Sikkil Gurucharan takes audience to famous shrines through his concert

Vocalist Sikkil Gurucharan took the audience on a virtual spiritual tour of Tirupati, Srirangam, Srivilliputtur and Palani through his concert on the eighth day of the 73rd annual music and arts festival at Sri Sathguru Sangeetha Samajam, with the percussion support from Trivandrum Sampath on the violin, Valangaiman Thiagarajan on the mrudangam and Tiruchi Krishnasamy on the ghatam.

Gurucharan commenced with Varnam “Jalajākśa in Hamsadhvani by Mānambuccāvaḍi Venkaṭa Subbayyar. Then he rendered Kaniyan Poongundranar’s “Yaadhum Oore” (Every place is our place, philosophy of universal brotherhood) in Shanmugapriya. The niraval “Yathum Oore”, the melodious singing inspired the audience.

He then sang the vibrant Kuntavarali for ‘maaiye manivanna’ (26th Thirupaavai) by Andal. On account of ‘Vaikunta Ekadasi’ he chose to sing Shri venkata girishamalogaye, by Muthuswamy Dikshitar, in shurutti, Garuda Gamanaa Garudadhwaja “ by Annamacharya, in Hindolam (both the kritis on Lord Venkatesa) and Viruttam from vedanda desika’s “aarada arul amutham podinda koil” for the composition of Guru Sujananda “ rangam Srirangam ranganathan,” in kambhoji (on Sri Rangam). 

His rendition with long karvais for Shurutti and a soothing and meditative effect of Hindolam was applauded by the audience. The violinist gave a rhythmic support in his inimitable style through out the raga alapana and swaraprastharams.

The creative RTP in Varali for the Pallavi “Ka Va Va “witnessed his creativity and demonstrated his knowledge and skills. Tani avaarthanam by Thiagarajan on the mrudangam and Krishnasamy on the ghatam was a showcase of their skills and replete with a variety of percussion patterns.

His final pieces included the same Ka Va Va in full, Natchiyar Thirumozhi,“ karupuram narumo” and Bharathiyar’s Vande Mataram.

Published - January 11, 2025 07:59 pm IST