Durga Venkatesh presented a concert at the monthly music festival of the Tiruchi Tamil Isai Sangam at the Tiruchi Tamil Sangam hall in Tiruchi recently.
She began her concert with ‘Ainthu Karathinai' in Kharahapriya raga, followed by the song ‘Ganapathiye' also in the same raga. ‘Sevikka Vendum' of Muthuthandavar and ‘Ammaavendraizhathal' on Goddess Akilandeswari Amman in Dharmavazhi raga, composed by K. Rangarajan, secretary of the Tiruchi Tamil Isam Sangam, received appreciation from music lovers.
Durga Venkatesh's rendering of ‘Ulaginil Enakkor,' (penned by Tiruchi Ambujam Vedantham) in Hamsanadam , followed by ‘Vizhikku Thurai' (of Arunagiri Nathar) in Saaveri and ‘Muruga… Muruga…' (by Periasamy Thooran) in Bilahari was applauded by listeners. The Todi ragam alapana formed the highlight of the recital.
Durga's repertoire also included ‘En Palli Kondeer Ayya,' in Ragamaaligai, Bharathiar's ‘Aaduvomae' in Maandu, Thondar Adipodi Azhwar's ‘Pachai Mamalai pol', Oothukadu Kavi's ‘Paal Vadiyum mugam'; Mayavaram Viswanatha Sastrigal's ‘Ganthamam..' in Sindhu Bhairavi and Ambujam Vedantham's ‘Aathu Vellam.'
‘Pudukottai' R. Ambika Prasad on the violin, ‘Srirangam' S. Vijayaraghavan on the mridangam; ‘Alathur' T. Raja Ganesh on the ganjira and ‘Malaikottai' R. M. Deenadayalu on the morsing provided able support.
K. R. Nayaranan, Manager, Air India, was the chief guest and L. N. Lakshmanan, president of the Tiruchi Tamil Isai Sangam, presided over the event. K. Rangarajan, secretary of the Sangam and V. T. Bharathi, joint secretary, offered felicitations.
