Known for their sedate performance, noted Mambalam Sisters R Vijayalakshmi and R Chitra enraptured music lovers through their pleasing concert at Kalabharati, Visakhapatnam recently. The duo, both collectively and individually, sparkled in the rendition of chosen pieces. Travelling at an identical wave length in the exposition of chosen ragas and in swaras , the duo presented a memorable treat.
The concert began with Natakuranji varnam. It warmed up the session and after Balakanakamaya Chela of Thyagaraja in raga Athaana that saw the duo firmly saddled for the rest of the course, exposition of raga Sriranjani for Sogasuga mridangatalamu with swarakalpana on pallavi escalated the tempo of the concert and proceeded unfolding into a pleasant experience. With due accent on the lyrical nuances of the piece taken up, the duo succeeded in creating the mood of rasa bhava inherent in those compositions. While O Rama Nee Namam of Bhadrachala Ramadas exuded the ecstatic mood of a staunch devotee in signing the glories of the Lord, Brova Vamma in raga Manji brought out its supplicant mood of devotee seeking the release from earthly moorings.
The mainstay of the day was an RTP in raga Saveri with pallavi Bhavayami Raghuramam .
The building of the edifice of the raga in a structured way, painting each layer with in vivid shades was a masterly execution for its precision. Swara suit in ragamalika consisting Natakuranji, Dhanyasi, Mohana, Mukhari, Purvikalyani and Madhyamavati added an additional sheen.
Pahi pahimam of sage Narayana Theertha tuned by Nedunuri in raga Jounpuri, Palukutenala Talli of Annamayya in raga Abheri and others were well received and the duo rounded it off with a tillana of Swathi Tirunal in raga Dhanasri. Radhika Srinivasan on violin, Sumathi Rammohanarao on mridangam and Inguva Anjaneya Sastry on ghatam lent good support.
Visakha Music Academy in association with Nada Sudha Tarangini hosted it in its monthly schedule.
