Kalasagaram extravaganza ends on a grand note
A galaxy of renowned artistes enthralled the audience during the week-long show
A mellifluous flute rendition by Mala Chandrasekhar had the audience at Kalasagaram spellbound and brought the curtains down on Kalasagaram’s scintillating 53rd annual music festival. Chandrasekhar was accompanied by V.V. Srinivas Rao on the violin, Kakidaikurichi Shiva Kumar on the mrudangam, and Prasanna Hariharan on the ghatam.
After commencing her concert with a short MS Amma Vrutham, she presented Jalajakshi (Hamsadhwani), krithi of Thyagaraja Rama Neeve in Raga Narayani, Shriman Narayana of Annamacharya, Dharmavathi, Parandhavathi of Diskhitar in Tishra Ekatala, Maayi in Tarangini (Dikshitar) and Sadamadim (Thyagaraja) in Gambheeravani. The highlight of the evening was Raga Kanada, in which she mesmerised with the three platforms of interpretation — raga alapana, neraval and swara kalpana. Equally exemplary was thani by Shiva Kumar and Hariharan.
After Narayanathi namo namo in Behag of Annamacharya, Jawali in Khamas, Thillana of Swathi Tirunal in Dhanushree, she concluded with Maithreem Bhajathe, the Kanchi Acharaya’s ode to world peace. Holding on to his own was Vignesh Ishwar, who was accompanied on the violin by L. Ramakrishnan, on the mridangam by Delhi Sairam and on kanjeera by Anirudh Athreya.
The Thyagaraja kriti Cheraravadhe in Reetigowla, swara prasthana and a detailed alapana in Kalyani followed by Birana Brova Idhey of Tarangambadi Pancharatna Iyer were all wellreceived.
Raga Arabhi, Thyagaraja’s Pancharatna krithi Sadhinchene and a soothing tanam added to the Panchratna kriti, Pallavi pancha ratna kriti in RTP, Nirajakshi in Hindolam of Dikshitar. Rendered in a slow tempo, Shankarabharanam, kriti Sarojadalanetri of Shyamasastri, ragam, kriti, neraval and swaras were all widely applauded and Ramakrishnan on violin stole the show.
The finale of the sevenday concert ended with Ramakrishnan Murthy reflecting the combined effect of a good guru, good traditions and fine practice.
He was accompanied by Charumathi Raghuraman (violin), N.C. Bharadwaj (mridrangam) and kanjeera by B.S. Purushottam.
A superb rendition of raga Varali was yet another high-point of the grand finale.
Paras raga Javali Smarasundarangini, Ramajogi in Khamas of Ramadasa, Susmigatham Neelakesham in raga Malika Mayamalawa gowla, Sahana, Kapi, Shobane in Pantuvarali of
Thyagaraja, Nadanthekalgal in Sindhu Bhairavi and Alwar Pasuram were presentations that embellished the three-hour evening.
The Mangalam in Saurashtra signalled the closure of the weeklong series that Kalasagaram organised in virtual mode.
The event was given an absorbing finishing touch by president Sudhershan Iyengar, secretary Narayanan and executive committee member Madhusudhan along with Rama and Shubha.