Attended concert titled 'Bhava Sargam' (भावसरगम) of Pt. Hridaynath Mangeshkar (पं. ह्रदयनाथ मंगेशकर) (Vocal) accompanied by Radha Mangeshkar (Vocal), Dr. Rajendra Durkar & Vishal Gandatrawar (Percussions) on 29th Aug 2015 at Balgandharv Rangmandir, Pune with Makarand, Shilpa and my father-in-law.
Concert started with a virani (वीराणी) from Dnyaneshwari (ज्ञानेश्वरी) 'Awachita parimalu (अवचिता परीमळु)' followed by 'Runuzunu runuzunu (रुणुझुणु रुणुझुणु )' again from Dnyaneshwari. Then he took a song of a completely different mood 'Tu tenvha tashi (तू तेंव्हा तशी)' followed by 'Lajun hasne an (लाजून हासणे अन्)'. Then he presented a farmaish 'Jiva shivachi bail jod (जीवाशिवाची बैल जोडं)' followed by abhang 'Are are Dnyana zala (अरे अरे ज्ञाना झाला)'. He quipped that this is one of the rare Dnyaneshwar abhang that does not contain his namamudra 'Bap Rakhuma Devi waru (बाप रखुमा देवी वरू)'.
His daughter, Radha, then joined him. They sang 'Maze Rani maze moga (माझे रानी माझे मोगा)', Bha Ra Tambe's 'Mawaltya Dinakara (मावळत्या दिनकरा)', Arti Prabhu's 'Don he ahet pele (दोन हे आहेत पेले)', Suresh Bhat's gazals 'Kenvha tari pahate (केंव्हा तरी पहाटे)' and unknown 'Ujadlyawari sakhya (उजाडल्यावरी सख्या)' followed by 'Sur ale juluni (सूर आले जुळुनी)' before interval of the program.
He was out of tune (बेसुर) many times in the first half. 79 years of age has had an effect on his singing. The song 'Mawaltya dinakara' describes the situation aptly. I was really worried about the proceedings and hoped second half would be better.
Post interval session started with 'Mazya saranga (माझ्या सारंगा)' followed by 'Amhi thakar thakar (आम्ही ठाकरं ठाकरं)', 'Gorya deha warati kanti (गोऱ्या देहावरती कांती)', 'Nabha utaru ale (नभ उतरू आलं)'. Radha started this song in high pitch and struggled when it reached even higher. This was followed by medley of 'Chla jaiyo bedarda (चला जईयो बेदर्दा)' to 'Jambhul piklya zada khali (जांभुळ पिकल्या झाडाखाली)' to 'Koyal bole rama (कोयल बोले रामा)', to 'Gulabi chire wala (गुलाबी चिरेवाला)' and back to 'Jambhul piklya (जांभुळ पिकल्या) '.
He then presented 'Kesariya balama (केसरीया बालमा)'. This was very good. Panditji then provided Makarand with a memorable gift by singing his farmaish 'Mharari giridhar gopal (म्हारारी गिरीधर गोपाल)'. Then he presented excellent rendition of 'Malaun tak deep (मालऊन टाक दीप)'. It was so heart felt and soulful that it gave goose pimples to the listeners. It was by far the best item of the evening. Audience appreciated it with a very long applause. Panditji's humility was evident when he gave all credit to his Guru. Then he presented 'Purtata mazya vyathechi (पूर्ततता माझ्या व्यथेची)' and 'Ti geli tenvha rimzim (ती गेली तेंव्हां रिमझिम)'.
In the last section he started with bandish 'Rasoolillah (रसूलिल्लाह)', then seamlessly moved into 'Dayaghana (दयाघना)' and then back to 'Rasoolillah (रसूलिल्लाह) '. Concert was concluded with 'Aji soniyacha dinu (आजी सोनीयाचा दिनु)' from Dnyaneshwari.
Second half salvaged the situation. I did not repent the decision of attending.
Panditji encouraged the audience for farmaish and promised to fulfill as many as possible, but in reality fulfilled only those he wanted.
Many of the songs he sung were different from the recorded version. So it would have been disappointing for those who wanted it to match recorded version but those who relish improvisations would have liked it.
Radha was good. She had some difficulty while singing in higher scale. One should not compare her with her legendary aunts (Lata, Asha and Usha) as she is no match, then you like her.
Dr.Durkar and Vishal played very well and were applauded. There were two percussionists but they were placed on right side of the singer instead of either side. Curious.
This auditorium was a point of reference once upon a time. But now it's in a sorry state with pan stains and state of neglect, though the seats are still good.
Entertainment rating: first half 5/10, second half 8/10.
