ICCR and Sri Gnanasaraswathi Music and Dance Academy jointly organised a Carnatic concert on Jalatarangini, a musical show in which porcelain cups are filled with water, each to a particular level to sound the needed musical note, when the artiste strikes the cup with small stick. There is no scope to produce gamakas in this form and so only a few ragas and the kritis set in them are presented in concerts. This is perhaps one of the reasons why Jalatarangini almost disappeared from Carnatic scene. Only a couple of artistes in Telugu land present this art more for curiosity ridden entertainment.
Nemani Somayajulu, a rhythm player, took to this Jalatarangini out of love for select Carnatic concerts, like the one he gave in ICCR’s music fest. Nemani is an A-grade ghatam player of AIR and is ICCR’s empanelled member. His Jalatarangini concert was held at Thyagaraya Ganasabha last week as part of ICCR show.
He opened with Vataapi Ganapatim Bhaje of Dikshitar in Hamsadhwani followed by Raghuvamsha Sudhambudi of Patnam Subramanya Iyer in Kadanakuthuhalam set in Adi Talam. Then Naarayanathe Namo Namo and Adigo Alladigo compositions of Annamacharya followed. He was accompanied by Mallela Tejaswi (violin), Ramakrishna (mridangam) and Chandrakanth (morsing). This was followed by Kuchipudi dance recital by G.Vani Ramana. She enthralled the audience with her presentation of ‘Simhanandini’ in ragamalika, Simhanadini tala that involves the artistes drawing a picture of lion with foot work on curtain laid on the floor with coloured powder sprinkled on it . She then presented ‘Bhama Kalapam’ but limited to opening ‘Pravesa Daruvu’ in Bhairavi. Jayadeva Ashtapadi ‘Sancharadadhara’ in Meghamalhar, set in Chaturasra Eka tala was another number she presented. The concluding event was aKuchipudi dance recital by Manasa Krishna. She presented .Krishna Sabdam in Mohana, Adi talam, ‘Bho Shambo’ in Revathi and concluded her show with Tarangam ‘Govardhana Giridhara’ in ragamalika. The artistes were felicitated by ICCR’s Chief Programme Officer G.Lakshmi.
