Guruvayur Sri Krishna Samaj organised an enchanting flute recital by Jayaprada Ramamurthy to celebrate Krishnashtami. She performed in the company of Dhananjay on violin and Kali Varaprasad on two mridangams to suit Jayaprada’s play on long and short flutes.
Jayaprada began with a brief Hamsadhwani alapana for Annamacharya kirtana Vandeham Jagadvallabham set to music by the late Pinakapani. The short and long swara passages of pallavi line proved a warming up exercise for Jayaprada to bring her into right mood. Brochevarevarura of Mysore Vasudevachar in Khamas, a popular number, was presented by her with right stress of sahitya. She then played Hindolam in detail taking reposeful phrases using top and base flutes that enthused the audience. Om Namo Krishna of Narahari Teertha in Chaturasra eka tala was her subsequent offering and was notable for her expansive play of swaras bringing in mridangam artiste’s two instruments into play to match the output of her flute.
The main composition Jayaprada played was Alamelu Manga in Kalyani with intricate alapana, embellished with fine sequences. The kirtana play was with neraval followed by kalpanaswaras – all played with precision. Violonist Dhananjay followed her like a shadow with complementary touches in raga and swara play.
The later part of Jayaprada’s concert had Brindavanadolu of Purandaradasa in raga Tilang, Enna Thavam Seindhanai of Papanasam sivan in Kapi, Tiru Tiru in Gambhiranata, Thumaka Chalat of Tulsidas, Kurai Onrum Illai in ragamalika, Krishna Nee Begane Baro in Yaman and Hey Govinda in Desh. Jayaprada concluded her recital with a musical-collage of three compositions of Annamacharya – Ksheerabdhi Kanyakaku and Alara Chanchalamaina in Khandam, and Uyyala Balu in Madhyamavathi.
