HYDERABAD: Sri Kartikeya Gana Sabha featured young vocalist Ch. Kaivalya Kumar in the company of Pappu Gyanadev on violin and Ch. Ramakrishna on mridangam. This concert was presented in memory of violinist Duddu Ramakrishna Sastry. This was held at Kowtha Swarajya Vihar, Padmarao Nagar, Secunderabad.
Kaivalya Kumar is blessed with a rich vocal culture and his vocal presentation appears to have been influenced by the late Maharajapuram Santanam. The concert was rich in all its segments. He opened the concert with Smarane Sukhamu of Thyagaraja in Janaranjani and the pleasant presentation was enriched by brisk swarakalpana. This was followed by rarely heard number of Thyagaraja, Kanugonu Sukhamu in Nayaki. It was simple presentation of kriti.
Kaivalya Kumar then came up with detailed raga essay of Shrutiranjani that was delineated with care and perfection with sancharis. The gamakas at high tempo carried Hindustani flavour in alapana. The krithi in this raga was Edaari Sancharintura of Thyagaraja was impressively presented with sahitya bhava. This was followed by submain number, again a rare piece of Thyagaraja, Giripai Nelakonna in Sahana. The alapana had a well-built structure of chosen phrases presented in a methodical fashion accentuating its appeal. Gyandev on violin too did a good job. The rendition of kriti Giripai Nelakonna by Kaivalya Kumar was quite appealing because projection of its sahitya. It was a relaxed presentation. Swarakalpana was done in vilamba and Druta kalaas, soaked with ragabhava. It was a real listening experience.
The main raga of the concert was Kalyani and its alapana explored all dimensions of the raga. It was impressively built. The kriti Yetavunara of Thyagaraja was one of fine presentations. Pappu Gyandev on violin proved a good support in elevating all the manodharma exercises, be it raga, neraval or swara. The neravu at the line Bhu Kamala was rich in melodic expression with clarity in sahitya in the first phase of its progress. The swarakalpana further spiced up the rendition with gripping swara sancharas. Thani avartanam by Ramakrishna added lustre to the number and to the concert as well. Both the accompanists stuck to the idiom of balanced presentation elevating the vocalist’s output.
Of the post main number compositions of Kaivalya Kumar, Jaya Jaya Durge tarangam of Narayana Teertha was notable.
