Sanathana Sampradaya Sangeetha Bharathi Trust and Nada Bharathi organised a flute recital by V. Nagaraju at Asiana Hall in Banjara Hills recently. Disciple of Manada Balarama Sarma, Nagaraju, a top ranked artiste of AIR, gave a scintillating recital on this occasion, held in memory of T.R. Mahalingam, popularly known as Mali who revolutionised this art of flute rendition.
The repertoire of Nagaraju comprised most of the numbers that Mali popularised. He began with playing Valachi Vachi navaragamalika varnam of Patnam Subramanya Iyer with kalapramana touching nava ragas. Later he played Varavallabha in Hamsadhvani of GNB, a popular number that Nagaraju played with perfection. The swarakalpana he presented was neat and compact. This was followed by Yennadu Chootuno of Thyagaraja in Kalavathi, playing this tricky raga well. Kirtana presentation was neat. Neevalla Gunadoshamemi of Tyagaraja in Kapi figured later with brief raga essay of Kapi and emotive kirtana presentation. The swarakalpana too was in sync with the melody.
Manaviyalakimpa also of Thyagaraja in Nalinakanthi was presented before Nagaraju chose to come out with the main number of the concert, Marakathavalleem in Kambhoji of Dikshitar. Kambhoji took shape well in flute play with attractive complex phrases, displaying his expertise in handling the raga in good detail, with well chiselled sangatis. The kirtana being set in vilamba kalam, one could enjoy the details he played in the process. The swarakalpana he came out with later was presented in both Chaturasram and Tisram. It was pleasing presentation. The Tani avartanam that followed in Adi tisra by Srinivas Gopalan and Janardan was a treat in itself. Violinist Rajan came out with complementary touches given to ragas Kapi and Kambhoji and shadowed Nagaraju’s presentation of kriti parts.
Later part of the main number was allotted for light classical numbers like Annamayya kirtana Yedutanunnadu in Bhujangini and Itu Sahasamulu , Swathi Tirunal’s javali in Saindhu Bhiravi.
This show was attended by some musicians and Komanduri Seshadri spoke of the late flute Mali and his engrossing style of play.
