Nityasree Mahadevan performing a vocal concert at Ragapriya Chamber Music Club in Madurai.
| Photo Credit: G. Moorthy
Noted vocalist Nithyashree Mahadevan rendered a meditative and devotion-filled concert on the first day of the 58th annual concerts of Ragapriya (Chamber Music Club) in Madurai.With Parur M.A. Krishnaswamy on violin, Karukurichi Mohanaraman on mrudhangam and Alathur Rajaganesh on kanjira, she began her concert at Hotel Tamilnadu Pandian, invoking the grace of Lord Ganesha through Koteeshwara Aiyar’s “Varana mukhava” in Hamswadwani.She stressed the importance of Bhakti through the meditative and soulful quality of Thyagaraja’s “Teliyaleru Rama” in Dhenuka, not heard much in concerts now.Her Purvikalyani raga elaboration witnessed bhakti and karuna for “Intha paramukham edu” by Shankaradas Swami. The Niraval “Nee or silayo en murai ketilayo” brought Lord Subramanya of Tiruchendur live. Lalitha, the popular and structurally enigmatic raga was well rendered for “Nannu brovu Lalita”, in Shyama Shastri’s Navaragamalika and was welcomed by the rasikas.Nithyashree explored the emotive, minor-scale nuances of Keeravani, the main raga of the evening, through her slow, meditative development for Tyagaraja’s “Kaligiyunte Kadaa”, which made the rasikas introspect and relax. The violinist displayed his skill in the alteration of the instrument’s sound quality, warmth and texture by masterfully altering the mechanics of the bow and the fingers.The tani that followed both the mrudangist and kanjira player created a rich dialogue of complex rhythmic patterns.The final pieces Nithyashree rendered were “Pullayp piarandalu” from Nandanar keerthani by Gopalakrishna Bharathi, Kannamal Viniile by Muthu Tandavar in Khambhoji, “Bandanene Ranga bandanene” by Purandaradasar in Shri Vallalar’s prayer song on Kandakottam followed by “Idhayak koyilil” in ragam Manolayam for Kadalur Subramaniyam and a Thillana. Published - August 13, 2026 09:13 pm IST
