Madhu Kashyap from Bengaluru presented a Karnatak music concert at Nadabrahma Sangeetha Sabha on the 28th of April with Vitthala Rangan on violin, Adamya on mridanga and Kartik on ghata.

Driven by his passion for pursuing music, Madhu has forsaken his career as an IT professional and is now a full-time musician. He is also the recipient of ‘Nadakishora’ award in 2014.

The concert was set with an energetic beginning with a rare varna of Bellari Sheshagiri Achar in Poorvikalyani. ‘Shree Maha Ganapate Shree Vallabhapate’ in Abhogi by N.S. Ramachandran is a composition seldom sung/played by musicians. The unhurried pace in which the vocalist rendered this  and the next number in Mohana vouched for his practice.

‘Mohana Rama’ by Tyagaraja proved how a common raga becomes the true test of genius in the hands of a seasoned musician, though the composition lacked bhava due to too much of technicality at times and lack of importance to Sahitya. ‘Sheshachala Nayakam’ by Deekshitar in Varali was rendered in the speed not becoming the mood of the composition but the neraval and swaras at ‘Aravinda Patra nayanam’ were bewitching.

The fillers ‘Nee Bhajana gana rasikula’ by Tyagaraja in Nayaki and the very popular  ‘Marugelara Oh Raghava’ in Jayantashree also by Tyagaraja were good choices.

The chosen raga for the RTP taken at 8 pm was Mishra Jog. Though not a raga commonly chosen for RTP, Madhu treated it with delight. Madhu had set his pallavi ‘Shree Rama Jaya Rama’ in Trishra Jhampe tala in Mishra Nade. An equally competent Vitthala also heralded repeated applause. Adamya enhanced the beauty of the compositions with his understanding of the text and Kartik did well in the taniyavartanam in addition to providing suitable support throughout the concert. The artiste’s enthusiasm is appreciative but if a vocalist plans for an RTP, he should also plan to take it up by 7.15 pm latest so as to do justice to its detailed rendition. By doing this he will also give himself a quarter of an hour for the lighter numbers always looked for by the audience.

—Dr. Padmavathi Narasimhan