Vocalists Vijayalakshmi and Chitra, dubbed the Mambalam sisters, always bring their presentation with placid content and radiance and the coordination between the sisters is full-throated. So, when the sisters began their vocal recital for the Chennai Cultural Academy, Nungambakkam, their strong tonal presentation indicated their effectiveness in bringing out their robust performance.
They commenced with Swaminatha Paripalayamam in Dikshitar’s Raga Nattai. Their subsequent quick exposition of Thyagaraja’s Evarani in Raga Devamirtha Varshini reminded one of ‘musiri’ days. This indicated the lineage of one of the their mentors, Suguna Varadachari.
The duo brought out the contour, colour, content and the majesticity of the kriti Muruga Muruga of Periaswami Thooran, displaying the Raga Alapana of Saveri. Marked by spontaneity and refinement, their presentation won them applause.
Their pièce de résistance was Tyagaraja’s Kaligiyunte, of the Raga Keeravani. Presented with beautiful swara exchanges between the sisters, their elaborate exercise of the niraval was appreciated by the audience. We realised that there was a divine appeal when the sisters took up Dasarpadam in the Raga Desh, revealing timeless music, evident from the appeal it had on the milieu.
On the whole, there was effective coordination between the sisters when they presented the concert in unison. Their niraval and the precise exercise had the essence of commendable musicianship.
The sisters have earlier presented special programmes on several of Dikshitar’s kritis like Shodasa Ganapathy of Tiruvarur, marriage songs, select verses of Nachiar Thirumozhi and Saraswathi Andhadi. Therefore, it is not surprising that it won the appreciation of foreign audiences when they went abroad to the US, Singapore, UAE and Australia, among other places.
The duo’s sister Hemalatha, a noted violinist, gained instant audience approval for her supportive role in the concert. The percussion effects of Kalladaikurichi (mridangam) and Rengachary, the sisters’ father on the kanjira were both marvellous.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Narayana Vishwanath – ENS / December 11th, 2013