By M.L. Krishnaswami

Ragavaibhava, Mysuru, had organised a grand classical vocal music programme by Vid. Sandeep Narayan on Saturday, the 18th inst at Sri Nadabrahma Sangeetha Sabha auditorium.

Vid. Sandeep was accompanied by Vid. Mathur Srinidhi on violin, Vid. Tumkur B. Ravishankar on mridanga and Vid. G.S. Ramanujam on ghata. The programme was sponsored by Raghuatta.

Vid. Sandeep is an Engineering graduate and his first love was music and so he came back from America and settled in Chennai wholly engaging himself in the musical field securing good tutelage under capable masters who tuned him and chiselled him into what he is today, a leading star in the musical fraternity with demand from all centres of Karnatak music.

He is a vocalist-par-excellence at a relatively young age. With his pleasing personality and well-learnt attitude as a top-ranking vocalist, he will establish early rapport with the audience during his concerts.

Now the concert: Vid. Sandeep commenced his programme with ‘Swami Ninne Kori’ in ‘Darbar’ Raga Adi and the brisk singing came out very well. ‘Mahaganapthi Manasa…’ in Raga ‘Nata,’ a Dikshitar Kriti, followed as the second number, Swara Prasthara for this number followed in quick succession and the accompanists gave active support in his venture.

The next number was ‘Janani Amba Ninnu Vina’ a Shamasastry Kriti in Raga ‘Anandabhairavi,’ Adi, beautifully rendered.

The short swara prasthara with slow beats in conformity with the raga and the Kriti number followed.

The next number was in Raga ‘Andolika’ quickly followed as a gapfiller for the major raga that followed. It was ‘Kambodi’ and a captivating alapana in detail with all the delicate nuances of this ‘Gana Raga’ in the lower and higher octave. This was followed with wide applause of the connoisseurs.

Sandeep proved his real merit in the rendering of this raga and subsequently in the Kriti ‘Evari Mata’ he took for delineation.

It was a wholesome experience for the listeners and more so, the real connoisseurs some of whom like the writer, had lent their ears to this raga and kriti vistara to music giants of yore like Ariyakudi and Chembai.

We could easily see through his rendering a streak of the above two great masters. Kudos to Sandip.

The violinist Mathur Srinidhi and percussionists, Tumkur Ravishankar and G.S. Ramanujam gave valuable and able support to Vid. Sandeep which made the concert wholesome.

The next number was ‘Bhajare Manasa’ in Abheri, a Mysore Vasudevacharaya Kriti, very-well rendered. This was followed by a Shloka rendered in ‘Kedaragoula’ and ‘Revati.’ A number in Tamil was the  penultimate rendering and elegantly followed by the famous ‘Purandaradasa’ Kriti ‘Jagadodharana Adisidalu Yashoda’ in ‘Kapi’ concluded with only two of the four stanzas. This was a very good effort.

The concert ended with a Tillanna followed by a Devotional song by ‘Vyasa Vitala’ in praise of Sri Guru Raghavendra. It was a well and meticulously   planned kacheri.