A compilation of many of the soulful Viruttams that MS has sung in various concerts.
Source: sangeethapriya.org
“MS is one of the most inspired interpreters of poetry, not in one language but many languages; her musical imagination was stirred by the words as well and therefore when she sang, the verse unfurled its hidden latent meanings like a bud opening its petals at the touch of the sun. In every language she sang, MS remained sensitive to the sound of the words as much to their sense. She also knew that meanings were never literal; they had connotations, implications even ambiguities.
Linguistic sensitivity not just perfect diction, that is the hallmark of the MS style and it is inimitable. ” – Gowri Ramnarayan in the Tribute to MS titled ‘Star Trek’ at the Hindu Lit for Life 2016.
1. Petra Thai; Lyrics : Tiruvacakam by Manikkavacakar
Translation by Gowri Ramnarayan
”One of her signature vitruttams, which involved improvised ragas across an exquisite Tamil lyric goes :
‘ Even if the mother forgets the child,
and the child forgets the mother who bore it,
even if life forsakes the body, and the body forsakes the soul,
even if the heart abandons the art it had absorbed, and eyes fail to blink,
I shall not forget the lord who resides within pure souls‘
a) Petra Thai in ragam Nadanamakriya followed by Araar Asai Padaar
3. Paal Ninaindhuttum in ragams Centurity, Nadanamakriya ; Lyrics : Tiruvacakam by Manikkavacakar
Concert at Madras Music Academy, 1965
4. Ettanai Vidangal Thaan; Lyrics : Anandhamana param by Thayumanavar
Translation by Seetha Ravi
“All my knowledge and learning have not humbled me
My ego persists unchanged
The mind is transfixed with desire for everything it perceives
I have not known compassion and generosity in my entire life
Nobility of character and penance elude me even in my dreams
Untruth is all I speak and have not uttered even a sampling of truth
I helplessly indulge in endless discourse instead of dwelling in silence divine
Tell me, Have you even heard of or seen another as insolent ?
Oh blissful presence in whom the cosmos comes to rest and finds itself….!”
a) Ettanai Vidangal Thaan in ragams Dhanyasi, Charukesi, and Sivaranjani followed by Kurai Onrum Ilai
AIR Concert 1980s
b)Ettanai Vidangal Thaan in ragams Kedaragowla, Varali, Mohanam and Kapi
A compilation of some of the Ragam Tanam Pallavis that MS has sung in various concerts.
We thank Smt. Kiranavali Vidyasankar for sharing additional insights about the Pallavis.
Terms : Starting point of the line (eduppu), landing point (arudi)
1.RTP in Ragam Begada : Kailasapate, pasupate, umapate, namostute
Adi tala (2-Kalai) ; Eduppu at 3/4ths of the first beat of the tala; arudi kaarvai of 5 counts
Concert at Madras Music Academy on Dec 26,1955
Accompaniments:
Smt Radha Viswanathan – Vocal Support
Sri Thiruvalangadu N.Sundaresa Iyer – Violin
Sri T.K.Murthy – Mridangam
Sri Umayalpuram N.Kodhandarama Aiyar – Ghatam
In the Hindu Frontline Article titled The MS phenomenon, Gowri Ramnarayan writes “The Alathur brothers, known to be masters of laya and pallavi exposition, were to call on M.S. the next day and offer their congratulations. “We have no words to describe the beauty and balance of your presentation. What anchored every part firmly to a finished whole was the accent on the raga and the bhava you brought to it. This is what makes your music so enchanting, so durable. This is what the great Dakshinamurti Pillai found to be special in your singing years ago.”
Mishra jati Triputa tala (2-Kalai); Eduppu at 2/4ths (1/2) of the first beat; arudi karvai of 7 counts
Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer used to also sing this Pallavi.
Concert at Mumbai in 1959
Accompanists:
Sri R.S.Gopalakrishnan – Violin
Sri T.K.Murthy – Mridangam
Sri T.H.Vinayakaram – Ghatam
3. RTP in Ragam Sankarabaranam : Saravana bhava guru guha shanmukha saminathane
Chaturashra jati Rupaka tala (4-Kalai); Eduppu at 2/4ths (1/2) of the first beat; arudi karvai of 3/4ths
Concert at Madras Music Academy on 27th Dec,1964
Accompanists :
Sri Tiruvalangadu N. Sundaresa Iyer (Violin)
Sri Tanjore T. K. Murthi (Mridangam)
Sri Umayalpuram N. Kodandarama Iyer (Ghatam)
Note : Saravana bhava guru guha shanmukha saminathane pallavi sung in Ragam Kharaharapriya in Concert at Madras Music Academy in 1960 (Paddhati CD by Charsur)
4. RTP in Ragam Keeravani : Ma Madura Meenakshi Maam Pahi
Tishra jati Triputa tala, Khanda gati – Starting point of the line (eduppu) is 1/5ths of the first beat; landing point (arudi) kaarvai is 6 counts (basically it spills over to the second beat in the second half of the tala).
Ragam and Tanam
Pallavi
Concert at Madras Music Academy On Dec 25,1965
Accompanists:
Smt Radha Viswanathan – Vocal Support
Sri V.V.Subrahmanyam – Violin
Sri T.K.Murti – Mridangam
Sri T.H.Vinayakaram – Ghatam
5. RTP in Ragam Kalyani : Un Darisanam Kidaikkumo Nataraja Dayanidhe
Tishra jati Triputa (2-Kalai); Eduppu 1/2 of the last beat of the tala – this is called ateeta eduppu because it comes at the end of the tala cycle. Arudi is camouflaged by the fact that the word Raja lands there (total count of 7 for Raja, 4 for Ra and 3 for ja)
Tishra jati Triputa tala 4-Kalai;Eduppu of 3/4ths at the last beat of the tala; arudi kaarvai is 3/4ths of the beat
Concert at Madras Music Academy on Dec 22, 1968 (Year that MS was awarded the Sangita Kalanidhi)
Accompanists:
Radha Viswanathan – Vocal Support
V.V.Subrahmanyam – Violin
T.K.Murthy – Mridangam
T.H.Vinayakaram – Ghatam
Pudukottai S.Mahadevan – Morsing
Khanda jati Triputa tala (2-Kalai); Eduppu is at 1/2 of the first beat; arudi kaarvai 7 counts
Concert at Madras Music Academy on Dec 25,1969
Accompanists
Smt Radha Viswanathan – Vocal Support
Sri V.V.Subrahmanyam-Violin
Sri T.K.Murti -Mridangam
Sri V.Nagarajan -Kanjira
Sri T.H.Vinayakaram-Ghatam
8. RTP in Ragam Shanmukapriya : Sharavanabhava Guhane Shanmukhane
Adi (2-Kalai);Eduppu at little finger; arudi kaarvai is 7 counts
9. RTP in Ragam Bhairavi, Daravidalita Kuvalayadala Neela
Chatusra jati Jhampa tala (4-kalai) or Tishra jati Triputa tala (4-Kalai);
Eduppu at 3/4ths of the first beat; arudi is camouflaged by the word “laya” (total of 6 counts; 3 for la and 3 for ya)
Concert at the Madras Music Academy on Dec 25, 1970
Accompanists:
Radha Viswanathan – Vocal Support
V.V.Subrahmanyam – Violin
T.K.Murthy – Mridangam
V.Nagarajan – Khanjira
T.H.Vinayakaram – Ghatam
10. RTP in Ragam Sankarabaranam : Dasharathe Karunapayonidhe Inakulatilaka
Adi (4-Kalai); Eduppu at 1/2 of the first beat; arudi karvai is 3/4ths of the beat
Concert at Madras Music Academy on Dec 25,1971
Accompanists:
Radha Viswanathan – Vocal
Kandadevi S.Azhagiriswami – Violin
T.K.Murthy – Mridangam
V.Nagarajan – Khanjira
T.H.Vinayakaram – Ghatam
Note: MS has also sung this Pallavi in Ragam Thodi
11. RTP in Ragam Kambodhi, Parimala Rangapate Maampahi
Chaturashra Rupaka (4-Kalai); Eduppu at 3/4ths of the laghu; arudi karvai is 3/4ths of the beat
Concert at Madras Music Academy on Dec 24, 1973
Accompanists:
Radha Viswanathan – Vocal Support
V.V.Subrahmanyam – Violin
Karaikkudi R.Mani – Mridangam
V.Nagarajan – Khanjira
T.H.Vinayakaram – Ghatam
12. RTP in Ragam Dhanyasi : Varada Venkatasaila
Tisra Triputa (1-Kalai) but spread over 2 Avartanams; Very interesting and unusual 1-Kalai Pallavi but spread over 2 avartanams (2 rounds of tala).
Eduppu 6 counts; arudi 14 karvais
Concert at Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai on Aug 16,1974
Accompanists:
Radha Viswanathan – Vocal Support
Kandadevi S.Azhagiriswami – Violin
T.K.Murthy – Mridangam
V.Nagarajan – Kanjira
T.H.Vinayakaram – Ghatam
13. RTP in Ragam Hemavati :Ninne Nammiti Nivegati Neerajadalanayana
Khanda jati Jhampa tala, Khada gati; Eduppu at 2/5ths the flip; Arudi karvai 3/5ths of a beat
Concert at Shanmukhananda Fine Arts, Mumbai in 1976
Accompanists:
Smt Radha Viswanathan – Vocal Support
Sri V.V.Subrahmanyam – Violin
Sri T.K.Murthy – Mridangam
Sri V.Nagarajan – Kanjira
Sri T.H.Vinayakaram – Ghatam
14 A. RTP in Ragam Kharaharapriya : Mal Marugane Murugane Guhane Umayaal Magane Arul Thiru
Khanda jati Triputa tala (2-Kalai); Eduppu at 1/2 of the first beat; arudi karvai of 4 counts
Ragam and Tanam
Pallavi
14 B. Mal Marugane Murugane Guhane Umayaal Magane Arul Thiru Pallavi in Ragam Mayamalavagowla :
Ragam and Tanam
Pallavi
15A. RTP in Ragam Simhendramadhyamam, Talam Adi (2 Kalai) : Nandagopala Mukunda Hare Govinda
Adi tala (2-Kalai);Eduppu at 3/4ths of the first beat; arudi karvai of 7 counts
15B. Ragam Mohanam :Nandagopala Mukunda Hare Govinda
Chaturashra jati Rupaka tala (4-Kalai);Eduppu at 3/4ths of the first beat in the laghu; arudi karvai of 3 counts (3/4ths of beat in the dhrtam)
