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A guiding lamp

Last Updated 17 July 2016, 18:53 IST

The Percussive Arts Centre is an exclusive organisation for promotion of the interests in the intricacies of Laya and Thaala. It is the first music centre established to commemorate the invaluable services of Palghat Mani Iyer, the legendary percussionist.

From 1981, the Centre is conducting the academic session and workshops, apart from concerts. It has formed its own Percussion ensemble and has published a few valuable books.

The Centre conducts “Thaalavadyotsava” every year, with music concerts and demonstrations. It has instituted a few awards also in memory of a few great personalities. During this year’s “Thaalaavadyotsava” held this week, M T Rajakesari (Palghat Mani Iyer Memorial award), Dandamudi Sumathi Rammohan (Palani Subramanya Pillai award), Neela Ramgopal (Bangalore K Venkataram award), K U Jayachandra Rao (Puttachar award) and Phanindra Bhaskara (PACCMANA prize and G S Sriram Memorial award) – received the awards.

Neela Ramgopal, who presented the inaugural concert, is a veteran vocalist and recipient of several awards, including “Sangeetha Kalarathna” from Bangalore Gayana Samaja and “Sangeetha Kalacharya” from the Music Academy.

In the current concert, Neela Ramgopal’s recital offered surges of optimism. The opening varna – a stately varna of Syama Sastry - caught the attention of the connoisseurs, at once. In the “Sogasuchuda Tharama” keerthana Saint Tyagaraja says – “Is it possible to see such beauty as that of your (Rama’s) face shining with glossy cheeks? Your unrivalled beauty …. Your smiles, your forelocks and brilliance of your eyes …. Is it possible to see ….?!”

Neela “Mami”, as she is fondly addressed, sang Kannadagowla raga briefly, but was marked for its depth and imagination.

Both - “Raga Sudha Rasa” and “Neela Neerada Krishna” - are well-known compositions. She gave equal importance to both lyrics and raga in “Marivere.” For a detailed elaboration, the vocalist chose a Sanskrit composition “Mamava Karunaya Manukula”. Swati Tirunal prays here “Pray give me protection with your kindness ….. you have the glory of bestowing the desired boons …. You are the beautiful swan dwelling in the lotus-like heart of great ascetics.”  

 Though voice was revealing her age (82) occasionally, it was neat, matured and full of “Bhava” and a guiding lamp to young vocalists. Charumathi Ramachandran on violin, K U Jayachandra Rao on mridanga and Arun Kumar on morching – accompanied with good understanding.


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(Published 17 July 2016, 18:53 IST)

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