Young T.J. Niveditha suffered a jaundice attack which left her with a severe brain damage. Her parents, Rama Jagannath, a fine singer, and T.N. Jagannatha Rao gave their full to the multiply retarded child and through several treatments (including physio-therapy) she was able to recoup slowly.
In the meantime, Niveditha started reacting positively to the dance movements when she accompanied her mother to the dance classes conducted by her aunt Subhadra Prabhu. There was an instinctive reaction towards tala and laya. This sort of recovery was further reinforced with her joining the JSS Sahana School for the Disabled.
The dance guru-aunt Subhadra Prabhu devised a special language to make Niveditha understand the art of Bharatanatya. And lo, the dancer in Niveditha awakened and gradually she started picking up. Subhadra cleverly designed such movements which did not trouble Niveditha’s left portion of the body, which was affected. Aptly accompanied by Santoshi Prabhu (nattuvanga), Rama Jagannath (vocal), Somanna (violin), Sarvotham (flute) and Prasannakumar (mridanga), a good-looking Niveditha rendered the traditional Pushpanjali and “Natesha Kauthuvam” (ragamalika) with elan. I was drawn more towards her artistry than her disability.
A shabda by Swati Tirunal “Sarasijakshudu jalakamaade” was presented depicting a few Krishnaleelas like “Amrutha Manthana” and others. The Nattakuranji varna by Papanasam Sivan “Swami nee undan arime” lasted for about 20 minutes and one was happy with the dancer’s short and sweet nritta, nrithya and abhinaya.
***** Veteran vocalist T.S. Vasantha Madhavi’s vocal concert at and for Jayarama Seva Mandali, Jayanagar, brought out the discipline that has gone into for the success of her endeavour as a refined singer. Competently accompanied by T.S. Krishnamurthy (violin), Vasudev (mridanga) and M.A. Krishnamurthy (ghata), Vasantha Madhavi began her recital with the Kambhoji atatala varna. “Panchamathangamukha Ganapathi” in Malahari raga bordered with swaras was impressive.
The vocalist Vasantha Madhavi, now occupying the front rank with her effective voice mesmerises the listeners and with a wide range of compositions at her command. The following piece in Kaanada “Srikaantha” by Purandaradasa, “Nadupai” in Madhyamavati, and “Dorakuna” in Bilahari were extremely chaste. The tempo was leisurely and the sangathis had vivacity and variety.
It is to her credit she has evolved a fine style of rendering Sanskrit shlokas in the pattern of krithis. In the concert under review, she sang the rare “Sri Rama Manasa shloka” in Lathangi raga and proved she was a unique artiste.
***** The well known vocalist-sisters C.Saroja and C. Lalitha presented a scholarly recital at Sri Avani Shringeri Shankara Mutt, West of Chord Road. The sisters sang their favourite krithis and their wonted form was intact notwithstanding the effects of growing age. “Jaya Jaya Janakikaantha” and “Brochevarevarura” were followed by a detailed Poorvikalyani for “Chintitha varaprada Sharade” with scholarly swaras. “Sri Shankara Guruvaram” was timely. The sisters regaled the audience by singing some of their favourite devaranamas. C.N. Chandrasekhar (violin), C. Cheluvaraju (mridanga) and M.A. Krishnamurthy (ghata) were the refined accompanists.
M. SURYA PRASAD
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