A copybook concert by Abhishek Raghuram
Young Chennaiite, Abhishek Raghuram oozed confidence, while delivering an impeccable concert, which stood out by far in the South India Cultural Association’s Annual Fest at Ravindra Bharathi.
Carnatic music is vast and getting grip over every nerve centre is a humongous job but it came natural to Abhishek Raghuram. His concert on the fourth day of the SICA’s Annual Fest 2014 eked impeccable quality and proved once again why is the most sought after musician
Young Chennaiite, Abhishek Raghuram oozed confidence, while delivering an impeccable concert, which stood out by far in the South India Cultural Association’s Annual Fest at Ravindra Bharathi. Young musicians have to take a leaf from his book to keep the banner of Carnatic music flowing top on the edifice of the world of music.
Abhishek was given excellent support by BU Ganesh Prasad (violin), Vankayala Venkata Ramanamurthy (mridangam), B Sundar Kumar (kanjeera) and the ensemble show was a treat to watch. It was a copy book kutchery par excellence with flawless presentation of swaras and superb ragaprastaram.
The key presentation of the evening was “Nidhi Chalaa Sukhamaa”, “Raamuni Sannidhi Seva Sukhamaa”, “Nijamuga Balku Manasaa!” (Kalyani) in Triputa thalam. This jewel piece of Thyagaraja was masterly rendered by Raghuram touching all the octaves in ragaprastharam. It was superb and flawless rendition.
Ganesh Prasad, Vankayala Vekata Ramanamurthy and Sundar Kumar gave a matching presentation. The neravel at “Ganga Snanamu Sukhamaa” and “Mamatha Bandhana Yutha Narastuthi Sukhamaa” was rendered emotively touching the moral essence of the lyric.
Abhishek opened the concert with “Eraa Naapai intha” (Todi) varnam with lucid and pleasing swaras. Thyagaraja works, “Mundu Venaka” (Darbar), “Raraa Maaintiki” (Asaveri), “Ala kalalla ladaga” (Madhyamavathi) were rendered with all the devotional appeal. In the middle of the kutchery, Raghuram took Dr Mangalampalli BalamuraliKrishna’s work “Gana Sudharasa Pan Niratham” (Nata), a sanskritised krithi and embellished it with an excellent ragalapana with decorative sangathis. It was rewarded by thunderous applause from the audience.
“Ramajogi Mandu Konarey” (Khamas) of Bhadrachala Ramadasu, “Akati Velala” (Revathi) of Annamacharya and “Ela Raa Needaya” (Sahana) were rendered in tune with lyrical beauty of the krithis. As the concluding item, he took Pahaadi Thillana wherein Raghuram showed his mettle in dealing with Hindusthani raga while dealing with the phrases “Gangadhara Gouripathey’, “Sankara Sambhoh Bhava Bhaya Hara Devaa” melodiously. The concert was a feast to the music lovers of twin cities.
