Rich in musical aesthetics

The National Music Festival in Palakkad witnessed an amalgam of styles.

O.S. Thyagarajan Photo: K. Pichumani

The seventh National Music Festival of Palghat Fine Arts Society featured several Carnatic music concerts, a Hindustani concert and a concert of Kathakali padams.

O.S. Thyagarajan

The artiste engaged rasikas on the first day of the festival with his vivacious performance. He devoted the whole concert to Tyagaraja by rendering only his kritis. He began the concert with the popular ‘Theliyaleru Rama’ (Dhenuka), tagged with sparkling swaras on the pallavi. ‘Nee Bhakthi Bhagya Sudha’ (Jayamanohari), ‘Raramayinti’ (Asaveri), ‘Yeti janma’ (Varaali), ‘Padavini’ (Salaka Bhairavi), ‘Hecharikaga rara’ (Yadukula Khambhoji) and so on were sung with zeal. Suruti (‘Rama Daivama’) and Mohana (‘Nannu paalimpa’) were chosen for raga alapana. The niraval and swarams sung for the main item ‘Nannu paalimpa’, showcased his mastery over Carnatic music. The performance of accompanying artistes T.H. Subramaniam (violin), Palladam Ravi (mridangam) and Vazhappally Krishnakumar (ghatam) was appreciated by the audience.

Akkarai Sisters - Subhalakshmi and Swarnalatha

The melodious Sahana raga varnam ‘Karunimpa’ provided an ideal start to what was a scintillating vocal concert. Subhalakshmi’s Lalitha and Keeravani alapanas were exuberant and soulful. ‘Brovabharama’ (Bahudhari) was sung between ‘Nannu brovu lalitha’ (Lalitha) and the main item ‘Kaligiyunte’ (Keeravani). ‘Vishveshwara’ (Sindhu bhairavi), ‘Karpagame’ (Madhyamavathy) and so on were included as post-tani items. Thiruvizha Viju S. Anand (violin), Palakkad A.M. Harinarayanan (mridangam) and Udupi Sreedhar (ghatam) provided excellent accompaniment to the concert.

Nedumpally Rammohan and Vengeri Narayanan Namboodiri

A Kathakali padam kutcheri by the duo enthralled music lovers on the third day of the festival. Strict adherence to tradition, simplicity in approach and well-structured renditions were the highlights.

They began with ‘Hari hara vidhinutha’ (Thodayam- ragamalika ) and sang padams from several popular Kathakali plays. ‘Amba thozhuthan’ (Kanada- ‘Keechakavadham’), the famous ‘Ajithahare jaya’ (Sri- ‘Kuchelavritham’) and ‘Yami yami bhaimi’ (Madhyamavathi-‘Nalacharitham’) were well received. The artistes were well supported by Sadanam Ratheesh (edakka), Sadanam Jithin (chenda) and Kalamandalam Venu (maddalam).

Trichy S. Ganesan

The musician’s deep knowledge and inherent expertise were evident in his presentation. He commenced with ‘Mooladhara moorthy’ (Hamsadhwani), and moved on to ‘Marakodi Sundari Manini’ (Bahudhari) with alluring swaras on the pallavi. ‘Deva Deva Kalayamithe’ (Mayamalavagowla), composed by Swati Tirunal, had a beautiful sketch of raga alapana, astounding niraval and energetic swara prastharas.

Another highlight of the concert was the delineation of two rare ragas – Gopika Vasantham and Vivardhini. Ganesan sang ‘Balakrishnan bhavayami’ (Gopika vasantham) and ‘Vinave O Manasa’ (Vivardhini). The songs were supplemented with dynamic kalpanaswaras. The main item ‘Ninnu vinagamari’ (Poorvi kalyani) was neatly displayed. The accompanists Avaneeswaram Vinu (violin), Parassalla Ravi (mridangam) and Vaikom Gopalakrishnan (ghatam) provided excellent support.

R. Aswath Narayan

Aswath impressed the audience on the fifth day of the festival with his recital. He started his vocal concert with Kambhoji Ada tala varnam ‘Sarasijanabha’ of Swati Tirunal. This was followed by Tyagaraja’s ‘Raghuvara’ (Pantuvarali) with a short niraval and swarams. After singing ‘Tyagarajaya namasthe’ (Begada), ‘Gopalaka Pahimam’ (Revagupthi) and ‘Vidajaaladura’ (Janaranjani), he switched over to the main item ‘Kaddanuvaariki’ (Thodi) of Tyagaraja.

The narration of Thodi ragam had innovative and carefully handled phrases that added elegance to the raga alapana. The next item was a RTP in Hamsadwani, which was neatly portrayed. The superb violin accompaniment of B. Ananthakrishnan was well received by the music lovers. The brilliant support of Neyveli Narayan (mridangam) and G. Chandra Sekhara Sharma (ghatam) enhanced the concert.

Narmada

Narmada regaled rasikas with a Hindustani violin recital. She presented Poorya raga, Kamaj (Thumri), ghazals in Keervani and Peelu, Pahaadi, Sindhu Bhairavi, and so on. Her demonstration of items showcased her vast knowledge of Hindustani music. Jayan Mallamari (tabla) provided excellent support for the concert.

Palghat R. Ramprasad

Ramprasad concluded the music fiesta with‘Evari Bodhana’ (Abhogi-Varnam) followed by ‘Deva Deva Kalayamithe’ (Mayamalavagowla) that was blended with soothing niraval and swaras. ‘Janani Ninnu Vina’ (Reethigowla) and ‘Maragatha lingam’ (Vasantha) were rendered with enthusiasm. A RTP in raga Lathangi was chosen as main item. The depiction of Lathangi ragam and thanam were splendid with attractive sancharas. Ragamalika swarams in the ragas Malayamarutham, Subhapantuvarali and Bilahari were sung on the pallavi. Idappally Ajith Kumar (violin), Palakkad Mahesh Kumar (mridangam) and P.L. Sudheer (ghatam) provided appropriate support.