The Long and Short of Alapanas

In a crude way of putting, there are 4 types of 'alapana' based on time - Sketch, Short, Long and Detailed.
Sketch is just showing the scales of the raga with some swish and flick and maximum goes upto a minute or two. A short alapana ranges from 5-8 mins. Long one goes from 15 - 30 mins, while the detailed ones go beyond 30 mins. The time inbetween these Sketch - Short and Long can be classified eitherway, depending on the level of satisfaction.

While many of the concerts nowadays are a mixture of Long and Short ones. Very few artists take up the Detailed type. Anyways proper mixture of these would satisfy most of the rasikas.

But the emergence of capsule concerts have started to spoil the mixture. In the 1.30 hrs to 2 hrs, the artists plan to sing atleast 3 ragas that forces them to choose the short-type for all the ragas (incl main). This affects the "Wholesome or Completeness" a rasika feel at the end of the piece/concert.

I have attended 2 Vijay Siva concerts this season until now. One was in Karthik Fine Arts and the other one in Nalinakanthi. I was surprised in the former though, as he sang three 'Short' alapanas in Kalyani, Reethigowlai and Saveri (main). Even the main piece's alapana was within 8 mins. Though these were really good, it did not give the 'Completeness' everyone wish for. Maybe he did so as a warm-up to the season because in the latter concert, he sang Varali (Short-type) and an elaborate Kambodhi (Long-type) which immensely satisfied everyone. Given the virtuosity and seniority of Vijay Siva, I think if he follows the second pattern in his concerts, it will stand as an example for the upcoming artists, as it has been so for years now. Sadly quite a few have started to follow the 'Short' route nowadays.

TNS Krishna's Masterly performance at Charsur is worth noting. He sang an elaborate RTP (Detailed type) in Kalyani and Lalitha, alongwith 'Hamsadhwani sketch' and 'Panthuvarali short alapana' which gained loud applause and huge appreciation from the packed crowd. The way he handled both the ragas simultaneously in every phase of the RTP was just mindblowing. Also the typical TNS korvais and Porutthams for the eduppu were total delight to the listeners. அப்பாவுக்கு மகன் தப்பாமல் பிறந்திருக்கார். Very much satisfying to youngsters like me who have not heard TNS sir when he was young.

Abishek Raghuram's performances needs no words to say how good it was at Brahma Gana Sabha, where he sang a 'Long' Vasantha and a 'Detailed ' Madhyamavathy. Similarly at MFAC, he sang a 'Short' Nasikabhushani, 'Long' Varali and a 'Detailed' Sankarabharanam RTP. There was a standing ovation to the artists at the end of the concert. It was also a great gesture from Abishek to let the percussionists (Ananth and Sree Sundarkumar) play the Thani before singing swarams for the Pallavi, because it was already getting late and people looked like they were about to leave once he finishes the swaram.

Conclusion - People may put up an argument stating Quality is more important than Quantity and stuff. But friends, Complete satisfaction will be obtained only when both quality and quantity are in proper proportion Ofcourse more the quality, better the music. But for that sake quantity shouldnot be reduced.

The difference is obvious. One/Two good, elaborate alapanas are way better than 3 / 4 short ones.