MANSAR

Mansar (Mandolin and Sarod), a concert featuring three young exponents - U.Rajesh on the Mandolin (Brother of the famous Mandolin Maestro U.Srinivas), Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash, on the Sarod (Sons of Padma Vibhushan Ustad Amjad Ali Khan) was held in aid of the Shakti Foundation.

The Shakti Foundation has been crusading tirelessly for the cause of integrating the physically challenged into the social mainstream. Khan Sahib's conviction, that a good musician is first a good human being, reflects in his whole-hearted involvement with various charitable societies. The show started late, thanks to the delayed arrival of the Delhi flight by which the Khan brothers travelled.

It was a well organised evening - with the audience slowly filling up the hall, the young volunteers (all attired in white) ushering in the audience, and a beautiful stage in bright red and white. The programme commenced with the lighting of the Kuthivillaku (Traditional lamp) by the Chief guest of the evening - Rajiv Narain, General Manager of Taj Coromandel, assisted by the founder of Shakti Foundation, Vasant Raghuvir. This was followed by an invocation song by Kalyani Menon. There was also a special screening of a short documentary film on the Shakti Foundation, directed by Film Director Rajiv Menon. The compere of the evening, P. C. Ramakrishna did a good job of livening up the evening's proceedings with his witty remarks.

U. Rajesh began the concert with a Carnatic invocatory song in Ragam Nattai. Vikku Vinaykram, the Ghatam maestro, accompanied him. The hall reverberated to the sensational tune of the mandolin played remarkably by Rajesh. The two Khan brothers, who started off by apologising for the inordinate delay, followed him. Their opening number was a slow sober tune in Rag Poorvadhanashri. It was a treat to watch them perform. Dressed in bright kurta pyjamas, the boys proved that they can take on the mantle from their celebrated father. Rajesh later joined them in a scintillating performance. They played in perfect unison and chose the Ragam Keeravani. What was interesting was the appreciative nod that the young artistes were giving each other during the concert. The Ragam, Tanam Pallavi was racy and vivacious. There was a cascade of swaras from the trio, though at times it did tend to get a little noisy, especially in the high octaves. The Tani Avartanam by percussionist Vikku Vinayakram and Bikhram Ghosh on the tabla were splendid. It was brimful of rhythmic energy. The quick repartee to the Laya patterns given by the artistes was excellent. It was indeed a blueprint of Laya expertise. The concert ended with the patriotic song 'Vaishnavo Janate'.

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