BENGALURU: The annual Karthika Yuva Sangeetotsava held under the auspices of Nada Ranjini Sangeetha Sabha at Dharini Mahila Sangha auditorium included spectacular young talent. The two-tier Sangeetotsava featured upcoming artistes and seniors. There is every reason to think that they will be stars just a couple of years from now. Their performances were enhanced by the application of both traditional and sophisticated musical resources.
Young Lavanya Krishnamurthy, daughter of violinist T S Krishnamurthy and trained by vocalist Sathyavathi, is a gifted and accomplished singer and met the varied linguistic and stylistic challenges of her programme. She is a vivacious performer ideally suited to the classical Carnatic music. Lavanya owns the kind of voice that made one take notice as soon as she launched into a rarely heard Chalamela jese set to Khamach raga. It was rendered in two kalas. It was a strong voice that was pure throughout its range. She wielded it with the sure touch of an artiste who understands the full range of emotions demanded by the lyrics. Her voice had a lot of power and technique. She gave an eloquent Gambheera Nata for yet another rare krithi Vanajaksha nine nammithi (Mysore Sadashivarao) with an easy high range. The alapana, enjoyable gait, finely sung madhyama kala sahitya and the crowning kalpanaswaras gave a fair impression of Lavanya’s communicative powers.
One of Dikshitar’s Kshetra krithis in praise of Lord Vishnu Soundararajam Ashraye appeared in a vivid vilamba kala. The raga Brindavana Saranga and the krithi showcased the singer’s gift of bringing out meaning with the clearest possible diction. She sounded radiant throughout the detailed delineation of Shanmukhapriya.
The detailed alapana revealed her alluring, dark-hued three sthayi range to fine effect. She also offered a passionate interpretation of raga Shanmukhapriya in detail and the following Swati Tirunal’s krithi Mamava Karunaya with sahitya and swaravinyas. M P Adithya (violin), Sunil Subrahmanya (mridanga) and Bhanu Prakash (morsing) provided notably sensitive support.
Animated recital
The young flautist duo Heramba and Hemantha offered a heartfelt rendering of ragas and krithis. Their creations were beautifully characterised and nuanced. Their accompanists Achyutharao (violin) and Vinod Shyam Anur (mridanga) also had a commanding presence and they were strong in the art of presentation.
The sharp contrasts in the flute duet were in order as the flautists deftly navigated the small hall’s acoustics, playing at a pleasing volume that proved to be very comfortable for listeners. Darbar varna played with majesty was the opening item. It was rendered with all instrumental flourishes. We were greeted to an impassioned rendition of Kalyani by the artistes for the renowned krithi Amma ravamma which established an intimate rapport with the rasikas.
Though an oft-heard raga, Khamach was made interesting in a shared elaboration. The elaborations were complete with ringing high notes. They also quickly showed a bright, powerful manodharma.
Elsewhere, they evoked other sides of the ragas from the gentler to the more dramatic.
They were at their best in Kapi song (Intha sowkhya) that made up the heart of the concert. The bhashanga character of the raga was captured in all its shining glory with the use of all varieties of ri, ga, ni etc.
It was proved that they are endowed with a rich expertise and that they are strong in the art of presentation too. The swaraprastara marked by rhythmic and artistic excellence and variety vouched for the duo’s perfect understanding and coordination. They used the intimacy of the setting to create finely calibrated characterisations. Both instrumentalists are young and have attractive playing technique and both play with a keen awareness of the text.
Instrumentally, the duo was worthy of notice, showing an even range and no problem with transitions to come out as admirably clean instrumentalists. The salient aspects of Carnatic instrumental music were rendered to a fine artistic effect and the recital included not only a demanding instrumental line but also some powerful and beautifully detailed renditions.