Music & dance reviews

Sangeetha Surabhi

Percussionist Padmavibhushan Umayalapuram K. Shivaraman was conferred with the title “Sangeetha Surabhi” on the occasion of the 17th Music Festival organised by Nadasurabhi Sangeetha Sabha last week.

Ramprasad and Ravikumar (Malladi Brothers) opened their vocal recital here with the varna “Vanajakshee”, briskly and followed it with the ‘Gajananayutha’.

Their good voice lent the “Ardhanareeswaram” in the raga Kumudakriya an air of dignity and old world solemnity, casting the shadow of coming musical experience. “Shringara Lahari” was popular all over the south few decades back and naturally it was a peep into the past and an occasion for nostalgia, for old timers.

Mukhari, the evocative raga, was presented in all its attractive facets. The Pallavi in the Natakranji raga with elaborate kalpana swaras – was another attraction of the concert.
Charulatha on violin, Arjun Kumar on mridanga and Omkar on Ghata accompanied the main artiste.

Homage to Raja Rao

Veena Kinhal, senior Veena player, gave a brief concert on Tuesday, accompanied by Anoor Ananthakrishna Sharma on mirdanga and M A Krishnamurthy on ghata.

She presented exclusively L Raja Rao’s compositions – invocatory piece in Naata and a keerthane in praise of saint Tyagarajaswamy, in the raga Kadanakuthuhala. It was traditional and sans gimmicks.

It was followed by a vocal concert by R K Padmanabha. He saluted to Vadiraja Guru through a sloka and opened the concert with the varna “Vanajakshee”.

Two Kannada compositions followed – “Saama Ganapriye” and “Guruvina Gulamanaguva Thanaka”. The alapana was pleasing for the popular devaranama “Kallu sakkare kolliro” and the imploring mood of the lyric was brought out in the voice modulation and the jaunty pace of the pada. He was supported by C N Chandrasekhar (violin) and C Cheluvaraj (mridanga). RKP concluded with a composition on Purandara Dasa by Raja Rao. The function was organised by the “Ganakalabhushana Veena Raja Rao Memorial Foundation”.

Carnival of choreography

The Ponnaiah Lalitha Kala Academy presented a “Carnival of classical Choreography” at its own “Padmini Rao Parampara Art & Culture Resource Development Centre Auditorium” at CKA Layout.

Senior dancer and Guru Padmini Ramachandran sprang a surprise by herself performing two compositions.

A invocatory piece on Ganesha and a pada “Baro Krishnaiah” were performed by her to pay tributes to Padmini Rao, on the eve of latter’s birthday.

Seven students of Natyapriya gave a Bharatanatya recital. They were able to carry conviction from the initial “Sharanu Siddivinayaka” itself. The climax was reached in “Jaganmohanane Rajasabhapathi”, a familiar composition. The young dancers were in their elements, executing with confidence and practised ease. Based on a Astapadi, the Narasimha episode was performed, dramatising the sequences.  And “Koravanji” had popular appeal. The Krishnadevaraya’s episode was also delightful.  Though the students revealed a good grounding, a varna could have elevated the stature of the programme, than these extracts from different episodes.

Guru Padmini Ramachandran (Natuvanga), Balasubramanya Sharma (vocal), Janardhan (mridanga) and Narasimhamurthy (flute) – supported from the wings.

Hamsadhwani Puraskara

Veteran musician Neela Ramgopal and Anklung player Anasuya Kulkarni received the “Hamsadwani Puraskar” on Friday. A CD Album on the “Asthotothara Shatha Kriti” of L Muthaiah Bhagavathar, sung by M S Sheela, was released and, vocal ensemble, and a musical feature was also performed. Seasoned musician Neela Ramgopal gave a brief concert on the opening day. The well known “Sathatha Gananatha” with swara gave her a head start. “Sada Saranga” – was another good selection. “Kaya Loka” was refreshing.

A detailed airing of Thodi for a infrequent composition “Gathi Nee” as the piece de resistance. Though age has affected her voice a little bit, it was matured and created a fine musical atmosphere, with intelligent nerval and swaraprasthara. In between she also sang – ‘Maaravairy’ and ‘Shivaye namave’, with remarkable sangathies.

Charumathi Ramanujan (violin), A Renuka Prasad (mridanga) and Krishnaprasad (Ghata) accompanied with good understanding.