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An ode to her mother

Guru dakshina Jayamani Narsimhan renders her respect in Gowri Manohari.

Eighty plus Velamuri Lakshmi still practices everyday for at least couple of hours. She can perform at a concert even today singing for over two hours. A renowned singer of her times, she learnt from exponents like Kanchipuram Ranganatha Pillai and N ayana Pillai. She was one of the most sought after artistes from All India Radio, Hyderabad since 1957.

Her daughter Jayamani Narasimhan is no less. Like her mother, she is recognised for her musical knowledge and acumen, and is a commendable singer. .

Nadabharati took the initiative of bringing the aging mother and daughter together on stage so that Lakshmi could give an insight into the music that she has passed on to her daughter. . The programme was held at Kannada Sahitya Mandir, Lingampalli. Jayamani sang to the delight of the audience. She dedicated this concert to her mother and guru, Lakshmi. Accompanied by Komanduri Seshadri on violin and Srinivasa Gopalan on mridangam, Jayamani began with Bilahari Ragalapana and render ed Siddhi Vinayakam Seve Hum in Mohanakalyani, with brisk swarakalpana.

Guruleka Yetuvanti, a composition of Thyagaraja in Gowri Manohari, was befitting the occasion of eulogising a guru.

The neravu and swarakalpana done in this were well received. Anni Mantramulu in Amritavarshini, a composition of Annamayya, was a pleasure to listen. She then went for a brief , melodious delineation in raga Ranjani. Her choice was a Tamil composition of Kulasekharalwar’s Pasuram. She presented an interesting swarakalpana.

The main draw of the concert was Thodi, the flavour of which was greatly felt as Jayamani scaled up and down the octaves with effortless nuances.

She rendered a Sriranga Pancharatna kriti Raju Vedale and the nereval and swarakalpana carried the same mood and melodic appeal. The Tani avartnam by Srinivasa Gopalan in Rupakam. The latter part of Jayamani’s concert was marked by an expressive Ramabhadra Raara in Revati and a couple of kirtanas of Purandaradasa – Narajanma Bandaga in Madhuvanti and Venkatachala Nilayam in Sindhubhairavi. The show was attended by several senior musicians.