Veteran Mahalakshmi Ramadorai is a vocalist in both Carnatic and Hindustani traditions . She learned Carnatic music from Ayyalore Krishnan and Hindustani music from Pt.Yashwant Bua Joshi of Gwalior Gharana, Prabha Atre and Pt.Satyasheel Deshpande . She divided her concert for SICA music festival into two parts – Carnatic and Hindustani.
Appearing slightly off colour, she revealed she had a nose injury. Mahalakshmi opened her concert sessions first with Carnatic concert accompanied by Saikumar on violin and Jayabhasker on mridangam. Neevevari Bodhana Vinnavo with swaras was a number that she rendered. After the rendition of Marubarikorva in Khamas, she took up Thyagaraja’s Marugelara O Raghava in Jayantisri. Later she presented raga Mohana giving its complete picture, chosing to present a Mohana number of Papanasam Sivan. The ragalapana carried some Hindustani shades.
She presented swarakalpana too. Tani Avartanam by Jayabhaskar on mridangam was thrilling.
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In her Hindustani concert, Mahalakshmi rendered Chota Khyal in raag Jog set in Teen taal. She was accompanied by Abhay Datar on Tabla and Ravindra Katoti on Harmonium. She explained the features of this melody and of the khayal she presented in this, with a screen on her right side on stage, with text written on it. Its gist went that an ascetic feels his life is meaningless without God, he would be filled with joy only if He was there before him.
Mrudula’s vocal concert
Mrudula has fine and sharp voice with fantastic range. She sings with commitment to her own learning and also to charm the audience.
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Accompanied by K.Saikumar on violin and P. Srinivasa Gopalan on mridangam, Mridula began with Mohana varnam Ninne Kori and followed with Mahaganapathi Ravatumam in Gowla of Dikshitar. After these formal numbers she went for Thyagraja’s number Nijamarmamulanu in Umabharanam.
The raga essay was brilliant and the rendition had perfect sahitya bhava, with the kalpana swaras keeping up the same tempo.
Tani Avartanam by Srinivasa Gopalan added lusture to the number. She then went for Radha Sameta Krishna in Misra Yaman and concluded her concert with Nee Namame Maku in Madhyamavati. The other compositions she rendered were Saramegaani Anyamarga Vicharamemiti Manasa in Kamavardhani with Raga and Ganapathiye Neeye Gunanidhiye of Purandara Dasa.