Dr. K. Omanakutty for Avishkar in Kochi

There has been always a freshness about a vocal by K. Omanakutty because of her ability to select the best compositions by the best Vaaggeyakaras of modern times and those of the past and mesh them appropriately. She chooses ragas which are easy on the rasikas and renders krithis in the medium tempo in order to keep the programme on an even keel. Her vocal at Gangothri Mandapam in Kochi in connection withthe second anniversary of Avishkar (Harmonium Wizard Kottaram Sankunni Nair Smaraka Kendram) had a smooth sailing. Despite a belated start the vocalist enticed the listeners with a catchy Bhajaamahe (Thulaseevanam) in Hamsadhwani, redolent with flourishes with which she usually begins a concert. Kanada was fluent and the stately patterns of swaras, attached to Maamava sadaa must have been beneficial to several upcoming vocalists and instrumentalists, undergoing training in Avishkar. Murukaa Murukaa in Saveri (chaappu) by Periya Swamy Thuran and Himagirithanaye in Sudhadhanyasi by Muthayya Bhagavathar eventually led to the lucid description of Poorvikalyani. Santhana Gopalamoorthe by Narayanankutty Menon composed on Lord Poornathrayeesa, moved the listeners. Then came a fastish Bhogindrasayinam whish is said to have been composed by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal by drawing inspiration from Sreerangasayinam by Margadarshi Seshayyangar of the pre- Trinity era. Attulal Balasubramanian showed good anticipation on the violin. Cherthala Jyadevan (mridangam) and Changanasseri Krishnakumar with the ghatom supplied an agreeable percussion.

By Courtesy The Hindu – Kochi-4-3- 05.