A week-long Aathirotsavam at Sree Vadakkunnathan Temple, Thrissur, witnessed marathon presentations of Thiruvathirakkali. The festival also featured two music concerts.
A violin concert by three generations of artistes led by N. Rajam, adept in both Hindustani and Carnatic genres, was a rare treat. Accompanied by her daughter, Sangeetha Sankar and granddaughters, Ragini Sankar and Nandini Sankar, Rajam began the concert with analap of raag Kalyan. Her style was characterised by smooth and mellifluous bowing that brought out the melody-rich notes of the raga. Sangeetha’s sound accompaniment on the violin, enhanced the performance
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Post alap, Rajam was joined by Ajith Pathak on the tabla. Ragini and Nandini joined in with bewitching improvisations. Their swift bowing was in sync with the beats of the tabla. The musician weaved a garland of ragas decorated by facets of Jaijaiwanti, Bageshree, Desh, Darbari and Jog.
K.M.S. Mani, on the mridangam, drummed an excellent tani with Ajith.
One felt, however, that this part of the concert could have been made more enjoyable, if more popular ragas were attempted. She wound up the concert with a piece in Bhairavi, the Hindustani equivalent of Sindhubhairavi. The ensemble with four violins, mridangam and tabla, however, needed better planning.
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A vocal concert by S. Mahathi had the stamp of individuality. Her clarity of diction and justice to sahithya need special mention. The opening number was Vathapi ganapathim in Hamsadwani. The niraval at Hamsadwani bhusihita herambham was replete with captivating swaras.
Mahathi has a unique style of concluding each composition with tharasthayi sanchara. Entharomahanu bhavalu in Sri could have been a bit slower so as to bring out the bhava. The Kumudakriya and Goudamalhar raga that followed in succession are not that popular. Ardhanareeswaram , a Dikshitar composition in Kumudakriya, was introduced by a neat alapana that traversed the three sthayis effortlessly. Muthiah Bhagavathar’s Sarasamukh in Goudamalhar preceded the main Abheri raga. The audience was delighted as the selection was the popular Nagumo in Adi.
Mahathi seemed to float with the niraval at Jagamela and the swaras rendered in two tempos of tisra gathi showcased her creative instincts. Commendable was the use of Suddha Dhaivatham .
Attukal Balasubramaniam’s reproduction on the violin was noted for the fidelity of the elaboration, but in right degree. K. Jayakrishnan (mridangam) Vellattanjur Sreejith (ghatam) accompanied.
The concert featured a few attractive pieces including Bo sambo in Revathi, Smaravaram in Jog, Alaippayuthe in Kanada, Venkitachlanilayam in Sindhubhairavi and Aadum Chidambaram in Behag. The concert had a vibrant finale with the thillana in Garudadwani.
The concerts were organised by Vadakkunnathan Kshetra Kshema Samithy.