Rich tribute was paid to Swathi Thirunal by rendering his kritis and by depicting it through Mohiniyattam in a four-day dance and music festival at Irinjalakuda.
Vocalist Amrutha Venkatesh
Clarity of lyrics and correct diction were highlighted during Amrutha Venkatesh’s memorable concert. Creativity was at its best when she chose to present Behag in the initial phase itself, followed by the kriti Reenamadanutha . Aaradhayami (Bilahari), corresponding to archanam of the navavidha bhakthi margam, was offered in a pleasing manner. The hallmark of Huseini was her measured pace for the kriti Kanakamayamayeedum.Jalajabandhu (Surutti) and Kanthanodu (Neelambari) were taken up in the final phase. Ajithkumar (violin) followed the vocalist effortlessly. Mahesh Kumar (mridangam) and Govindaprasad (morsing) elevated the aural pleasure of the concert.
Inimitable voice
TV Sankaranarayanan, along with his son Mahadevan, enthralled the audience in his inimitable style. An alapana of Vasantha that preceded Paramapurusha Jagadeeswara had some rare prayogas and the Kaanada kriti Maamavasadhajanani was studded with swara passages centred on the phrase Ni Pa Ga . Smarasadamaanasa (Bilahari) was the main piece. NC Madhav (violin), Palladam Ravi (mridangam) and Trichy Krishnaswamy (ghatam) accompanied.
TV Sankaranarayanan
Sankaran Namboodiri and Kottakkal Madhu, while rendering the kritis of Swati and padams of Irayimman Thampi, respectively, explored the possibility of confluence of two distinctive styles of music.
Jugalbandhi
Their rendition of Panimathi ( Aahiri ) and Omanathingal Kidavo were well received. However, had they shown a little prudence in the selection of kritis, the recital would have been more enjoyable. Maddalam virtuoso Sankara Warrier needs special mention for his accompaniment that mesmerised the audience. ‘Venu gaana laya Samaagama,’ an ensemble featuring Amith Naadik (flute), Manjunath (mridangam), Guruprasanna, (ganjira) and Somasekhar Jois (konnakol) was an interesting effort.
Mohiniyattam by Gopika Varma, based on the kritis of Swathi, was on the concluding day. She chose Sakhyam, depicting the nine forms of devotion, and narrated it with a phrase from Kuchelopakhyanam, portraying the childhood days of Krishna and Kuchela. In the concluding item Visweswaradarsanakar (Sindhubhairavi) she beautifully emoted the human life cycle from birth to death.
The festival was organised by Nadopasana, Irinjalakuda.
