The highlight of Vasudha Ravi’s concert was her RTP in Gowrimanohari. She took her time to explore the raga in all the three octaves, spread into two segments, as was done in the earlier days. The tanam rendered in three parts also was exhaustive. Both were indeed very commendable. Melakaveri Thyagarajan, accompanying on the violin, gave able support. The pallavi ‘Sankari Sundari’ was set to Khanda Triputa tala. Here again all the traditional methods of handling the tala such as changing the ‘nadais’ in the niraval as well as the swaras were adhered to in an impressive manner.
The ragamalika of Karnataka Suddhasaveri and Gambhira Nattai in the swara segment was sung in quick succession seamlessly in a cyclic manner. The thani by Kumbakonam Saravanan on the mridangam and Nerkundram Manikandan on the Morsing was lively.
The concert began with the varnam in raga Sri, followed by a song on Ganesha ‘Saranu’ in Nalinakanti with swaras for the pallavi. An interesting essay of Anandabhairavi preceded ‘Dandayudapanim’ of Muthuswami Dikshitar. It takes confidence and courage to attempt alapana of rare ragas. Vasuda did an excellent job of the alapana of Jothi. The kalpanaswaras for the madhyamakala passage of the selected song of Dkishitar’s ‘Ramae Bharatha’ too were similarly impressive. The next piece was ‘Undethiramudu’ in Harikhambodi of Tyagaraja.
The recital ended with ‘Kshanamaduna’ in Madhukauns and the Brindavani tillana by Balamuralikrishna. On the whole the concert was a satisfying experience.
