A Symphony Of Mastery at Kalasagaram

Hyderabad: It was artistry in finest form.  It was confidence to deal with the art form, equipped with an amazing voice and an amazing repertoire. The full house on the third day at the ongoing Kalasagaram music fest was treated to a top-notch concert by Sandeep Narayan.

Accompanied on the violin by H.N. Bhasker, on the mridangam by Trivandrum Balaji and with S. Krishna on the ghatam, he established his mastery within minutes. He started off with a varnam in Kedara Gowla. Without any ado, he proceeded to present Chalamela Rain Margahindolam.

Narayan initially used the killer speed technique with his swaras but played emotively with the words ‘mamavamaragata’. The dexterity with which he used the sahityam and the swaras held the audience in rapt attention. His voice modulation dealing with the nuances of margahindolam was unbelievable.

He then proceeded to present Bala Subramaniam Padamein in the raga Vishnupriya. He moved to the foot-tapping speed of the raga Ravichandrika. No guesses on the kriti —Niravadhisukha. On demand from the audience, Sandeep went on to present Ennalu Urake of Saint Tyagaraja.

Narayan’s melodious voice captured the essence of the Tyagaraja Kriti. His neraval of sati matla nalakinchi was appealing. He had the exactitude of an expert in bringing out the nuances within the time frame at hand. The main item for the evening was a dwaragam tanam pallavi. The ragas he chose were Mohanam and Madhuvanti.

His pallavi was Mohana Kara Muthu Kumara Srikaruna. The tani avarthanam by Balaji and Krishna was a delight for the followers of percussion. Having rendered this far, some heavy-duty music the artists were as delightful with the writer segment. Yenta Ruchira Rama and the Nanda ki Chandana in Darbani Kanada were amazing. As the singer pleaded for Krishna in the astapati, it would look as if Lord Krishna literally heard him and was in the midst of listeners at Kalasagaram. His Sind Bhairavi Vrutham was an apt finale.

The team of Bhasker on the violin and the percussionists Balaji and Krishna were up to the task at all points in time.