By Vijayamala K. Saralaya

Vidwan C.S. Keshavachandra and team presented an online flute recital under the series, ‘Yuva Sangeetha Sambhrama-2020’ of Sri Thyagaraja Sangeetha Sabha Charitable Trust, Mysuru. The concert, 11th under the series, was premièred on 16th January, 2021 on the Sabha’s                            YouTube channel. 

Hailing from a family of musicians, Keshavachandra, son and disciple of senior musician and flautist, Prof. C.A. Sridhar, has learnt music and is acquiring the techniques of the art from his father. Keshavachandra gave a dignified start to the concert with an Atatala varna of Swathi Thirunal ‘Sarasijanabha’ in raga Kambhoji and took up a short composition of Mysore Vasudevacharya, ‘Pranamamyaham’, set to Adi tala with a brief alapana of raga Gowla. The presentation was impressive with apt kalpanaswaras.

One more composition of Swathi Thirunal, ‘Sarasijanabha Muraare’ was the main item selected for the concert. The rendition in raga Thodi and tala Mishrachapu, unfurled attractively with an elaborate alapana with a matured manodharma and attractive swaraprastara, exhibiting the talent of the artiste. 

The popular Devaranama of Purandaradasa in slow tempo, ‘Jagadoddharana’ (Kapi – Adi) brought a soothing end to the concert.

While Vidu. C.V. Shruthi’s competent violin accompaniment enhanced the grace of the concert, the enthusiastic following and thani avarthana by Vid. Y.P. Vikram Bharadwaj on mridanga and Vid. T.N. Ajay on ghata complimented the concert well.

On 23rd January, a vocal concert by Vidu. Harini Ramesh and team was premièred as the 12th programme of the series. A proven talent in the field of music, Harini had her initial training in classical music from Vidushis M.G. Lakshmi and senior musician Dr. Sukanya Prabhakar, and is presently under the tutelage of Vidushis Ranjani and Gayathri, well-known musicians of Chennai. 

Harini gave a delightful start to her concert with Daru Varna, ‘Mathe Malayadhwaja Pandya Sanjathe’ (Kamach – Adi) of Muthiah Bhagavatar. Her musical proficiency was clearly evident from the beginning through the graceful rendition. The next item was a Tamil composition, Periya Saamy Thooran’s, ‘Muruga Muruga Enral’ (Saveri – Mishrachapu). The passionate rendition preceded by a detailed raga alapana, captured the beauty of Saveri in entirety.

The next kriti was ‘Korina Vara’, a composition of Patnam Subrahmanya Iyer, in raga Ramapriya set to Rupaka tala, which was the highlight of the concert. This challenging raga is hardly opted for concerts, as it has limited scope. Thus having selected this raga as the main item and handled it with ease and technique of a seasoned singer, was a commendable feat for Harini.

This prathimadhyama raga, affluent with karuna and bhakti emotions gleamed brightly in the melodious and elaborate alapana. The beauty of the kriti was elevated by the well-designed neraval and brisk kalpanaswaras. The adept presentation was a testimony to the expertise of the singer. The concert concluded with a Devaranama of Purandaradasa, ‘Neenyako Ninna Hangyako’ in ragamalike, set to Adi tala.

Vidu. Pruthvi Bhaskar exhibited her proficiency, responding precisely to the matured singing with her skilled execution on violin. 

M.S. Malolasimha displayed his skill on laya while aptly following the manodharma of the singer on mridanga and in thani avarthana. Both the accompanying artistes considerably contributed to the elegance of the concert.