Veena vaibhava

Veena vaibhava

As the city grows, its cultural needs and demands also increase. Thus, Music Sabhas and organisations are coming up in suburbans catering to the needs of the connoisseurs. So also to train young aspirants music schools are coming in all the corners of Bengaluru.

There is a good demand for Veena teachers also all over. Two popular Veena teachers of Bengaluru North Geetha Ramanand and Revathi Sadashivam are training a number of youngsters in Veena.

Geetha Ramanand is a M (Mus.) degree holder from University of Mysore and a disciple of Ranganayaki Sundarrajan and C Krishnamurthy. She is a  Top grade artiste of Akashavani and was also a programme executive. She is now serving as a member of the Audition Board of AIR and Expert Committee of the Cultural Department of the Government of India. She is running a music school called Swara Veena Laya.

Revathi Sadashivam is a disciple of A Anantharaman of Kolkata and has been guided by R N Tyagarajan. She is a post graduate from Madras University and has won prizes from the Music Academy also. She is training youngsters in her school, Sri Guruguha Gana Vidyalaya.

The Swara Veena Laya and Sri Guruguha Gana Vidyalaya jointly conducted the “Veena Vaibhava” on Saturday at the Sri Rama Mandira, Malleswaram. Revathi Sadashivam opened her Veena recital with a composition in the raga Anandabhairavi, of Veena Seshanna. Then she jumped to Kalyani alapana, which was fluent and impressive. The brief thana further enhanced the impact. In the composition “Bhajare Re chitha” Dikshitar says - “Oh mind! Worship Godess Balambika, the wish-yielding Creeper (Kalpalatika) to Her devotees. She is Sarvani, the consort of Siva .... She exults full of Bhava, Raga and Tala and is the bestower of the desires of the devotees and the protector of Her devotees". The swaraprasthara was brief but acquired a special delight. She concluded her classic Veena recital with a well known Jawadi.

Tuneful music

One of the popular keerthane of Muthaiah Bhagavathar “Sarasamukhi” gave Geetha Ramanand a bright start. With the intention of introducing different types of compositions to young students of Veena, she presented a keertana, devaranama, thillana and a naguma, with very brief explanations. “Kadagola Tarenna” was tuneful and the well structured thillana was one of the best compositions in the raga Durbari Kaanada. “Naguma,” is a rare form and a speciality of Mysore composers. It was in the raga Keeravani and set to Adi thala. It was melodious and traditional. While Gopal V was the co-player V S Rajgopal supported on mridanga.

Chip off the old block

Malleswaram Sangeetha Sabha presented a violin duet, which was sponsored by Smt Hemamalini.

One noteworthy feature in the new crop of artistes is the emergence of many talented violinists. Karthik Nagaraj and Sumanth Manjunath belong to a great violinists’ family of Mysuru. Both are sons of great violinists of our time - Mysore Nagaraj and Dr Mysore Manjunath and grandsons of Mysore Mahadevappa. Karthik is son of Mysore Nagaraj and doing his postgraduate degree in music. Sumanth is son of Mysore Manjunath and has stepped into college education now. They have already won prizes in music competitions held under the Bangalore Gayana Samaja, Nadabrahma and few others.

Training under a common Guru and acquiring an authentic identity is a necessary condition for the success of a duet. It is also true that there have been only a few successful duos with few exceptions. It was therefore refreshing experience to listen to the violin duet by Karthik Nagaraj and Sumanth Manjunath, moulded into a single unity by their parents. Opening with a familiar varna, they saluted to Vighnaraja through “Pranamamyaham”. “Sarasa Samadana” brought nostalgic memories among the old timers.

Hindola was the piece de resistance of the evening. The swara for “Samajavaragamana” saw them in an ebullient mood. They invested the keertane with the right amount of melodic fervour. It was melodious and lively. It is worth watching their career. Seniors B C Manjunath and G Omkar Rao accompanied with good understanding.