For connoisseurs of music

The first two performances of Kalasagaram resulted in immense joy and energy among the audience. While Bombay Jayashri Ramnath was at her best, the Vishnubhatla Sisters won the hearts of listeners

Kalasagaram’s 48th Annual Cultural Festival is being held at Keyes High School. The first two days’ programmes had performances by singers Bombay Jayashri Ramnath and Vishnubhatla Sisters. The 9 days of celebrations will conclude on November 29.

To be the top-most singing personality, one has to devote much care and strenuous practice besides up-keeping of health and exploring improvisations now and then. The vocal concerts of both Bombay Jayashri and the Vishnubhatla Sisters (Saraswathi and Krishnaveni), which respectively took place on the inaugural day and second day of the festival, showed their efforts in trying to be best in the relative field of classical music.

Kalasagaram is a cultural festival dedicated in the memory of the two Bharat Ratna awardees, MS Subbulakshmi and APJ Abdul Kalam. On the occasion, former judge of Andhra Pradesh TNC Rangarajan felicitated Bombay Jayashri with the title ‘Sangeetha Kalasagara’, and a citation.

Bombay Jayashri started her inaugural vocal recital with a pleasing Hasadhwani Raga Krithi “Vathapi Ganapathi Bhajeyham” and lively swarakalpana. She then took “Ohra Joopu” (Kannadagoula) and “Chootamu raarey sudathulaaraa” (Arabhi) both of Thyagaraja – the first as a straight rendition and the second with an extensive ragalapana. In her rendition of both the krithis, it can be noted that her pronunciation of words “poyinavaina” and “sudathulaaraa” was wrong.

In order, she performed “Kaavavaa” (Varali), “Bhajarey Rey Chitta Balambika” (Kalyani) and the follow of Swarakalpana trait proved to be a majestic exploration of swaras coupled with Manodharma. It can be said Jayashri seized the gamut of ragas into her control. It was the turn of Embar Kannan (disciple of A Kanyakumari) and Vankayala Venkata Ramana Murthy (disciple of Vankayala Narasimham) and G Guruprasanna on voilin, mridangam and ghatam respectively, which proved to be a matching combination.

She attempted for improvisation and better modulation of swarakalpana that does not evoke any melodic beauty. She concluded with “Bhavayaami Gopala Balam” (Yamunakalyani) of Annamacharya and a thrilling “Thillna” as an end piece.

With every concert over the years the sisters Saraswathi and Krishnaveni popularly known as ‘Vishnubhatla Sisters’ have been registering their image in the music circles year after year. On the second day, the sisters exhibited their hidden talent in ample measure. They had a nice selection of krithis besides attempting a rare krithi, which was well-received by the connoisseurs and also ventilated their thirst for attempting new krithis.

Starting with “Sarasuda Ninney Kori” (Saaveri) Varnam the duo picked up a jewel piece “Parameswara Jagadeeswara” (Nata) of Dikshitar wherein Krishnaveni exhibited ragalapana traits decisively and at the phrase “Pancha Nadeeswara’, the elaboration of neraval was a treat. In order, they dealt with “Devi Brova Samayamidey” (Chinthamani), “Raghuvra Nannu” (Subha Pantuvarali), “Marugelaraa” (Jayanthisri) krithis of Thyagaraja and Syama Sastri in all its vividness and lucidity, bringing out the lyrical taste beautifully.

As a mark of respect to revered guru N Ch V Krishnamacharyulu, they presented “Maara janani” (Natakapriya) true to the raga flavour. The sisters took a rare krithi of Thyagaraja “Adigi Sukhamulevvaru” (Madhyamavathi) as their main piece with an extensive ragalapana/swarakalpana and both in unison as well as separately showed their talent in dual singing, which still needed some perfection.

Ramaraaju Dinakar (disciple of N Ch V Krishnamacharyulu) did his best with all the improvisation on violin, while BVS Prasad on mridangam showed his a heavy and soothing sound of instrumental music in equanimity and with astute kala-pramana. Finally, Nemani Somajajulu presently known as a fatherly figure in instrumental music circles explored his histrionic talent even at his age. All in all, the concerts of all gave the audience immense joy, energy and solace to the connoisseurs.