Alluring ragas light up the evening

A lasting impression with balanced musical elements of Raga Bhava and Tala marked the dexterous Carnatic vocal recital by world renowned, D Seshachari

The music fraternity that attended the seventh day programme of Kalasagaram Annual Music and Dance and Drama Festival at Keyes High School expected the Hyderabad Brothers’ duo to provide chaste Carnatic classical music.

However, all were left awe-struck when the curtains were raised. To our astonishment it was D Seshachri, the younger of the two (Hyderabad Brothers) who appeared on stage along with the instrumental specialists of the day, Dwaram Sathyanarayana Rao (violin), DSR Murthy (mridangam), Nemani Somajajulu (ghatam) and Dr Paravasthu Srinivasa Gopalan. It was the first time for some of the connoisseurs present, to witness a concert of Seshachari.

Seshachari started his concert with a slower tenor display (madhyama kala) and slowly increased the tempo taking the show with alluring ragas such as Sama, Thodi and Bhairavi (in the middle), and catchy end pieces Javali, Sahana and Vagadheswari, a with a meticulous plan of rendering.

That was the Sangeetha Paddhathi/music format devised by Ariyakudi Ramanuja Ayengar and later followed by many of the stalwarts and considered by many music lovers as the right mode of rendering, which the younger generation should also adopt in order to be torch-bearers of Carnatic music.

D Seshachari started with a traditional Kalyani Varnam “Vanajakshi” kindling the minds of listeners. Then he chose a work by the greatest of the greats, Dr Balamurali’s work, “Gana Sudha Rasas Pana Niratham” in Sama raga and “Nijamarmamulanu” (Umabharanam) of Thyagaraja with a majestic swarakalpana.

He showed no hurry in his rendering, and this is what made it a pleasing performance with suitable ragalapana. Attempting in straight “Annapoorna Visalakshee” krithi (Sama), Seshachari took the main piece “Sri Krishnam Bhaja Maansa” (Todi) wherein his emotive expressions as well as lucid swrakalpana left the audience spell-bound. Phrases, “Paaka Saasanaadi Vinutham”, “Sankha Chakra Gada”, were dealt with well, reinforcing the bhava laden with decisive and pleasing nervals.

Added embellishment of swarakalapana flavour marks the trait for winning special applause from audience. Dwelling with Kalagada Raga Krithi of Syma Sastri (Parvathi Ninu Nenammithi), he moved on to Ragam Tanam Pallavi in the Raga Bhairavi taking the pallavi in Tamil “Unadu PadamTunaye” (much to the dismay of Telugu audience).

Of course on the part of Ragam Thanam all the listeners enjoyed barring Pallavi rendering. Seshachary concluded the programme with an attractive third part of the concert wherein he showed his mettle and timber in passing on melodic flavour to music lovers with end pieces of Javali, Sahana raga krithi. The last piece “Telisinavariki Devudithadey” (Vagadheswari) gave impetus and umpteen amount of joy and solace as it poured Adhyatamika Bhava in abundance.

As to the instrumentalists, they are the greats of Hyderabad and they showed their expertise on the relative instruments. Dwaram Satyanarayana Rao (violin) and DSR Murthy (mridangam), who are in the forefront, did a dexterous job while anticipating the krithi rendition.

They showed seasoned experience, giving equal support to the main artiste. Similarly, it is also to be pointed out that the fatherly figure in instrumental circles, Nemani Somayajulu (ghatam) and Dr Paravasthu Srinivasa Gopalan (morsing) were at their creative best on the instruments throughout the concert.