Curating artists for a festival take a fair amount of intuition but that is what excites us the most. In 2018, we presented the Malladi brothers who have consistently wowed audiences for years.

The stellar combination of Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi (violin), Trichy Sankaran (mridangam) and Giridhar Udupa (ghatam) takes this concert to loftier grounds.

The recital begins with a famous kriti (composition) by Saint Thyagaraja in Raag Dhanyasi – ‘Sangeetha Gyanamu.’ The song follows after a wonderfully coordinated and brief alapana by the siblings. Sankaran lands up with grandeur and sets off the pace.

Maintaining the energy from this piece, they launch ‘Kailasa Nathena’, another Sanskrit kriti in Raag Kambhoji by Saint Muthuswamy Dikshitar. This piece introduces Vijayalakshmi’s versatile and graceful violin. Her soulful alapana follows the Malladi brothers’ introduction. The brothers weave short, simple and exquisite patterns involving the whole ensemble to replicate and improvise upon.

The ragam tanam pallavi – is set to Raag Anandabhairavi. They introduce the raga with intricate phraseology in all octaves, leaving Vijayalakshmi to spin the rest of the magic. A virtuosic tanam follows, building much of this piece. The pallavi - ‘Bhava Raga Tala Sangeetha Mey’ is rendered with extraordinary emotion. A spectacular percussion duet by Sankaran and Udupa follows this part. Led by Sankaran, a veteran exponent of 76 years, this taniavartanam is succinct and power-laden. Giridhar Udupa remains unobtrusive, following the master in consonance and with demands to the occasion.

‘Nama Vadami,’ a composition of Ganapathi Sachchidananda, is rendered with elegance. Set to Raag Salaga Bhairavi this is a favourite of the brothers.

The grand finale of the performance is a thillana composed by the legendary Lalgudi Jayaraman. His children - Vijayalakshmi, accompanying them on stage and Lalgudi GJR Krishnan, her brother, who was part of the audience, are both acknowledged by the Malladi brothers. Another phenomenal duo, these two siblings were all set to perform the very next day as part of the 2018 line-up. The thillana set to Raag Rageshwari, is rendered with dexterity in their deep voices.

We are delighted to bring these concerts to you, particularly at a time when mankind is exploring the true meaning of happiness and purpose.

We hope you will enjoy it as much as we did.

Musicians
Malladi Sreeramprasad (vocal)  
Malladi Ravikumar (vocal)  
Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi (violin)  
Trichy Sankaran (mridangam)  
Giridhar Udupa (ghatam)  
Priya Sharma & Srutti Suresan (tanpuras) 

Music Pieces
Raag Dhanyasi, Composition by Saint Thyagaraja (1767-1847) in Adi talam 
Raag Kambhoji, Sanskrit composition by Muthuswamy Dikshitar (1775-1835)
Ragam tanam pallavi in Raag Anandabhairavi
Raag Salaga Bhairavi, Composition by Ganapathi Sachchidananda (born 1942)
Raag Rageshwari, Thillana composed by Lalgudi Jayaraman (1930-2013)