A hard working musician and musicologist, his zeal in imbibing and promoting kritis of lesser known and modern day vaggeyakaras is praiseworthy. K.N. Ranganatha Sarma’s recent concert at Irinjalakuda vouched for that. A short alapana of Reethigowla was followed by an invocation to Lord Ganesa. Colourful swara passages gave an impetus to the concert.
Mayamalavagoula was taken next for a detailed alapana wherein he beautifully incorporated some jhandavarisa prayogas. ‘Devadevaparipahi sadha’, a Sanskrit composition by Sundaranarayana on Lord Guruvayoorappan, was neatly presented with the phrase ‘Saanthakara sulochana baala’ being used for niraval. Intrinsic swara passages were inter-woven with varied permutations and combinations. A delicate Dwijavanthi alapana evoked serenity and it was tagged to Dikshitar’s ‘Chethasree’.
Kalyani raga was taken up for elaboration and he scaled its contours brilliantly by portraying the details of the raga. ‘Karunasagara Narayana’, a Malayalam kriti, was rendered with well-planned and neatly executed manodharma swaras. Sarma provided variety while singing swara passages by avoiding ‘sa’ and ‘pa’ and singing phrases constituting of ‘ni ri ga ma da ni’, thereby creating an aural treat.
Viju S. Anand excellently supported on the violin and his responses to the vocalists’ essays were timely and appropriate. K.V. Prasad on the mridangam elevated the standard of the concert with his delicate touches and strokes. His taniavarthanam along with Manjoor Unnikrishnan (ghatam) for the Kalyani piece in Misra chapu was superb. ‘Gurupavanapuralaya’ (Bahudari), ‘Baro Krishnayya’ (Ragamalika-Kanakadasa) and ‘Ramakatharasa’ (Madhuvanthi) were also sung.
The concert was organised by Nadopasana with the support of Sundara Narayana Gananjali Charitable Trust, Guruvayoor.
