On a Sunday evening, music connoisseurs in Jaya-nagar took some time out to enjoy a thematic classical music concert on Devi Stutis.
The concert was organised by Vagadheeshwari Kala Kendra Trust at Sri Jayarama Seva Mandali by Dr R N Srilatha. In the concert, Srilatha chose to sing a few compositions in some of the rare ragas in Carnatic classical music. Ambaviraja Rajeshwari, a composition by Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar in Bhogavasantha Raga set a welcome note for Navaratri festival.
Each composition rendered by Srilatha depicted the devotion of composers towards the Goddesses and also their expertise on the subject. The artiste’s rendition of a composition of Muthuswamy Dixitar, Tripura Sundari Shankari in Saama Raga showcased the richness of emotions and grandeur of lyrics. The composition and the rendition stood unsurpassed. It was as though waves of music flooded the auditorium and put the audience in a state of trance.
Muthuswamy Dixitar, one of the trinities of Carnatic classical music, in these compositions describe the beauty of the Goddess, as a mother and care taker of the world. Srilatha's fine voice and her rendition of the ragas stood as testimony to her talent. The artiste, later chose to render one of the Tiruvotiryur Pancharatna Kritis of Saint Thyagaraja, Sundari Ne Divya in Kalyani Raga. She experimented with various sangathis in Kalyani Raga which is one of the grandest ragas we have today. The various permutations and combinations while singing swaras mesmerised the audience.
As Srilatha began the rendition of Naamoralaginchi, a composition in Dhanyasi Raga, the absolute devotion of the composer Veena Kuppaiyar, towards the Goddess was very evident.
The style of rendition and the mellifluous flow of raga brought tears to the eyes of audiences. The artiste concluded the concert with Neenagti Enge, a composition by Purandaradasa in Sarasangi Raga.
Both laya and melody were in perfect sync with each other. Dr R N Srilatha was accompanied by Veena Suresh on violin, B Dhurvaraj on mridangam and T N Ramesh on ghatam.