The rise and rise of Sanjay

I attended 5 concerts of Sanjay Subramaniam during the December 2003 season.

COMMON FEATURES of these concerts:

1. Variety (Rishabapriya, Madhyamavati, Charukesi, Hari Khamboji were the main ragas that he sang)

2. Hard work (also called Ragam-Tanam-Pallavi)

3. Zest for the art (also called "sreshtai" by some folks)

Things that were NOT COMMON to these concerts:

1. Repetition
I don't recall a single ragam--let alone song--that was repeated at these venues!

Yes, at some point during a season, Sanjay might have to re-visit some ragas. But, compare this to some other "leading" artistes, who seem to be singing from a set of "concert templates".

2. Take it easy attitude
At the Jaya TV organized concert, Sanjay chose Bharatiyar Songs as the theme--and tried to prove that this needn't constrain an artiste from delivering a very serious concert. He sang Rishabapriya (Chandira Oliyil Avalai Kanden) quite wonderfully as the main raga and before that, Vande Mataram Enbom, in very sweet Kedaram.

At the event organized by Mirudangam vidwan Karaikudi Mani at Asthiga Samajam, Sanjay was featured in a 4 pm slot and had just 1.5 hours to perform! But, he still worked hard--and sang Papanasam Sivan's Saravana Bhava Guhane in Madhyamavati as the main ragam. "Sanjay Subramaniam is sincere and devoted to the highly demanding art of Carnatic classical music. Sanjay usually overcomes the limitations in his voice by sheer application," says T.M. Anantharaman in his review of the concert appearing on the Sify.com web site. "(The main ragam was) replete with cascading sangathis and highlighting the evocative appeal and happy prayerful mood of the raga. In places, he seemed to be pleading with and cajoling the deity to bless him," the reviewer adds.

My conclusion: Sanjay is peaking now--the way T.N.Seshagopalan did in the late nineties. It'll be a good idea to attend as many of his concerts as possible over the next few years.