Bombay Jayashrees mesmerising concert

Bombay Jayashree, in her career extending over two decades, is a sought after Carnatic musician. Music lovers of twin cities enjoyed a traditional Carnatic music concert by Bombay Jayashree at Ravindra Bharathi on Friday. The programme was organised as part of a monthly affair that is organised by the South Indian Cultural Association.

Jayashree Ramanath was born into a family of musicians. She was trained by the legendary musician Lalgudi G.Jayaraman and TR Balamani. Besides picking up a few hints of the Lalgudi tradition, she developed her own inimitable style. Training in Hindustani music made her versatile. She can be called as the cultural ambassador of India’s rich heritage.

Jayashree started her vocal recital with a familiar krithi “Neevey Ganapathi Yani Niratamu Nee Padamulanu” (Nalinikanthi) with a befitting swarakalpna alluring the audience in the first krithi itself. Then she moved on to Porvikalyani raga krithi “Deva Deva Jagadeeswara” of Swathi Thirunal showcasing the Sankritised lyrics in tune with the emotive bhavas in ample measure.

She moved on to familiar numbers of Saint Thyagaraja “Maraugelara Oh!Raghava” (Jayanthisri), “Vanadanamu Raghunandana” (Sahana), showcasing charana soundaryam in “Anni Neevanuchu Antarangamuna”, “Vintini Nammukontini Saranantini” aptly and lucidly. The gentle touch of H.N.Bhaskar on Voilin and Pathri Satishkumar on Mridangam enhanced the recital taste giving instrumental fineness and created a serene atmosphere.

Another of The Thyagaraja krithi, “Syamasundaranga Sakala Sakthiyuneevey”, in Dhanyasi Ragam, she delineated well. She dealt with the neraval “Dusta Danuja madavidara” majestically. It was in the main piece “Chakkani Raja Margamu” (Kharaharapriya) of Thyagarja that Jayashree exhibited tonal beauty in all the octaves of the swaras. The ragalapana showed her inimitable style. Pathri (Mridamgam) and Krishna Swamy’s (Ghatam) perfect follow-up and their thaniavarthanam proved to be a piece of excellence.

Jayashree took Ragam, Thanam and Pallavi (RTP) in Mohana Kalyani which proved to be an added flavour to the kutchery. The delineating of RTP received applause. The pallavi “Varana Varada Veera Venkata Ramana” heralded swara madhuryam. As concluding items she rendered a Sindhubhairavi Raga krithi “Ondu Bare Smaranana” of Vithaldasa and Thillnain Manirangu.

It was a synchronised concert in the sense that there was perfect understanding amongst the accompanying instrumental musicians and Bombay Jayashree. It was a feast to the full packed audience in the auditorium and the repeated applause denotes the superb demonstration by the renowned Carnatic musician.

By:Chivukula Rama Mohan