Kumaresh and Jayanthi Kumaresh presented a wonderful concert for Girinagara Sangeetha Sabha, with K U Jayachandra Rao on Mridangam, Giridhar Udupa on Ghatam and Pramath Kiran on Morsing, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Sabha!
- Vanajakshi (Varnam) – Kalyani (Adi)
- Strings Attached Composition – Chakravakam
- Sri Dum Durge – SriRanjani
- Ragam Tanam Pallavi – Behag
The concert started with a brisk Kalyani Varnam in the higher speed. After a brief soulful aalapana in Chakravakam, it was a creation of Kumaresh & Jayanthi that followed, exhibiting the complete range of the Violin and the Veena. Their compositions are so lilting, appear so simple and have the distinct characteristic, that can perhaps be called Strings Attached mudhra, which is inexplicable in words!
A chaste SriRanjani was the next in line. K & JK’s methodical exposition of this ragam is always a treat to listeners! Muthuswami Dikshitar’s masterpiece, the enchanting Sri Dum Durge was presented amidst a few dozens of students who were sitting on stage to accommodate space for people who were otherwise standing in the hall to listen to their magical presentation! I am fortunate to be one of them witnessing their fingers dance on the respective fingerboards, from the close quarters!! Scintillating SriRanjani swaras poured making it one of the most cherished presentations.
Pallavi in the RTP is usually prepared well in advance by most, if not all of the artistes. Here there is a twist – it was decided that Jayachandra Rao was going to challenge them with the pattern of his choice and they compose a Pallavi on the stage and present it!! A beautiful Behag ragam and sublime Tanam by the duo was the highlight of the evening. Some of Jayanthi’s glides and pauses are mind boggling and Kumaresh’s intense Tanam left us all yearning for more! Jayachandra played a brilliant solo in Misra Chapu highlighting the pattern of Pallavi and the duo responded with an amazing extempore Pallavi. There was no regular Tani Avarthanam segment as such – Udupa and Pramath too played their solos after the Trikalam and Swaras section respectively. Jayanthi played Saveri and Kumaresh played Reetigowla swaras. The duo ended the majestic RTP with a flurry of swaras in different ragas followed by a lovely pattern back in Behag. A spontaneous standing ovation for more than a minute just highlighted how much everyone appreciated and enjoyed the music.
Kumaresh and Jayanthi concluded their concert with a medley Harivasanam, Kamakshi Lokasakshi and a bit of Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma.
150 minutes of pure and divine music gave an exhilarating experience to everyone. The whole hall was full even at the end of the concert at around 9:20 PM speaking volumes about their music by itself!
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