PRESENTATION OF VAINIKA MUDHRA AWARD TO DR.R.S.JAYALAKSHMI

[CRama]

Veenotsav 2017 organised by Mudhra was inaugurated by Dr.Pappu Venugopala Rao, Secretary, Music Academy on 27 Aug 2017 in the Infosys Hall, Bazulla Road. This is the nineth edition of the festival conducted by Mudhra to showcase and encourage the Veena artistes who are not much encouraged either by the famous Sabhas or the rasikas themselves. Earlier it was conducted for two days covering a good number of artistes who were allotted a 30 minutes slot. For the past couple of years, in order to facilitate the artistes to display their proficiency in a more profound manner, the format has been changed. Now the concerts are of 90 minutes duration- but through webcast. It gives the advantage to the discerning rasikas to listen to the concerts in their PCs/mobiles while sitting at their homes or while on move. This also saves the embarrassment to the artistes for playing before a sparce audience.

During the occasion, the VAINIKA MUDHRA award consisting of a shawl, citation, medal and a purse was awarded to Dr.R.S.Jayalakshmi- Musician, teacher, research scholar and musicologist by Dr. Pappu Venugopala Rao. In her Welcome Address, Dr.Radha Bhaskar paid huge encomiums to Dr. Rao for his in depth knowledge on varied subjects like music, dance, philosophy, poetry, literature, theatre etc. The most appropriate personality to confer the honour on Dr.RSJ. Prayer song (Vallabhanayagasya) was rendered well by the upcoming singer Sai Vighnesh.

Dr. RSJ, as a child, learnt vocal music and also the veena. She had her initial training under V. Raghavan. After a Teacher’s Training Course from The Music Academy, she underwent further training under Veena Vidwan R. Pichumani Iyer after getting a Government of India Scholarship. She also trained in padams and javalis under the legendary T. Muktha. An A Grade artist with AIR, she is at present part of the teaching faculty of the Advanced School of Music run by The Music Academy and faculty of Haridoss Giri School of Music of Narada Gana Sabha. She was also a part of the project by T.M. Krishna on Sangeeta Sampradaya Pradarshini.

Dr. Venugopala Rao quoted many anecdotes during his ten year long association with RSJ. A very simple, humble scholar of unassuming character, she associated with him in the translation of Sangeeeta Sampradaya Pradarshni (originally written in Telugu) into English and her work was commendable- he said. Apart from a faculty in the Advanced school of music, RSJ has got involved in the preparation of syllabus, conducting of examinations, and she has worked as examiner in Univerisities in Singapore and Australia too. She is also Professor in an American University. She is guiding a number of students in their Doctorate works. She deserves many such honours- he said.

Smt. Suguna Varadachary, who felicitated RSJ was all praise for her sincerity, dedication while teaching students, and research mentality. She said layam runs in the blood of RSJ as was with the late Suguna Purushothaman. RSJ has developed many unique teaching tools for the benefit of her the students. She makes complex things so simple for the students to absorb and gives immense confidence in the minds of students.

In her acceptance speech, RSJ thanked Mudhra and the speakers who had praised her rather too much. She said she considered Dr. Rao as one of her Gurus, because it was he who motivated her to undertake many projects and SV as also one of her Gurus, as she learnt many vocal techniques from SV which she later applied in her Veena. Veena Vidwan B.Kannan, Ghatam Vidwan Trichy Murali, Dr.Rajashri Ramakrishna (HOD of Music, Madras University), Dr.Lalitha Santhanam (Sathur Sisters), honoured RSJ after the function.

The Vainika Mudhra Award was given out of the endowment created by Chitravina Narasimhan in the name of his legendary father Gottuvadyam Narayana Iyengar and Smt. Bapu Rajalakshmi Sundaram. It was a very happy sight to see many vidwans/vidushis in the audience like Chitravina Narasimhan, Jayasree Jayaraj etc.

After the award function, Dr.RSJ presented an anjoyable Veena concert for 90 minutes accompanied by M.S.Varadan on the Mridangam and Trichy Murali on the Ghatam. List of songs.
• Sahana varnam
• Vinayaka ninu vina-Hamsadhwani (S)
• Balakrishnan Pada malar-Dhanyasi- PS (R)
• Jagadeeshwari- Mohanam-Tiruvarur Ramaswamy Pillai (R,T,S)
• Thani
• Enna Tavan seythanai-Kapi
The concert was very good for the right volume, speed, manodharmam and gayaki style followed. The alapanas of Dhanyasi and Mohanam stood out for the unique sancharams and manodharmam of the vidushi. There was sowkhyam- but not a minute of sagging. The accompanists also gelled well without being obtrusive or passive. Watch for webcast in paalam.

[Sivaramakrishnan]

Mudhra must be hailed for initiating efforts to revive Veena music and the Vainika Mudhra Award is a significant step in this direction. The gesture of those who have instituted endowments for the prize is equally laudable. Dr RSJ is a Scholar cum performer. Many of her valuable lecdems (allied ragas for example) are available in the YouTube too.

The event is again notable for the concert by the awardee. It is heartening to know that the function was participated by scholars and several musicians including Vainikas.
(I very much wanted to attend this programme but abrupt showers in our area around evening prevented venturing out)
CRama deserves kudos for posting an instant but comprehensive report of the landmark event.