Homage to Parvatikar
Swami D R Parvatikar (1916-1990) was a Haridasa, great Rudra Veena player and a composer.
He had created 'Dathatreya Veena' and has published a number of compositions in Hindustani style and spent his last days at the Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt, Indiranagar. In his memory Shri Raghavendra Swamy Mission had organised a special concert, on its own premises, last week.
Dr Jayanth Kumar Das, who played on Sitar and Rudra Veena was initiated to music by his father Sripathi Charan Das and received advanced training from Ustad Vilayat Khan and Ustad Imrat Khan. He is working as a staff artist with the All India Radio, Bangalore and has performed both in and outside India. Young Adarsh Shenoy, who accompanied Das on Tabala, is a disciple of Nagaraj Rao Gaekwad, Rajgopal Kallurkar and Yogesh Shamsi.
Dr Jayanth Kumar Das played both Rudra Veena and Sitar, one after the other, which was well suited for the occasion. Das opened his concert on Rudra Veena, with Purya Kalyan and followed it with rag Chandrakauns in Jhap tal, sustaining a lingering impact.
Rag Jog gave Dr Das a good start on sitar and moulded into an essay of aesthetic finesse. Some attractive phraseology in the Madhya lay, Ek tal gath Jhala, vouching for fertile imagination and concluded with a dhun (Thilak Kamod), with lilting melody. The whole concert was heard by a sizeable audience with more respect than excitement.
Seshadri shines
It was the turn of Dr Seshadri Iyengar to perform in the Horizan series of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, last Saturday.
A student of Padmini Ravi, he has had training in bollywood dance and works with the Srishti Dance Creations, London and features in 'Quick', which won the 'THE PLACE' prize.
A Homeopathic physician and a dance-yoga instructor, Dr Seshadri has performed in some of the prestigious venues. The "Narthana Ganapathim", the invocatory piece in the raga Naata gave Seshadri a good start. An intelligent adoption of Lalgudi Jayaraman's varna (Charukeshi raga) vouched for his choreographic skill.
His Nritta in the celebrated varna raised the fare to its rhythmic heights. One felt that he can bring more depth, though his portrayal was absorbing. He chose 3 pieces for Abhinaya - Chinna Chinna Kiliye (Vatsalya), Mere to Giridhar Gopala (Bhakti) and Shyam Ko (Shringara) - which was pleasing and concluded with a Bhajan of Meenakshi Subramanyam. Probably live music instead of CD, could have brought better inspiration for the dancer.
Classical vocal
Seasoned artiste O S Tyagarajan gave a soulful music concert for the Vagadheeswari Kala Kendra, last week. He was well supported by S Yashasvi on violin, H S Sudhindra on mridanga and Ullur Giridhar Udupa on Ghata.
Tyagarajan chose a popular composition of Saint Tyagaraja as the piece de resistance of
the concert. In this Keerthana Tyagaraja pleads - "I do not seek any boon from you. This is the most opportune time to relieve me of my distress. You know fully well that I never approach any other God. Will I aspire for anything beyond I deserve and be disappointed"! Tyagarajan brought out the entreating mood of both the raga and the lyrics.
But the alapana, nerval and swara prasthara - all were rather brief, than the required proportion! Earlier "Rama Raghukula Jalanidhi Soma' was equally impressive and 'Nee Padamula gathi' with chitteswara was evocative. The devaranama "Sada Enna Hridayadalli" brought nostalgic memories in the old timers. The accompanists rose to the occasion.