Flautist A.K. Raghunadhan presented a frills-free concert at the old Kalpathy Krishnan. A puritan with a crystal-clear padanthara, Raghunadhan’s adherence to the well-defined concert pattern and inclusion of familiar pieces established an excellent rapport with the audience.
The flautist played the Ada tala varnam ‘Viriboni’ in Bhairavi in two speeds and followed it with Dikshitar’s ‘Swaminatha paripalaya’ in Natta, which was embellished with chittaswaram. His rendering of Tyagaraja’s ‘Ganamoorthe’ captured the mood of the lyrics.
A systematic elaboration of ‘Ananda Natamaduvar’ in Poorvikalyani came next.
R. Swaminadhan (violin), Kallekkulangara Unnikrishnan (mridangam) and Gopi Nadalaya (morsing) were the accompanists.
A fast Tyagaraja kriti ‘Marukelara’ in Jayanthasree was included before moving on to the main raga –Kharaharapriya. The kriti ‘Chakkaniraja margamu’ ensued. As with the other kritis, the musician was able to portray the bhava of the composition. Unnikrishnan’s erudite strokes on the mridangam while accompanying kirtanas and swaraprastharas were remarkable. He was ably assisted by Gopi. The tani stood out with its pleasing phrases and brilliant moharas. Raghunadhan rounded off the concert with Swati’s devout ‘Visweswara darshan’ in Sindhubhairavi, a brisk Thillana in Desh and a traditional Mangalam. The concert was organised by Swathi Sangeetha Sabha, Palakkad.
