Bengaluru: Who said paralysis can make a person bed ridden? A classical vocalist, 80 per cent of whose body is been paralysed, turned up to sing Hindustani classical music at the Byrathi house. Dr. Shyamala G Bhave, a well known classical musician and the only person in India who can sing Carnatic, Hindustani, devotional, light music and suvarana gaana at ease, mesmerised the audience with her splendid performance. She turned out to be a hero and hope for all those people who are suffering from paralysis. With her spell binding performance, she told the audience that paralysis may cripple body but not the mind.
Ubhaya Gana Vidushi Dr. Shyamala G Bhave is the talented daughter of the illustrious artiste couple Acharya Pandit Govind Vithal Bhave and Vidushi Lakshmi Bhave. Hailing from a family steeped in music, culture and tradition, music came naturally to Shyamala. As child prodigy, she sang her first concert when she was barely six! Gifted with a mellifluous voice and an impeccable sense of ‘sur’ and ‘laya’, she has mastered the subtle micro tones that characterise classicism. One of the front line performers of the Gwalior Gharana style of Hindustani music in its pure form, the sublime emotions in her renditions evoke the mood and feeling of the ‘Raag’, touching the soul of the listener.
Shyamalaji is equally at ease revealing her command over the different idioms and nuances that characterise the Carnatic style of Classical Music. Her potential was recognised and appreciated very early in her music career by the celebrated M Visversvaraya who conferred the title ‘Ubhaya Gana Vidushi’ on Shyamala, a title she has worn with pride ever since. She is credited with the conceptualisation and propagation of ‘DAKSHINOTTARAM’, a unique technique of ‘Ubhayagaan’ concert wherein she presents a single-artiste vocal jugalbandi.
Meanwhile, it was a special occasion for music lovers in Bengaluru as the revered artistes performed at the Byarathi House in the city. The legendary classical singers performed the Hindustani repertoire that was accentuated with resonant beats. Pandit Jayateerth Mevundi enthralled the audience and he was accompanied on the harmonium by Prof Nagendra Nayak, and on the tabla by Pandit Hindole Majumdar. Drupad Vocalist Pelva Naik left the audience mesmerized as he was accompanied on the Pakhwaj by Pandit Sanjay Agle and Namami Karmarkar on the Tanpura Pandit Sanjoy Banerjee, vocalist Kirana Gharana and Pandit Rupak Kulkarni played the Bhansuri. The jugalbandi won a series of applause from the audience for Banerjee’s mesmerizing voice challenging instrumental accompanists who in turn stood out for their brilliant performance. Both the artistes were accompanied on the harmonium by Prof. Nagendra Nayak, on the tabla by Pandit Hindole Majumdar. He presented the composition with depth and gave an unpredictable lead at times to keep up with his singing on the rhythm.
The audience at the Byrathi House thanked Viji Shamanna for treating them to a special evening. Speaking on the occasion, Viji said that she was inspired by her grandparents Lakshmamma and Byrathi Muniswamappa. “It is due to their hard work and extraordinary discipline in their life, that I am able to host an event featuring great accomplished artistes. My grandparents were agriculturists and the venue is part of a mango orchard that was planted by them. Although agriculture was the mainstay of their lives, my grandfather was an ardent ‘bayalaata’ fan. Bayalaata is folk theatre. I grew up hearing stories of his performance, mainly through him. He performed the same role for many many years, that of Anjaneya visiting Sitadevi in Ravana’s garden as she pined for Rama. He would always sing the same song ‘yeke samsheya Jaanakki….’ meaning ‘why do you doubt me, daughter of Janak….’. My father B.M Shamanna was an ardent lover of music especially Hindustani classical. My mother Savithri Shamanna studied the Sitar under the guidance of Rama Rao, a disciple of the great Ravi Shankarji,” she, who is the main patron of Byrathi House, said.
Byrathi house is an orchard to creativity in its various forms, music, dance, drama, poetry and art. The Visthar campus in Bengaluru has been designed to be an Eco sanctuary. It continues to be developed as a place for traditional seed preservation, biodiversity conservation and environmental education.
