After grueling snowy-winter, it was a nice spring-like day. The invited artists gave a series of scintillating concerts at the residence of Hemangi and Sameer Apte of Canton on the evening of March 21st that progressed like a blossoming flower befitting the onset of the spring season. The hosts had taken utmost care in setting the concert chamber to provide a perfect ambience. It was Yugaadi day and the home was decorated tastefully and the large golden retriever dog owned by the hosts moved about comfortably after the concerts, mingling with everyone in a friendly manner.

The day began with the junior carnatic segment performed by Advait Nene accompanied by Aadith Vijey on the violin and Varun Chandramouli on mridangam. Advait got off to a flying start with a nice keertanam, Vallaba-naya-kasya, in Begada. The swarams were interestingly rendered. He then rendered the 'Ranjani' raagam in an elaborate manner and Aadith followed with an equally good ragam rendition. The keertanam 'Ranjani, Mridu-pankaja Lochani, Ranjani' was rendered with a lot of involvement. The main piece of the concert was the keertanam 'Mahalakshmi Jagan-maata' in Shankarabharanam raagam and Mishra chapu talam. Despite his Maharashtrian background, Advait rendered the whole song with a lot of involvement and won the accolades of the audience. The subsequent Tani-Avartanam by Varun corroborated the mood.

Gowri Raghunandan from NJ performed in the following Carnatic senior segment accompanied by KVS Vinay on the violin and Mali Santhanakrishnan on the mridangam. She started with the melodious Natakurinji varna which allowed her beautifully warm up to the stage. This was followed by a brisk Chaala kallalaa in Arabhi with swaram at Ilalo setting the stage for the sub main piece in Ranjani. After a mellifluous Ranjani raagam followed by emotion filled response by Vinay on the violin, she rendered Dunmargachara with swarams at Paluku boti. A relaxed rendering of Krupajuchutaku in Chayatarangini set the audience ready for the main piece. After an elaborate ragam where Gowri was able to effectively bring out the beauty and character of Bhairavi, Vinay responded in kind with a bhava filled rendition. The krithi Balagopala was handled with the necessary pacing and elaborateness it deserves sprinkled with neraval and swarams at Neela Neerada Sharira followed by a Tani avartanam by Mali. The home stretch was decorated by Yenage Dorakida in Ragamalika followed by the popular abhang Bolava vittala - a treat to both Carnatic and Hindustani lovers in the audience. The concert ended with a crisp Maand Thillana. Dressed in a beautiful cream kanjeevaram, the young artist charmed the audience with her sweet presence and energetic singing. Mali supported beautifully on the Mridangam embellishing the kritis with his own unique style of accompaniment and his Tani was filled with beautifully structured korvais that demonstrated his experience.

The Hindustani junior segment that followed after the dinner break had young students of Shuchita Rao singing with confidence.  Minute digressions from the norm surfaced occasionally but they were subdued by the fearless rendering by these promising learners. They provided a nice start to the melodious senior segment that followed.

In the Hindustani senior segment, Shuchita Rao sang slow and fast Khayals in Shudh Saarang followed by a fast paced taraana. She also sang khyaals in ragas Puriya Kalyan and Marubihag (a composition by her teacher Padmabhushan Dr. Prabha Atre). She then presented semi-classical genres such as Chaiti, Hori and Jhoola that are her forte in her beautiful heart-touching voice. Shuchita ended the concert with two devotional compositions (Hindi and Marathi) in a Raga composed by Pandit Ravi Shankar known as raga Parameshwari. Rajesh Pai on tabla and Rohit Rao on harmonium were imaginative in their support.

Despite many conflicting events happening that day, the KHMC concerts were well attended and thanks to the efforts of Apte’s – everyone was treated to not only good music but sumptuous dinner as well.

|