VASUDHA Kesa is a disciple of master Carnatic coach PS Narayanaswamy. With her fine voice, the vidwat has imbibed some of the most vital lessons from her master.
This was evident in Vasudha's latest concert — delightful and weighty.
Her opening number was the Kalyani varnam, Vanajakshi.
This led to a Bahudari alapana for the GNB composition Unnadiye gati enraidenden. After this fast song, Vasudha settled on the sedate Vanaspati with a raga delineation, as her next. Thygaraja’s Paryachakama was the song Vasudha chose, revealing a kind of devotion that was incredible.
As a prelude to the Brindavnasarnaga composition — Srirangapura Vihara — Vasudha presented a virutham. This Dikshitar composition emerged from the songstress in its true shape and tone. In the Thodi alapana, Vasudha was in no mood to hurry. All the phrases proclaimed the raga’s majesty and intensity.
In a joyous move, Vasudha chose Papanasam Sivan’s Tamil composition — Kundram Kudi konda velava.
Vasudha, with her sweet voice and impeccable training, truly deserved a much larger audience. She could use some Tamil songs to attract lay audiences to her concerts. Her mastery of the language was evident in her Thodi song. Lay listeners want something fresh and catchy. All that this singer needs is some reflection before her performances to strike the right chord.
SP Anathapadmanbhan on the violin gave the apt accompaniment in Bahudhari and Thodi. He was adept in kalpanaswas as well.
Nellai Balaji was indeed an alert percussionist and Nanganallur Swaminathan gave the perfect ghatam support.
Balaji and Swaminathan displayed laudable team spirit in their thani avartanam.