South Indian Cultural Association (SICA) organised Carnatic concerts in memory of Vinjamuri Varadaraja Iyengar (1915-1991) at Ravindra Bharathi recently. A musician, musicologist and composer Vinjamuri also served SICA as its vice-president. The concerts were that of veteran vocalist Manda Sudharani of Visakhapatnam and a young vocalist Sreya of Hyderabad.
In the company of young violinist Mallela Tejaswi, mridangam artiste Sadgurucharan and Haribabu on ghatam, Sudharani commenced her concert with Viriboni Atatala varnam in Bhairavi with pancha nada gathis , a rare presentation. She followed it with Chaalakallaladaga of Thyagaraja with sarvalaghu swara vinyasam , a highlight of this rendition with exemplary violin support by Tejaswi. Aparadhamula in Rasaali of Thyagaraja, a rare number, was presented later with detailed ragalapana and swarakalpana. Later, Sudharani came out with Anandabhairavi number Marivere Dikkevaru of Syamasastry with ragalapana and swarakalpana. Ananda Sagarameeda in Garudadhwani of Thyagaraja was presented then with slow paced swarakalpana before she went for main composition Enduku Peddala in Sankarabharanam, a vilambakala kirtana of Thyagaraja.
This was opened with an exemplary raagalapana and was well supported by the violinist. However, the major show piece of Sudharani concert was RTP in raga Ranjani. The pallavi she chose was Sadasiva Manoranjani Sadaninnu Namminaanane done in two speed setting its poorvangam in tisragati and uttarangam in khandagati with violinist Tejasvi responding her each move with confidence that also drew verbal praise from the vocalist. Tani avartanam by Sadguru Charan and Haribabu at this stage was matching to the standard set by the vocalist.
Sudharani concluded her concert with Edutanunnadu in Bhujangini of Annamacharya and a tillana in Revati.
Teenage talent
The evening opened with teenage vocal talent Goparaju Sreya’s mini vocal concert. She is disciple of veteran Jayamani Narasimhan. Sreya’s first asset is her fine vocal culture, and with commendable vocal compass that she exhibited in a few numbers she presented on the occasion. She opened the concert with Natakuranji varnam Chalamela in two speeds and following it with Nata number Mahaganapathim Manasa Smarami of Dikshitar presented with swarakalpana. Later she rendered Sitamma Mayamma in Vasantha of Thyagaraja with focus on sahitya. Later Sreya rendered Neevalla Gunadoshamemi in Kapi.
She essayed the raga adapting methodical approach. Owing to lack of time she concluded her concert with Marakathavalli in Kambhoji. The accompanying artistes Sowrirajan on violin and Srinivasa Gopalan on mridanagam lent good support.
