The acknowledgement by renowned Carnatic vocalist Madurai T.N. Seshagopalan that he could engage in “musical innovations” because of good audience here on Sunday came both as a tribute to the rasikas of Mangalore and the quality music they were treated to.
The veteran was performing on the concluding day of the four-day music festival organised jointly by Mangalore Sangeetha Parishat, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, and Mangalore University at Ravindra Kalabhavan.
Top class “alapan”, innovative “kalpanaswaras”, and imaginative improvisations were the hallmark of the flow of notes with complex combinations that took aficionados of music through a rare experience for over three hours.
The Padmavibhushan award-winner appeared to have packed all his prowess in the way he presented “Nagumomum ganaleni …” in Abheri raga which he began with one of the finest “alapanas”. Some improvisations were received very well by the rasikas.
Equally impressive was the “alapana” of the “Ninuvina” in Poorvikalyan in which the vidwan introduced his rare repertoire in “kalpanaswaras”. “Sharavanabava…” in Pashupathipriya raga stood out for fine variations in “kalpanaswaras”.
“Thaye…” a kriti on Mookambike of Kollur in “Kalyan-vasantha” was a surprise. A music teacher was heard saying she did not know that there was a composition on the Kollur’s presiding deity.
Beginning the concert with a “Varna Intha Chalam” in Begade raga he went on to present the impressive “Ekadantham bajeham…” in Bilahari raga. A “thillana” he presented later was in the same raga.
“Narajnma bandaaga…” in Madhuvanthi and “Neene anathabandho…” in Shubhapanthuvarali were impressive. The artiste was supported on the violin by Avaneeshwaram S.R. Vinod, on the mridanga by Patri Sathishkumar and on the ghatam by Valapalli Krishakumar.
