Music and dance reviews-Sparkling Purandara festival

Sparkling Purandara festival

The Karnataka Fine Arts Council - a federation of ten organisations of Bengaluru - conducted a unique programme last week. During the three-day “Purandara Darshana,” nearly 500 artistes presented Purandara Dasa compositions in vocal and instrumental music, individually and in groups.

Dance and discourses were also held on all the three days. Backdrop of the ancient Karanji Anjaneya Swamy Temple added to the serene atmosphere, to create a perfect ambience, which was a memorable experience for the connoisseurs. Apart from the 42 programmes of short duration one of the appreciable aspects of the festival was the exposure it offered to differently abled students of Hamsakuteera Foundation (Direction: Dr Geetha Bhat).

Dr Nagaraj Havaldar supported by his son Omkarnath Havaldar delighted the audience with “Drusti Ninna Paadadalli” while, Sangeetha Katti with her melodious voice chose “Karuniso Ranga.” Accomplished artiste Jayateertha Mevundi gave a vocal recital through “Innu Daya Barade.” Vani Satish, in her Karnatic vocal recital, sang two popular devaranamas - “Guruvina Gulamanaguva Thanaka” and “Tharakka Bindige” - evocatively.

Senior vocalist Neyveli Santanagopalan presented a string of yesteryear's popular Kannada padas like - “Anjike Inyathakayya” and “Chandrachuda Shiva.” With his rich voice S Shankar sang “Thirupathi Venkataramana.” The “Ramakatha” was the subject matter of dance by Rajendra and Nirupama Rajendra. Through the compositions of Purandara Dasa, Tyagaraja and Tulasidas, different episodes of Ramayana, with quick movements, sparkling abhinaya and popular appeal they carried the audience with them. Eight students of B Bhanumathi established their credo in the “Chandrachuda” and “Hanumantha Deva Namo.”

The “Goshti Gayana” (vocal ensemble) by the Karnataka Ganakala Parishat was the other attractive event. One of the star attractions of the festival was music by Vijay Prakash, which was also a fitting finale for “Purandara Darshana.”

Pleasing dance

Dr Soundarya Srivatsa, who gave a Bharathanatya recital for the Bangalore Lalitha Kala Parishat, is a senior dancer and able teacher. A disciple of veteran artistes Narmada and B Bhanumathi, Soundarya is a post graduate and has earned doctorate in dance, also.

Soundarya opened her programme at the HN Kalakshetra with a fine piece on “Surya,” a composition of D S Srivatsa in the raga Brindavani. After a kruthi on Nataraja, she chose the “Shringara Lahari” of Aliya Lingaraja Urs. The Nilambari raga composition with chitteswara was a very popular composition all over the South during the last century. The varna “Gopa Gopi” in Reetigowla from “Krishna Karnamrutha,” which was the main item of the evening, with few episodes from Bhagawatha (Kalinga Mardhana, Geethopadesha etc), was proof of her good training and hard practice. With restrained but pleasant abhinaya, “Kandhitha Nayaki” in the well-known “Saramaina” and the Bhavageethe, “Ahudene Uma” of Dr G S Shivarudrappa, - were also pleasing.

She concluded her impressive recital with a thillana in the raga Hindola.

Thaala Vadyotsava

The Percussive Arts Centre, (PAC) conducted the annual “Thaala Vadyotsava” in collaboration with the Sri Jayarama Seva Mandali. Lecture demonstrations, percussion ensembles, apart from music concerts were held during the four-day festival held last week.

Vocalist Sampagodu Vighnaraja is well establishing himself in the music field. In his concert for the PAC, Vighnaraja opened his Kacheri with a self-composed varna in Keeravani, which held out hopes of a delectable programme. His resonant and rich voice lent flavour throughout the concert.

Special mention must be made of ‘Mandra Sthayee Sancharas’ in Mukhari (Sangeetha Shastra Jnanamu). With his powerful presentation, Vighnaraja lent weight to Shankarabharana with nerval (Veda Sastra) and swara. “Enduka Peddavale” turned out to be the high water mark of the concert, in terms of the potential of his voice and artistic endeavour.

Nalina Mohan, K V Ravishankar Sharma and Sukanya Ramgopal gave good support on violin, mridanga and ghata respectively.