - December 24, 2025 07:01 pm IST

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