Bloomington in Illinois, U.S., is fast becoming the cultural hub of South Indian fine arts - thanks to the hundreds of South Indian families living here. For any
artiste, visiting U.S, this small, but beautiful city has become a natural port of call.
Udayalur Kalyanaraman, a household name in Sampradaya Bhajan, performed a Namasankeertanam at Bloomington - at the residence of Santhanam, Vice President of the McLean County Indian Association. The impressive turnout of discerning rasikas including a couple of Americans is an index to the amount of interest shown by the local residents in this ancient art form.
Kalyanaraman was at his usual best on May 10. Though he was yet to recover fully from his jetlag, his performance did not reveal it. He started off this year's namasankeertanam circuit on that evening with the Thodayamangalam, followed by a couple of Gurukeerthanams - Bhajare manasa bodendra yogeendram- thodi, sathgurune maaje aashirwaad dila in hindolam and sathguru premikam sharam bhajamyaham- bhaktha kolaahala charanabja madhubam.
He chose the first Ashtapathy on the Dasaavathaaram and the Kamas Tharangam (Gopalameva daivatham) for the evening. His rendering of the Bhadrachala Ramadasar keertanaI in Chenjurutti (Kamalanayana) was very well received. This was followed by harinarayana harinarayana yenu manave- sudha danyasi- a dasar padham and Pibare ramarasam of Sadasiva Brahmendra.
Gopalakrishna Bharathi's Sabhaapathikku Veru Daivam created nostalgic ripples in the hearts of the NRIs. These were interlaced with apt Naamaavalees.
The concluding part consisted of namavalees and slokas on Vinayaka, Subrahmanya, Lakshmi, Ambaal, Rama, Krishna, and Anjaneya. A couple of Abhangs completed the evening's divine trip.
Kalyanaraman was ably accompanied by Rajesh - harmonist, support - Chathelapathi Balu (junior) and mridangam - babu.
The audience, no doubt had a feast of devotional music.
Kannan can be contacted at kannan.bakthvatsalam@gmail.com
