The explosion of young talent portends a happier future for Carnatic music. Among them is Aishwarya Vidya Raghunath.
Aishwarya began her recital at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan with the soothing ‘Meru samana’ of Thyagaraja in Mayamalavagowla. The well-conceived niraval and swaras at ‘Galamuna shobillu’ showed her firm footing in the form. The response of M. Rajeev (violin) was equally weighty.
Her unhurried Kedaragowla alapana had several phrases unique to the audava sampurna raga. She gave it a special hue with a prolonged and stressed rishabha. Rajiv decorated it further. Syama Sastri’s ‘Parakela nannu’ came off elegantly with its magical chittaiswara.
Aishwarya, then rendered Gopalakrishna Bharathi’s masterpiece, ‘Enneramum’ in an appropriate slow pace. Her Bhairavi elucidation was aesthetically fluent.
Thyagaraja’s ‘Raksha Bettare’ is an inspiring composition and she did justice to it. She chose ‘Vakshasthalamu’ for the extensive niraval and kalpanaswaras.
The thani by Kumbakonam Swaminathan was crisp and he played different nadais. His accompanying technique did enrich the concert.
Aishwarya wound up her recital with the Subbarama Iyer padam, ‘Ini enna pechirukkudhu’ in Sahana and Annamacharya’s ‘Bhavayami gopala balam’ in Yamuna Kalyani.
Aishwarya’s voice, paired with her dedication, predict a bright future.
