Wired to melody

Subhashini’s talent came to the fore in the brief recital. Whether it was while presenting the compositions or during the improvisation techniques — like playing alapana and swaraprastharas, the sound that Subhashini produced in her instrument, was very pleasing and of high quality. Sadly, she did not quite utilise this opportunity to bring out the complete potential of this instrument. She presented compositions which were all based on Janya ragas like light and lilting Jayantasri, Hamsanadam and Kapi, etc. At some point of time, one expected her to take up a song composed in a Melakarta raga or a Ghana raga which could have given a better outcome.

The good old veena has great potential to produce sound close to the human voice. But only a handful veena recitals are organised in the Capital. India International Center’s gesture in organising one such concert is laudable. The Hyderabad-based artiste Kaza Subhashini Sastry, who has learnt from notable gurus like Vasa Krishnamurthy, Manchala Jagannadha Rao and Emani Sankara Sastry, presented a one-and-half-an-hour long veena recital.