A. Kanyakumar’si performance was the highlight of the Thyagaraja Gana Sabha’s anniversary.
Photo: V. Ramamurthi
Enthralling performance A. Kanyakumari at a concert.
Laya, a young music sabha, celebrated its fourth anniversary at Thyagaraya Gana Sabha, last week, by featuring the legendary Andhra violinist Avasarala Kanyakumari, in a delightful solo in the company of D.S.R. Murthy on mridangam and P.V. Ramanamurthy on ghatam. Her disciple Anuthama accompanied her on the second violin. Kanyakumari, till recently was bracketed in the list of Tamil artistes for the very reason that she was educated and brought up in Chennai and has accom
panied Tamil artistes like M.L. Vasanthakumari, till almost M.L.V breathed her last.
But Kanyakumari has greater influence of Dwaram play, for she learned from Ivaturi Vijjeswara Rao, who in turn was the student of Dwaram Narasimha Rao. Kanyakumari hails from Avasarala family of that area and later moved to Chennai with her parents. Besides doing her graduation in Queen Mary’s college, she was under the tutelage of Chandrasekharan.
The prefect accompanist
She sharpened her style after she attracted the attention of the late Sangita Kalanidhi M.L.Vasanthakumari, who had her as her accompanist for most of her life.Kanyakumari went to all places and shared the glory of M.L.V with her own accomplishment.
Later, she began accompanying Mandolin Srinivasand also played with Kadiri Gopalanath (saxophone). D.S.R. Murthy who launched this music sabha ‘Laya’ has been holding a variety of concerts, inviting young and old artiste
s.
Kanyakumari’s solo gave a finishing touch to the anniversary of Laya’s activities. Dr. Aripirala Viswam, a poet and spiritual person, blessed the organisation. Former violin artiste of AIR, Kuppuswamy was felicitated on this occasion as Kanyakumari opened her show with popular invocation to Vinayaka Vatapi, giving a brief sketch of raga Hamsadhwani.
It was a very breezy Swarakalpana that closed that number. She then went for a pleasant and dignified number Endaro Mahanubhavulu − Pancharatna Kirtana of Thygaraja in Sriragam. This was w
ell received.
She then gave a sketch of ragas like Natakuranji, Dhanyasi, Mohana, Poorvikalyani that are part of the ragamalika of the subsequent number and a famous composition of Swati Tirunal’s Bhavayami Raghuramam.
Her play brought to mind the many episodes of Ramayana even when the Sanskrit lyrics were sung by Kanyakumari.Maanamu Leda in Hamir Kalyani and Muthaiah Bhagavatar’s Vanchatonuna in Karnaranjan
i prefaced the main effort of her concert - Abheri. It was a delectable essay she wove enthusiastically.
Tyagaraja’s popular composition Nagumomu Kanaleni was marked by Ragamaalika Swarakalpana. The tani Avartanam by the percussionist duo was quite interesting. The duo gave a spirited display
of percussion art. The final numbers were marked by a Jawali in Kapi.
Printer friendly
page Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
