A drizzle of emotions

Kaivalya Kumar Gurav’s Hindustani recital at the Vishesha Fine Arts festival recently was charming and competent

February 27, 2014 05:52 pm | Updated May 18, 2016 11:10 am IST

Pt. Kaivalya Kumar Gurav

Pt. Kaivalya Kumar Gurav

The “ VisheshaUtsava ”, a day-long music fest held on Sunday, organised by Vishesha Fine Arts, was indeed a special celebration of various forms of traditional music. The Hindustani vocal recital by Pt. Kaivalya Kumar Gurav added a thrilling dimension to this musical extravaganza. The performance was exhibitive of the Kirana gharana tradition to which Pt. Kaivalya Kumar belongs.

Beginning his performance with a vilambit bandish in raag Bhatiyar – he amply explored the complexities of the raag. Using the three vocal tones in a grandiose manner he unwrapped the raag with rapid aalaaps interspersed with the boltaans. The unique manner in which he throws a note and rapidly descends to the lower octaves has become characteristic of his performances. This was followed by the famous “Tanika sun reesatyavachan” in dhrut. In this Kaivalya Kumar wove magic as he scaled through the taara shadja to sahaj madhyam, launching the notes like a torpedo at times to gently raining them like drizzle at the other.

The Madhumad Sarang “Rang nadaro re” was captivating to say the least. So evocative is Kaivalya’s emotive capabilities that the rendition painted a beautiful picture of the Gopika pleading with Krishna to spare her from his mischief. The entire rendition was well crafted including the dhrut – “Rang rangchunari” which seemed as though Krishna succeeded in drenching the Gopika even as she playfully castigates him. While singing the “Tuto chatura” he deftly brought out the shringar ras, blending it with false anger and shyness.

Pt. Vishwanath Nakod on tabla and Pt. Ravindra Katoti on the harmonium were the icing on the cake. So skilful was their accompaniment that their contribution stands independently laudable in enhancing the aesthetics of the entire performance. The short dadra “Jadoo parelinaarpe” was memorable.

Even as one wondered whether the morning would be doused with compositions of love, longing and playfulness, his final rendition of Purandara Dasa’s “Odi Baarayya Vaikuntapati” put to rest any doubts about his devotional fervour. The captivating chanting of “Vitthala” did not disappoint those waiting to feel the electrifying effect of his rendition of the Kannada composition.

There is no doubt about the flamboyance that Pt. Kaivalya Kumar brings to his renditions. His sharp tonal quality, agile pace, vocal tenor and feverish dedication to music has rightfully made him one of the cherished Kirana gayaki singers in the present generation.

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