M S Subbulakshmi and her music - Part 10: Neraval - Kamakoti Peetasthite
We will continue on MS's amazing neravals. Today, we take the Saveri krithi of Mysore Sadasiva Rao, 'sree kamakoti peetasthithe.' MS takes up the line, 'kadamba vana nilaye, amba, kanjalochane bhavani.' Initially, she repeats the lines a few times before launching into the neraval. The very start of the neraval is captivating, with MS stretching some syllables, shortening some, and of course, the emotion she puts on the word, 'amba.' The gradual exploration of the raga in the higher reaches heightens the bhava aspect without falling into sentimentality. As a friend of mine remarked, "Her voice has a divine resonance," which is clearly seen in this neraval. Even though the neraval is not as long as you would hear in concerts, it is amazingly effective. This is because MS brings into play all her skills while singing neravals: brilliant tone of the voice, ability of her voice to reach for the skies, her skill at creating tension, sustaining and the...