A fête in Irinjalakuda celebrated the versatility and genius of Swathi Thirunal

The four-day festival featured music concerts and a Mohiniyattam recital

A four-day music and dance festival dedicated to Maharaja Swathi Thirunal was held at Irinjalakuda recently. On the first day of the programme, Cherthala K N Ranganatha Sharma started with the Kamboji varnam. He then made a precise aalapana of Bahudari followed by the krithi ‘Gurupavanalaya’ of Sundaranarayana. ‘Jalajanabha’ (Kedaragowla) and ‘Paalayamadhava’ (Asaveri), both composed by Swathi, were marked by the beauty of the leisurely pace with which they were delivered. The latter was decorated with an array of swara passages with a judicious mix of Jhanda patterns. ‘Pahitharakshu’ (Anandabhairavi) of Swathi was executed in a slow tempo setting the stage for main piece. A neat alapana of Sreeranjini panning its contours preceded the main piece — ‘Bhavaye Sree Janaki Kantham’, which was decked with niraval and swara passages. Solo essays of Panthuvarali and Sreeranjini by violinist N Sampath were noteworthy. Support by KS Maheshkumar (mridangam) and Vazhappally R Krishnakumar (ghatam) enhanced the concert.