Traditional music spell

The chaste traditional music by Akondi Srinivasa Raja Rao and Neyveli Santhanagopalan’s energizing vocals marks the grand finish of this year’s Karthikeya Sangeetotsavam

Renowned Carnatic classical musicians Akondi Srinivasa Raja Rao and Neyvelli Sanathana Gopalan’s chaste vocal concerts proved to be attractions during the last two days’ programmes organised by Sri Karthikeya Gana Sabha (SKGS) as part of the 6th Annual Music Festival 2015.

It was for the first time that a Carnatic Music Festival was organised in the premises of Kowtha Kamakoti Kalyana Nilayam (KKK Nilayam). The venue was well-suited for concerts owing to the serene atmosphere.

Srinivasa Raja Rao, renowned classical musician of Coastal Andhra was trained by ML Narasimham and others. A well-read researcher of Telugu Vaggeyakara’s, Srinivasa Raja Rao released many CDs and penned many music books, widely toured and is known as a performing artiste. Srinivasa Raja Rao started his concert with Valaji Varnam of Lalgudi Jayaraman with an apt swarakalpana.

He then moved onto “Siddhi Vinayaka Anisam” (Shanmukhapriya) with decisive ragalapana. He presented Andhra Vaggeykara Kocherlakota Raghavadasu’s work, “Nee Daya Korithiraa” (Kadanakuthoohalam) speedily with a lively punch. In an order, he attempted “Naradamuni Vedalina” (Pantuvarali), “Athadey Dhanyuduraa” (Kapi), “Varijanayana Neevdanu Nenu” (Kedaragoula) with a pleasing rendition. The main piece, “Sri Krishna Bhaja Manasa” (Thodi) of Muthuswami Dikshitar, Raja Rao showed his trait of Manodharma in swarakalpana, thus winning applause from the audience.

He sang“Ennatikoyee Neesevalu Dorakununani” (Hamsanandi) with an intrinsic urge to lord Rama. He concluded his concert with “Narayana Anaraadaa” (Sindhubhairavi) of Bhadrachala Ramadasu and his own composition “Neevey Gathiyani Nammi Untiraa” (Revathi), throwing the lyrical taste emotively. Accompanying instrumentalists Oruganti Rajasekhar (violin), Kapa Srinivasa Rao (mridangam) and B Jannardan (ghatam) gave a stupendous display.

Neyveli Santhanagopalan, a sought-after classical musician and disciple of TN Seshagopalan, developed his own energising style of performance. He started his recital at the celebrations with Begada Varnam of Lalgudi. Proceeding with “Mahaganapathi Ravatahumam” (Goula), he rendered one by one in the ragas Hari Kambhoji, Ranjani krithis of Thyagaraja, reinforcing the lyrical flavour.

It was in “Hechharika Raa Raa” (Yadukulakambhoji) and “Teliyaleruraa Rama” (Dhenuka), which are straight renditions yet whose swarakalpana was most appealing. He took “Karthikeya Gangeya” (Thodi) as the main piece of the day, dwelling in superb ragalapana. Santhanagopalan while rendering each krithi enjoyed much and the instrumentalists too played with the same zeal and vigour and extracted the same joy from the audience too. That was his specialty.

During the music festival, there were also lecture demonstrations on topics such as ‘Ragam-Thanam-Pallavi’, ‘Muthiah Bhagavathar Rachana Vaidushyam’ and ‘Allied Ragas in Carnatic Music’ by eminent musicians Prof. SK Venkatachari, Vizianagaram D Vardhini and Dr Neetha Chandrasekhar, appreciated much by the participating musicians. Music organisations should ponder over this vital point bleak attendance to the programmes. Overall, Karthikeya Sangeetotsavam won the appreciation of music lovers in the twin cities.

By:Chivukula Rama Mohan