Prince Rama Varma - Concert for Musiquebox! 4/8 - Sankara Sutham

Prince Rama Varma, accompanied by the wonderful team of Sri S.R.Vinu on the Violin, 
Nanjil Sri Arul on the Mridangam, Trivandrum Sri Rajesh on the Ghatam, Thirunakkara Sri Retheesh on the Morsing and Sri Ananthapadmanabhan on the Tanpura, organized a special concert at home, just for me and for Varma Ji's fans who follow my Musiquebox channel regularly! 

Though I have always admired Varma ji for the generosity of his spirit, this super thoughtful gesture took even me by surprise! 

He revealed why he sang the songs that he sang, during the course of the concert, which 
I leave you to discover yourself. 

The excellent audio was provided by Sri Rajesh and the video, by Sri Ramu, all of whom were taking their equipment out for the first time since March.  

With Varma Ji's extraordinary level of involvement with the music, the lyrics, the spirit of the composers and with his accompanying artists, this concert held in a more or less empty room, has the same impact as one that is given before thousands of listeners in a packed auditorium!

One of the many beautiful and unexpected surprises during this extra special concert, was this super rare and super special composition in Raga Kapi by Varma Ji's Mentor and one of Varma Ji's greatest sources of inspiration, Dr.T.V.Gopalakrishnan, on Lord Sri Ayyappa, to coincide with the Ayyappa Season. This might easily be the very first time that this composition has been sung in concert by anybody.
I adore Varma Ji's Behag and Kapi and my cup of joy runneth over now, with brand new songs in Both these Ragas in the Same concert! The Swaram Session is an absolute delight and Varma ji never ever sounds like someone who hasn't performed for nearly eight months!