By Dr. Shanthi Narasimhan
Mysuru city which is blessed with doyens of Karnatak music and supported by the royal court in yesteryears was treated with recall of that flavour on July 8 by a special concert at Veene Seshanna Bhavan, Ganabharathi. The occasion was Chakrakodi Narayana Sastry (C.N. Sastry) Memorial Concert by Vidu. Shyamasundari Bhat of Udupi. She started learning music in childhood and had advanced training under Vid. Shakuntala Krishna Bhat, a direct disciple of Vid. Sastry. Presently she runs a Music School which highlights special approach of Vid. C.N. Sastry in Mudiyala, Bantwal Taluk, South Canara. Thus, the programme was sponsored by the family to keep up the legacy of Vid. Sastry, who has composed more than 25 keerthanas in devotion to Sri Ramana Maharshi, whom he addressed as ‘Gurudev’ and popularised singing of Vachana and Dasa Sahithya in regular concerts. The programme commenced with a Guruvandana shloka seeking ‘chaitanya’ from the Lord followed by varna, valachi, in raga malika set to aadi taala. This set the pace of concert to follow in clear and systematic sahitya with grace and without a rush. With a brief alapana in hamsadwani, ‘Bajare Sri Vathapi Ganapathim’ followed. Nuances of the raga were shown while ending the kriti with a short neraval in ‘Palaksha Sri Ramana.’ Next to follow was raga ranjani with short alapana followed by clear sahitya rendering in ‘Padma raga Mani Bhushani’.
