By Dr. Rama V. Bennur

Sri Nadabrahma Sangeetha Sabha had organised a fine classical vocal concert in memory of Smt. Rukmini Ammal and Sri Ramaswamy Iyengar on Nov.4 at the premises of Sri Vasudevacharya Bhavana. A young vocalist from Madurai, Vid. Sivaganesan, accompanied by Achutha Rao (violin), Nikshit Puttur (mridanga) and Raghunandan Vyasa Rao (ghata), gave an impeccable concert.

Groomed by Vid. Madurai R. Kannan and C.R. Vaidyanathan, Sivaganeshan has imbibed perfect classicism. He has been performing for the past nine years apart from the numerous accolades he has received.

It is his rich voice dipped in raga bhava that seldom loses its energy, the main attraction of his singing. Each item he chose bore the stamp of his sincere and dedicated approach and rich imagination.

After the opening, Ragamalika Varna of Patnam Subramanya Iyer ‘Valachivacchi,’ Sivaganeshan presented ‘Sri Jalandharamaashrayaamyaham’  a composition of  Maharaja Sri Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar in Gambhira Naata with a frill of crisp chitteswara. Raga Natakapriya was elaborated with intricate gamakas and alluring movements. He displayed good breath control in both lower and higher octaves. Mysore Vasudevacharya’s ‘Idi samayamubrovarada’ emphasised the richness of the composition with expansive improvisation. A cascade of kalpanaswaras followed at ‘Paramapurushavasudeva.’

‘Aanandanatanaprakasham’ by Muthuswami Dikshitar (Kedara) paved way to an elaborate exposition raga Vasantha.

Sivaganeshan gave a comprehensive treatment to the raga with sharp and crisp birka filled alapana.

Achyutha Rao’s bowing was also crisp and bright and held the attention of the listeners. Tyagaraja’s ‘Etladorikithivo’ was superb with elaborate swarakalpana. After a quick rendition of ‘Aparadhamula’ (Darbar), he arrived at the main item of the day, a Raga-Tana-Pallavi in Hemavathi. Yet again it was an energetic rendering. Pallavi ‘Ninnenammithineevegathineerajadalanayana Rama Sri Rama Seeta Rama’ was set to Tisratriputataala in chowka kale.

Technically superb with Anandabhairavi, Varali and Brindavanasaranga in the swaras pleased the rasikas.

Young Nikshit and Raghunandan gave good support all through the concert on mridanga and ghata. A Pasuram of Kulasekhara Alwar in Hamsanandi was followed by a Devaranama of Purandara ‘Tirupathi Venkataramana.’ A fine Tillana of T.N.Seshagopalan in Hamirkalyani brought the curtains down.