By Dr. Padmavathi Narasimhan

Vid. Vinay Sharva, one of the leading young vocalists of Karnataka, gave an impressive vocal concert on the fourth day of  ‘Bhagini Ramotsava – Music Festival’ at BSS Vidyodaya in Krishnamurthypuram, Mysuru, on May 8. He was accompanied by Mysuru artistes Vidu. C.V. Shruthi on violin, Vid. A. Radhesh on the mridanga and Vid. Sharath Kaushik on ghata.

What attracts one immediately in Vinay’s singing is his voice. Vinay has a clear, booming, hypnotic and ethereal voice which keeps you captivating throughout. ‘Chalamela jese’ varna set to Adi tala composed by Tiruvotriyur Tyagayyar rendered in racy style set the mood for the concert. On request, ‘Bhavanuta’ by Tyagaraja was rendered, a composition which instrumentalists love to render rather than vocalists. The composition, prefixed by a short ragalapana, was lively, followed by brisk, intellectual swaras.

A student of the legend Nedanuri Krishnamurthy, Vinay invariably sings an Annamacharya composition in all his concerts, many of which have been set to tune by his Guru.

In this concert, ‘BhAvamulona bhAgyamunandulu’ of MS fame was his choice. Vinay’s version of the composition was excellent with many impressive sangatis.  In contrast to this, ‘Shama Shastri’s                    ‘MarivEre gati’, in which the composer implores the Goddess to protect him, was rendered in the right speed that the composition demands.

While one mostly heard Bhairavi, Shankarabharana, Simhendramadhyama and Keeravani these days, it was good to hear Thodi, which came as a pleasant surprise. And what surprised the listeners more was the composition chosen. RAmachandrAya namaste’ is a composition hardly heard in concerts. Thodi raga was rendered brilliantly bringing out the beauty of the raga, Vinay’s rich, vibrant voice ranging to the maximum in Tarasthayi with no difficulty. The composition is a beautiful one, though short, set to Mishra chapu tala. The beginning of the charanam ‘Dashratha rAjakumarAya dandakAraNya vihArAya’ was chosen for neraval and kalpanasewaras, which revealed Vinay’s command on the laya aspects.

Young Shruthi from HKN school did well with her soft and sweet bowing. Radhesh and Sharath Kaushik added sheen to the concert by displaying their expertise.

The concert would have continued for half-an-hour more but for the unforeseen rain, which caused havoc to the artistes and listeners, who found it difficult to sit even under the shelter.