Performance by a vocalist with immense potential

Vocalist Bharathi Ramasubban, a disciple of Vidwan P S  Narayanaswamy tried to make her music attractive, through polished expressional maturity, to communicate her package with convincing classical force. She was performing for Nalinakanti at Janaki Ramachandran College Auditorium.The Bilahari Raga Keerthana of Thyagaraja (Inda Kanna) in Roopaka Thalam, espousing the state of mind ‘Paramahamsa’ of the composer, when placed before the audience was neither pedantic nor anaemic. Certainly, her manodharma, was getting tempered with the quality of music.The Raga Amir Kalyani (Venkata Syla) of Subbaraya Sastri that followed next was presented, truly reflecting the classical substance, with a simple style of musical expression, marked by an approach, reminiscent of her Guru, P S  Narayanaswamy. However, one felt that the nuances of the presentation could be made attractive, only by voice modulations, which were non-existent. An elaborate Karaharapriya (Pakkala Nilabadi) of Thyagaraja was delivered with pulsating touches. She presented the Raga’s outstanding features aesthetically, though she was not trying to explore the vistas of the raga. She has the propensity to set a new direction in an evolving tradition, with a sense of proportion. But to set standards, a lot of intensive practice is required. The same is needed to acquire complete control of sruti. If she makes an endeavour to transform the sanchara combination into melodic contour, it would enable her to reveal the willowing grace of music.M Rajeev (violin) and Venkatasubramaniam (Mridangam) were supportive.