Come April, a heady mix of Bevu bella gives way to the headier elixir of 'Paanaka' and 'Sangeeta'…'Sri Rama Navami spells bliss. 'Namma Bengaluru' has managed to retain the glory of this season despite palying host to the 'Mall' extravaganza of recent times. Music , to many these days is a welcome stress buster that transcends to the divine!
Our troupe had a chance to present 'Ramodayam', a 'Geeta Roopaka' ( operratta of sorts ) composed by one of the contemporary Kannada poets of the 'Navodaya' genre Dr. Pu. Ti. Narasimhachar ( Pu Ti Na ). He is known to have composed many acclaimed operattas in Kannada in the traditional style. His compositions are unique in the sense that, the tunes , many prescribed by him and set in rare melodic ragas by none other than Vidwan Late Dr. Doreswamy Iyengar , the iconic musician of yesteryears. The elements of the 'Geeta Roopaka' are all set in dramatic sequences and set to music in a classical interlock of Swara and Saahitya. This feature has indeed placed Dr. Pu.Ti. Na at the literary pinnacle as one of the best Kannada poets with an immense insight for music.
Mom , an ardent fan of Dr.Pu. Ti.Na, had interacted with him and had also been part of the Geeta Roopaka troupes almost a decade and a half back. She had this desire to reinitiate the repertiore ….and therefore put a few of us together ( some well trained in the art of Gamaka and carnatic music alongwith a few amateurs like me!). She selected 'Ramodayam' to suit the season fine and also felt that this composition was less presented than the other popular ones like' Gokula Nirgamana' ,' Shabari', 'Seeta Kalyana' et. All. Some of the songs had prescribed tunes and some odes had to be tuned. She took stock of all that and started our training sessions. Singing ragas like' Sanjeevini', 'Suruti', 'Vaasanti, 'Naayaki'…seemed tough for us in the beginning. But as our practice sessions took shape we were able to relish the harmony of the soulful tunes and lyrics.
'Ramodayam' signifies the 'Birth of Rama'….rather the ascension of Lord Vishnu's Rama Avatara. Legend has that the 'Heathen Devas' approach Him thorough His consort Mahalakshmi to redeem 'Bhoodevi- Mother Earth' from the sinners. He reincarnates as Rama the crown prince of Ayodhya and all this happens in the' Chaitra' Masam…a season of celebration!
The above mythical 'plot' is wonderfully captured by the poet as a drama with dialogues as odes set to tune rightfully by Mom to suit the emotion.
The program slated for the evening of last Saturday , 19th of March was well-delivered and well-received too! The pressiding guests and the audience opined that such programs must pave way for more similar ones. Mom's untiring efforts and our coalesce paid off!!
Mythical dieties when personified as mortals invoke a sense of reassurance ; He is above all of us while still being amongst us!.....can we ask for more?!!
