All set for the Season

Each passing Season is a moment of reckoning for the musicians as their learnings and refinements over the previous 11 months culminate in a challenging showcase at the end of the year. The artistes work hard to ensure that they elevate their music and draw in more rasikas each year.

Among the artistes, vocalists shoulder the greatest burden. Beyond perfecting their art, they must safeguard their voices to endure the rigorous demands of the Season. Despite juggling planning, practice, and performance — and some even squeezing in time to attend others’ concerts — they remain determined to give it their all.

Abhishek Raghuram

Abishek Raghuram.
| Photo Credit:
RAGHUNATHAN SR

What’s new? Every Season is new, because our music keeps evolving every year. Innovations can be done even while sticking to one’s strengths. In fact, combining them will be more effective.

Keeping fit: Mainly it’s about a disciplined diet, proper sleep and physical exercise. I follow this routine to ensure the Season is smooth, health-wise.

Kutcheri structure: Every concert is different. Regarding balancing quantity and quality, it may not be the same every year. Artistes normally avoid repeating ragas and kritis. This is a skill they develop over a period of time. Despite a hectic concert schedule throughout the Season, the effort is always to present an interesting repertoire.

Amritha Murali

Amritha Murali.
| Photo Credit:
ASHOK R

Look back, look ahead: For me, every year the Season is a time for introspection and expression of the music I have learnt/experienced through the year. This time too, I would like to focus on enjoying my music and sharing it with my co-artistes and the audience.

Balanced approach: Concerts should be a sensible mix of the old and the new.

Keeping calm: I try to be mentally relaxed. I follow my usual voice fitness exercises. Regular gargling with salt water is a good way to keep the voice intact during the chilly weather. Also, I try to space out the concerts to avoid strain.

December dairy: Certain sabhas have featured me consistently for many years now. I try to not miss out on those.

Song list: A lot of thought goes into it. Taking into consideration the fact that one is performing at multiple venues within a month and quite a number of artistes are performing at the same time, it would be good to make the best use of one’s repertoire without repetition. However, repeating ragas is unavoidable sometimes.

Ashwath Narayanan

R. Ashwath Narayanan.
| Photo Credit:
JOTHI RAMALINGAM B

Margazhi musings: I expect this Season to be a gripping one. I am, as usual, looking forward to a lot of listening, learning, and, of course, singing, in that order. Lecture-demonstrations are among my favourite events of the Season.

Ideal mix: My concerts will be a mix of old and new songs. I prefer to present tried and tested compositions with a refreshing touch. It works well both for the performer and the listener. Innovations need to happen organically; they cannot be force-fitted.

Voice care: Usually, I do not take any special precautions. Of course, I try and rest my voice as much as possible on non-concert days. More than the voice, I focus on my mind. It needs to be in a space of inspiration and calmness. That drives a good concert even on bad-voice days. Sometimes, throat infections are inevitable, but they are a part of the game.

Kutcheri itinerary: Some of us sing more than 15 concerts in 40-45 days. It is certainly strenuous. But most of these organisations have nurtured my talent over the years. So, it’s a great feeling to go back and sing there every year. I like to try different ragas, more importantly, try variations of a certain raga in tanams, viruthams and ragamalikas. I have a few interesting collaborations with some wonderful co-artistes that I am excited about.

Bharat Sundar

Bharat Sundar.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Margazhi mood: As always, I’m looking forward to the Season. I plan to explore some new and old ragas and compositions. I will also be singing some of my own compositions. When presenting manodharma or songs on stage, it’s always better to stick to your strengths.

Fitness mantra: It’s important to take care of the body. I try to hit the gym regularly and eat to satisfy hunger, not cravings. When you take good care of your body and put in consistent practice, the voice will stay in good shape. Also, I prioritise quality over quantity. While it’s difficult to say ‘no’ to people who reach out to you, too many concerts can be overwhelming, especially with so much talent around and everyone needing to be heard. So, I try to accept a manageable number of concerts, maintaining a good balance.

Thoughtful menu: In today’s age, when a Perambur concert can be heard in Perth, every concert repertoire should be put together with enough thought and care. As rasikas often expect something different, I try to avoid repeating songs unless it’s an audience request. All musicians try to offer honest music to the best of their abilities. I encourage rasikas to attend concerts without preconceived notions and avoid comparing artistes. It takes all kinds to make the world.

K. Gayatri

K. Gayatri.
| Photo Credit:
RAGU R

Season’s special: Every season is unique in its own way. Even though we perform all through the year, Margazhi is the month musicians look forward to.

Concert repertoire: I do try out new pallavis every Season and, of course, try to include new kritis too. After all the learning through the year, we try to come up with something novel and interesting at the end of the year.

Precaution: I avoid having anything cold and keep my ears covered, especially during this chilly season.

Margazhi schedule: There is no specific criteria for accepting concerts. I have been performing for some years now, and give preference to venues that have been instrumental in my career. I also try to not repeat ragas and kritis.

Sriranjani Santhanagopalan

Sriranjani Santhanagopalan.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Margazhi moments: I head into the Season with deeper life experiences, introspection, and joy. As always, I will strike a balance between tradition and innovation.

Fitness routine: I believe in building my immunity with the right diet, pranayama and prayers.

Pack it right: I try to be selective when it comes to my Margazhi schedule. I also ensure the concerts are spaced out. The key to a good concert also lies in packaging — an interesting array of ragas and kritis. You can sing Thodi five days in a row and still make it exciting. That said, I love exploring a variety of ragas and kritis, especially during the Season. Rasikas can expect new compositions and fresh perspectives.