JAYANTHI KUMARESH- VEENA IN MUDHRA VEENA FESTIVAL

[CRama]

Accompanists- R.Ramesh- Mridangam,Tripunithura Radhakrishnan-Ghatam.
List of songs.
• Ekamresa nayike-Karnataka Sudhasaveri _MD (S)
• Nannu vidachi- Reethigowla- T (R)
• Nenarunchara-Simhavahini- T (R,S)
• Kharaharapriya- RTP- Adi 2 kalai
• Tani
• Thillana- Behag
• Mangalam

Mudhra is one of the sabhas who religiously conduct VEENA FESTIVAL every year to support and propagate this divine instrument and they do give opportunities to many vidwans outside Tamil Nadu also. Every year they give the VAINIKA MUDHRA award to one leading Veena exponent in recognition of their dedication and zeal in taking this instrument forward irrespective of the luke warn response of the many sabhas and sangeeta rasikas. This year their choice for this coveted award is Smt Jayanti Kumaresh- belonging to the Lagudi family and disciple of S.Balachander and reputed Veena Vidushi- Padmavathi Ananthagopalan. On the day of inauguration of their Veena Utsav, Jayanthi Kumaresh was awarded the VAINIKA MUDHRA AWARD - a well deserved honour for the artiste. The function was presided by Dr.Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti, and the award was presented by Sri.N.V.Subramaniam of Saraswathy Vaggeyakara Trust. The Founder of Saraswathy Vaggeyakara Trust honouring the Saraswathy Veena vidushi. It cannot be more appropriate.

Jayanti commenced the concert with Ekamresa Nayike a rare composition of MD in Karnataka Sudha saveri. This song was popularised by DKJ and here I found Jayanti’s version slightly differing from DKJ. The song was decorated with liberal doses of swaras in two kalams. Jayanti played with conviction, confidence and zeal. The tuning was pitch perfect and it continued till the end. The first song itself brought the required gusto to the concert. She maintained a racy style throughout that did not permit any lag in between. There was exquisite style and intense classism and in her playing. Coming from the Lalgudi school, there was clarity of sahithyam in the songs that she played. The Lalgudi bani was very much evident. The alapanas of Reetigowla, Simhavahini and Kharaharapriya were replete with raga bhavam and the right mix of plain notes, fast sancharams, well rounded brighas and gamakams. Reetigowla was repose personified and Simhavahini- I heard for the first time. I came to know of the ragam only because of her announcement. KHP alapana was elaborate for ten minutes with the choicest passages and a step by step alapana with elaborate sancharams around the key notes made it a memorable alapana. Tanam was very imaginative and ragamalika tanam in Hamsadhwani, Begada and Sumanesaranjini (not sure though) made it icing on the cake. I was expecting a Tyagaraja or PS kriti- but was pleasantly surprised to hear a pallavi in this ragam. It looked a pallavi of swaras only. She did not sing the pallavi sahithyam. Elaborate swaras were rendered and the dialogue between Veena and Mridangam made it very admirable.

Mridangam Vidwan Ramesh proved that he is the worthy disciple of Karakudi Mani. There was good nadam, dexterity, clarity of strokes, thunder at many times which embellished the concert significantly. Never mind my repetition. The dialogue between Veena and Mridangam in the RTP was much enjoyable. But the tani was much long. In a concert of One hour and thirty five minutes, the tani took more than 20 minutes- which is not in proportion. Tripunitura Radhakrishnan was a perfect partner for Ramesh. And their tani, though lengthy, was enjoyed by the discerning audience. An excellent concert by Jayanti Kumaresh and team.

[rshankar]

Congratulations to Smt. Jayanthi on the award! Thank you for the report, Sri CRama.