With a voice that easily travelled across ranges, Prithvi Harish’s 90-minute recital showcased his talent in designing and presenting a solid concert.
From his opening Hindolam varnam ‘Mal maruga’ by Thanjavur Sankara Iyer to the closing Vallalar Ramalinga Adigalar’s ‘Vaarum vaarum’ in Ragamalika, Prithvi took care to ensure every piece he presented with clarity, also carried musical significance.
A brief sketch of Sarasangi prefaced Swati Tirunal’s ‘Jaya jaya padmanabha murare’, and the detailed niraval on ‘Nigamagama vedya’ and a chain of well-knit swarakalpanas gave an impressive start. After this dynamic offering, Harish presented the melodic and sober raga treatise of Anandabhairavi. The raga alapana moved with soulful phrases and aptly landed on Syama Sastri’s popular and poignant kriti ‘Marivere gati evvaramma’. For this kriti, any extra embellishments are just superfluous and Harish did not opt for any unwanted or exuberant overtures.
The main raga of the evening was Saveri. With a voice range that allowed him to explore the charm and beauty of the raga, Harish painted an impressive portrait. The lower, middle, and upper-range moves were chosen and carefully developed to allow the listener to enjoy the raga’s exclusive charm. Here, his choice was the popular ‘Sri kamakoti peetasthithe’ by Mysore Sadashiva Rao. The kriti moved in the right tempo, leading to an exhaustive niraval on ‘Kadamba vana nilaye’, culminating in a swaraprastara.
He presented several permutations and combinations, and this led to the finale with panchamam-centric swaras. Harish proceeded with an eye on the time and the importance of the significant matrices of swaras.
The young brigade of Thirucherai Karthik and A. Rohith on violin and mridangam added to the quality and tempo of the concert. While the responses in raga essays by violinist Karthik were full of energy and melody, Rohith’s percussion on the mridangam was full of vitality. The significant tani avartanam was proof of this.
The concert concluded with Ramalinga Adigalar’s Thiruvarutpa ‘Varum varum deiva vadivel muragare’ in ragamalika (Jhonpuri, Amritavarshini and Bhagesree).
Published – December 17, 2024 01:51 pm IST
