By Dr. Padmavathi Narasimhan

On the 4th day of the music series, well-known flautist Pt. Pravin Godkhindi and Indian pianist Vid. Anil Srinivasan performed with Ananth R. Krishnan on mridanga.

This combination of flute and piano is rare in the field. This jugalbandi was a laudatory attempt and the music brimmed with emotional poignancy creating a hypnotic effect.

In the beginning of the concert Pravin Godkhindi said that they are here to create music on stage and music is to provide joy to those who listen. Given the fact that Pravin enjoys solo concerts more than jugalbandis, this concert was extremely well-received by the audience.

Anil Srinivasan is well-known for his collaborative work with Karnatak vocalist Sikkil Gurucharan and for his work with music education. His present concert with Godkhindi was marked for melody.

The duo commenced their concert with Hamsadhwani, furnishing a rich and fertile tonal space for elaboration. The composition chosen was ‘Vatapi Ganapatim’ as expected. Only the initial part of the composition was played though. The raga unfurled focusing on the emotions laden in the notes, thereby producing a pleasing evocation of the ragabhava marked by a euphonious symphony.

They next chose Madhuvanti rag. Both in this and Bhimpalas, Anil’s unhurried and steady explorations blended harmoniously with Pravin’s alap in the higher octaves sculpting the gestalt of the raga and its intricate beauty with precision and feeling.

While playing Bhimpalas, Pravin brought in the first phrase of the popular Dhanashri tillana, which brought thunderous applause from the audience. Pravin’s playing was marked by his control over breath, aesthetic appeal of the raga and his able balancing between traditional and creative music.

Sindhubhairavi brought mellifluous tunes to recreate the grandeur of Purandaradasa’s popular ‘Tamboori meetidava bhavabdhi daatidava’, which was followed by another devaranama ‘Jagadoddharana’, which was exquisitely rendered.

The concert was greatly enhanced by the mridanga accompaniment of Ananth Krishnan in the rendition of Madhuvanti composition, wherein Ananth gave suitable replies to Pravin.