The arrival of much awaited monsoon has given a boost to the cultural associations in Vijayawada. The Swarajhari Sabha presented a vocal concert at Gokaraju Laila Gangaraju Kala Vidika by 12-year- old Nidamarthi Lohita Datta who amply showed his mettle in the two-hour concert. Lohita Datta who received his initial training from K.V. Kishore and Anjana Sudhakar, is being trained in advanced course by Modumudi Sudhakar.
The concert began with a varnam in Surati followed by Sri Maha Ganapathi of Muthuswami Dikshitar in Gowla, Nadupai Palikeru of Thyagaraja in Madhyamavathi and Chootamurare in Arabhi which was marked with crisp kalpanaswaras. Next, Lohita Datta rendered Neekela Dayaradu in Kadanakutuhalam, a seldom heard composition. As the sub-main item, the youngster took up Ganapathi Sachidananda Swami’s composition Neeraja Malini in Hamsanandi. The kirtana was finely presented with ragam, niraval and kalpanaswaras. However, the best item in Lohita Datta’s concert was the sumptuously presented Sarojadala Netri Himagiri Putri a composition of Syama Sastri in Sankarabharanam. The singer presented the kirtanas with fine raga delineation, bhava filled niraval and swarakalpana. Young Vishnubhatla Sivani who accompanied on violin and K. Aravind, talented mridangam artiste supported the vocalist with fine understanding. Sivani’s raga versions of Hamsanandi and Sankarabharanam and Aravind’s tani on the mridangam also stood as highlights. Lohita Datta concluded the concert with an Annamacharya kirtana Govindachyuya and Hanuma Maruti a composition of Sachidananda Swami in Mohana.
