Ramakrishnan Murthy showed a natural flow of sowkhyam music free from clichés and affectation for T.S. Sankara Iyer memorial concert, held at Sri Kothanda Ramaswami temple, Ramnagar, Coimbatore. Warming up with a sloka preceding Tyagaraja’s ‘Mohana Rama’ (Mohanam), the kriti, sung with an easy lilt of swaras, showed his panache for crafting appealing patterns in sarvalaghu mode. ‘Ramanukku Mannanmudi’ that followed next was a praise-worthy interpretation. Dikshitar’s ‘Sankaram Abhirami Manoharam’ in praise of Lord Amritaghateswarar, which was rendered with passion and involvement, took the kutcheri to a melodic high. ‘Brovavamma’ in Maanji was a praiseworthy version. The exposition of Khambodi for the kriti, ‘Sree Raghuvaraprameya’ with full-throated karvais and intricately braided passages in the tara sthayi regions afforded an insight into the true potential of his voice. The feisty niraval at ‘Seethanatha’ and the cascade of swaras were appealing.
Ramakrishnan Murthy’s clear articulation of sahityas with a defining voice, in the concluding tukkadas, formed the objective of the kutcheri. ‘Aandavan Darisaname’ and ‘Govardhana Giri’ were the other numbers rendered by him.
Charumathi Raguraman’s (violin) comprehensive reply on the raga expositions and swara sallies was a treat to the rasikas. Manoj Siva (mridangam) and Anirudh Athreya (ganjira) wove a rhythmic pattern in the laya wing and their vibrant thani was an aural exercise and delicacy.
