Kala Tarangini, an organization founded by Usha and Sudhakara Rao aims at providing a platform to up and coming musicians from the New England area and also to provide an opportunity to artistes from India to aid in sustaining the rich cultural heritage of Indian Fine Art in general and Indian Classical Music in particular.  On March 24th, the New England Rasikas were treated to two concerts one by our local talent Sriva Raghavan and the second one by a rising star – a true sustainer of Sampradaya – Smt. Sumitra Vasudev.

Smt. Sumitra Vasudev is a disciple of the renowned musician, musicologist and teacher Sangita Kalanidhi Vidushi Smt. R. Vedvalli.  Learning from the age of five, she started training with Smt. Vedavalli since she was eight years of age.  Her close association with her Guru has given Smt. Sumitra the good fortune of imbibing the rich tradition and style that marks Smt. Vedavalli’s music.  Sumithra is now evolving into a musician par excellence and is noted for her classicism and depth, especially in her Niraval, Vrittam and Ragam Thanam Pallavi singing.  She is also actively involved in researching of music and has a deep interest in language and literature, especially Sanskrit and Tamil.  

The concert by Smt. Sumithra on that Saturday evening was nothing short of divine.  She was accompanied on the violin and mridangam by Boston Vidwans, Shri K. V. S. Vinay and Shri Mahalingam Santhanakrishnan respectively.  She opened the concert with the Ata tala varnam in Reethi Gowlai.  This was followed by a brisk Harikamboji where she and Vinay exchanged some quick swara passages.  Following this was Orajupuju – Kannada Gowla (Thyagaraja) and Seethamma – Lalitha (Thyagaraja).  This was followed by a masterful ragam rendition in Yadhukula Kamboji.  The essence of the ragam was so beautifully delineated without any unnecessary gimmicks that one is used to seeing on stage sometimes today.  Special mention has to be made about Vinay’s response to the ragam.  It was just right!!!  Ninnu Sevinchana in this ragam was beautifully rendered and the niraval following this showed why Smt. Vasudev is specially mentioned for her Niraval singing skills.  Ninne nammi in Thodi was the main piece in which Mali played a very crisp Thani avartanam keeping the meter of the song in mind.  The thani was followed by the Vrittams showcasing ragams such as Kamboji (my request), Kiravani, Amritavarshini, Sahana, Nadanamakriya and Sindhu Bhairavi.  Smt. Vasudev showed her command over the language and manodharma in the way she presented this.  Smt. Sumithra concluded the concert with a few tukkadas each of which is a gem in its own right.  

No concert is complete without adequate support from the accompanying artistes.  Both Mali and Vinay were perfect foils to Smt. Vasudev and their accompaniment really brought the concert to another level.  Mali’s anticipation and accompaniment for all the krithis showed his gnanam of these compositions.  Vinay followed the main artiste as a hawk and his ragam renditions were just the perfect foil to Smt. Sumithra’s brilliance.  

Earlier, Sriva Raghavan presented an hour long concert, accompanied by Sri Krishnan Parameswaran on the violin and Varun Chandramouli on the mridangam.  Sriva is a bright and promising young talent who has come a long way since his arangetram  a few years ago.  His rendition of Kalyani showed his maturity as a Carnatic musician.  Krishnan and Varun provided adequate support to Sriva.  Varun showed good maturity in accompanying the krithis and played a brisk thani after Ethaunnara in Kalyani.  Overall, it was a very enjoyable concert.

It was rather unfortunate that many people had to leave after the first concert and some people missed both concerts.  It was such a pleasant evening to be part of.  The strains of Yadhukula Kamboji still ring in my ears after all these days. Thanks to Sudhakar and Usha for setting up this organization and for hosting these concerts.  

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