Sikkil C. Gurucharan is foremost among young Carnatic musicians and carries a family lineage — he is the grandson of Sikkil Kunjumani, elder of the internationally acclaimed flautists Sikkil Sisters.
The Thyagaraaja Aradhana festival held by Sarada Cultural Trust featured him on the first day held at Keys High School, Secunderabad. He was in the company of H.N. Bhaskar on violin.
Blessed with pleasant voice with considerable range, Gurucharan opened the concert with Thodi varnam Yera Napai and presented it in two speeds. He then moved to Thyagaraja Number Nijamarmamulanu in Umabharanam. And then chose to present Ardha Nareeswaram in Kumudakriya with well presented ragalapana setting the base for the number. He then went for Javali a Telugu number - Marulukonnadira in Khamas.
The major show piece in this section was Keeravani number Kaligiyuntekada reflecting Virahotkhantita Nayiaka. Gurucharan delineated the raga with care and perfection building the phrases and the accompanying mood and shaped into a pleasant raga picture. The kirana is full of philosophic content projected well in the rendition. There was neraval and swarakalpana too presented with depth.
Ramakrishna Murthy
Ramakrishna Murthy who figured in the fest on second day is young and energetic singer who was in the company of H.N. Bhasker on violin and K. Arun Prakash on mridangam. Blessed with pleasant voice and rich manodharma, Ramakrishna Murthy opened his concert with Abhogi varnam Evari Bodhana . He presented it in two speeds with fantastic grip on swara. He then rendered Vidulaku in Mayamalavagowla and the swarakalpana he presented later was quite attractive. Ninu Vina in Kalyani was a simple kirtana presentation, followed by Sri Matrubhootha in Kannada. He opened the number with ragalapana.
The major show piece was Ragam -Tanam-Pallavi in Nata. The pallavi was a Tamil line that ran as Potruvom Pugazhndhiduvom Indhiya Naattai . This was presented in ragamalika comprising of Desh and Jonpuri.
Panthula Rama
Panthula Rama was one of the special attractions at the fest organised by Sharada Cultural Trust.She was in the company of her husband M.S.N. Murthy on violin and V.V. Ramanamurthy on mridangam and Murthy on ghatam.
Rama made an interesting opening with Thyagaraja kirtana Hecharikaga Rara in Yadukulakambhoji with brief raga. This was set on Khanadachapu talam. She then moved to another Thyagaraja number Entani Ne in Mukhari, Roopakatalam. She opened this number with extensive ragalapana with beautiful phrases.
The popular kirtana was enriched by neraval and swarakalpana taking the line Sabari Bhagyamu .
The next number Rama presented was popular piece in Tamil Naanoru Vilayattu in Navarasakannada of Papanasam Sivan. This quickie was followed by Thyagaraja composition Vaddane Varu leru in Shanmukhapriya that she presented wonderful ragaalapana and also presented Neraval and swarakalpana at the line Dari Teliyu Daivamu .
She then presented composition of Syama Sastry Parvati Ninu in rare raga Kalagada and Palinchu Kamakshi — in Madhyamavati.
Rama treated them with great respect that mirrored her rendition style with under current of bhakti. It was presented with ragalapana and the technical aspects, a full length raga, neraval and swaraklapna at Kantamagu Peru were all well gone through.
Then she rendered Swati Tirunal’s popular number Bhogeendra Sayinam in Kuntalavarali with sahitya purity.
This was time for her to present Ragam, Tanam, Pallavi in rare raga Varamu . She then concluded with Annamacharya’s Bhavayami in Yamunakalyani and tillana in Athana, Adi talam of N.Ch Krishnamacharyulu.
