The eminence of an artist in Carnatic music lies mainly in interpreting the composer. This is where manodharma (individual ingenuity) plays a fundamental role. Hyderabad Sisters, Lalitha and Haripriya, more than succeeded in this vital area. What an interpretation of Muthuswamy Dikshitar's magnificent ‘Bhajare Re Chittha Baalaambikaam!' They did Dikshitar full justice and literally took the audience to Vaitheeswaran Kovil.
In bhava, raga and tala they excelled. Little surprise that the sabha has promoted them to the evening slot. They have demonstrated what traditional training involving years of practice and rigorous discipline can offer.
Lalitha's raga delineation was so exemplary that Kalyani made her presence felt in every sanchara. With such artists around, none needs to have any doubt about preserving our centuries-old tradition. The niraval and swaras were at the usual ‘Devi Sakthi Beejothbhava.' In the Misra Chapu thani, Melakkaveri Balaji who was in top form produced evidence of his amazing skill, especially in tisra nadai. Tenkasi Kannan on the morsing succeeded in adding to the overall musical aspect of the concert.
Soon after the mighty Kalyani, the Sisters ventured into a Ragam Tanam Pallavi in gentle Bhairavi. Haripriya's elucidation confirmed that music is what feelings sound like. The metrical thanam was shared between the two. Mention should be made here of the contribution made by Akkarai Subbulakshmi on the violin – in the intelligent support she gave, in elucidation of the ragas, in tanam and in kalpanaswaras. The pallavi was ‘Sri Rajagopalabaalam Bhajeham Srithajanaparipaalam' in Khandajaathi Triputai, followed by ragamalika swarams in Jog and Durga. There was a crisp thani with an appropriate korvai by Balaji.
The versatility of Haripriya was evident in the effortless and leisurely elucidation of ‘Gaangeyabhushani.' Subbulakshmi's essay also drew spontaneous applause from the discerning audience.
‘Evvare Ramayya' was the chosen piece and the sisters made full use of the swarakshara ‘nisari.'
The sisters began their concert with the Sri Raga Varnam, followed by GNB's ‘Varavallabha Ramana' in Hamsadhwani and ‘Evarunnaaru brova,' in Malavasri, in which Saint Tyagaraja pleads with Lord Siva at Tiruvaiyaru to have mercy on him.
Lalitha and Haripriya also offered Papanasam Sivan's ‘Ma Ramanan Uma Ramanan' in Hindolam, Tyagaraja's ‘Anathutanu kaathu' in Jingala, Annamacharya's ‘Vattimoappu' in Salaga Bhairavi and Maharajapuram Santhanam's Sivaranjani thillana in their three hour long absorbing concert.
(ramakrishnan.h@gmail.com)
