KHMC special concert on April 30 featured a Hindustani vocal recital by visiting artist from Chennai, Dr. Lakshmi Sreeram who is a seasoned performer with over two decades of performing experience.

After several years of rigorous training from eminent teachers of the Agra and Gwalior gharanas such as Pandit Vasantrao Kulkarni and Sri Babanrao Haldankar, Lakshmi has developed her own approach to rendering Khayal music. An accomplished Carnatic vocalist with many performances to her credit as well as a trained Bharatanatyam dancer, Lakshmi regularly freelances for “Sruti”, the leading performing arts magazine for Indian classical music/dance as well as the respected Indian newspaper “The Hindu”.

Lakshmi opened her KHMC recital with “khayaals” in the afternoon ragas Bhimpalasi and Multani. Post interval, she rendered two khayals in Raga Shudh Kalyan, the first one, “Saanjh Bhayi” composed by the venerated artist and teacher Jagannath Buwa Purohit (Gunidas) set to slow tempo,16 beats rhythmic cycle and the second one, a drut composition “Saje naahi neha” set to faster tempo 12 beat cycle ektaal. Through meditative alaaps she explored the serene raga and brought out its character through the use of glides known as “meends”. The delivery of fast taans was commendable and there was a dynamic, flowing quality in the delivery of the khayal. Despite her Carnatic background,  there was virtually no shadow of Carnatic style gamakams in Lakshmi’s rendition of Shudh Kalyan.

A “thumri” in Raga Pilu-Kafi “Pyaare Rasiya Bihari, Suniyo Binati Hamaari” set to eight beat cycle keherwa taal gave an opportunity to tabla accompanist Shri. Suresh Ramaswamy to showcase his skills. The climatic “laggi” section towards the end of the thumri was particularly rhythmic and kept the audience thoroughly engaged.

Lakshmi concluded with a lilting Meera bhajan  “Mhaare ghur aaoji” that presented the Meera’s grief filled separation through a journey in a variety of ragas such as Vibhas, Maand, Bairagi Bhairav and Lalit. The touch of komal rishabh in the bhajan was particularly beautiful. Smt. Sarita Deshpande provided excellent accompaniment on the harmonium. Smt. Amrutha, Sri Pandu and their daughter Sowmya Varada were the generous hosts for the special KHMC program.

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