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MAGIC FROM THE BAMBOO FLUTE - SHASHANK AT KALARASANA
    
Shashank the young maestro gave a lovely performance on the bamboo flute at Kalarasana on the 22nd December 2000. The concert revealed his musical maturity, not to mention his virtuosity and control over the instrument.

The concert was flagged off to a start with the majestic Kambodhi Ata tala Varnam, 'Sarasijanabha'. It was an amazing display of laya fireworks. Although the first half of the Varnam was over by the time I entered, the second half, I noticed, was being rendered in Tisra gati alternated with Chaturasra and then with Tisra again in the second degree of speed. This is no mean thing to execute, but Shashank did it excellently. Following a brief account of Gowla, he rendered Mysore Vasudevachar's popular kriti, 'Pranamamyaham' with several rounds of kalpanaswaras.

    

It was rather disappointing when he took up Suddhahindolam (Manasuloni) for elaboration since one expects more solid fare from artistes of his capabilities. Anyway, his alapana wasn't too dry or commonplace. Shashank filled it with long karvais which were soothing as also some melodic fireworks which were highly relished by the fairly good audience. After a brisk 'Neevadanegana' (Saranga, Khanda Chapu), he launched into Madhyamavati. The raga once again afforded good scope for being handled on the flute. It initially looked as though he wanted to render the kriti without any kalpanaswaras. He perhaps wanted to start the main item in time for the live radio broadcast. However, at the last minute he changed his mind and played kalpanaswaras for this. It had some interesting rounds, with changes in gati, which the violinist Mysore Nagaraj had no difficulties in executing. Mysore Nagaraj has already earned a reputation as one of the best accompanists in the field today and he lived upto it.
     

The Tani avartanam led by the young but very talented and capable mridangist Satishkumar was good. Satishkumar also provided good support throughout the concert without being too loud or intrusive when the main artiste played. Tirupanitura Radhakrishnan on the ghatam and Mangalore Gururaj on the morsing complemented the mridangist.

Pushkala Ramakrishnan
  

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Posted on 28th December 2000
   

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