On the fourth day of Ramotsava, Vinay Sharva from Bengaluru gave a vocal concert at Alamma’s Choultry with Gokul on violin, B.C. Manjunath on mridanga and M.R. Manjunath on ghata.

Vinay has a powerful voice that traverses easily in all ranges. He opened the concert with ‘Shree Maha Ganapate’ by Mayuram Vishwanatha Shastri and moved on to ‘Bhavanuta,’ the evergreen composition of Tyagaraja. Saveri seems to be the favourite raga of Vinay.

In this concert, his choice was ‘Shankari Shankuru Chandramukhi’ by Shyama Shastri set to Trishta Nade Adi tala. Neraval at ‘Shyama Krishna Sodari Shantodari’ was expertly expanded followed by fluent swaras.

Tyagaraja’s soulful kriti ‘Nannu vidachi kadalakura Ramayya Rama,’ followed by a quick ‘Bhogeendra Shayinam Kurukushala dayinam’ by Swati Tirunal led to Kalyani, the main attraction of the evening.

The ragalapana brought many elegant and intricate phrases both by the vocalist and the violinist. Tyagaraja’s well-known ‘Etavunnara’ saw an extensive neraval at ‘Shreekarudagu Tyagaraja’ followed by brilliant swaras giving way to taniyavartanam by B.C. Manjunath and M.R. Manjunath, which was applauded by the audience.

The chutukas followed after the taniyavartanam.

‘Manave Mantralaya’ by A.V. Krishnamachar (Padmacharan) and ‘Jayatu Kodanda Rama Jayatu Dasharatha Rama’ by Purandara Dasa were rendered effectively.

‘Muddugare Yashoda’ in Kuranji by Annamacharya brought the flavour of Guru Nedanuri Krishna Murthy. Vinay concluded the concert with the Dhanashree tillana by Swati Tirunal.

By Dr. Padmavathi Narasimhan