Old-world charm
Various maths and temples celebrated Navaratri with special poojas in the morning and cultural programmes in the evening. Sri Shringeri Shankar Math at Shankarapura arranged vocal and instrumental recitals during Dasara. Veteran vocalist Sharada C.V. L. Sastry brought an old world charm to her singing. Appropriately accompanied by Vijaya and Shantha (vocal support), Vasuki Parimala (violin), Katte Sathyanarayana Rao (mridanga) and Jagannath (khanjira), Sharada Sastry stuck to tradition and classicism without overdoing anything. Trained by Chennakeshava and Prasannakumari Sathyam, she sang with sincerity of purpose and involvement. She also rendered a good number of krithis on Devi.
Her concert took off with the Abhogi varna followed by a crisp "Neeve paalimpara" in Chakravaka raga. "Saraswathi namostute" set to Arabhi raga evoked the right feelings. Kaanada was delineated with restraint for "Maamava sadaa janani." The rarely heard "Vijayambike" and "Durgadevi" were pleasing on the ears. "Saamaja varagamana" was beautified with rhythmically taut and elegant kalpanaswaras.
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The Gundecha Brothers - Ramakanth and Umakanth - regaled the audience with their fine Dhrupad recital at Satish Dhavan auditorium at IISc under the aegis of SPICMACAY. Dhrupad singing almost resembles the raga, tana and pallavi of Carnatic music. It is presented in a leisurely laya to the accompaniment of pakhawaz. The raga is elaborated in vilambit, madhya and druth layas covering two-and-a-half to three sthayis. Nom-toms like tanas of Carnatic music further develop the raga. The Gundecha brothers including Akhilesh Gundecha on pakhawaz delineated the raga Adbhutha Kalyan (without pancham and madhyama) and a poem "Main nahin chaahatha chir dukh" by the Hindi poet Sumithranandan Panth. "Jin jin sadariya," a Kabir bhajan in Charukeshi raga had all the intensity.
M. SURYA PRASAD
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