On their second visit to Vijayawada, talented teenaged brothers of Bengaluru Tejas Manjunath and Pranav Manjunath gave a brilliant violin duet performance organised by Swara Tarangini at Sringeri Mahapeetha Paripalita Sri Sivaramakrishna Kshetram. Though the brothers were born in Boston, USA, they are now residing in Bengaluru in pursuit of their advanced training. They received their initial training from Vidushi Lalgudi Rajyalakshmi and Charulata Ramanujam and presently the brothers are being trained intensely by guru Yasashvi. The brothers have already received awards and accolades from many prestigious sabhas.
The duo started the concert with Mysore Vasudevachar’s famous pada varnam Maye Malayadhvaja in Khamas. This was followed by Muthuswami Dikshitar’s Gajananayutam in Chakravakam concluding it with fine kalpanaswaras shared equally by both. Next, Tejas and Pranav essayed Janani Ninuvina , a masterpiece of Subbaraya Sastry in Reetigowla in a serene manner highlighting the richness of the raga bhava and the sahityam. Seshachala Nayakam of Dikshitar in Varali and Bagayenayya of Thyagaraja in Chandrajyothi were played next with fine appeal. However, the ragam-tanam-pallavi in Kharaharapriya (set to Khanda Triputa talam) efficiently presented by the brothers stood as the highlight projecting the all round manodharmam talent of the duo. Their smooth bowing produced ear pleasing nadam throughout the concert pleasing the audience immensely.
K. Saigiridhar, an experienced mridangam artiste of Chennai provided excellent support to the brothers and his tani was a superb treat of mathematically intricate laya patterns. The tani was followed by Pavanaguru of Lalita Dasar in Hamsanandi made popular by K.J. Jesudas, a bhajan in Sindubhairavi and a sparkling tillana in Mohanakalyani.
