Great talent
The Malleswaram Sangeetha Sabha conducted the annual Hanuman Jayanthi, in collaboration with the Ananya, recently. The Sabha celebrates the Hanuman Jayanthi in a unique way by holding a young musician's festival, to encourage budding artistes. This year also saxophone and veena recitals, apart from vocal (both Carnatic and Hindustani) concerts were held accompanied by talented instrumentalists.

M R Manjula who gave a veena recital here, is known more as a vocalist. She is a post graduate in music and is a student of T Sharada.

Manjula started her veena recital with a pleasant note and presented a good package of familiar melodies. The "Meevalla Gunadoshamemi" the well-known composition of Saint Tyagaraja, stood out in all its charm. The Krithi was embellished with crisp swara and evocative Ragalapana. "Anjaneya Raghurama" of Swathi Tirunal in the raga Saveri, was a welcome addition to the concert repertoire. "The Kantajudami" - had an unhurried pace, making for delightful listening. Though it was not without short falls, was tidy enough to sustain patient listening and with good "Naada" makes for pleasant listening. Young percussion duo — A Radhesh (Mridanga) and V Sridhar (Khanjari) accompanied her with good understanding. She concluded her Veena recital with few Devaranamas like Anjike Inyatakaiah, Sundara Mooruthi Mukhya Prana. With, some more higher training, homework and stage experience, Manjula can reach great heights.

Lacking punch
Though L S Prakruthi, is a architect (B.Arch) by profession, is practising dance with all seriousness. She started her studies under Hema (Prabhat Kalavidaru) and is continuing at Natya Niketan. She has passed "Vidwath" in Bharathanatya and has performed in many places. She gave a dance recital on Friday at the Yavanika under the series "Every Friday cultural Evening Programme."

The customary "Ganesh Stuti" (Ranjani Raga Adithala), gave a good account of Prakruthi's grounding. The "Sringara Lahari" of Lingaraja Urs, in the raga Neelambari, was a favourite song of yesteryear's across South.The high spot of the programme was the Varna in the raga Dhanyasi composed by Papanasam Shivan. Prakruthi negotiated the rhythms with ease and confidence. As "Virohath Khanditha" Nayikas go, it is ideal for a dancer to portray. Though she performed customarily, her movements could do with a lot more grace. While the Purandara Dasa's Kannada Devaranama was on Lord Shiva, the Jawadi (Chinnaiah) expounded Khanditha Nayika and She concluded with a Kaanada Tillana. With more involvement and expression with, good feeling, she can excel in Abhinaya also. Guru Revathi Narasimhan (Natuvanga), Bharathi Venugopal (vocal), Janardhan (Mridanga) and Jayaram (flute) - supported the dancer from the wings.