Cherthala Renganath Sarma and JA Jayant opened the layers of ragas

Cherthala KN Renganath Sharma | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Cherthala KN Renganath Sharma’s concert on the inaugural day of the three-day Mangaluru Music Festival 2024 featured an eclectic mix of acts. Veenai Kuppayar’s Behaag Varnam ‘Vanjaksha Ninnai Nammithi’ made a pleasant start. Janaranjani followed Harikesanallur Muttiah Bhagavathar’s ‘Ganapathe, Suguna Nidhaye’. Veenai Kuppayar’s Behaag Varnam ‘Vanjaksha Ninneya Nammithi’ made a pleasant start. Janaranjani followed Harikesanallur Muttiah Bhagavathar’s ‘Ganapathe, Suguna Nidhaye’. The alapana of Raga Vaakulabharanam by the singer was followed by a melodious portrayal of Avaniswaram on the violin by SR Vinu leading to Tyagaraja’s ‘Ee Ramuni Nammithino’. This was followed by Swathi Tirunal’s lyrically rich ‘Sri Ramana Vibho’ in Arabic.

Brindavan Saranga’s leisurely alapana brought out the beauty of ‘Kriti Saunder Rajam Ashray’. ‘The main work was Patnam Subramaniam Iyer’s ‘Nija Das Varada’ in Kalyani. During the Niraval of ‘Bhujgadhipa Shayana, Bhumija Raman’, the singer and the violinist competed with each other to display the beautiful layers of the raga. His rhythmic ability could be seen during the vocal sessions.

Cherthala with KN Renganath Sharma accompanied by Avaniswaram SR Vinu on violin, Mannargudi Easwaran on Mridangam and Vellanthanjur Srijith on Ghatam. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Veteran Mannargudi Easwaran’s mature and majestic strokes on the mridangam along with Vellantanjoor Sreejith’s fast and energetic ghatam cast a rhythmic magic during ‘Thani’.

Renganath Sharma also added a crisp RTP with the pallavi ‘Sri Raja Gopal Balam Bhaje, Sritha Jana Palam’ in Saveri. The light session was quite brief with ‘Inu Daya Bardhe’ by Purandaradasaar and Padam ‘Chhenthar Sayaka Roopa’ in Malayalam by Behag.

JA Jayant Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The music festival concluded with the flute playing of JA Jayant. He started with the rare Tyagaraja composition ‘Srikant Niyeda’ in Bhavapriya with attractive vocal passages. After Shyama Shastri’s ‘Shankari Sankuru Chandramukhi’ in Saveri, Jayant presented ‘Entha Mudho’ in Bindumalini with subtle alapana and swaraprastras. ‘Raghunath Ninnu’ in Suraranjani by Poochy Srinivas Iyengar with western flavor added to the appeal of the concert.

Jayant presented Patnam Subramanya Iyer’s ‘Nee Padamule Gatiyani’ in Bhairavi in ​​elaborate detail. Trivandrum Sampath provided capable support on the violin. NC Bhardwaj on Mridangam and Sharath Kaushik on Ghatam presented an interesting Thani.

Jayanth chose to present Ragamalika RTP with Pallavi ‘Gokula Nilaya Mohana Madhusudan Pandava Palak Paahi’. ‘Venkatachala Nilayam’, ‘Jagadodharan’ and ‘Hari Panduranga’ came as tukkadas.