Akkarai Sisters - Violin Duet on 17th May 2015

Akkarai Sisters

Vidushis S. Subhalakshmi and S. Sornalatha           - Violin Duet

Vidwan K.U.Jayachandra Rao                                  - Mridangam

Vidwan Guruprasanna                                               -  Khanjira

Sparkling Violin Duet at Nadasurabhi

Akkarai Sisters, Subhalakshmi and Sornalatha  presented a delightful violin duet concert for Nadasurabhi at the Indian Heritage Academy Hall on 17th May 2015. Starting with the Kaanadaa varnam in Ata thaalam, they played it in three speeds with perfection and sweetness.Purandara dasa's Naattai kriti followed, which was embellished with brisk swaras. First major item was a detailed raga alapanai of Varali by the younger sister, Sornalatha. The song was the popular Kaa Vaa Vaa, a tamil song. Two highly melodious and bhava laden kritis one in Dwijavanti and the other in raga Lalitha touched the hearts of the audience. The alapanais of both the ragas were played by the elder sister Subhalakshmi. The main item taken up for detailed treatment was a Ragam, Taanam, Pallavi in the ragam Shanmukhapriya. Ragamalika swaram were rendered beautifully in Vagadheeshwari, Nalinakanthi and Aahirbhairav. The concert concluded after the tail pieces which were a Bhajan and a thillana. The concert ran for 3 hrs and 40 minutes. 

Accompanying the young sisters were KU Jayachandra Rao on Mridangam and Guruprasanna on Khanjira. Besides giving understanding support, they also performed an electrifying thani avarthanam. Overall the 180-200 strong audience enjoyed the evening thorougly with the exceptionally pleasant concert.

List of songs:

1. Neranammithi   Varnam  Kaanada   Ata Talam
2.  Jaya jaya jayajanakikantha   Naattai   Khanda Chapu  (S)
3.  Ka Va Va   Varali (R) (S),  Adi - Ragam by Sornalatha
4.  Akhilandeswari  Dwijavanthi  (R)   Adi - Ragam by Subhalakshmi
5.  Nannu brovu lalitha   Lalitha (R)  Misra Chapu -Ragam by Subhalakshmi
6.  Brovabarama  Bahudari  Adi
7.  RTP   Shanmukhapriya   Adi  2 kalai
     Sahityam - Murahara Nagadhara Bhavabhayahara Sadaa Maampaahi
     Ragamalika swaram - Vagadheeshwari, Nalinakanthi, Aahirbhairav
     Tani avartanam
8.  Visweshwar darshan kar  Sindhu Bhairavi  Rupakam
9.  Thillana of Lalgudi Jayaraman  Mohana Kalyani  Adi
10. Pavamana Mangalam  Sourashtra Adi. 

The Invitation

The sisters were initiated into violin and later vocal music, from a very early age by their first guru and father Sri. Swamynathan. They have received advanced training in music from senior artists like Sri. P.S.Narayanaswami and Chiraveena Sri. N.Ravikiran. They have been accompanying many well known artists on violin. Also they have given a number of concerts together on violin as well as vocal music. They have widely travelled all over the world on concert tours besides performing in many prestigious sabhas in India. Notable awards and prizes received by them either individually or together, include Rajiv Gandhi Yuva Puraskar from the President of India, awards from Madras Music Academy, and Shanmukhanandha Sabha, Mumbai.  

Vidwan Jayachandra Rao and Vidwan Guruprasanna on mridangam and Khanjira respectively have been providing percussion support to all leading carnatic musicians for more than a decade.