By Dr. Rama V. Bennur

Ganabharathi of Mysuru had organised a memorable vocal concert on June 13 in tribute to Vasudeva Udupa, a Founder-Member of the organisation. The event, held at Veene Seshanna Bhavana in Kuvempunagar, drew a packed audience — clearly reflecting the popularity of the young and dynamic vocalist, Vid. Pattabhirama Pandit. Concert was sponsored by Raghavendra Udupa.

Trained under the legendary Vid. Palghat K.V. Narayanaswamy, Pattabhirama Pandit has internalised the virtues of his guru’s style. Known for his traditional approach, he now immerses himself in the divinity of music and skillfully guides his listeners along that journey. His singing stands out for its sincerity and purity of notes, while his rich manodharma (creative interpretation) unveils the subtle beauty of the ragas he presents. He was accompanied by Vidu. Charulatha Ramanujam on  violin, Vid. Bangalore V. Praveen on mridanga and Vid. G.S. Ramanujam on ghata — each contributing significantly to the overall experience.

The concert opened with ‘Akhilandeshwari’ (Raga: Dwijavanthi, Composer: Muthuswami Dikshitar), establishing a serene atmosphere that lingered throughout the performance. This was followed by ‘Mohana Rama’ (Raga: Mohana, Composer: Tyagaraja), enriched with soft and melodic kalpana swaras. The thoughtful selection of compositions reflected the humility and devotional depth of the artiste. Pieces like ‘Sogasuga Mridanga Taalamu’ (Sri  Ranjani), ‘Manasuloni Marmamu’ (Varamu), ‘Vara Ragalaya’ (Chenchukambhoji) and ‘Marachiti O Maa ramana’ all expressed the profound bhakti bhava that defines Pandit’s music.

In ‘Vara Raga Laya,’ Tyagaraja deprecates the arrogance of self-proclaimed musical masters, while in ‘Manasuloni,’ he pleads with Lord Rama to understand his inner yearning. Pattabhirama Pandit’s devotion-infused renditions communicated these emotions effectively to the audience.

The accompanists deserve special mention. Charulatha’s soft, melodious bowing elevated the mood and highlighted her virtuosity on violin. Praveen, a versatile percussionist, added energy and precision with his enthusiastic playing. Senior Mysuru artiste Ramanujam on ghata was equally impressive. Their tani avartanam was enjoyable. The concluding pieces — ‘Chinnanjiru Kiliye Kannamma’ by Gopalakrishna Bharathi, Dayananda Saraswati’s ‘Ramam Bhaje Shyamam,’ the ever-popular ‘Krishna Nee Begane,’ a Jinjhoti tillana and ‘Sharanu Sakaloddhara’ — were all rendered with total involvement and devotion.