Bombay Jayashree sang on the 10th  day of the Ganeshotsava at 8th Cross, V.V. Mohalla, with Ganesh Prasad on the violin, Delhi Sairam on the mridanga and Giridhara Udupa on the ghata.

Jayashree’s music is free of gimmicks and full of devotion. She seemed totally oblivious to the atmosphere, though the place was full with appreciative audience. She went about her task religiously, churning out some excellent kritis.

 Starting her concert with the Ganesha stuti through a Sanskrit shloka, Jayashree presented Sri Narayana Teertha’s ‘Jaya Jaya Swamin Jaya Jaya’ which was  spruced up by delightful swaras. ‘Smarane Onde Saalade Govindana’ came as a welcome surprise before a lovely exposition of Shuddha Dhanyasi. Jayashree was devotion-personified, as she rendered the kriti ‘Subramanyena Rakshitoham’ by Deekshitar. The diction was absolutely clear. As she improvised Kambhoji, the audience appeared to relish the rakthi mela raga. The exposition received loud appreciation from the audience. The next was Kambhoji with the Kriti ‘O Rangashayi’, which was made famous by late M.S. Subbulakshmi. Ganesh Prasad’s version of Kambhoji was equally pleasant. Jayashree packed this composition with neraval and swaras at the charana part ‘Bhooloka Vaikuntham Idiyani’, concluded with a luxurious weave of swaras centering on dhaivata. Jayashree brought melody to the Kamboji  kriti with her clear diction.

The RTP ‘Gajamukha Ganapate Sharanam Gauri tanaya Bhagavan’ in Shanmukhapriya set to Adi Tala was heart-filling, garnished with ragamalika swaras in Revati, Behag and Brindavana Saranga. The tani avarthanam played by Delhi Sairam and Giridhar Udupa was played with vigour, both being seasoned artistes.  The concluding part of the concert consisted of a Tulasidas bhajan which left a lasting impression on the rasikas and a Lalgudi tillana in Desh.

By Dr. Padmavathi Narasimhan