The fifth day’s concert of the 67th anniversary celebrations of Sri Sathguru Sangeetha Samajam featured Malladi Brothers Ravikumar and Sreeramprasad. They began the programme with a Thyagarajar varnam, ‘Neevanti daivamu shadaanana,’ in Raga Todi in which the saint composer praises Sri Brahmapureeswara of Sirkali. ‘Etla dorikitivo rama tanak’ by Thyagaraja in Vasantha, which followed, built up the pace of the concert. For this song, the singers tried to explain the importance of ‘Pada’ of the Lord.
The next was in praise of ‘Anandeshvara’ of Tiruvarur, known as Tiruvarur Panchalinga Kriti, ‘Anandesvaena samrakshito,’ by Dikshithar in Raga Ananda Bhairavi. Kalyani , a raga that gives energy, removes tension, acts as general tonic and dispels the darkness of fear, was the singers’ selection as main raga for Tachur Pedda Singaracharyulu’s composition on Madurai Meenakshi, ‘Meenakshi dehi.’ The brothers made long strides which allowed them to showcase their prowess in the raga. Tani avartanam, between Palladam Ravi and Alathur Raja Ganesh, was at its best. Violinist Trivandrum N. Sampath lent good support throughout. The singers rendered in quick succession ‘Sivanai ninaintavar evar tazhndar,’ in Hindolam by Papanasam Sivan, which received applause. It was a special RTP, where the main raga was Karahapriya and the tanam that followed enjoyed the support of Palladam Ravi on mridangam, which made it unique for the rasikas. The pallavi was set for the occasion on the Trinity of Carnatic music, ‘Dikshidar vara Shyama Tyagarajam bhaje.’ The intensive niraval and swaras were in Goulai, Aarabhi, Varali and Begada.
The final songs included ‘Muddugare Yasoda mumgita’ in Raga Kurinji by Ananmacharya, that oozes with his love for Lord Krishna; ‘Cranamule nammiti’ in Kaapi by Badrachalam Ramadas; Narayana Teertha’s ‘Tarangam pooraya mamakaamam’ in Bilahari; ‘Chandrashekhara Isha Isha Sundareshvara’ in Sindhubhairavi by Anai Vaidyanatha Iyer, which the duo sang extremely well.
S. Padmanabhan
