This piece, ‘Raghuvamsasudhambudhi’ in Raag Kathanakuthuhalam is a vibrant composition performed by Dr. Jyotsna Srikanth. She is accompanied by Neyveli Venkatesh on the mridangam and RN Prakash on the ghatam. A popular piece that has held audiences in sway for decades, this composition by Patnam Subramania Iyer, a 19th century composer and singer from the Carnatic tradition, was a follower of Saint Thyagaraja and has left behind about a hundred other beautiful compositions.

Kathanakuthuhalam has a convoluted structure and is somewhat similar to a western major scale that makes it an exciting and lively play of notes. With a refreshing approach, Dr. Srikanth makes this piece sound different and vivacious. With the bright and warm tone of her violin, she amalgamates melody and virtuosity in a spell-binding manner making this one of her most memorable renditions.

This concert from 2007 was part of a project where UK-based artists were presented along with artists from India as an ensemble. Dr. Srikanth was based in the UK and was aptly paired with Venkatesh to give a resounding performance. Venkatesh and Prakash give a wonderful, rhythmically tight accompaniment to this piece set to Adi talam.

Kathanakuthuhalam is a joyful raga; Its movements are unlike others and come with many unexpected twists and turns, making it all the more exciting a melody and well-suited for instruments. It is a derived or janya raga of the 29th Melakarta, Dheerashankarabharanam, of the Carnatic repertoire.

Musicians:
Jyotsna Srikanth (violin)
Neyveli Venkatesh (mridangam)
RN Prakash (ghatam and khanjira)

Raag Kathanakuthuhalam, Composition by Patnam Subramania Iyer (1845-1942) in Adi talam