Madhuri Dasagrandhi

The second day of the 10th edition of the Hyderabad Tyagaraja Aaradhana Music Festival (HTAMF) commenced with the traditional lighting of the lamp. The amphitheater was nearly full, as the audience eagerly anticipated the day's performances.

Harikatha by Young Talent

The HTAMF team continues to introduce fresh talent, and this time, they featured a Harikatha performance by ChiSakambhari Kamesh, a 9th-grade student and disciple of Smt Visakha Hari, a renowned exponent of this rare storytelling art. 

The young artist confidently narrated the life history of Sri Tyagaraja Swami, explaining why he settled in Tamil Nadu despite being a Telugu native. She also highlighted that Tyagaraja composed Namo NamoRaghavaya in his teenage years. Seamlessly transitioning between narration and kritis, her performance was flawless. She was ably accompanied by Vidwan KK Raghavan on the violin and Vidwan CH Vedant on the mridangam.

Father-Son Duo Mesmerizes 

Next came a soul-stirring flute concert by the popular father-son duo, Vidwan Nagaraj Talluri and Vidwan Lalith Talluri. Right from the start, the audience was captivated, clapping along to their renditions of Tyagaraja Swami’s famous compositions.

The concert opened with Bantu ReetiKoluvu in Hamsanandi, set to Aadi Taalam, followed by Brovabharama Raghurama in Bahudari, also in Aadi Taalam. The Shilparamam amphitheater resounded with the melodious tunes of the flute, creating an enchanting atmosphere.

The duo continued with ShobilluSaptaswara in JaganmohiniRaagam (RoopakaTaalam) and Samaja Vara Gamana in Hindolam (Aadi Taalam). The father and son, along with the violinist Bhatti Pavan Singh, engaged in an exhilarating musical exchange, almost like a friendly competition, making the raagalapana all the more exciting. Their rendition of Swarakalpana was truly mesmerizing, earning spontaneous applause from the audience.

The concert was further enriched by the skillful accompaniment of R. Sreekanth on mridangam, Bhatti Pavan Singh on violin, and Janardhan on ghatam. The synergy between all the artists elevated the performance, leaving the audience spellbound.

Kuchipudi Performance by Vidwan Srividya Angara

The evening also featured a breathtaking Kuchipudi dance recital by Vidwan Srividya Angara. She showcased manomanthana. This dance drama depicts the inner conflict that takes place within a human’s mind and heart, she chose Tyagaraja’s kritis to illustrate each stage of this struggle. To symbolize how a person is bound by worldly attachments, she creatively used chains in her performance. She first performed Raghunayaka in HamsadhwaniRaagam (Aadi Taalam).

Her depiction of Manasa Yetulothune in Malayamaarutam beautifully captured the mind’s oscillation between thoughts, while Duduku Gala Nanne in VaraliRaagam vividly expressed the essence of the kriti. The highlight was her portrayal of Nagumomu, especially in the segment KhagaraajuNeeyaanati, where her movements perfectly embodied the grace of Garuda, the king of birds.

Her rendition of EndukuDayaRaadura in ThodiRaagam (Mishra ChapuTaalam) was deeply moving, as she emotively questioned Lord Rama’s mercy. As she reached the finale, she conveyed a sense of divine realization through Jagananda Karaka and SogasuChoodaTarama, evoking strong emotions among the audience. Her ability to bring realism to her performance was so powerful that it even brought tears to some spectators' eyes.

A Grand Conclusion

The day concluded with the honoring of all artists, who were felicitated with shawls and mementos. The amphitheater was steeped in devotion, and with the weekend approaching, a larger crowd is expected for the next day’s performances at Shilparamam.