Anahita and Apoorva rendering a vocal concert at Ragapriya Chamber Music Club in Madurai.
| Photo Credit: R, ASHOK
The grand finale of the 58th anniversary concerts of Ragapriya chamber music club concluded with the vocal concert by Anahita and Apoorva.
The emotive and energy filled performance drew applause from the rasikas.
Anahita initiated the proceedings with a Varnam in Valaji “Chalamu Seya” by Lalgudi with precise raga gnana and tala purity. The sisters went on with “ shivakama sundari jagadamba vandarul” by Papanasam Sivan in mukhaari, in which the pleading of Sivan to ensure that his old karma does not cling to him was well portrayed.
A new kriti by T K Ramkumar in the vibrant Hamsanadam “dikshai arula thindal malai mel” on Lord Muruga of the Arulmigu Velayuthaswamy Thirukovil, Erode was well rendered. The Niraval – theera vinai theerkum – was expansive and had all nuances of Hamsanadam in medium-fast tempo, was appreciated.
“ Rangapura vihara “ by Muthuswami Dikshitar, in Brindavana Saaranga, on the presiding deity at Sri Rangam and partly on the Rama shrine in the same temple and venkatachala nilayam by Purandara dasar in Sindu bhairavi took the senior rasikas to down memory lane reminding M S Amma.
The flawless vocal synchronization allowed two distinct voices to blend so perfectly. For ‘nanu palimpa nadachi’ in mohanam by Saint SrI Thiagaraja, his Karunya bhava were well portrayed with creative niravals, dynamic swarakalpanas with a balanced pace. The violinist VSP Gayatri Sivani mirrored the singers with incredible precision and soulful energy. The Tani that followed witnessed continuous, evenly-spaced flow of percussion strokes from both Arjun Ganesh on the mridangam and Alathur Raja Ganesh on the khanjira.
The sisters also rendered “Muddu Krishna Memudam” by Ootukkadu Venkata kavi in praise of Lord Krishna in Chenjurutti, En palli kondirayya by Arunachala Kavi in mohanam and a Thillana.
S. Padmanabhan
Published – August 17, 2026 10:28 pm IST
