Mesmerising vocal recital

Kaivalya Kumar enthralled the audience with his orthodox rendition of krithis

Three-year-old Gayathri Fine Arts Academy, which was started with an aim to promote upcoming artists, has to its credit two Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) scholarship holders. The organisation conducted its three-day annual cultural festival in association with the 168th Thyagaraja Aradhanotsavalu in Gnana Sarswathi Temple, Musheerabad, recently.

On the first day, Kaivalya Kumar showed his mettle as a promising vocalist. Oruganti Rajasekhar on violin and Ch Ramakrishna on mridangam gave a marvelous display of their prowess. Kumar started his recital with “Mundu Venuka Iruprakkala” (Darbaru) and then “Ramajogi Mandukonary” (Khamas). He then gave an emotive rendition of “Eti Janmamid” (Varali) with sizeable ragalapana.

Kaivalya then took an RTP in Sindhubhairavi, choosing the pallavi “Devi Pahimam Kalyani Sindhubhairavi” much to the astonishment of the audience. He dealt with the ragalapana and thanam, touching swarakalpana in ragas Sindhubhairavi, Kalyani and Bhairavi in all their fairness. He concluded his recital with a sloka and an end piece of a bhajan in Kapi.

The second day had violin duo Kolanaka Brothers -- Anil Kumar and Sai Kumar – giving a majestic show. Om Prakash on mridngam gave a matured display on the instrument and took the opportunity to showcase his Guru Kolanka Lakshmanarao’s style. In the 120 minute-long show, the brothers touched “Raghunmayaka” (Hamsadhwani), “Nadasudharasambilanu” (Arabhi) and “Niravadhisukhada” (Ravichandrika) with a seasoned display on the violin.

Both the brothers showered ragabhavam in their performance of “Anuragamuleni” (Saraswathi) and “Okapari Okapari” (Kharaharapriya). They took Thyagaraja’s “Swararaga Sudha” (Sankarabharanumu) with a decisive ragalapana coupled with good swarakalpana. Om Prakash gave a matching display of taniavarthanam. They concluded with a thillana in Desh Ragam much to the delight of the audience. The third and final day had students of Gayathri Fine Arts Academy under the leadership of Sri Vidya, Janakiraman and other musicians of the twin cities rendering Thyagraja Pancharatna Keeerthana Ganam.