The concert at Sagara was a great experience. The crowd in that part of Karnataka is usually very receptive and responsive. 21st happened to be Amavasya and also the memorial day of Muthuswami Dikshitar.

The trip was eventful to say the least, our bus to Sagara met with a minor accident and I must say it was a close brush!!!

The concert was smooth and lasted around 3 hours. I had planned to sing a RTP but i ended up singing two main kritis and was left with no time. MS Govindswamy accompanied me on the Violin and C Cheluvaraju on the mridanga.

Here goes the list...

1) viriboni - bhairavi varnam - khanda ata - adi appayya

2) theliyaleru rama - dhenuka - adi - thyagaraja (S)

3) sri mathrubhutam - kannada - misra chapu - dikshitar (R)

4) meenakshi memudam dehi - purvikalyani - adi - dikshitar (R,N,S)

5) bhogindra shayinam - kuntalavarali - khanda chapu - swati tirunal

6) patti viduvaradu - manjari - adi - thyagaraja

7) o rangasayee - kambhoji - adi - thyagaraja (R,N,S) + thani

8) tirupati venkataramana - sindhu bhairavi - adi - purandaradasa

9) bruhu mukundethi - kurunji - adi - sadasiva brahmendra

10) tillana - khamas - adi - patnam subramanya iyer

11) mangalam

Singing Meenakshi Memudam on that day felt indeed special because it is said that that was the last kriti that Dikshitar heard before his soul left this earth. A great composer and a great soul!!