A fitting finale

The four-day Yuva Sangeetothasavam organised by Sri Kartikeya Gana Sabha has unearthed real talent and has given them a platform. Karthik’s veena recital and Vimarshini’s splendid vocals was a fitting end to the music festival

Yuva Sangeetothosavan, the annual music festival culiminated on a happier note with fantastic performances by Karthik (veena) and Vimarshini (vocal). The members of Sri Kartikeya Gana Sabha (SKGS) should be lauded for organising the feat on a grand scale and also selecting young talent, who have impressed one and all.

Enthusiastic performance

A recipient of CCRT scholarship, Karthik was introduced to music by his mother Rama Lakshmi, who has to be lauded for her efforts in shaping the career of young exponent of veena. Karthik alos trained under Emani Lalitha Krishna and D Srinivas.

Karthik started his veena recital with Natakuranji varnam “Nannu Brova Neeku” on a pleasing note. This was followed by “Deva Deva Kalayamithey” (Mayamalava Goula) of Swaathi Thirunal, “Brova Bharama” (Bahudaari) and “Ninu Vinaa” (Navarasa Kannada) of Thyagaraja, for which he gavea little ragaalapana.

He took “Kamakshi” (Simhendra Madhyamam) with a detailed ragaalapana and swarkalpana was good too. He then moved on to Patnam Subramnya Ayyar kriti, “Raghuvamsa Sudambudhi” in Kadankuthoohala raga. His mastery over the strings and the sounds emanated were soothing to the ears of the listerners. He concluded the recital with “Bho Sambho Siva Sambho” (Revathi) of Dayananda Saraswathi and “Gandhamu Pooyarugaa” (Punnagavarali) of Thyagaraja . Mehar Sagar (mridangam) and Ravikumar (ghatam) gave excellent instrumental support and complemented the Karthik’s performance.

Orthodox and devotional

Vimarshini was initiated to music by her grandmother Seethalakshmi Venkatachalam. A graded artiste of AIR, she is now under tutelage of Radha Namboodri of Bombay. Vimarshini opened her recital with “Mahadeva Manohari Sankari” (Deva Manohari) of Ponniah Pillasi. She then moved on to the “Marivere Dikkevaraaiah Rama” (Lathangi) with a good ragaalapana.

She then chose two numbers of Thyagaraja, Vara Raga Laya” (Chenchu Kambhoji) and “Ramaa Neesamaana Mevaru” (Kharaharapriya) as the main item. She presented the main item with appreciable ragaalapana. Her rendering of the charanam “Paluku Palukulaku” cast a devotional spell on the audience. Vimarshini concluded the concert with “Rama Rama Pattabhirama” (Neelambari) with a touching note. Radhika Srinivasan (voilin) and Karra Srinivas (mridangam) gave an excellent support to the vocalist.