Divya B. Nair, Perumbavur

The School State Youth Festivals held at the various levels culminating into State level have been throwing up talented students regularly. But those who win laurels for Carnatic music are seldom seen at a professional level, which is a bane for Kerala. But Divya B. Nair from Perumbavur who sang at the Hanuman temple auditorium in EKM, seemed to have learned the subtleties of Carnatic music. A disciple of Chandramana Narayanan Nambuthiri, she has a fascinating range and a pliable voice from which ‘Sangathis’ rolled out in a delectable fashion. Divya’s vocal held under the aegis of Tyagabrahmmam in connection with Gurupooja ( in commemoration of Aanjam Madhavan Nambuthiri and Dr S.Ramanathan ) began with ‘Saami dayajooda’ a varnam in Kedaragaula by Tirvottriyoor Thiyagaier. Vinayaka in Hamsadhwani by Veena Kuppayyar had a succinct swara phase. Nagumomu in Abheri paved the way for Anupama Gunambhudhi in Ataana and both were presented in a chaste fashion that was beyond her age. After Kuzhaloothi in Kambhoji by Oothukkadu , Thodi was there with its contours in order. Ninne namminaanu (chaappu) by Syama Sasthri had niraval and kalpanaswaras, tastefully presented. Thiruvizha Ullas played the violin suitably. Alappuzha Sreekanth, a disciple of Thiruvananthapuram Surendran handled the mridangam ably, with Mangalore Gopalkrishnan on the ghatom.

By Courtesy The Hindu (Kochi) March 29-02