Vijayawada : City reverberates to Pancharatna Kritis

A galaxy of musicians makes audience delightful

FOR MUSIC LOVERS: Carnatic vocalists performing at a programme organised by Sangeeta Sanmandali in Vijayawada on Saturday. Photo: Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar

VIJAYAWADA : Divinity engulfed the precincts of Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao Government Music College with scores of musicians, sporting silk robes, walked in. Humility dominated their persona even as each of them cleared his/her throat.

Saturday morning's sunrays just then began ascending the heat. Music lovers from every nook and cranny of the city reached there to have themselves drenched in the powerful shower of త్యాగరాజ పంచరత్న కీర్తనాలు ("Tyagaraja pancharatna" keertanas), organised as part of త్యాగరాజ స్వామి ఆరాధనోత్సవం (`Tyagaraja Swamy Aaradhanotsavam') by Sangeeta Sanmandali.

Melodious rendition

When almost a couple of hundred musicians unveiled the magic of their tones to set positive vibes all over the area with their melodious rendition of జగదానంద కారక (`Jagadaananda Kaarakaa'), Tyagaraja would have indeed showered his celestial blessings on them.

Senior musicians Ayyagari Syamasundar, his wife, Jayalakshmi, Pemmaraju Surya Rao, Malladi Suri babu, Malladi brothers (Sriram Prasad and Ravi Kumar) and Annavarapu Ramaswamy set the tone for the musical gala.

It's a feast

Maestros and exponents in vocal and instrumental music provided a feast to the ears of music lovers in the city. Waving their hands in the air while counting the తాళం (`taalam') with their nimble fingers, the vocalists spelt every గమకం (`gamakam') with perfection. Exponents of instruments - Veena, violin and mridangam -- competed with the vocalists in taking the ensemble's zest for music to its crescendo.

By the time the musicians began the second keerthana, దుదుకూగల (`Dudukoogala..'), the rendition attained a renewed vigour.

The musicians did the magic with so much of alacrity that none of them missed a శ్రుతి (`shruthi') or `taalam'.

Continuing the saga, they swung on to sing the third keertana in the row - సాధించవే (`Saadhinchave..') followed by కనకన రుచిరా (`Kanakana ruchiraa... ') A little pause. Then began the all-too-familiar ఎందరో మహానుభావులు (`Endaro mahaanubhaavulooo... ')

By singing the last keertana, each of the musicians - men, women and children -- indeed saluted their peers with great adoration for their talent.

Courtesy: The Hindu