NJ Nandini

YOUTHFUL CUSTODIANS OF CULTURE http://worldmusiccentral.org/category/concert-reviews/ As announced in these columns recently, Nadopasana, a Muscat (Oman) based voluntary organization devoted to Indian classical music, staged a double concert on Saturday, the 25th March 2017. It featured two young and promising stars of the Carnatic genre. The morning session was a vocal concert by Nandini Neelakantan, while the evening session featured the vocal recital of Vignesh Ishwar. M S Ananthakrishnan accompanied both artistes on the violin. All three artistes flew in from India, while the percussion accompaniment was provided by local artistes. The ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations) very generously sponsored the travel of the visiting artistes. The whole thing was made possible by the encouragement and enthusiasm of HE Mr. Indra Mani Pandey, the Ambassador of India to Oman. Both Nandini and Vignesh are in their twenties. At the end of their concerts, I felt in the depths of ...

Friday Review, The Hindu 16 Dec 2016 Nandini’s vocal http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/Kalasagaram%E2%80%99s-annual-fest-Confluence-of-music-forms/article16833854.ece Noted vocalist N.J. Nandini figured in the company of K.V. Krishna on violin, V.V. Ramanamurthy on mridangam and P.V. Ramanamurthy on ghatam. Nandini opened her concert with Kambhoji varnam   Sarasijanabha   of Swathi Tirunal done in two speeds. This was in Ata talam. This was followed by  Paripatheesa Ghana Roopa  in Adi talam with brief swarakalpana. Then she chose to present raga Devamanohari for a brief alapana for the composition  Evarikai avatharamethithivo  of Thyagaraja. It was explicitly rendered. The swarakalpana part was a bit long. Then she took up raga Sudha Ormika janya of Simhendramadhyamam for a brief alapana and the composition she presented in this was  Neikarapathi  of Pallavi Sesha Iyer. This was followed by the main number of Nandni’s concert...

N.J. Nandini, accompanied by Trivandrum Sampath, Nanjil Arul and Kottayam Unnikrishnan, portrayed a neat ‘Meusamana’ (Mayamalavagoula) decked with niraval and swaras. She presented an energetic Hamsanandi and succeeded in attempting sruthibhedam at rishabha to result in Hindolam, followed by the kriti ‘Sankara sreegiri’. Harikamboji was the main raga of the evening and the composition was ‘Enthuku needaya’.

http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/n-j-nandini-enthralls-rasikas-in-kochi/article8938237.ece

FRIDAY REVIEW THE HINDU, Dec 3 2015 N.J. Nandini The first concert was by N.J. Nandini. The day was dedicated to Tyagaraja. Her musical acumen and enviable manodharma were distinctly noticeable throughout the recital. The impressive varnam ‘Sarasijanabha’ (Kamboji), followed by ‘Neekaelana’ (Devamanohari), a chaste alapana of Kedaragowla preceding the kriti ‘Saamikisarievvare’ and a bhava-rich ‘Enthaninne’ (Mukhari) appended with a crisp niraval and swaraprastharas spoke volumes about her virtuosity. Her scintillating delineation of Thodi and the expressive presentation of ‘Dasukovalena’, ornamented with a vivacious niraval and brilliant swara korvais, offered a superb aural treat. Surajananda’s ‘Muruganin Marupeyar’ (Behag) and M.D. Ramanathan’s ‘Saagarasayana’ (Bageshri) were soaked in melody. Nellai Viswanathan could not match Nandini on the violin. While Nanjil Arul’s mridangam accompaniment was too aggressive, Manjoor Unnikrishnan was skilful on the ghatam. http://www.th...

What is music to me? I have come across this question many a times in my life - either in an interpersonal conversation or, most of the time an intrapersonal one. But to answer this, shouldn’t I think whether, Music chose me to be a musician or did I ? Turning back the pages of pretty old a script, wasn’t it a natural bonding? I find no line with a treble clef, nor I could find any story with ‘Once upon a time’. Everything else except that image of a tiny little quirky girl with her locks plaited on both sides are blurred.  The reason behind anything and everything till the present chapter of my life is some way or the other- MUSIC. It had been that reason, because of which I got that fluffy chalky duster’s punch during one of those Maths class in my 6 th grade, the reason behind all those dolls that prettified my cupboard, the reason behind the fortune of stepping the Rashtrapathibhavan..and many many more… What did the King Cole play with his fiddlers? What did the...

http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/nandini-displayed-her-vidwat-at-her-vocal-concert-in-coimbatore/article7403334.ece

5th June 2015 http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/verses-and-notes-of-devotion/article7278492.ece

Dear All, Presenting my new endeavor - BHARATA NANDINI, organised jointly with YMCA Trivandrum on 2nd May 3pm at YMCA Hall.  Please consider this as my personal invitation, do grace the occasion with your presence and continue to support and bless me. Bharata Nandini is a creative presentation of famed Patriotic songs, carried close to heart, emotionally, by us, Indians. It evokes a sense of pride, oneness and elevates the love and affection towards our mother land along with patriotism. The presentation includes patriotic songs in more than 6 languages, rendered by 15 of my disciples, from the 4 states of South India. Here we – her children (Bharata Nandini) are to sing, admiring her unique features! Jai Hind

Dear Rasikas, Here is the link of my first International Radio Broadcast. An interview with Chinese Radio International at Shanghai, during the India- China Delgation 2014 http://tamil.cri.cn/301/2014/12/03/1s148123.htm

http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/society/charge-of-the-youth-brigade/article6739114.ece

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/of-dreams-freedom-music-and-decisions/article6600714.ece

RISING STAR SERIES- SHANMUKHANANDA, MUMBAI

 August 28, 2014 Control over medium - The Hindu

19th August 2014 http://www.keralakaumudi.com/news/print/aug19/page11.pdf

On song - The Hindu

Ragas of devotion and virtuosity - The Hindu 8th August 2014 - Friday Review

Karnataka Council, Bangalore PROMO Video

http://epaper.deccanchronicle.com/articledetailpage.aspx?id=423713

Accent on melody http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/accent-on-melody/article5684035.ece P.Vijayambika N.J. Nandini stole the show on the fourth day with her pleasing stage presence and musical skills. Lilting ‘Evarani’ (Devamruthavarshini) provided a glittering start. An immaculate rendering of ‘Merusamana’ (Mayamalavagoula) was decorated with niraval and swaraprasthara, demonstrating her mastery over weaving sarvalaghu patterns. The central piece of the concert was Varali tagged to ‘Kanakanaruchira’, one of the Pancharatna kritis. Excellent support was provided by Trivandrum Sampath (violin), Cherthala Dinesan (mridangam) and Vellanjatoor Sreejith (ghatam).