VIJAYAWADA: A thrilling treat of rhythmic excellence was presented by reputed mridangam artiste Vonkayala Venkataramana, a staff artiste of Visakhapatnam Akashvani and his team consisting of G. Guruprasanna of Bengaluru (kanjira), M. Haribabu of Guntur (ghatam), G.Venkatesh of Visakhapatnam (morsing), M. Satyanarayana Sarma of Srikakulam (violin), V.V. Meenakumari (veena) and V. Sruthisarini (vocal).
The occasion was a touching tribute paid by the disciples of late M. Lakhminarayana Raju, a highly reputed mridangam vidwan and guru who passed away recently at the age of 56, leaving a void in the field of mridangam. The large gathering got up at Sivaramakrishna Kshetram also paid glorious tributes to the guru parampara of Lakshminarayana Raju, late maestros M. Radhakrishna Raju, Dandamudi Ramamohan Rao and Potluri Veeraraghavaiah Chowdary. The event was conducted by the disciples of Lakshminarayana Raju led by P.S. Phalgun with remarkable devotion and dedication.
The introduction of the artistes who participated in the laya vinyasam by Phalgun was immediately followed by Venkataramana’s brief explanation of the intricacies of the laya vinyasam his team was about to perform. The vinyasam started with Natakuranji varnam and Vatapi (Hamsadhvani) on veena and violin and the much-awaited laya vinyasam which followed was superbly and innovatively composed and directed by Venkataramana. The first item, named by Venkataramana as Sravani talam consisted of 22 aksharas was excellently executed by the percussion team with perfect co-ordination. Next followed another novel creation of Venkataramana in adi talam and Hindola ragam. It was a pallavi titled ‘Akasaganga’. The pallavi gradually developed by all the percussionists from slow tempo to a break-neck speed came to a thundering mohara and muktayi leaving the audience in awe.
The entire event was a touching homage to late Lakshminarayana Raju’s fond and devotion filled memory. The organisers honoured the artistes who presented the laya vinyasam fittingly.
