Dr Yella Venkateswara Rao provided masterful accompaniment throughout, and his thani avarthanam was a dazzling display of rhythm and virtuosity
Hyderabad: Kalasagaram presented a concert in the memory of Rudraraju Subbaraju and Neti Sri Rama Sastri, featuring violin maestro Mysore Manjunath and his son Sumanth Manjunath at their auditorium in West Marredpally. The father-son duo presented a duet that delivered both technical brilliance and emotional depth.
The duo was joined by the legendary Dr Yella Venkateswara Rao on the mridangam, adding another star attraction to the musical evening. Batchu Janardhan provided rhythmic support on the ghatam. The event, sponsored by Dr K. Swarajyalakshmi, drew a packed audience.
The recital opened with the renowned Ata Tala Viriboni Varnam in Bhairavi, a classic composition by Pacchimiriam Adiyappayya. Rendered in two speeds, it set the tone and tempo for the evening. This was followed by an expansive exploration of the raga Hamsanadam, leading into the Tyagaraja kriti ‘Bantureethi KoluvuIyyavayya Rama’. The father-son duo engaged in intricate kalpanaswara exchanges that held the audience spellbound.
Next came the evocative Tyagaraja composition Nadaloludai in the raga Kalyanavasantham, presented with refined bhava and lyrical sensitivity. The following piece featured a detailed elaboration of the raga Madhyamavati, culminating in a tanam where both Dr Manjunath and Sumanth showcased exceptional mastery. They then performed a captivating pallavi in Adi Tala, set to the line “Sundara Sankara Sasi Sekhara Subhakara Bhavahara.”
Their rendition was marked by a seamless flow of kalpanaswaras, executed with precision and culminating in a ragamalika that included vibrant interludes in Charukesi and Behag.
Dr Yella Venkateswara Rao provided masterful accompaniment throughout, and his thani avarthanam was a dazzling display of rhythm and virtuosity. The concert concluded on a graceful note with a kriti in Sindhubhairavi. Batchu Janardhan’s performance on the ghatam added depth and balance to the ensemble, offering steady and sensitive rhythmic support.
This concert stood as a testament to the enduring power and emotive range of the violin. Both Dr Manjunath and Sumanth delivered a performance that was technically impeccable and emotionally stirring, leaving the audience with a renewed admiration for the expressive richness of Carnatic instrumental music.
