By Dr. Padmavathi Narasimhan

Twin brothers Vid. Hemanth and Vid. Herambha, the only two flute brothers in Karnatak music, performed for Ramabhyudaya Sabha at Alamma’s Choultry in Srirampet on Saturday (Apr. 1). They were supported on violin by young Vid. Vishwesh Chandrashekar, on mridanga by Vid. H.S. Sudhindra and on ghata by Vid. Shamit Gowda. The flute concert was marked for their vocal style in playing.

There was a delay in commencing the concert due to mike set up. The duo started the concert with the Kalyani Varna ‘Vanajakshi’ in Adi Tala by Ramnad Srnivasa Iyengar. (There is a dispute regarding the composer of this varna as some say it is composed by Pallavi Gopala Iyer while some others opine that it is by Kalyani Varadarajan). The latter half of the varna in trishra nade melkalam set the warm up  for the concert.

After a brisk ‘Seetapate’ in Kamas and ‘Enta Muddu’ in bindumalaini by Tyagaraja, the duo took up Purvikalyani for detailed elucidation. ‘Gyanamu Sagaraada’ by Tyagaraja was the composition wherein the brothers’ youthful exuberance was in full play in swarakalpana.

The conversational mode between the flautists and the percussionists was enjoyable and appealing here and young Vishwesh proved his skill in alapana and kalpana swaras meeting the challenges that the brothers offered.

An elaborate shankarabharana essay shared by the brothers led to ‘Enduku Paddala’, another Tyagaraja Kriti, making it five in succession. Vishwesh’s version in reply was equally impressive. Detailed swaras built leisurely at ‘Andari vale datidati vadariti’ proved the brothers’ raga-based approach.

Senior mrdangist Sudhindra was encouraging not only to the main artistes but also to young Shamit throughout the concert, appreciating his moves even in their taniyavartanam.

Annamacharya’s ‘Narayana Te Namo Namo’ in Behag was the concluding item of  the concert.