Golden jubilee of KCP

Golden jubilee of KCP

Internationally acclaimed percussion institution Karnataka College of Percussion (KCP) celebrated its golden jubilee with a year-long music programmes by both Indian and foreign musicians. The concluding session ‘Mangala Mahotsava’ was held last week with a three-day music festival at Sri Rama Mandira, Malleswaram.

Rudrapattana Brothers R N Tyagarajan and R N Tharanathan, who gave the inaugural concert, are known for their wide repertoire, authentic ‘Pattanthara’ and traditional style. The composition “Raghupathe Rama Rakshasha Bheema” was a case in point. It is a fine keertana of Saint Tyagaraja in the raga Shahana, which deserves better attention from our musicians.

The high spot of the evening’s concert was that dignified composition “Thallininnu nera” in Kalyani raga. In this composition, Syama Sastri prays Devi – “Mother, I believe in you. Pray listen to me. I believe firmly that you are the substratum for all the worlds.”

Though their voice was not at its best, the evocative ragalapana, nerval (Syamakrishna Paripalini Janani) and swaraprasthara – were proof of their expertise and scholarship. The devaranama “Kugidaru Dani Kelade” of Vijaya Dasaru was also an infrequent kruthi.
They sang in unison and developed with tautness. Senior violinist S Seshagiri Rao and enthusiastic percussionists Arjun Kumar and G Guru Parasanna – gave good support on their instruments.

Unique series in many ways

The “Every Friday Cultural Evening Programme” (EFCEP) is a unique series in many ways. It is a rare record that it has organised cultural programmes on every Friday for the past 34 years! It has organised a variety of cultural programmes like music, dance, drama, yakshagana, by both young and senior artistes. Artistes not only from Karnataka and other parts of India, but many foreign students have also performed in EFCEP, at the Yavanika Auditorium. From the beginning, it is being jointly organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, the Kannada and Culture Department, the Youth Empowerment and Sports Department and the Youth Writers and Artistes Guild.

Colours of dance

The 34th anniversary of Every Friday Cultural Evening Programme (EFCEP) was held on Friday, which was dedicated to H R Keshavamurthy, veteran Natyacharya. The programme called “Colours of Dance” was held on Friday at Yavanika. A number of dancers – mostly young students – presented different styles of dances of India. The evening’s programme commenced with a Mohiniaata by Rekha Raju. She chose two devotionals – one each of Annamachar and Swati Tirunal. With her distinct graceful movements, Rekha’s performance was pleasing.

Ramayana is not only a tested piece but also one of the favourites of the Bharathanatya exponents. Raghunandan of Keshava Nritya Shala, the only male dancer to perform that day, chose ‘Navarasa Ramayana’ for his Bharatanatya. Through well-known episodes of Ramayana, he tried to present different ‘Rasas’, neatly. The chitteswara added colour to the compositions and he portrayed changing the roles in quick succession. Mudra and Maya Dhananjaya, students of Natyantaranga presented Shiva Vandana (Malkauns raga), a bandish in Malhar and a tarana in Bagesri in kathak style, which was the result of good training they are receiving.

Sarita Misra, probably the senior-most among all the performers that evening, chose a Durga Stuthi for her Odissi dance recital. Her abhinaya was mature and impactful. Six young students of Chitra Aravind had selected a majestic composition (Shiva Kameswari) for their Bharathanatya recital. Seasoned percussionist Lingaraj has composed well-knit jathies in different permutations and combinations through a number of percussion instruments. Though slightly over-stretched, students performed with ease and confidence, but they have to improve their facials.

The only music concert of the festival was a flute ensemble. Eight students of Venugopal and Chandrasekhar opened their concert with the familiar varna in the raga Mohana. An invocatory piece on Ganapathi, ‘Banturathikolu’, and a thillana concluded with the ‘Bhagyada Lakshmi’. It was simple but tuneful and accompanied on mridanga by Vamshi. By and large ‘Colours of Dance’ was a mixed fare, with a number of young students and artistes participating with enthusiasm.