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“Subramanya” Released by Mudhra Music

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“Veena Duet” Released by HMV

It is more than a fact that the divine instrument veena has been relegated to the footnotes in recent years perhaps because it does not have the same aural impact that is created by the mandolin, guitar and the saxophone. It is heartening that HMV has chosen to feature two young veena artistes Jeyaraaj and Jaysri offering a carnatic classical programme accompanied by Srimushnam Raja Rao on the mridangam and the late Palghat Sundaram on the ghatam. The first number in the cassette is the Behag varnam "Vanajaksha" arguably credited to T.R.Subramaniam. The Gowlai Kriti of Mysore Vasudevachar, Pranamamyaham invoking the blessings of Ganesha is played with vibrancy and verve setting an ideal initial tempo. Valaji is an extremely popular raga with both instrumentalists and vocalists. The raga exposition of Valaji is quite enjoyable although there are more of spurithams than gamakas oriented sangatis. When the artistes play in tandem, the result is very pleasing and the kriti rendition is healthy, while the swara prasthara in the charanam are competent with enough mathematical calculations.

Shanmukhapriya has been taken up for Ragam, Tanam and Pallavi, which is set to the Chatusra jati Triputa Talam. The raga essay has an impressive quality but the thanam is more fluent and effective. The Swara Sequences in two speeds have commendable rhythmic accuracy. The ragamalika swaras in Anandhabhairavi, Madhuvanti, Gavathi, a janya of Harikambhoji and Saveri contributed positively to an effective pallavi rendering. "Radha Sametha Krishna" in Yaman, was a favourite of GN.Balasubramaniam. The artistes version of "Radha Sametha" and the Hamsanandi tillana of Muthiah Bagavathar have a natural elan quite captivating.