Ganabharathi of Mysuru marked the occasion of Kannada Rajyotsava (Nov. 8) and Veene Seshanna Jayanti (Nov. 15) in a meaningful way. The culturally vibrant performances paid tribute to Karnataka’s rich musical and literary heritage.

The celebrations featured two exceptional young  artistes — Vid. Manasa Nayana, a gifted vocalist and Vidu. Rajyashree Josyer Shrikanth, a virtuoso veena player and a vocalist — both of whom brought a profound depth to the musical festivities, honouring the legacy of Kannada literature and the traditions of Mysuru.  These two concerts were indeed purposeful and significant.

Manasa Nayana, known for his creative flair and mastery in blending classical music with Kannada poetry, captivated the audience with a concert that was both intellectually enriching and emotionally stirring. With a deep reverence for Kannada literature, he skilfully selected and rendered songs that honoured the works of Gopalakrishna Adiga, Kuvempu, Pu.Thi. Narasimhachar, Da.Ra. Bendre, Chandrashekhar Kambar, B.M. Srikantaiah, G.S. Shivarudrappa and H.S. Venkateshamurthy. Undoubtedly he is a sagacious, erudite singer.

His performance not only celebrated the beauty of Kannada language but also explored its emotional depth through the prism of classical music.

Accompanied by Vid. Keshav Mohankumar on violin, Vid. Sunil Subramanya on mridanga and Vid. Sharath Kaushik on ghata, Manasa Nayana’s rendition showcased his musical expertise and his commitment to present Kannada poetry in its most authentic classical form. Despite the challenge of adapting non-metrical poetry to classical ragas, Manasa Nayana chose pieces that flowed seamlessly into the rhythm and mood of the music, ensuring that both lyrics and melodies maintained their emotional integrity. Credit of tuning all the songs goes to Manasa Nayana himself.

In a traditional manner, concert began with the evocative ‘Hosa haadiyanu hididu nade enna manave,’ set to Raga Hamsadhwani, symbolising a fresh new direction, much like the spirit of Kannada poetry during the time of Gopalakrishna Adiga.  As though to authenticate his effort, his next presentation was ‘Haadu haleyadaadarenu bhaava navanaveena.’ A short sketch of Raga Rasikapriya added to its beauty. After a quick rendering of ‘Geluvagele mana’ in raga Reethigowla, Poorvikalyani raga was unveiled turn by turn by both Manasa Nayana and Keshav.

Both excelled in exploring subtle nuances of the age old raga with great sensitivity. Among the concert’s highlights was his rendition of ‘Tanuvu ninnadu manavu ninnadu’ with an intricate and an elaborate neraval at ‘Neene maya moha shakthi nanna jeevana mukthiyu,’ which left a lasting impression on the audience.

Our ears had to adjust to his innovative treatment of ‘Ilidu ba thaye’ as we were used to the popular tune sung by P. Kalinga Rao. Same with ‘Karunalu ba belake,’ the famed Kannada version of ‘Lead kindly light’ by Saint John Henry Newman. A true musical treat was his portrayal of Raga Keeravani, which showcased his ability to convey intense emotional expression through classical music. The concert culminated with the poignant ‘Kanthanillada myale Ekanthavyathake?’ in Kanada leaving the audience deeply moved by the richness of both music and Kannada poetry.

Sunil and Sharath made the music more enjoyable with their soft and lively rhythmic support.

Homage to Veene Seshanna

On Nov. 15,  Vidu. Rajyashree Josyer Shrikanth, a reputed  veena player and a vocalist, presented a heartfelt tribute to the legendary Vainika Shikhamani Veene Seshanna at the Veene Seshanna Bhavana on the occasion of Seshanna’s 172nd Jayanti

 Known for her exceptional skill as a veena player and vocalist, Rajyashree’s performance was a fitting homage to the Mysuru tradition and the rich legacy of the great Vainika. Through her virtuosity, Rajyashree not only honoured Seshanna’s contributions to Karnatak music but also showcased her own remarkable talent on veena, enthralling the audience with her  expressive renditions.

 Rajyashree was accompanied by Vid. A. Radhesh on mridanga and Vid. Sharath Kaushik on ghata. The opening piece was a lively Jathiswara, composed by Seshanna in Raga Kharaharapriya. A Varna in the right speed, set to a rare Raga Jhalavarali was yet another Seshanna’s composition that set the perfect mood for the evening. 

Rajyashree is adept in Mysuru style of veena playing. This is evident in her fingering and techniques she uses. Muthuswami Dikshitar’s famed ‘Vallabha Nayakasya’ (Bhegade) was decorated with a frill of Kalpana swaras. A soulful rendering of ‘Baagayanayya’ (Tyagaraja-Chandrajyothi), led to a sketch of Raga Natakapriya.

Mysore Vasudevacharya’s ‘Idi samayamu’ was well presented with Kalpana swaras. A beautiful composition of Swathi Tirunal Maharaja in Raga Arabhi ‘Narasimha mamava’ paved way  to a detailed exposition of Raga Dharmavathi. Rajyashree unveiled the beauty of the raga in a leisurely manner showcasing all its lovely sancharas. Veena Seshanna’s ‘Tharamugadura’ was a befitting choice which was elaborated with an intricate Neraval and Kalpana swaras.

A perfect Thani avarthana by Radhesh and Sharath was enjoyable. She also presented a Vachana of Basavanna ‘Kalabeda kolabeda’ (Mohana) after which Tyagaraja’s ‘Ramakatha sudharasa’ (Madhyamavathi) flowed in a soothing pace. A not so heard Thillana of Seshanna in Raga Kalyani brought down the curtains for a delightful concert.

Together, these two performances were more than just a celebration of Kannada Rajyotsava and Veene Seshanna Jayanti, they were a testament to the living tradition of Mysuru’s rich music culture.

—Dr. Rama V. Bennur