Surabhi Gana Kalamandira, which is working to propagate Karnatak Classical music along with other art forms, had arranged a classical vocal concert of Vid. N.R. Prashanth, a senior musician from Mysuru at Bidaram Krishnappa Rama Mandira on Dec.9.

Prashanth gave a good start to the concert with Muthuswamy Dikshitar’s ‘Ganapathe mahamate’ (Kalyani-Rupaka).  Later, ‘Suryamurthe,’ one of the Navagraha kritis of Dikshitar (Saurashtra-Dhruva), Tyagaraja’s ‘Nee bhajana gaana’ (Nayaki-Adi), Arunachala Kavi’s Tamil composition, ‘Raamanukk mannanmudi (Hindola-Adi), Papanasham Shivan’s ‘Jaanaki pathe’ (Kharaharapriya-Adi), Sadashiva Brahmendra’s ‘Smaravaaram vaaram’ (Jog- Adi), Bhdrachala Ramadasa’s ‘Ramabhadra raa raa’ (Anandabhairavi-Adi) followed blissfully.

Prashanth provided short but apt ragalapana and kalpana swaras to Nayaki and Kharaharapriya ragas. Especially the ragalapana of Kharaharapriya attracted mainly because of its beautiful presentation like a bud blooming in to a flower naturally. The main kriti of the evening was Tyagaraja’s ‘Raghuvara nannu’ (Panthuvarali-Vilamba Adi). Prashanth gave an elaborate ragalapana immersed in devotion. He took up the charana sahitya, ‘Manasu neeki marulu konnaaru’ for neraval and provided full justice to the emotions of the lyric and the swara prastara that followed was captivating and was proof of his control over rhythm.

He continued the concert with a devaranama ‘Sarideno enna venkataramana’ in the rare raga, Vitapi, and a Thillana starting in atheeta, of his Guru, Prof. R. Vishweshwaran, in Sindhubhairavi. He concluded the concert beautifully with the Tamil kriti of Ambujam Krishna, which describes dashavataras.

Young artistes, Vid Krithik Koushik (disciple of Vid. H.K. Narasimhamurthy –  violin), Vid. Vinod Shyam Anoor (disciple and son of Vid. Anoor Ananthakrishna Sharm – mridanga) and Vid. S. Manjunath (disciple of Vid. Tumkur B. Ravishankar – ghata), who accompanied the senior artiste, Vid Prashanth, assured that they are capable of upholding the names of their legacies. The scholarly concert without any gimmicks, gave an aesthetic experience of pure music blended with peace and satisfaction. —Vijayamala K. Saralaya   

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