The magic of fusion - Vikku Vinayakram

Attended a concert of titled 'The magic of fusion'. Team Saptakshara was lead by Vikku Vinayakram (Ghatam), U. Rajesh (Mendolin) and Selvaganesh Vinayakram (Kanjira / Drums). They were accompanied by N. Ramakrishna (Mridangam), Umashankar Vinayakram (Ghatam), Mahesh Vinayakram (Vocal), Pravin Narayanaswami (Tabla), A. Ganeshan (Morsing), N. Rajaraman (Gethu vadyam) and Swaminathan Selvaganesh (Kanjira). The team had three generations of Vinayakram family. 

The concert was organized by Asthika Samaj events at ISC, Abu Dhabi on 8th Feb 2018. I attended the concert with Jayant. The concert was publicized as once in a life time experience. 

An AV, a song (Guruvandana) on U. Srinivas, the Mandolin maestro, was played before the concert started. Vikkumama (75) received a warm standing ovation when he made an appearance on stage. 

Rajesh, Umashankar, Pravin and Ramakrishnan started the concert with Ganapati prayer 'Vatapi Ganapati (वातापी गणपती)' in Raag Hamsadhwani (हंसध्वनी).  I have heard this song many times. This was a different rendition. 

Selvaganesh and Mahesh joined in for a song sung by Mahesh. Since I don't understand the language, the words were lost on me. 

'Love within' composed by U. Srinivas was the next peshkash. Sawal-Jawab in this section were very good. Ramakrishnan then played solo. Umashankar then attached pickup mic to a stack of three paper cups and played on them with Selvaganesh. He then continued with Ghatam solo. This Ghatam performance sounded very sweet. He even played Ghatam from inside. Now it was Pravin's turn to play solo.  He played a number of Tukdas. It is not easy to play with stalwarts but he did well and created a small niche for himself. 

This was interval. Audience was getting restless as the main attraction was still missing. 

Vikkumama, Selvaganesh, Ganeshan, Rajaraman and Swaminathan started after interval. Vikkumama played with four Ghatams. It was like Ghatam tarang. They played 'Shiv Tandav (शिव तांडव)'.

Selvaganesh then demonstrated language of rhythm. He involved audience in the game of rhythm and made his point. He and his son presented vocal syllable beat. Ganeshan played Morsing solo beautifully. I did not know that so many sounds can come out of Morsing. Rajaraman then played Ghetu vadyam (I hope i have got the spelling right) solo. This curious instrument looks like a Tanpura, but is kept horizontal and played with sticks like Santoor. There are only two musicians in India who have kept this tradition alive.

Vikkumama them played Ghatam tarang. His dexterity, variations and demonstration of finer nuances won the audience. He made audience clap to the rhythm. Audience got so immersed that after one point of time there was no need to guide them. The claps came in rhythm volunterely. He got another standing ovation. 

Same ensemble then played another piece followed by solo Kanjira of Swaminathan followed by Selvaganesh solo. Selvaganesh then played sound of train in normal coach, in AC coach, on bridge, in a tunnel etc. on Kanjira.

All the artists who went away after interval, returned on the stage for final composition. It was a composition in Aaditaal (आदी ताल) and Raag Sindhubhairavi (सिंधू भैरवी). Although this was also good, it did not reach the peak. 

This ensemble was a family affair. Except Rajesh and Pravin all others were from the same family. What a talented family!

It soared as of these were two different concerts. One before interval and one after with Selvaganesh being the common thread. Thus it did not appear homogeneous. 

It was an event where entry was only by invitation. This ensured that only the really interested were present. The auditorium has a capacity of 1000, but it was only half filled. 

Organizers had announced that concert will start at 7 pm sharp. But it started 45 minutes late. Was it because of lack of audience (working day) or something else?

Once during the first half of concert, the microphone emitted a shrill noise. Rajesh, who also anchored the first half, showed presence of mind by taking the opportunity to introduce the sound engineer and thanking him for reminding. Vikkumama's ear piece kept troubling him in the second half that was anchored by Selvaganesh.

Umashankar's hilarious moves, Rajesh's presence of mind, conductor Selvaganesh, legend Vikku, rhythmic clapping of audience & very good music by all the players. These were the highlights of the show. 

It was a good concert. It was a special occasion to watch the legend Vikku Vinayakram. But I left with a feeling that there was not enough of Vikkumama.

Thanks to Asthika Samaj for bringing a rare program to Abu Dhabi. It gave me a chance to watch Vikku Vinayakram live.

Entertainment rating 8.5/10.