Binny & Krishnakumar go global

For Binny and Krishnakumar, Margazhi is synonymous with music and magic. The singer-couple is just back from a trip to Kerala, where they performed to packed auditoriums. ���������We have a couple of more concerts in Chennai, including two fusion concerts,��������� says Krishnakumar.
So, what���������s special for this season? ���������For every concert, we try to give something new to the audience to take home.We do almost seven concerts a month and this season, we���������ll be collaborating with artistes from outside India, who would play the accompaniments for us. We���������ll be performing with artistes from London, Australia and Munich. This would be a treat to the listeners as they would get to savour the taste of Indian music from musicians settled abroad,��������� he says.
Their concerts will be theme-based, but the songs will not be the usual run-of-the-mill keerthans, they say.���������We���������ve chosen krithis on Hanuman and on music this time. We will sing varnams and thillana on Krishna. We will also be singing on the contemporary attitude of people towards eternal love. Through our songs, we���������d drive home the point that divinity is universal love ��������� anbe sivam!��������� informs Binny.
Like every other season, this season will also see them render composition of their guruji, Dr M Balamuralikrishna. ���������His compositions are out-of-the-world. His pada varnam on Ganesha, which narrates interesting anecdotes, is not usually sung at many concerts. So are his kritis on Thyagaraja. But we make it a point to sing his compositions in our concerts. We try to execute it like how our guru would perform if he was singing,��������� says Binny and adds, ���������We will also be singing some of Swati Thirunal���������s rare compositions.���������
Narrating an anecdote from one of their recent concerts, Krishnakumar says, ���������We were singing Narasimhapura Deva... in Kamboji raga at a sabha. And coincidentally, the idol on stage was that of Balaji, in his Narasimha avatar. We were truly touched.���������
Binny and Krishnakumar have given many a concert as a couple. Ask them if there are any disadvantages of doing duet concerts and Binny says, ���������Not at all. As long as the couple understands each other���������s plusses and minuses, there are no drawbacks.���������
Krishnakumar adds, ���������In our case, it���������s a blessing in disguise. We have been singing since childhood and with God���������s grace, throughout our 12 years of married life, we have complemented and complimented each other. In fact, for us, concerts are moments of sharing music together.���������
Soulful notes
For every concert, the two colour co-ordinate their costumes. While Binny prefers yellow, red and green, Krishnakumar complements her sari with his kurta and white dhoti
The two like singing Prathimadhyama ragas like Amrithavarshini and Varali, besides Vivadhi ragas like Vagatheeswari and Rasikapriya
While Binny is a pro at performing alapanas, Krishnakumar is an expert at singing kalpana swarams
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