M.S.Sheela Special Concert on18th September 2011

Special Concert of Compositions of Karnataka Composers

M S Sheela is a leading Carnatic classical vocalist who has made her mark in classical, light as well as devotional genres of music. She has the rare distinction of being a top rank artist of AIR and Doordarshan in both classical and light music.

Hailing from a musically endowed family, Sheela sang her first notes under the guidance of her mother late Smt M N Rathna, a popular musician of yesteryears. Strict and rigorous training under Sangeetha Kalanidhi Dr R K Srikantan added lustre to her musical prowess. She has a postgraduate degree in Music from Bangalore University, and is a Gold medallist.
 
Having taken to the stage at an early age, M S Sheela has performed widely across the nation and abroad. She has been performing regularly on All India Radio and Doordarshan, and has featured on the Radio Sangeeth Sammelan, Trinity Festival, National Programmes and numerous special features. She has performed in USA, Canada and Australia. Sheela was sponsored by the State Government of Karnataka for her US concert tour. CMNA, New Jersey, Bhairavi Fine Arts, Cleveland, USA, Nadatarangini Fine Arts, Washington, Carnatic Music Circle of Australia are few among the organizations abroad that have hosted her performances. M S Sheela has also performed in Middle East and London.

M S Sheela has a large number of audio releases to her credit. She has been featured in 'Srividyadarshana' (compositions of Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar), 'Ninada' (compositions of Veene Sheshanna) and 'Sadashiva Madhurya' (compositions of Mysore Sadashiv Rao) series produced by All India Radio, Bangalore. Her renditions of Lalithasahasranama, Sharada Suprabhata, Venkateshwara Suprabhata, Soundarya Lahari etc are widely popular and in great demand. Sheela, along with her husband Prof B K Ramaswamy, has founded Hamsadhwani Creations, to promote classical music through innovative programmes and thematic audio albums. 'Haridasa Namana', 'Palinchu Kamakshi', 'Guru Raghavendra' are some of her audio releases through Hamsadhwani Creations. She roped in all the leading carnatic vocalists of the state for Hamsadhwani's thematic series such as 'Haridasa Namana' and 'Vaggeya Vaibhava'.

Smt.M.S.Sheela is also a trained Bharatanatyam Dancer. Sheela used to give dance performances till the early 90's.

Awards and Titles: 

Madras Music Academy adjudged Sheela as 'Outstanding Senior Female Vocalist' during its annual music festival in 1997. Karnataka State Government has honoured her with 'Rajyothsava Award'. She has received the award for Best Female Playback Singer for the year 1997-98 from Karnataka State Film Chambers. Sheela was adjudged the best musician of the annual music conference of Karnataka Ganakalaparishat for the year 2000, and was awarded 'Ananya Puraskar'. She is also an 'Asthana Vidushi' of Sri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthanam Dakshinamnaya Sri Sarada Peetham, Sringeri. She is the recipient of 'Gaurava Puraskara' of Karnataka Sangeeta Nritya Academy for the year 2007.

Some of the titles bestowed upon her:
Ganakalashree - Ganakala Parishat
Gaana Varidhi - M A Narasimhachar Foundation
Sangeetha Saraswati - BhaktiBharati Pratishtana
Sangeetha Sahyadri Shikharini - Shimoga Ramanavami Committee
Bangalore Nagarathnamma Prashasti
Guru Gauravakarini
Sumadhura Sangeetha Dhruvatare
Sangeetha Raga Amrithavarshini
Sangeetha Gana Kalanidhi
Sangeetha Vagdevi
Sangeetya Puraskara - Sangeetya Asthana

 Full Concert Review

M.S.Sheela's  majestic voice  captivates Nadasurabhi audience

Smt.M.S.Sheela chose a special theme for her programme, viz. the compositions of 19th and 20th century composers who were directly under the patronage of the Mysore maharaja. Sheela along with five of her disciples gave a sparkling concert for more than three hours with not a single sagging moment.

At the outset, the artist gave a brief idea of the songs that she will be presenting including the composer and raga. The programme started off with a Varnam in Panthuvarali, Intha Sowkya , a composition of Mysore Sadashiva Rao. Next was the popular composition of Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavathar, Gam ganapate namo namo in raga hamsadhwani. There were also a few rounds of swaram. Abhogi, a very deep emotional raga was presented next and a rarely heard composition of Mysore Sadashiva Rao, Neekeppudu daya vochchunu along with swaraprasthara. All six vocalists with absolute synchronisation presented the most well known number of the evening, Sree Chamundeswari Paalayamam, with all its myriad sangathis. It was indeed a delightful experience.

As the sub-main item Smt. Sheela chose raga Dharmavathi. After a beautiful raga alapana filled with effortless brigas, Amba Brovave, a composition of Bidaram Krishnappa was presented in all its glory. Neraval and swaras were at Mahaa bhairavi gowri sreekrishna poshini. Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar's composition, Saraswathim bhagavathim namamyaham in raga Hamsavinodini was sung after a brief delineation of the raga. After a couple of short pieces in Sharadapriya alias Rathipathipriya and Kadanakudoohalam Smt. Sheela launched her main song with an elaborate Kharaharapriya alapanai. The song itself was a composition of Muthiah Bhagavathar, Annapurneswari Akhileswari. Compact and enjoyable neraval and swarams kept up the tempo of the concert. A Mohana kalyani composition of Gopala Dasa, had a light classical touch and the group rendering of this kriti had a nice lilting effect. Violin maestro Sri. Chowdiah's thillana in Nalina kanthi was the concluding piece before mangalam.

Overall it was a highly satisfactory listening experience both for the traditional and modern rasika. The rich flawless voice was gliding effortlessly over routine as well as complicated sanchaaras. Accompanying veteran violinist  Sri. C.N.Chandrasekaran was in an exceptionally good form with very creative usages during his portions of alapanai and swaraprastharams along with admirably quick replies to the nuances of the main artist. Young percussionists  Manjunath and Phanindra Bhaskar gave an enthusiastic support along with a cheerful and enjoyable thani avarthanam.