The month of Karkkidakam is marked by the reciting of shlokas from the Ramayana in households and temples. But the capital city witnessed a different kind of tribute to the Ramayana. Instead of chanting from the epic, a group of musicians rendered kritis on Lord Ram composed by legends such as Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar, Swathi Thirunal and Bhadrachala Ramadas at an event at Chembai Memorial Hall, Sreevaraham.
It was members of Smruthi, an alumnae group of the Department of Music, the Government College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram, who rendered the kritis. Titled ‘Bhavayami Raghuramam’, the musical celebration had performances by veteran music teachers and experienced classical musicians.
The programme opened with Paripahi Ganadhipa by Swathi Thirunal (Saveri). Eleven compositions, including the popular Bhavayami Raghuramam, Swathi’s ragamalika, was sung. Among other kritis were Tyagaraja’s Jagadanandakaraka in Nati raga, Adi tala and rare compositions such as Raghukula thilaka and Sreerama neenama.
The stage was set up in such a way that the ambience was that of a chamber concert. After each song was announced, there was a brief rendition of the raga on the violin.
The selection of the songs, all well-rehearsed, including fast-paced songs such Neevallagunadosha in Kapi and others with varying tala, was a treat to the ears, thanks the harmony of the singers and the accompanying artistes. The programme concluded with the kritis Kosalendra in Madhyamavathi and Seethakalyana in Navaroj. Smruthi, founded in 2017, was led by B. Arundhati. Other members of the group were Bhavana Radhakrishnan, K. Sumanadevi, G.Sreelatha, K. Premalatha, B. Sindhu, Sobha B Nair, Dhanalakshmi C., K.R. Syama, Sajna Sudhir, Sudha Ganesh, Jayalakshmi G.S., Geetha Sankar and Preetha Mohan. Accompanists were Vaikom Padma Krishnan on the violin, Kadakavoor G.S. Rajeshnath on the mridangam and Kadanad Ananthakrishnan on the ganjira. It was organised under the auspices of Sri Chembai Memorial Trust.
(The author is a musician and B-Grade artist with All India Radio)