A TRIBUTE TO EMINENT PATRON OF PERFORMING ART, YGP AMMA
The balmy evening of Sunday, November 27, 2016 transformed into a mesmerising evening as euphonious strains of melody pervaded the milieu at Bharat Kalachar, a venue that has witnessed the performance of countless talented performing artistes and theatre personalities.
Young Nikhil Shankar paid tribute to the ardent patron of performing arts and eminent educationist Smt. Rajalakshmi Parthasarathy, fondly known as YGP Amma on the occasion of her 91st birthday.
Nikhil Shankar is a young and popularly emerging Carnatic vocalist and is the sishya of eminent Carnatic Music gurus C.R.Vaidyanathan and SP Ramh.
Nikhil Shankar presented an exclusive concert on the momentous occasion from 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm at Bharat Kalachar, Thirumalai Pillai Road, Chennai 600 017.
Nikhil commenced his performance with the traditional varnam in ‘Shree raagam”, following it up with the popular ‘Gam Ganapate’ in the mangala raagam, Hamsadhwani to commemorate the auspicious occasion of YGP Amma’s birthday. He paid obeisance to Goddess Saraswathi with “Mamavatu Sri Saraswathi", which he considers appropriate for the event as he sees YGP Amma as an embodiment of the Goddess of Learning. Nikhil Shankar chose this song especially for the occasion.
Other pieces in his repertoire for the day included a melodious Tyagaraja Kriti, a crisp Arabhi and Saaranga. Nikhil embarked on the sub-main, a lengthy Sankari Neeve in Begada raagam. His rendition of the main piece for the day commenced with an energetic aalapana of Shanmuga Priya, Swathi Thirunaal’s Mamavu Karunaya, embellishing the beautiful raagam with a string of intricate sangatis, catchy niravals and ingenious swaras.
The young vocalist rounded off with a fitting finale, a tribute to Dr. Balamurali Krishna with the Thillana in Aahir Bhairav. The august present of YGP Amma in the audience lent an aura of reverence and on her request for yet another song , to make up for her arriving a trifle late, Nikhil sang Surutti raagam as the last piece.
Nikhil Shankar was supported by the percussionist Thillaisthanam Suryanarayanan adding remarkable resonance to the concert. Villivakkam Raghuraman’s violin enhanced the beauty of the Kutcheri with the audience revelling in the thani aavarthanam with great elation.
At the conclusion of the concert, YGP Amma showered her blessings on Nikhil Shankar and commended his baritone, exemplary voice control and execution of the kritis. She enquired about his gurus and prophesied that if Nikhil Shankar continued to pursue Carnatic music with the same passion he would scale global heights in the near future.
Nikhil Shankar has been training in Carnatic music since the age of five. Nikhil’s family is musically oriented. He comes from the family of Sangeetha Kala Acharya T R Subramaniam as well as Shri. Balasubramaniam, popularly known as Cleveland Balu who is world renowned for conducting annual Thiruvaiyaru like events in the US. Nikhil’s grandmother was Sangeeta Shironmani from Delhi University under Sangeeta Kala Acharya Shri T R Subramaniam.
For the past few years Nikhil Shankar has been giving performances in Chennai and other places and is now involving himself completely in classical music. Nikhil has won several awards for classical and devotional music in college culturals as a student of Vivekananda College and in other classical music competitions. He has been performing in sabhas and temples including the prestigious Chembai Festival at Guruvayoor and giving marriage kutcheris for the past few years.
Nikhil’s kutcheri at Raghavendra Temple in Mylapore recently was much appreciated. He will be giving a few more concerts this season.
