Not very often do we hear of a music arangetram, especially an instrumental music arangetram. It is difficult to master this ancient art form of Carnatic music and perform a solo concert, blending technique, melody, and improvisation, or manodharma. Very few students have the ability, endurance, patience, hard work and willingness to undertake such a task. On August 18, 2012, Nandakumar Mohan (Nandu), one of Smt. Durga Krishnan's students, performed his veena arangetram at the Chinmaya Maruti auditorium. He proved that with dedication and hard work, it is possible to give a high caliber debut performance.

Nandu started the program with the very majestic Ata tala varnam, Sarasijanabha, in the raga Kamboji in two speeds. Then after a brief alapana, he played the popular kriti, Maha Ganapathim, by Sri. Muthuswami Dikshitar in the raga Nattai with brisk kalpana swaras. He then presented one of St. Thyagaraja's five gems, Dudukugala, in the raga Gowlai. This was followed by one of St. Thyagaraja's Lalgudi Pancharathna kritis, Eesha Paahimam, in raga Kalyani with crisp kalpana swaras.

The next item was St. Thyagaraja's Aadamodi Galade in the raga Charukesi with a melodious alapana, or elaboration of the raga, and simple yet aesthetically pleasing kalpana swaras. After a quick rendition of Thaye Thripurasundari, a Tamil kriti by Sri Periasami Tooran in the raga Suddha Saveri, he moved on to the main item of the evening, Sri Syama Sastry's swarajathi, Kamakshi, in the raga Bhairavi, a challenge to any veena player. However, Nandu exhibited great confidence in performing a sophisticated alapana and a voice like rendition of the composition, followed by kalpana swaras with upbeat rhythmic patterns. Dr. Pravin Sitaram, in addition to being a great support and accompaniment throughout the concert, presented a beautiful thani avarthana, or mridangam solo.

What followed was a soulful rendition of the kriti, Raghunatha Nannu, in the rare raga Swararanjani by Sri Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar. Nandu then showcased his talent and musicality in his Ragam Thanam Pallavi in the raga Shanmugapriya. The audience thoroughly enjoyed his rendition of the raga alapana and the thanam. As he intertwined the mahudi, or snake charmer music, in the thanam, it brought memories of Smt. Durga Krishnan's guru, the veena legend, late Dr. Chittibabu. He then entertained the audience further by playing a few popular items: Purandara Dasa's Venkatachala Nilayam and Ksheerabdhi Kannike, and violin maestro Sri Lalgudi G. Jayaraman’s thillana in the raga Thilang. Nandu dedicated a Sai bhajan to his mother that was followed by the mangalam Ramachandraya Janaka composed by Badrachalam Ramadas.

Nandu’s performance displayed the high standard of teaching by the guru, the hard work and dedication of the shishya, and the sincere efforts put in on both sides to preserve the integrity of the wonderful instrument, the veena. We congratulate Nandu on a great beginning of a long musical journey.

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