N.J. Nandini, a promising young talent, mesmerised rasikas at a concert at the Palakkad Public Library Auditorium. Endowed with a rich voice, she began the concert with a sprightly ‘Nee Kelerayada’ of Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar in Devamanohari, which was embellished with chittaswara and innovative kalpanaswaras.
Swati’s ‘Deva deva kalayamithe’ in Mayamalavagowla had excellent niraval and swarakalpana at ‘Bhuvathrayanayaka’. ‘Sumasayaka’, a slow, soothing, pada varnam of Swati’s in Karnataka Kapi set to Roopaka tala, was rendered with grace.
‘Karuna elakande’, a Tyagaraja composition in Varali, led to the highlight of the evening – Kharaharapriya. It was well accompanied by R. Swaminathan’s essaying on the violin, which captured the gamut of the raga. Tyagaraja’s ‘Chakkani raja margamu’, the kriti in Kharaharapriya, had excellent sangatis and was embellished with crisp brigas and well–articulated niraval. The tani by K. Jayakrishnan (mridangam) and E.M. Dipu (ghatam) saw brilliant rhythmic patterns that culminated into a beautiful korvai.
Nandini’s rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’ in Sindubhairavi was followed by M.D.R’s ‘Saagara shayana vibho’ in Bagashri. She ended the concert with Swati’s Mangalam on Lord Sree Padmanabha, ‘Bhujaga Sayino’. The concert was organised by Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy and Swaralaya.
