Young artiste Ranjani Iyengar presented a Bharathanatyam recital in the series "Every Wednesday Cultural Evening Programme" last week at the Nayana auditorium. She is a student of Venkateswara Natya Mandira.

The invocatory Sree Mahaganapathe itself revealed Ranjani's solid grounding and was followed by a brief Keerthane (Kanjadalayathakshee). The main attraction of the evening was the Kamach Varna Bhuvana Sundariya of Dwaraki Krishna Swamy. She executed the Varna with gay obandon, though it fell short in its nuances. Yet she easily carried conviction dramatizing few incidents from the epic like Dtuta Prasanga, Draupadi Vastrapaharana, Bali Chakravathi etc.

The Devaranama (Aadipodalle) provided good scope, with Krishna's Baala Leela and she concluded with a fine Tillana of Maharajapuram Santhanam. Bharathi Venugopal (vocal), Pulikeshi Kasturi (Natuvangam), V R Chandrasekhar (mridangam) and Jayaram (flute) - supported the dancer from the wings.

Sweet ShenaiI
Yellappa N Koramar, who gave a Shahnai recital (EFCE programme) hails from a hereditary musician's family of Haveri district and has been trained at the Veereswara Punyasharma of Gadag. He was accompanied customarily on Dimmu by Shivappa N K, on Kani by Lakshmana K and on tabla by Puttarajappa.

He gave a good picture of the raga. A pleasing - melodious Naada flowed throughout the concert.

Jugalbandi
A packed house heard a Jugalbandi concert on Saturday at the Gokhale Institute of Public Affairs. Pushpa Kashinath (veena) and Prakash Sontake (guitar) are no new names to Bangalore music lovers. Yaman and Kaanada helped to bring a musical atmosphere and set the pace for a tuneful fare.

The delineation was invested with sonorous phrasings and the Ragamalika Swara heightening the impact of the Pallavi. With a powerful, charming Meetu the raga glowed with some lilting sangathies. With some more homework, they can reach great heights. The percussion duo - Ravindra Yavagal and V Krishna - rose to great heights in their supporting roles.

Ankura - 2007
“Ankura”, the annual dance festival of budding aspirants is one of the major activity of the Karnataka Nrityakala Parishat. This year as many as 12 dancers from different parts of the State are performing to exhibit their talent, which will conclude on July 4 at the Yavanika auditorium.

Megha B Kakkilaya from Mandya gave the inaugural programme on Sunday. It was followed by Medha Dikshit, disciple of Poornima Ashok, who chose the Charukeshi Varna as the main stay, and she presented it with grace. Earlier, even as she ran through the Shambho Mahadeva,  a lively presence emerged. But in the Devaranama (Kande Na Kanasinali) it fell short in meeting the demands of abhinaya, which she can improve with some more training. Poornima Ashok (natuvangam), Vasudha Balakrishna (vocal), Janardhana (mridangam), Madhura (flute) supported the dancer from the wings

Budding dancer
K N Madhura,student of T S Bhat, gave the final programme of the day. She chose the Rupamu Jusi  the celebrated varnam. It was proof of her good training and she performed a Devaranama (Chikkavane Ivanu), Astapadi and a tillana (Kaanada) - with ease and assurance. Guru T S  Bhat (Natuvanga), Balasubramanya Sharma (vocal), Tulasiram (Mridanga) and Somanna (Violin) - supported the dancer.