Thank you for your gracious presense today for my Flute Arangetram!

Program Details

Here's the itinerary for the event:

2:30pm - 3:00pm : Seating

3:00pm - 5:00pm : Program

5:00pm - 5:30pm : Conclusion

Concert will start with a prayer to the Lord seeking his divine blessings

Prayer and lighting of lamp.

Varnam

Ragam: Abhogi

Talam: Adi

Maha Ganapathim

Ragam: Naata

Talam: Adi

Composer: Muttuswami Dhikshitar

A Sanskrit keerthana dedicated to lord Ganesha, the remover of odstacles and the lord of wisdom.

Deva devam bhaje

Ragam: Hindola

Talam: Khanda Chapu

Composer: Annamacharya

Wonderful kriti dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara by great Saint Annamacharya. It goes like, "Worship the lord of all Gods, who is glorious, with eyes resembling like Lotus. He is the most eminent king and is moon of Sun dynasty. he is the enemy of demon king Ravana. He is adored by Brahma seated on lotus. He is the supreme Narayana. He lifted the invincible bow of Janaka which was obtained from Siva. He conquered Lanka and comforted Vibhishana. He is Venkatesa who is worshipped by sages and learned

Kanna Tandri Naapai

Ragam: Deva Manohari

Talam: Adi

Composer: Tyaagaraja

This is a kriti to celebrate the troubles and triumphs encountered by all the fathers across the globe. In this song, Thyagaraja emphasizes the importance of a father, as the ultimate goal for humans is self-realization through mental discipline and devotion. He says father is the one to guide, mentor and coach us to attain such discipline. Father is known as the "Pratyaksha Daivam" or God in front of us. Here is a very appropriate poem written by a noted Telugu poet Potana who refers to Sri Krishna as a father of all fathers in Srimad Bhagavatham.

Endaro Mahanubhavulu

Ragam: Shree

Talam: Aadi

Composer: Tyaagaraja

The Pancharatna kritis (Sanskrit: pancha "five" + ratna "gems") are a set of five kritis (songs) in Carnatic classical music, composed by the 18th-century Indian composer Tyagaraja.

Endarō Mahānubhāvulu, one of the Ghana raaga Pancharatna kritis, is a Telugu kriti composed by Tyagaraja. The word Endarō means "many persons" and the song is a salutation to and praise of all the great saints and musicians down the ages. Tyagaraja clearly delineates and lists the Mahanubhavalu, or great ones, in the kriti itself, mentioning the saints Narada and Saunaka, among others.

Meevalla Gunadoshamemi

Ragam: Kaapi

Talam: Khadachapu

Composer: Tyaagaraja

The phrase “Meevalla Guna Doshamemi” (మీవల్ల గుణ దోషమేమి) is from a kriti (a type of devotional song) composed by the famous Carnatic music composer Tyagaraja. The song is in Telugu and is addressed to Lord Rama.

The overall meaning of the phrase is: “What faults or defects are there because of You, O Lord Rama?” The composer is essentially saying that any faults or defects are due to his own shortcomings, not because of the divine.

Bantureethi Koluvu

Ragam: Hamsanaadam

Talam: Adi

Composer: Tyaagaraja

Bantu Reethi Koluvu is a Carnatic song composed by Sri Thyagaraja Swamy in ragam Hamsanaadam. The song is a prayer to Lord Rama, asking for the privilege of being in His service as a servitor. In this song Sri Thyagaraja pleads with Rama to give him the post of a guard for Raama; symbolically meaning that he always wants to be in Sri Rama's sannidhi (in his presence).

He says in the anupallavi, the guard's post should be such that he is empowered to destroy all the demons which are arishadvargas (kama-love, krodha, lobha, moha, mada, matsarya) and since the guard is empowered to do so, he needs such a guard's post.

In the charanam, he says he should be blessed with the emblem of Rama bhakti, given a sword called Raama Naama (the name of Raama) to perform his guard's job.

Prakkala Nilabadi (Main piece for the concert)

Ragam: Kharaharapriya

Talam: Mishrachaapu

Composer: Tyaagaraja

What is the secret of the service by which, standing on either side, you both delight the Lord immensely? Our mind has the extraordinary ability to visualize both Sakara (form) and Nirakara (formless). When an object is described, our mind immediately renders a picture. For instance, if we hear the word ‘mirror’, our mind will draw the image of a mirror and evoke the feelings associated with it.

He humbly inquires and requests favor of revealing the secret so that he may follow, suit and redeem himself -

O mother Sita, how charming you are with your face rivalling the moon in splendor, and with teeth like choice pearls in fine array!

O Lakshmana! The most ardent servant of the Lord! Do you prostrate before Him or sing His praises and glory chanting the divine name or lose yourselves in meditating on Him?

Baro Krishnayya

Ragam: Raagamalika (Maand, Mishra piloo, Jonpuri)

Talam: Aadi

Composer: Kanaka Daasa

Come Krishna, come to your devotees house now.
Come, show your face, who is comparable to you, the supporter of universe?
You have sandals on your feet, anklets and small bells that make the sound dhim dhimi worn on your ankles. Come, playing the golden flute.
You have sparkling gold rings and bangles in your hand that make the sound kinkini kini kini. Come, playing the golden flute.
Oh Adi Keshava, you dwell in Udupi; I, Kanaka, am a humble devotee of your feet, please come to me.

Paluke Bangaramayena

Ragam: Aananda Bhairavi

Talam: Aadi

Composer: Ramadasa

This keerthana is a devotional hymn to Lord Rama composed by Sri Ramadasu. The song expresses the longing and faith of a devotee, where the poet is asking Lord Sri Raama to answer his prayers, come and appear in front of him. In this keerthana, poet is asking Lord Raama, why he (Lord Raama) is not compassionate towards him (Ramadasa).

Thillana

Ragam: Thilang

Talam: Aadi

Composer: Lalgidi Jayaraman

A Tillana or thillana is a rhythmic piece in South Indian Carnatic music that is generally performed at the end of a concert and widely used in classical indian dance performances. It was popularised by Dr. M Balamuralikrishna, Lalgudi Jayaraman and some other musicians. A Tillana uses tala-like phrases in the pallavi and anupallavi, and lyrics in the charanam.

Mangalam - Bhagyada

Ragam: Madhyamavati

Talam: Aadi

Composer: Purandaradasa

Mangalam as a musical composition, occupies a special place in Carnatic music and the bhajana music tradition. Concerts almost always conclude with a mangalam; what begins with a Ganesa vandana seeking blessings
for a successful show, gets wrapped up with a mangalam, praying for auspiciousness, welfare and good fortune to all and everything around.

To your sacred Name and to your divine form, let there be success and prosperity! Your sacred feet supported reverently by Aanjaneya, to your lap on which your consort Sita devi, possessing eyes as beautiful as the lotus, to your bosom on which fresh pearl necklaces sport dangling daintily and to your charming face which puts to shame the splendor of the moon, let there be victory and ever-growing prosperity and welfare.