Exhilarating vocal recital by Sriranjani

It was one of the masterful concerts in the Kalasagram’s annual fest and Sriranjani Santhanagopalan proved that she is a worthy successor to her musician father Neyveli R Santhanagopalan

Sriranjani Santhanagopalan, daughter of renowned musician Nyvelli R Santhanagopalan gave an exhilarating and outstanding vocal performance in the ongoing 47th annual cultural fest organised by Kalasagaram at Keyes High School.

Trained by her father, Sriranjani is an “A” grade artiste of AIR and Dooradarsan. She has won many prestigious awards. Though Sriranjani developed her own style, one can still see traces of her father’s trademark emotive style. Her ragaalapana and swarakalpana traits are attractive and delineation of swaras are outstanding.

Sriranjani started her concert with “Karunimpa” varnam on a pleasing note. She then moved on to Deekshitar’s krithi “Sri Mahaganapathi Ravathu Mam” (Goula). The ragalapana was astounding, and she presented the phrases “Kamajanaka Vidhendra Sannutha” and “Komala Dhara Pallava Pada” decoratively showcasing her versatility. It was in “Gnana Mosagaradaa” (Poorvikalyani), Sriranjani gave a sumptuous ragaalapana touching the three octaves melodiously and embellishing phrase “Paripoorna Nishkalanka Niravadhi Sukhadayaka” in all its beauty.

This was followed by a Javali in Kambhoji Ragam “Ivayan Yaro” a Tamil work of Kavikunjara Bharathi. She rendered yet another of Thyagaraja’s works “Daya Joochuta Kidi Velara Dasaradhey” (Ganavaridhi) as a straight rendition. She took “Nadachi Nadachi Choochey Rayodhya Nagaramu Ganarey” (Kharaharapriya) as the main item of the evening. It was a pleasing and well knitted ragalapana and swarakalpana was bestowed with all the intricacies of strict manodharma trait.

Komanduri Venkataa Krishna on violin followed the artiste and displayed his mastery over violin. Sriranjani preferred another of Thyagaraja in Malavi raga, “Nenarunchinanu Annitiki Needasudanu Neynu” and rendered it well. She took ragam Thanam Pallavi (RTP) in Chandrajyothi, a pleasing raga. She excelled by touching ragas Suryakantham and Ravichandrika in ragaalapana and swarakalpana. Her mastery was on display in her ease in switching from one raga to another while moving from lower to higher octaves and vicevers with perfection.

Sriranjani concluded her recital with a Behag raga krithi. DSR Murthy on mridamgam, MA Murali on ghatam and K Shyamkumar on kanjeera followed the artiste justlike Venkataa Krishna. The taniavarthanam proved to be a treat.