Purandara, Tyagaraja aradhana brings festive look
Ganabharati celebrated Sri Purandara and Tyagaraja aradhana on the January 29 with pomp and ceremonial splendour.
A goshti gaana led by senior artistes of the city participated and rendered the Pillari Geethas of Purandara Dasa and Pancharathna Keerthanas of Saint Tyagaraja. Attended by a large gathering, the Aradhana mahotsava brought a festive look to Ganabharati. This was followed by a concert in the evening that was sumptuous in all respects.
Young Dilip Simha of Bengaluru accompanied by H S Tandavamurthy (violin), M R Hanumantharaju (mridanga) and Dasappa (morcing) gave a vocal concert at the Veene Sheshanna Bhavana. An MBA graduate, Dilip has been well groomed by Vidushi Neela Ramgopal. He is blessed with a soft voice that transforms his mellifluous musical thoughts smoothly. Softness in approach and delicate rendering of Kruthis are not only the hallmark of his music but also bring a personal touch to his singing.
The Shahana Varna ‘Karunimpa’ gave a fine start to him that was followed by a neat sketch of Shanmukhapriya. Oothukadu Subbayyar’s composition “Shri Ganeshwara Jayajagadeeshwara” came as a pleasant surprise. It had a frill of attractive swaras too after a neraval at “Yaaga yoga phalakaaraka panchaayatana prapoojanaayaka”. An alapa in bhegade was flawless leading to “Neevera kuladhanamu” of Tyagaraja. The kalpanaswaras were complimentary to the ragabhava.
M D Ramanathan’s tribute to Tyagaraja “Tyagaraja gurumashraye” in Kedara was a rare presentation pointing at his meticulous preparation for the concert. The main raga of the day was Kalyani that flowed fluently decked in gamakas and phrases with ragabhava.
The composition of Tyagaraja “Enduku nee manasu karagadu” stirred the listeners with its humbleness. A neraval at “Sharanagatha vatsala nammithi taarakanama paraatpara” enriched the sahitya bhava. Tandavamurthy too pleased the rasikas with his soft bowing. The percussion support by Hanumantharaju and Dasappa was commendable.
Dilip , before concluding his concert , presented a Devaranama of Kanakadasa “Enendu kondadi” in Bageshri and “Sulabha pujeya maadi”(Purandaradasa) in Gangeyabhushini .The tail piece was “Shri Kamalambike Lalithe” instead of the usual ‘Pavamanasuthudu’.
Pure classicism
The Tyagaraja Sangeetha Sabha , as a part of its silver jubilee celebrations, presented Koviladi Kala’s vocal concert on the January 31 at the Prasanna Seetha Rama Mandira. She was accompanied by Ganeshkumar of Bengaluru(violin) and A Radhesh(mridanga).
This senior musician of Mysore displayed pure classicism that was thoroughly enjoyable. The melodious voice and a matured manodharma added to it. Her daughter Archana , the co-singer too assured that she was not falling behind in following her mother’s footsteps through her confident singing. This was evident in her alapa of Kalyanavasantha and the kalpanaswaras of the rest of the kruthis.
The selection of popular kruthis on Lord Rama was appropriate for the sacred ambience of Prasanna Sita Rama Mandira. Ksheerasagara (Devagandhari-Adi), Nadaloludou (Kalyanavasantha-Rupaka), Baagaayanayya(Chandrajyothi-Adi) Needayaraada (Vasanthabhairavi-Rupaka) and Ethavunara (Kalyani-Adi) were all compositions of Tyagaraja that display his deep devotion.
Koviladi Kala breathed life in to each of them. Her scholarship came to fore front in the magnificent exposition of Kalyani every sangathi was brimming with rasa that was easily passed on to the listeners. The captivating neraval at “Sitagowri vageeshwariyanu” was followed by a cascade of swaras between the three. Ganeshkumar’s violin contributed immensely for the success of the concert. Radhesh was also at his best.
