M S Subbulakshmi and her music - Part 2 - O Rangasayee

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In this second article of this series, we once again look at a Khambhoji kriti of Tyagaraja. Tyagaraja visited Srirangam on his way to Madras and stayed at Srirangam for some time. During that time he composed five krithis on the Lord of Srirangam, collectively called the Sriranga Pancaratnam. The krithis are: O Ranga Sayee (Khambhoji), 'Vinarada Na Manavi' (Devagandhari), 'Chootamu Rare' (Aarabhi), 'Raju Vedale' (Todi) and 'Karunachoodavayya' (Saranga). The grandest of these is 'O Rangasayee' whose majesty towers as high as the gopuram of Rangan. 

MS chooses a languid pace that enhances the majesty of the krithi. Observe the perfection of the sangatis in the pallavi. The sangatis are built so grandly, brick by brick, initially simple, slowly adding complexity before demanding great breath control to execute them. Observe the jaaru sangatis at 'raa raadha,' starting deep down and climbing smoothly like an eagle gliding up. The breath control and the precision are marvellous, revealing the raga step by step and, at the same time, building a grand edifice.

The anu pallavi is a gift that keeps giving in terms of sangathis. Here, too, the structure of the sangatis is brilliantly thought out, with each one more difficult than the other and revealing more and more of the ragam. MS's voice control and voice modulation make this anu pallavi rendition an unforgettable event. The perfection makes you ecstatic.

The sedate pace is maintained in the charanam, and at the expected place, 'boo loka vaikuntam' MS does a brief neraval. Given the tone of the krithi and the occasion, MS avoids pyrotechnics in her neraval and keeps it sedate but not before showing her control over the upper ranges. Then the song proceeds like a majestic elephant decked up for the temple festival. The tight grip on the kala pramanam is what gives us this impression of majesty and grandeur. 

Listen to MS singing 'O Ranga Sayee' 

As a bonus, you get a slokham at the beginning and 'vandinam uralum solai' at the end of this video.

MS probably learnt this krithi from her guru Semmangudi Srivasa Iyer. You can hear the same sangatis in both renditions. 

Here is Semmangudi singing 'O Ranga Sayee' 


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