On Sunday August 18, 2013 Anjana Mani Mangalat, student of Smt. Durga Krishnan performed her Veena arangetram at the Sri Chinmaya Maruti Temple in Andover, MA. Anjana has been a dedicated student of veena for more than 12 years and on this day in the presence of her Guru, family and friends, she treated the audience to a delightful rendering of mesmerizing classical music. She was ably accompanied on this venture by Sri Mahalingam (Mali) Santhanakrishnan on the ‘Mridangam’ and by Dr.Ravi Iyer on the ‘ghatam’.

The program began with a very brief introduction of the artistes by Smt.Durga Krishnan. Anjana opened with the complicated, yet very energizing Ata thala varnam ‘Viribhoni’ in Ragam Bhairavi and played it perfectly in two kalams. Next was an invocation to the Lord Ganesha in Hamsadhvani, the ever popular– ‘Vatapi Ganapathim Bhaje’ by Muthuswamy Dikshitar and this piece created a feeling of sanctity in the audience. Following this was a Jathiswaram in the Ragam Behag composed by the late violin maestro and composer Sri Lalgudi Jayaraman. Jathiswarams usually do not have lyrics to them, but this was an exception and Anjana played the pallavi with lyrics ‘Neeye Dayai Puriya Tharunam’ very nicely followed by the rest of the jathiswaram. Following this she rendered a stellar ‘alapanam’ in Hindolam that revealed her creative skills which preceded the kriti ‘Samaja Vara Gamana’ composed by Saint Tyagaraja. Anjana revealed her mastery in playing it effortlessly and the kalpana swarams that followed.

Next Anjana played a family favorite, ‘Bhogindra Shayinam’ on Lord Padmanabha by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal. As Malayalees, it was very important to Anjana and her family that she include a Swathi Thirunal kriti in her recital. Anjana then embarked on her main piece, ‘Saroja Dhalanetri’ in Shankarabharanam by Shyama Sastri, which was succeeded by another effortless string of kalpana swarams. Anjana then relinquished the stage to the two percussionists for the ‘Tani Avartanam’. Needless to say the effort by the trio brought on thunderous applause by the audience. The interaction between the mridangam and the ghatam was so lively and energetic that even the layperson could appreciate and enjoy the nuances of the rhythms. Following this was the beautifully rendered kriti ‘Sarasa Samadana’ in Kapi Narayani by Tyagaraja.

After this shower of exquisite music, Anjana delved into the Ragam, Tanam Pallavi. She had chosen the piece in Shanmukhapriya and Anjana once again revealed her expertise and improvisational skills in Carnatic music. Of particular note was Anjana's rendering of the thrikalam, weaving thisram patterns into it and mixing them masterfully at the end. Next was the soulful Bhajan by Tulsidas ‘Sri Ramachandra Kripalu’ and this tugged at one's heart strings with its overflowing feeling of devotion and bhava. She proceeded to the playful ‘Theerada Vilayattu Pillai’ by the Tamil poet Subramanya Bharati, which describes the naughty Krishna. Anjana brought out the whimsy of this Ragamalika song with her playing. This was followed by a very philosophical composition by Sadasiva Brahmendrar in Darbari Kanada ‘Sarvam Brahmamayam’.

The grand finale was not one, but a rhythmic delight of two Thillanas both composed by the late Lalgudi Jayaraman, whom Anjana was fortunate enough to have learned from many years ago. She succeeding in honoring the great musician by playing his complex jathis with precision. This was followed by the concluding mangalam. The entire performance was so stellar that the audience had no hesitation in giving a standing ovation. Attendees commented that despite being a long concert, it did not even feel like 3 hours had gone by! Only after this did Anjana stand up with a dazzling smile and thank her Guru for her love and guidance, the accompanists for their incredible support, and her family and the audience who were all amazed by the musical stature of the young artist.

Anjana also completed her vocal debut performance earlier in the summer, and she and her family give warm thanks to all the family and friends who made her success possible.

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