Tugging all the right strings

It is a welcome realisation that Carnatic artists in Vijayawada are shouldering the responsibility of forming music organisations to encourage talent. Swara Tharangini, an organisation formed a decade ago by renowned violin vidwan Ganduri Srinivasa Murthy, is doing good service to the cultural fraternity. In the light of bifurcation the music fraternity in Vijayawada is making efforts for the growth of the music scene.

At the monthly concert, Swara Tharangini, K Sasidhar gave a good veena recital at Siva Rama Krishna Kshetram recently.

Sasidhar hails from a musical family. Trained by veteran musician Lanka Annapoorna and Pemmaraju Surya Rao, Sasidhar is an acclaimed veena vidwan. He is presently a faculty member of the Bala Bhavan in Vijayawada, and is also a graded artist of the All India Radio.

Sasidhar started the concert with Abhogi varnam, much to the delight of the audience. He then moved on to Deekshitar’s krithi “Sri Mahaganathi Ravathumam” (Goula) with sizeable ragalapana.

He then moved on to “Sadhincheney” (Aarabhi) of Thyagaraja and Deekshitar’s “Budhamasrayami” (Natakuranji). He handled both the krithis with ease, displaying his mastery on the instrument with finesse. He took “Nagumomu” (Abheri) of Thyagaraja with a good swarakalpana. Then he moved on to “Telisiramachintana” (Poornachandrika). He took Bhairavi Ragam as the main item of Ragam Tanam Pallavi (RTP), “Upacharmaulanu” (Bhairavi) of Thyagaraja. He concluded the recital with “Adigo Bhadradri” (Varalai), “Brahmamokkatey” (Bhouli), and concluded with a thillana of Balamuralikrishna in Hindola.

All in all, his concert was very well presented. Parupalli Balasubrahmanyam on mridangam` and Inguva Anjaneya Sastry on ghatam gave good instrumental support.

By: Chivukula Ram Mohan