MUSIC AND DANCE
Vibrant beats of 25
WITH ELAN Shruti is an enthusiastic dancer
The Percussive Arts Centre started with an objective of preservation, promotion and popularisation of various aspects pertaining to laya and has been to a large extent successful in achieving its goals. Several concerts, programmes and audio and print publications have been produced under the aegis of the Centre. The celebration of the silver jubilee year was naturally a big event. The annual 25th Taalavaadyotsava-2006 was also held. The Bangalore Gayana Samaja auditorium and the Chowdaiah Memorial Hall were the venues for celebration.
Chenglapet Ranganathan, G.S.Ramanujam and Guruprasanna were presented with Palani Subramanya Pillai, H.Puttachar, and CMANA awards respectively. Veteran mridangist Mannargudi Eswaran was conferred with the title of Mridanga Kala Shiromani and K. Putturao Memorial Palghat Mani Iyer Award instituted by the well-known patron of music K.K. Murthy in his father's name. The veteran musician R.K. Srikantan received the Lifetime Excellence Award.
It is always a delight to listen to Srikanthan's music. His concerts always create a wholesome impact. His creations derive their personality from a linear grace and symmetry, a compactness of design, execution and ideas. It was a memorable evening at Gayana Samaja during the PAC festival when the septuagenarian singer provided specimens of his hard earned, highly perfected art. Without the fear of exaggeration, one could say that Srikantan is the pride of Indian music. A complete traditionalist, pure raga, pure technique and pure conception are the key words of his recitals. The rasikas are always uplifted through the nobility of his conception.
The audience enjoyed every moment of his recital under review. A rarely heard varna in Kedaragowla by Tiruvattur Thyagayya was the opening item. In the very first number, a fine musical ambience was set. The maestro had a captivating variety in terms of selection of ragas and songs by different vaggeyakaras. Dikshitar's "Maha Ganapathim" (Nata) and one of the Navagraha krithis "Angarakamaashrayamyaham" (Suruti) moved the audience. A sensitive Amrithavarshini for "Anandaamrithakarshini" had the confluence of bhava, raga and tala.
In an expansive, unhurried pace he sang Mysore Sadashivarao's "Neekeppudu dayavachchuna" (Abhogi) and Swati Tirual's "Paalayamaam Raghunayana" (Saranga). The supremacy of his old and revered style glowed forth in the rendition of Thyagaraja's "Giripai Nelakona" (Shahana) and a quaint Muthaiah Bhagavatar composition "Eshwari Rajeshwari" (Abheri). The devaranama "Nanda Nandana" in Yaman established an intimate rapport with the rasikas.
As usual, his son Ramakanth provided able vocal support. Charulatha Ramanujam (violin), TAS Mani (mridanga) and H.P. Ramachar (khanjari) elevated the proceedings to higher planes of musical delight.
Impressive
The young Shruthi Gopal gave an impressive account of her talent in her performance at the Nayana auditorium under the auspices of Every Wednesday Cultural Evening Programme series. Trained under Guru Padmini Ramachandran, Shruthi demonstrated that she is an enthusiastic dancer. With shining eyes and a sturdy body, Shruthi negotiated the challenging jathis and adavus with ιlan and ease. Even the complex karanas, tattumettus and teermanas had an easy airing. The Shankarabharana varna "Swamiye inda jaalam" wove around a virahothkhandita nayika. While describing the greatness of Lord Krishna in episodes such as Vishwaroopa Darshana, Gajendra Moksha, Drowpadi Maana Samrakshana etc were shown as sancharees. Full marks to her for the handling of nritta, nrithya and abhinaya components of the varna. A Kannada pada "Maneyolagado Govinda" (ragamalika) suited her temperament. The abhinaya for a javali "Samayamide raaraa saami" could have been more profound. Madhuvanthi tillana provided a crisp finale. Guru Padmini Ramachadran (nattuvanga), Nandakumar (vocal), Janardhan Rao (mridanga) were the accomplished accompanists.
M. SURYA PRASAD
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