KARNATAKA :
by Dr. Padmavathi Narasimhan
All India Radio (AIR) has been playing a pivotal role in the preservation and propagation of the two streams of Indian Classical Music — Hindustani and Karnatak Music. AIR – Mysuru celebrated Karnataka Rajyotsava on Nov. 18 in collaboration with the Department of Kannada and Culture.
The programme included prize distribution to the winners of various events held at Akashavani for its staff, rendition of Kannada songs in and about Kannada and to crown it all, a grand sitar-violin jugalbandi concert.
Akashavani is always known for its timing. The programme began as per schedule at 6 pm on the dot. But the stage formalities were too prolonged, which reflected on the main attraction of the evening — the jugalbandi concert by Mysore Nagaraj and Ustad Shafique Khan.
Perhaps the distribution of the prizes and the felicitations could have been organised in a separate function exclusively for the staff, which would avoid monotony to the mute audience.
The rendition of Kannada songs by G. Pushpalata, her son Alap and Nitin Rajaram Shastri was impressive with clarity in lyrics and Nitin’s admirable harmonium playing. Thanks to AIR, there were no electronic instruments accompanying the artistes.
Tumkur Ravishankar and Nitin said (did) it all.
The first of the series was Anuradha P. Samaga’s ‘Modalige Eraguve Amma Ninnadige’ sung by Nitin. Alap has a soft, resonant voice and a natural instinct for singing with feeling. Nitin and he together sang H.S. Venkatesh Murty’s ‘Kannada Naadina Makkalu Naavu,’ for which Praveen Godkhindi has directed the music.
The other numbers were ‘Kannadiga Tanemba Satyavanu Aritavage’ by Siddiah Puranik (music composed by G. Pushpalata) and ‘Banagala Haradide Kannadada Garime’ sung with high patriotic spirit.
The main event of the evening was the concert much-looked-forward-to by Mysore Nagaraj and Shafique Khan. Working now as a top grade artiste at AIR, Dharwad, Shafique Kahan’s style blends both Gayaki style and the Instrumental style (Tantrakari ang). The pair treated the listeners to an evening of melody and expressive music.
Both are from established families of music. Charukeshi allows space for a variety of moods.
Shafique Khan’s alap of Charukeshi evoked inexplicable emotions. A composition followed. Here the duo alternated in taking a leading and supporting role. In Pantuvarali (Puriya Dhanashri), Nagaraj led with a meditative mood and in an amazing time span of 20 minutes, the two gave a commendable version of Pantuvarali.
Ravishankar and Uday Raj Karpoor chose to provide accompaniment by bringing the soft but lively touch to their instruments.
Nagaraj and Shafique Khan concluded the concert with the popular Bhajan of Sachchidananda Swamiji of Sri Ganapathy Ashrama, Mysuru — ‘Pahi Pahi gajanana’ in Sindhubhairavi.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / November 27th, 2016