I see the board directing me to go to the second floor for the theater. I see a long queue of people waiting for the gate to open. (Why the hell it is like this? Is this not something unusual? Why a long queue to enter if every one has bought a ticket already.) The gate opens at 5-00 pm - the time mentioned for the concert to start. By the time people settle themselves it is another 20 min. Authorities conducting events should try to keep up the time mentioned in the brochures. Man, it is USA and not India.

Around 5-30 pm, the man in simple attire - a Jippa and a Dhoti in silk and lot of enthusiasm enters the podium. The host introduces Yesudas to the audience as a ritual but no one seemed to show interest as the audience are the ones who really appreciate Yesudas, I am sure. Yesudas chants the following:

Ohm Saha Naavavatu Saha Nau Bhunaktu Saha Veerayam Karavaavahai

Tejasvi Naavadheetamastu Maa Vidvishaavahai

Om Shaanti Shaanti Shaanti

from Taittiriya Upanishad meaning:

May the Lord protect us together

May he nourish us together

May we work together uniting our strength for the good of humanity

May our learning be luminous and purposeful

May we never hate one another

May there be peace, peace, and perfect peace

and prays for peace. The audience observe a 2 min silence for the victims of the disaster in the east. The world needs lot of prayers to fight against the hatred.

The man of golden voice starts the concert with one of the complex Varnas Valachi Vachi in Navarakamalika. I have heard the same Varna sung by him from one of my collection of cassettes several times. The Varna was rendered the same way - no change in style or voice. Only Yesudas can do this I suppose. Excellent rendition. Having set the mood of the pace, he chooses a song on Vinayakar - Sri Gananatham Bhajamyagam in Kanagangi Raaga. It is one of my favorite as the song is itself an emotional journey. Unfortunately the excellent Alapana that could have added some more charm to the song is missing as the song took the first position of the 20 plus songs.

Next in the turn comes Enna Punniyam Seytheno in Reethi Gowlai Raaga. Yesudas always excels in choosing songs of class. One such is this song. The initial piece of introduction is just great. Really people are blessed to hear the song. Yesudas's ever favorite Raaga - Thodi - comes next for the song Thaye Yasodha. Yesudas added another stanza for the song. When he sang the words Balan Endru Thaavi Anaithen, it was really like embracing Kid Krishna. Great rendition, indeed!

Ksheera Sagara is the only song Thyagaraja has sung in Devagandhari Raaga to my knowledge. And Yesudas is one of the few I have heard who have sung the song very well. If you hear Kadri Gopalnath's sax for this song, you will realize that Kadri has just imitated the style of Yesudas. Yesudas was accompanied by the best artists when he released an album in 1981 with T.N.Krishnan in violin. I do not know why Yesudas is not performing with famous accompanists nowadays. Kanyakumari say for example; the violin just listens to her while she fiddles with that. His age is reflected when he sings the words Tharaka Raama... He does not care to emphasize that often as it is the most difficult part of the song.

Yesudas sings a brief song of Thyagaraja in Telugu (Theliyatho?) I have not heard that song before and neither the Raaga could be identified. But it was brief and brilliant. Malayamarutham is a Raaga that will make one soft at heart. The Raaga is mellifluous. With Yesudas choosing one of the famous song of Thyagaraja, Manasa Ettulo, the concert reaches the pinnacle. Too many good songs for the evening? I feel satiated with that and I think whatever comes next are bonus only. The song is excellently sung. The first time I am hearing Yesudas singing. I have heard Balamuralikrishna singing and I thought it was best sung by him, but as I hear a different version from Yesudas; he goes to the route the Raaga takes and so is every one from the audience. Great rendering!

Mokshamu in Saramadhi is the next present to the audience. Simply superb. The elaborate rendition of Raagam Thanam Pallavi is a treat to the purists. But the real present to the audience is the final hour of every concert that essentially consists of the following: few of the popular (or he will make them popular), emotional and songs in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi. Today's choices are Aindhil, Pullai Piravi, Thenilamayilum and Thirupaarkadalil in Tamil, Kondalano in Telugu, Krishna Nee Begane in Kannada, Karuna Chey and Hari Muraleedharam in Malayalam and Jayathi Jayoko in Hindi. The best of these are Thirupaarkadalil - the once popular song of Yesudas in Tamil set in Bhairavi Raaga. The Raaga as such is a heavy one requiring lot of practice and base voice. Yesudas sets the Thambura and gets ready. The song is dealt carefully and approached steadily but for Yesudas its another piece of cake. Brilliantly sung. But the song of the day for me is 'Hari Muraleedharam' in Malayalam. When I heard this song first from a website, it was just amazing. But the song looked as if it was recorded with a cinema gimmick as the song has lot of continuous breath-holding stanzas. Singing that in the stage, Yesudas proves that he is a singer of the class. One should hear the song to appreciate him.

Yesudas concludes the program with Harivarasanam, Yogeendhranam and Pavamana and with lot of satisfaction. So are the audience - everyone with extreme happiness in their face and heart.

A very pleasant evening!