After Krishnotsava, the Ganesha festival has provided one more opportunity to connoisseurs to listen to their favourite musicians. In fact, Ganesha Mandalis are vying each other to invite popular artistes and conduct programmes for as many days as possible!

Sri Vidya Ganapathi Seva Samithi

The giant size "Dodda Ganapathi" near Bugle Rock on the Bull Temple Road, is a very popular Ganesha temple in the City. Sri Vidya Ganapathi Seva Samithi is conducting cultural programmes here for the 39th year successfully. 

This year, apart from vocal and Harikatha, instrumental (veena, nagaswara) concerts  were held during the festival.

Prof T S Rama who gave a vocal concert here on Friday is the Head of the Department of Music, of APS College and a familiar artiste to music lovers. In the current concert she unfolded the same panacea that has been associated with her chaste style. "Intachalamu" — the familiar varna in the raga Bhegade, in two speeds, gave her a lively start.

The invocatory piece "Gajavadana Beduve" was evocative, while the "Bhuvaneswariya" — is an ever popular krithi. The "Karikalabhamukham" of Dikshitar is one of the best composition in the raga Saveri. "Akhilandeswari" is also a favourite and with unhurried grace the Swarajathi (Bhairavi) was also dignified. "Meenakshi Me Mudam" received a leisurely airing.

With a mature voice T S Rama sang convincingly. B Raghuram, Anoor Ananthakrishna Sharma and Phaneendra Bhaskara, gave competent support on violin, mridanga and ghata respectively.

Sree Rama Seva Mandali

Sree Rama Seva Mandali conducted a five-day cultural and religious programme in connection with Ganeshothsava in their own premises at Rajajinagar.

Anuradha Madhusudhan, seasoned veena player, opened her concert last Tuesday with the Durbar Varna. With steady "Meetu" and right tempo, she brought out a sprightly portrayal of some haunting melodies like Himagiri Thanaye, Kanjadalayatakshee, Nagumomu etc.

After "Siddi Vinayakam", the "Sharavanabhava" was rendered with attractive Chitteswara. The brief ragalapana for "Samajavaragamana" was reposeful. The Thana was impressive in raga Vijayanagari and her sketch of the Alapana was also pleasing. The enunciation itself was in keeping with the spirit of the Keerthane (Vijayambike). M A Krishnamurthy on mridanga and Gurumurthy on ghata accompanied her.

Gokulashtami festival

Curtains came down on this year's Gokulashtami Festival with a dance recital at the Sri Venugopala Krishna Swamy Temple, last Wednesday. Radhika Ramanujan, who gave a Bharatanatyam recital, has received training at Rasika, among the popular dance schools of Bangalore.

She has passed her senior examination and has performed her "Rangapravesha" in 1993. She is a senior student of the Kirans and more experienced than many who performed in the same festival this year.

The piece de resistance of the evening was a varna "Innum Enmanam". Her lively stance made an immediate impact on the audience. Blending Nritta and Abhinaya with effortless ease and restraint, the varna was pleasing.

Tulsidas' Bhajan (Sree Ramachandra Kripalu) was another composition which aroused the interest of the discerning. A glimpse of her maturity in Abhinaya was also evident in her portrayal in the devaranama "Baro Krishnaiah". She executed the well knit jathies in the Tillana (Lalgudi Jayaraman), with quiet confidence.

While guru Kiran Subramanya's Natuvanga was inspiring, Bharathi Venugopal (vocal), Harsha Samaga (mridanga), Madhusudhan (violin) and Sarvothama (flute), also supported well.