It’s a musical repartee between the guru (teacher) and the shishya (student). Vocalist, Sudha Ragunathan
and her disciple, V Deepika, will present a Carnatic concert. But this isn’t a regular bhajan or sangeet performance.
The artistes will be performing as part of the 18th edition of the Citi-NCPA Aadi Anant Music Festival that celebrates the guru-shishya heritage. “We have performed bhajan and sangeet shows together where we repeated verses. But this is the first time that I will be supporting her with vocals and I am really looking forward to it,” says Deepika who has been training under Sudha since 1997.
Rich sounds
At the show, the duo will present different forms of varnam (repertoire consisting of short metric pieces that encapsulate the main features and requirements of a raga), kriti (a format of musical composition typical to Carnatic music), ragam-tanampallavi (a form of singing in Carnatic music which allows the musicians room showcase to improvise), a devotional song in praise of Lord Muruga, javali (a lighter composition) that concludes with tillana (an exhilarating rhythmic form).
Throwing more light on their performance, Padma Bhushan awardee, Sudha, admits that since they have a time frame, the duo will try to showcase all that is representative of Carnatic music. “We will present the kriti and the bandish (composition) aspect. We will also sing the raag alaap (unmetered introduction), include the swara (a note in the successive steps of the octave) and the neraval (an important feature in the extempore improvisation aspect of Carnatic music),” she reveals.
Give and take
As this is a concert that also showcases the relationship between a teacher and the disciple, we ask both Sudha and Deepika about their shared journey of over 20 years. Deepika says, “I have been learning under her since 1997, when I was nine. My entire learning, from the basics to the kritis, has happened under one guru and that’s really fortunate for me.”
While appreciating her disciple for being a quick learner and a natural at what she does, Sudha says, “Even though I had little time for one-on-one teaching, I have always guided her on the aesthetic and the creative side of music.”
Rs 200. January 20, 6.30 pm. At Chowdiah Memorial Hall, Malleswaram
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