Arresting fare
P. SURYA RAO
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A medley of recitals in solo and group categories marked `jayanthi' celebrations of Parupalli Ramakrishniah Pantulu.
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Photo: V. Raju
Ravikiran on Vichitra Veena.
The 123rd jayanthi of legendary vidwan and guru `Gayaka Sarvabhowma' Parupalli Ramakrishniah Pantulu came as a sumptuous musical treat for the rasikas in Vijayawada. Scores of Parupalli's sishya prasishyas got together under the aegis of Gayakasarvabhowma Sangeeta Parishat and celebrated the event with devotional fervour at Sri Sivaramakrishna Kshetram. In the inaugural meeting, renowned Vichitra Veena exponent N. Ravikiran was honoured by the Parishat and conferred the title `Sunada Sudhanidhi'. The Vichitra Veena concert that followed was a superb show of artistic maturity and musical command. Ravikiran started with Natakuranji varnam and followed it with Bagayenayya in Chandrajyothi. The tonal character of Ravikiran's instrument was soothing and the Mohanakalyani delineation was a thing to cherish for long. Ravikiran produced varying and exquisite modulations on the strings while playing the flowery raga. The kriti was Bhuvaneswariya decorated with fine kalpana swaras.
The instrumental support provided by Ampolu Muralikrishna (violin), K. Sadgurucharan (mridangam), P.S. Phalgun (kanjira) and M. Haribabu (Ghatam) was also of high quality and made the concert all the more enjoyable.
U.V. Mohanavamsi, a talented vocalist, presented the initial concert on the next day. He was ably accompanied by Peri Thyagaraju on violin, B.S.V. Prasad (mridangam ) and T. Gowrisankar (morsing). His exposition of the rare four-note raga Mahati was the highlight. His elaboration of Kharaharapriya (Ramanee samanamevaru) also drew applause. The concert of the evening was a melodious vocal recital by S. Chandanabala.
She made an impressive start with Viriboni varnam and sang Gajananayutam (Chakravakam), Tulasi Bilva (Kedaragowla) and Needasula an Annamayya keertana in Malayamarutham. However, the item that was rendered remarkably well was the ragam, tanam, pallavi Meenakshi-Ma Madhura Meenakshi set to an intricate laya pattern. The immensely pleasing concert came to a close with a Devaranamam. S. Natarajamurthy and P.S. Phalgun were good on violin and mridangam respectively.
Malladi swathi is another talented singer who impressed with her smooth and tuneful voice. Her remarkable items were Nannubrovu in Lalita and Marivere in Shanmukhapriya. Fine support for her recital was provided by Peri Thyagaraju and K. Sai Giridhar, on violin and mridangam respectively. The best feature of the day was the vocal by U.S.-based Mallajosyula Srikant who amply showed his faith in traditional values and purity of diction. His Ramachandra Pahi in Poornachandrika and Durusuga in Saveri were impressively rendered and received a hearty nod. Srikant was supported by wife Pavani (violin), and Parupalli Balasubramanyam of Tirupathi (mridangam).
Another attractive concert was the vocal duet by brothers N.C. Pranav Krishna and N.C. Kousik. The voices of the brothers blended well to present melodiously, Manaviyalakimpa in Nalinakanti, Neevalla in Kapi and a fine ragamalika. Good support came for them from G. Srinivasamurthy on violin and K.S. Giridhar on mridangam. Young aspirant U.V.S. Bhargav proved his talent by rendering Abhogi varnam, Abhimanamennadu in Begada and attractive ragamalika.
The brindaganam of Modumudi Sudhakar's troupe was a welcome change and was applauded deservingly. The group consisting of Sudhakar, Anjana Sudhakar, S. Bharathi, V. Sravanti and M. Srutiranjani rendered neatly compositions of Jayadeva, Narayanateertha, Annamacharya, Purandara Das, Ramadas, and Kshetrayya, among others. It was a laudable attempt by Sudhakar to prepare and present this kind of a novel item. Instrumental support was provided by Ampolu Muralikrishna (violin), M.L.N. Raju (mridangam), K. Sasidhar (veena), Kumarbabu (flute), K.S. Giridhar (tabla) and Anjaneya Sastri (ghatam).
The fitting finale for the five-day musical treat came in the shape of a scholarly violin solo by veteran vidwan Annavarapu Ramaswamy. The concert began with Navaragamalika varnam, which was followed by Vatapi in Hamsadhvani, and Mayateeta swaroopini in Mayamalavagowla. The kalpana swaras in Hindola brought out the depth of scholarship and vast experience of Annavarapu.
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