BRAHMA GANA SABHA
Heady combination of strings and beats
LALITHAA KRISHNAN
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The sitar flowed serenely while the tabla made forceful statements during the performance.
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PHOTO: R. Shivaji Rao.
SCINTILLATING: Pt. Janardhan Mitta accompanied by Rimpa Siva on the tabla.
Surprisingly, Brahma Gana Sabha's programme featuring a sitar recital by Pt. Janardhan Mitta accompanied by Rimpa Siva on the tabla did not attract as large an audience as it should have, considering that Rimpa Siva' s reputation usually precedes her. Hailed as `The Princess of Tabla,' this phenomenally talented young artiste from Kolkata was recognised as a child prodigy by maestros such as Ustad Zakir Hussain, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and Pt. Kishan Maharaj. Over the years, her meticulously honed talent has earned her a standing as one of the best-known tabla artistes the world over.
The opening sequence of raag Purya Kalyan was etched with sensitive strokes, the vilambit gat (teen tal) sparkling with effective permutations in chatusra and tisra gait that heightened the air of serenity that permeated the exposition. The tabla interludes were forceful statements where the artiste effortlessly kept up a steady patter punctuated by myriad variations that held you spellbound. A silvery cascade of sitar phrases made for a scintillating display in the drut gat, leading to a prolonged ati drut lay as strings and beats, taut with anticipation, raced towards a grand finale.
In his next alaap, the main artiste provided a phased introduction to the melodic possibilities of raag Jogeshwari, described as an evocative combination of raags Jog and Rageshri. The jod and jhala laid stress on the relationship of the shadja with the alternating komal and tivra gandhars and the madhyam, leading one into a world of delicate imagery that continued into the madhya lay (jhap taal - 10 beats) and drut (ek taal). The dhun delved into an accommodative raag Pilu to uncover fleeting shades of Mishra Shivaranjani, Durga, Hameer, Bhagesri and Pahadi that brightened and faded at will.
Rimpa Siva's percussive artistry was the much-awaited icing on the cake. Her nimble-fingered playing stood out for the remarkable clarity of strokes. A fusillade of staccato rhythms that hit the bull's-eye with each new round alternated with tonal variations that spoke of technique perfected to a T.
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