SCINTILLATING PERFORMANCE BY KALAPINI KOMKALI by Sanyukta S. Kashalkar

In a general scenario of fast evaporating scent of traditions inalienably associated with religious functions, it was a welcome experience to see Maharashtra Lok Seva Mandal Allahabad, keeping up with the tradition of inviting Kalapini Komkali daughter of the legendary Pt. Kumar Gandharva to perform during the 11 day long Sarwajanik Ganeshotsav festival recently.

Maharashtra Lok Seva Mandal, which was founded in 1957, celebrated its Golden Jubilee this year. The celebrations, besides religious ceremonies were studded with a variety of cultural and entertaining programmes which were a balanced mix of cultural traditions deeply rooted in Maharashtra as well as programmes that would attract the Hindi speaking crowd.

The Ganeshotsav today is celebrated all over the world and in most places where traditions are respected. The festival cannot but have Classical Music programmes performed by artists of repute as well as those who are knocking at the door and deserve to be provided a stage to demonstrate their skills and accomplishments. Keeping up with the spirit, the Maharashtra Lok Seva Mandal organized Kalapini Komkali's programme on 19th September 2007. The stage overlooking a hall has been witness to performances by luminaries such as Pt. Jasraj, Pt. Kumar Gandharva, Pt. Vasant Rao Deshpande and Vidushi Hirabai Barodekar besides some young artists of the likes of Devaki Pandit and Kaivalya Kumar to name a few. A genius and a well trained classical singer of the younger generation Kalapini Komkali is widely recognized as one of the finest vocalist of North Indian Classical Music representing the Gwalior Gharana. Kalapini is the daughter and disciple of the legendary maestro Pt. Kumar Gandharva and her equally illustrious mother, Padmashree Vasundhara Komkali.

Kalapini took up the stage and settled down vibrantly. The continuous sound of finely tuned Tanpuraas helped the audience being captivated towards her. Before starting her performance she addressed the listeners and established an instant rapport with them and started the journey of musical evening with Raga Yaman Kalyan.

She commenced with the aalap and her deep sounding voice moved the air and resonated along. The vilambit khayal in Ektaal (12 beats) with the bols," Devo daan mohe..." a composition by Pt. Kumar Gandharva, its beautiful rendering in Raga Yaman Kalyan mesmerized everyone. Following the perfect precisions of melodic scales (with the swaras, dominant Gandhara and constant Nishaad), features and the combination of alpatva shuddha Madhyama and a prominent touch of teevra (sharp) Madhyama in both ascending and descending movements showed her flair and understanding. She started picking up fast without spending much time that is very much like her father's style. Kalapini steadily went up to the higher pitch creating innovations over each swara of the Raga. The time when she rendered at the peak of her scale could easily be like her father's in rendition. She portrayed the aalap portion with the blend of meend, kann and khatka.

In about twenty minutes she shifted to an 'Abhang' (Marathi devotional songs) of Sant Tukaram in the Madhyalaya in the same Raga, in place of taking any Bandish in drut-laya she rendered it enjoying herself as one could see from the soulful, bold and rich voice. Producing designs and variations with the bols of the Abhang within the raga, the quick sapaat taans, long and short and coming to the 'Sama' (first beat of the taala) in different ways, which the audience were put to surprise at every Sama which was proved as the music lovers stroked their hands together on the sound of the first beat. Thus, the innovations wove a musical spell that merged well with the ambience.

Raga Des came next in the cavalcade, a seasonal raga and she sang a traditional bandish," Kanha re bansiya bajaee" and the very intricate Taraana "Yala ya yalaa" which displayed her talent in all the three saptaks and the bhava part in her recital. The presentation of the ragas originating from her throat rejoiced and rejuvenated the listeners who could not stop their hands holding together!

Another attraction of the evening were the Nirguni Bhajans of Malwa(Madhya Pradesh) composed by Pt. Kumar Gandharva, (which she has inherited and added to the rich and unique repertoire), brought together the Classical grandeur with Malwa folk tunes with high spirits. The famous and well known Nirguni Bhajan "Hirana Samajh..." by Kabir put the audience spell-bound and made them feel like a wayfarer to the soil of Malwa. The most remarkable thing to listen to is the literature of bandishes with gentle folk intonations, the soft whisper of the land of Malwa which Kalapini Komkali represents.

The Bhajan moved the crowd to a state of momentary renunciation and the pathos of the Bhajans left an indelible impression on them reminiscent of the electrifying effect Pt. Kumar Gandharva who would create with his Nirgun and Kabir renditions. Kalapini Komkali stood high in the esteem of the discerning audience comprising of connoisseurs such as Pt. Ramasrey Jha, Pt. Shantaram Kashalkar, Shri. S.N. Varma, Justice A. N. Varma, Rajiv Dave, Mala Tankha and many others. The musical content with the grammatical sincerity evidenced the perfection that Kalapini Komkali has achieved in both Khayal as well as semi-classical forms of art. Kalapini Komkali has always desired to find new creative inputs within her music and style of rendition so that something exotic, profound and artful comes out of her. She has carved a niche for herself through her mellifluous voice and wide range of scale with perfection. Those unfortunate ones who could not be a part of the audience can take a look into the song, "Kangana Re..." of the film Paheli by Amol Palekar where she has lent her voice. She has also composed and play-backed in the film Devi Ahilya where one can feel the essence of the Malwa folklore. Well, those present there pined for a still longer performance by Kalapini who had taken the evening in her fold with such a touch of class that it was only natural for the listeners to wait for more!