BONANZA FOR MUSIC CONNOISSEURS

Nityashree Mahadevan's three-hour concert at the Bharat Kalachar was a well-planned repertoire, comprising songs of different hues and shades. Satisfying the discerning connoisseurs gathered in large numbers, she enthralled the audience with her characteristic full- throated style of singing.

The short and melodious song on Lord Nataraja was rendered with involvement and total concentration. She chose to sing 'Sarasa sama dana' in Ragam - Kapinarayani, composed by Thyagaraja, next. It had comprehensive neravals and swaras touching high octaves. The brigha-laden swaras were very well handled. The violinist Yuva Kala Bharati M.A.Krishnaswamy's quick and competent repartees were noteworthy. 'Vacha magocharame manasa' in the unusual Ragam 'Kaikavasi', composed by Thyagaraja, was her next rendition.

This short song was a prelude to the main song of the evening 'Balagopala' in Ragam Bhairavi, sung in Chowka Kalam (Slow Speed). She dealt extensively with the Bhairavi alapana, with marked stages of development. The gamakas were lucid and the neravals were sung with bhava. The excellent modulation and control of her voice in high pitches were commendable. The violinist's neat strokes and varied suswaras, specially in the higher octaves of the ragam elaboration, were commendable.

This song was followed by a splendid, though long-winded, Tani Avartanam, with calculative laya patterns by Palghat T.R Rajamani on the Mridangam, Madipakkam Murali on the Ghatam and the superb morsing accompaniment by A.S.Krishnan. Krishnan brought out the virtuosity of a comparatively lesser played instrument, such as the morsing, in a beautiful fashion.

Nityashree's next rendition was an engrossing Ragam Tanam Pallavi in Ragam Ragamalika, 'Venkatane ninadu padame'. She showed her skill in the expert handling of the Tanam. The next song was a Virutham 'Varuvai Varuvai Kanna', followed by a popular song she often sings, 'Ragathilchiranda ragam'. The unique feature of this song is that it explains the mood of thirty different ragas. She concluded the programme with D.K.Pattamal's (Nityashree's Grandmother) favourite song 'Shantinilava Vendum' in Ragam Tilang.

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