In a truly special celebration marking the birth anniversary of the iconic M.S. Subbulakshmi, Hamsadhwani orchestrated a magnificent vocal concert featuring the brilliant Gayathri Venkataraghavan. The stage came alive with the harmonious support of Mysore V. Srikanth on the violin, N. Manoj Siva on the mridangam, and Chandrasekara Sharma on the ghatam. This memorable evening unfolded at the Youth Hostel in Adyar, as part of Hamsadhwani’s 35th annual music festival.
The choice of Gayathri for this tribute was nothing short of perfect. Her performances have consistently emphasized ‘bhava’ – the profound emotional expression and feeling – a cornerstone of classical Carnatic music, and a quality for which M.S. Subbulakshmi herself was legendary. After a period away from the spotlight, Gayathri graced the stage with renewed vigor, delivering a captivating and dynamic performance that enthralled everyone present.
The concert commenced with a spirited rendition of the daru ‘Mathe malaydhwaja’ in Khamas, setting an energetic tone. This was gracefully followed by the Ganesha Pancharatna Mala, ‘Mudhakarata modakam,’ presented in the distinctive style popularized by M.S. Subbulakshmi. True to tradition, a Nattai raga kriti at the beginning is believed to invigorate a performance, and Annamacharya’s ‘Namo namo raghukula nayaka,’ embellished with intricate swaras, certainly provided that powerful impetus.
Next, Gayathri explored the vibrant and expressive raga Kalyani through a captivating alapana. She then moved to Dikshitar’s ‘Bhajare re chita,’ weaving her intricate swara passages around the familiar charanam line ‘Devim shakti bijodbhava.’ Continuing her homage to the divine feminine, she also presented Papanasam Sivan’s ‘Devi neeye thunai’ in Kiravani, another beautiful kriti dedicated to Shakti.
The energetic Tyagaraja kriti ‘Sobillu saptaswara’ in Jaganmohini paved the way for the evening’s central piece: a profound and detailed exploration of Madhyamavati raga. This raga holds a special place, capable of conveying both majestic grandeur and deep devotion. Gayathri navigated its complexities with remarkable grace, effortlessly moving through the low, middle, and high octaves, revealing the raga’s rich emotional tapestry.
Following such a soul-stirring alapana, Syama Sastri’s ‘Palinchu kamakshi’ proved to be the perfect selection. Gayathri delivered it with exquisite timing, bringing out the essence of the kriti through the charanams ‘Svantamulona’ and ‘Rajathi raja.’ Her niraval and swaras, centered around the mudra charanam ‘Rajanmukhi syamakrishna nuta,’ were perfectly balanced, exhibiting restraint and profound ‘bhava’ without any unnecessary embellishments.
Mysore V. Srikanth on the violin demonstrated impeccable understanding, harmoniously complementing Gayathri’s vocal nuances with his clear and melodic responses. N. Manoj Siva on the mridangam and Chandrasekhara Sharma on the ghatam both displayed commendable restraint, and their concise ‘tani avartanam’ (percussion solo) further enriched the concert’s overall charm.
The grand finale was a delightful medley of songs famously popularized by M.S. Subbulakshmi. The audience was treated to ‘Bhavayami gopala balam’ in Yamuna Kalyani, the enchanting Meera bhajan ‘Paga gunghroo,’ Bharatiyar’s evocative ‘Villinai oththa puruvam,’ and the profound ‘Maithreem bhajatha.’ Each piece served as a heartfelt and truly fitting homage to the eternal legend of Carnatic music.