Colourful Sambhrama
The 'Sangeetha Sambhrama' conducted annual 'Nirantharam' Festival, last week. This year under the leadership of Vidushi P Rama, conducted music (vocal, veena, jugalbandi, percussion ensemble) dance, drama, concerts, and felicitations to senior artistes.
Sutikshana Veeravalli (U.S.A.), who gave a Bharatanatya performance in the Niranthara Festival, has learnt dance from her mother Bhavani Kishore Kumar and has performed already in few places. The customary Pushpanjali gave a good account of Sutikshna's grounding.
Her angikas were in place and a fluency of line in her movement became evident, something worthy of note, in a young dancer. The Valachi varna attributed to Subbudu was neat, the fast aridis disposed of with a flourish. Portrayal of Devayani's love, angry, anxiety with Subramanya, was enjoyable too.
In the Kannada devaranama 'Jagadoddarana' dancer with her graceful abhinaya projected innocent charming child Krishna, beautifully. In the 'Vaaranam Ayiram' (Ragamalika) Andal's dream - her wedding with Lord Narayana - with all the traditional details, were presented in detail.
Sutikshna don't have one leg and performs with an artificial (Jaipur) Leg! And she don't have a palm of her right hand also! But she performed like any other dancer, with gay abandon and expressive Abhinaya.
While Vanitha Veeravalli's Natuvanga was inspiring, vocal of Bhavani Kishore Kumar was melodious. Balaji and Raghunandan supported on Mridanga and flute respectively.
Mechanical rendering
The dance was followed by a vocal concert by Sampagodu Vighnaraja, who is not a new artiste to Bangaloreans. Of course the Varna in 6 speeds gave Vignaraja a flying start. But after the third speed, it was only vibration without any aesthetic feeling, though it was proof of his hard practice and rhythmically correct. 'Siddi Vinayakam' and 'Akhilandeswari' - both are familiar compositions.
'Paraloka Sadhana' a common kruthi of yester years was briefly elaborated and the Chitteswara of 'Samayamide' (Muthaiah Bhagawathar) was also attractive. He then plunged into the climax of the evening's programme in Thodi, with a infrequent kruthi of D.S. Suryanarayana Bhat. He has good voice, but he must get rid of an overall impression of mechanical rendering and efficiency.
Scholarly vocal
R A Ramamani, senior vocalist and scholar, sang in the 'Nirantharam' festival on Friday. She presented a string of fine compositions in the best classical tradition.
Raga for the 'Paramathmudu' was brief but evocative. 'Sri Venkateshanatham' is a welcome addition to the regular repertoire of a concert. The celebrated kruthi 'Rathna Kanchuka Dharini' with raga nerval (Mandagamanassilini) and swara, was notable for the remarkable fluidity, scholarship and commanded the respect of the connoisseurs. Nalina Mohan on violin, C Cheluva Raj on Mridanga and Sukanya Ramgopal on Ghata - were in their elements.
Promising dancers
Students of Rasika Dance Ensemble gave a Bharatanatya recital, under the direction of Kiran Subramanya and Sandhya Kiran.
They revealed good grounding in the Pushpanjali itself. Ranjanimala is a popular krithi in the music concerts also.
'Anandanatanam' was a delightful composition and the Surdas lyrics provided ample scope for Abhinaya.
The laya vinyasa was an interesting item. These young students have bright future with more attention to facial expression and foot work.
From the wings Kiran Subramanya (Natuvanga), Nanda Kumar (vocal), Sri Hari (Mridanga), Madhusudhan (Violin) Mahesh (Flute) and Kartheek Dathar (Rhythm pad) supported the young dancers.