Pulsating musical extravaganza

Scintillating music recitals mark Uppalapati Ankaiah’s 101 birth anniversary celebrations

The five-day festival celebrations marking the 101th birth anniversary of Uppalapati Ankaiah’s Sangeetha Ksherasagara by Sangeetha Ksheerasagara at Thyagaraja Gana Sabha Kala Vedika concluded on Tuesday with a pulsating violin recital by Ramaraju Dinakar.

On the inaugural day Emani Lalitha Krishna gave a scintillating performance on chitra veena. Emani Poornima on flute, Vidyasagar on mridangam and Pavan Singh on kanjira gave an excellent instrumental support and contributed much for the success of the show. Lalitha Krishna commenced her recital with Ghana Nava ragamalika varnam composed by Kalahasthi Venkataswamy and moved on to present “Entha Muddo Entha Sogaso” (Bindumalini) in all fineness.

Lalitha Krishna chose “Gnanamosagarada” (Poorvi Kalyani) and “Upacharamulanu” (Bhairavi) as the main items, where she showcased her trait in handling chitra veena in all its subtlety. The artiste proved her mastery on the strings by producing gentle and soothing music. She concluded the show with “Enthamatramuna” (Ragamalika) of Annmacharya and Surati Raga Javali “Vega Neevu Vani Rammanavey” much to the merriment of the audience.

On the second day VVS Bhargav proved his mettle as a promising vocalist. Peri Thyagaraju on violin, K Syamkumar on mridangam and B Ravikumar on ghatam gave good instrumental support. Commencing his vocal recital with “Sarasuda” (Saveri Varnam), Bhargav moved on to “Vathapi Ganapathim” (Hamsadhwani) with due swarakalpna. He took “Endaro Mahamubhavulu (Sri), “Korisevimpa Radey” (Kharaharapraiya) both of Thyagaraja with a good ragalapana and swara prastharam much to the enjoyment of the music lovers.

As concluding items he rendered Ramadasu keerthans “Oh Raghu Veera” (Sama) and “Ramabhadra Raraa” (Sankarabharanam). Third day had the befitting veena recital by M Krishna Kumari. Radhika Srinivasan on violin, J Venumadhav on flute, TP Balasubramaniam on mridangam rendered excellent instrumental support. Krishnakumari started her recital with Abhogi varnam and moved on to “Siddhi Vinayakamm Seveham” (Mohana kalyani), “Vande Vasudevam” (Sri) one by one showcasing her soothing instrumental touch.

She then took popular krithi of Thyagaraja “Bantureethi” (Hamsanadam), “Upadesamu” (Arabhi) of Upplapati Ankaiah which she delineated well with a sizeable swarakalpana. She took “Enduku Peddlavale” (Sankarabharanam) as the main item wherein she showcased her inimitable style with an enriched ragalapana and good swarakalpana. She concluded her recital with khamas raga thillana and “Tandanana” (Bhouli) of Aannamayya.

On the fourth day, Sandhya Dharani rendered an enthusiastic vocal performance much to the satisfaction of the music lovers of the day. Sandhya started her recital with “Chalamu Seya” in Valaji Varnam and moved on to “Rara Mayinti Daka”(Asaveri) of Thyagaraja. Presenting krithis in Kannada Gowula and Khamas in detail, Sandhya moved on to ragam, thanam and pallavi item in Hasanadam choosing pallavi as “Devi Neevu Vegamey Nanu Brovavey”. She excelled in all the facets of RTP. She concluded her recital with Dhanasri Thillana of Swathi Thrirunal.

On the concluding day of Jayanti celebrations, renowned violin vidwan Ranmraju Dinakar gave a marvelous violin recital. Dinakar started his show with “Gananayakam” (Poornashadjamam) of Muthuswamy Deekhsitsulu. He moved on to Janarajani raga krithi “Pahimam Sri Rajarajeswari” and “Subrahmanyena” (Sudha Dhanyasi). He then presented “Sri Narada” (Kanada), “Neekela Dayaradu” (Sarasangi) with a fine touch on the violin.

His ragalapana and Swarakalpna for the sub and main items proved his caliber in dealing the kamman. He concluded the recital with a thillana in Dwijavanthi and “Bhagya lakshmi Baramma” (Madhyamavathi). The artiste bestowed his knowledge and versatility in handling violin.

By:Chivukula Rama Mohan