Smt. Seetha Chandrashekhar
Nov 2022
Oottukkadu Venkata Kavi's Saptaratna Kritis - Pranavakaram - Charanam - Part 2
Approach to learn Krtis of great Composers of Carnatic Music.
In Carnatic Music concerts, artistes perform krtis composed by eminent composers, in addition to other musical forms such as Varnams, Javalis, Thillanas and many more. Aspiring students should learn basic lessons thoroughly which are used to introduce concepts of Melody through Ragas and concepts of Rhythm through Talas.
As a student learns Geethams and Varnams, they become familiar with parent ragas and derived ragas, and arohanam and avarohanam of the ragas that they learn. In addition to that, students should work on understanding key phrases of each raga and ornamentation that are specific to each raga which will bring out the characteristic of that raga. Rhythmic concepts are explained to a student from exercises in Alankaram, through which the student learns various parts of the tala and how they are represented by beats, finger counts and waving of the hand. Prior to learning krtis, students should attempt to sing basic lessons and Varnams in multiple speeds with clarity.
Shri. Oottukkadu Venkata Kavi
Shri Oottukkadu Venkata is said to have lived from 1700-1765. Shri. OVK is believed to have Shri.Krishna as his Guru. I am fortunate to visit the famous temple in Oottukkadu where Krishna performed the Kalinga Nartana dance and you can find references to the Kalinga Nartana dance in many of Shri. OVK’s compositions and he has signed few of his compositions as Venkata Kavi.
There are many krtis on Krishna that Shri.OVK has composed where in you will find original expressions. Examples of those are Aadaadhu Ashangaadu Vaa Kanna and Paarvai Onre Podhume.
In Aadaadhu Ashangaadu Vaa Kanna, the composer describes how the world will move if Krishna makes a move and he goes on to explain the Kalinga Nartana dance that made Lord Nataraja from Chidambaram, a king of dance, to visit Gokulam to experience it first hand. In Paarvai Onre Podhume, composer explains the naughty expressions of Krishna who hides behind his mother when Gopis come to complain about Krishna stealing butter. A devotee needs no wealth, given a chance to glimpse on Krishna pleading with his eyes to Gopis, to avoid getting punished by his mother.
There are two beautiful compositions on Radha, Madhava hrdi Khelini and Brindavana Nilaye.
Shri Ootthukkadu Venkata Kavi has also pioneered several song sets, which are similar to Ghana raga Pancharatna krtis of Shri Thygaraja and also has composed song sets similar to Kamalamba Navavarana krtis and Navagraha krtis composed by Shri. Muttusvamy Dikshithar.
Saptaratna krtis of Shri OVK is composed as Pancharatna krtis with multiple swara sahitya charanams, are considered as one of the best in Carnatic Music. Each one of these has a different theme that has scholarly lyrics that also include references to great composers and devotees of Shiva and Vishnu. One can find original expressions combined with rich melody.
We will learn more about Shri. OVK’s contributions to Carnatic Music in future articles.
Now, we will proceed to learn some master pieces of Shri.Oottukkadu Venkata Kavi in our first learning series.
Shree Gurubhyo Namah.