A great tribute to the Khanjira Maestro LAYA BRAHMA Sri. G.Harishankar

Kalpa Media House | Special Article by Dr. Y. G. Parimala |

One of the highest honours in performing arts is the Sangeeth Natak Academy award. The only Khanjira player to have received this honour was Laya Brahma, Vid. G. Harishankar, who lived between 1958 and 2002. He had his training initially from his father Sri. Govinda Rao and further specialised under Sri. Ramanathapuram C.S. Murugabhupathy and none less than Sri. Palghat Mani Iyer. Sri. Hariharan had a unique style of playing Khanjira and has set the bench mark for the next generations. He performed with many Senior artists during his time and recorded for several albums like “Laya Chaitra”, “Shruthilaya” and “Grand finale”. He is known as one of the best Khanjira players of the century.

Many of his disciples are renowned performing artists. Sri. C.P. Vyasa Vittala, Sri. Bangalore Amrut, Sri. Nerkulam Shankar are chief among them. They have many reputed disciples as well. Vid. Sri. C.P. Vyasa Vittala runs the G. Ravishankar School of Khanjira. He has been holding concerts in memory of his Guru every year on 11th February.. This year, through Dashapramati Sangeetha Sabha Trust, Rajajinagar Bangalore, he organised the 23rd “Smarananjali”, in memory of his guru, “Layabrahma”, ” Khanjeera pravartaka”, “Kalaimamani”, Vidwan Sri G. Harishankar, at Sri Rama Lalitha Kalamandira, Bangalore.
Two very noteworthy concerts by eminent artists were presented for the occasion

One was “Vakpathi gaana kusumanjali” , a concert of own compositions by Gaanakalabhushana Dr.K.Vageesh (Deputy Director General, Retd. ALL INDIA RADIO, Delhi) and another concert by Gaanakalavisharada Dr Muralidhar Kanchi ( Director(A), H.O.D. Cardiac Anaesthesia, Narayana Hridayalaya).

They were accompanied by Vid. Sri. Venkatesh Josyer on Violin, Vid. Sri K K. Harinarayan on Mridangam. Vid.R.Karthik and Sri.R.Karthik Bhat respectively accompanied them on the Khanjira.
Dr. Vageesh is a very well-known musician, musicologist and composer apart from his coveted position as Deputy Director General, AIR, Delhi. He presented own compositions. The composition “Rasika Ranjini niranjini ananda daayini”, in raga Rasika Ranjini was a master-piece. The raga in pentatonic scale is very close to purvikalyani and was handled with great ease and expertise. A beautiful composition on Lord Hanuman (Dashapramathi) followed. He concluded the concert with a lovely thillana in Sindhubhairavi.

Dr. Muralidhar Kanchi, even though holding a senior position as Director, Cardiac Anaesthesia it was so heartening to note his simplicity, dedication to music, with his sonorous voice. He captivated the audience with beautiful renditions of the compositions Sri Gananatham Bhajare and several devaranamas, Mella mellane bandane, Sakala sampadaveeva, Balavu balave ninna balavallade and as the main piece, indu yenage govinda in bhairavi.

The program was a fitting tribute to the legendary artist Vid. G. Harishankar. Vid. Vyasa Vittala, addressed the gathering and spoke about the great contributions of the artists and his Guru.
A great tribute to the Khanjira Maestro LAYA BRAHMA Sri. G.Harishankar

Many of his disciples are renowned performing artists. Sri. C.P. Vyasa Vittala, Sri. Bangalore Amrut, Sri. Nerkulam Shankar are chief among them. They have many reputed disciples as well. Vid. Sri. C.P.Vyasa Vittala runs the G.Ravishankar School of Khanjira. He has been holding concerts in memory of his Guru every year on 11th February.. This year, through Dashapramati Sangeetha Sabha Trust, Rajajinagar Bangalore, he organised the 23rd “Smarananjali”, in memory of his guru, “Layabrahma”, ” Khanjeera pravartaka”, “Kalaimamani”, Vidwan Sri G. Harishankar, at Sri Rama Lalitha Kalamandira, Bangalore.
Two very noteworthy concerts by eminent artists were presented for the occasion.

They were accompanied by Vid. Sri. Venkatesh Josyer on Violin, Vid. Sri K K. Harinarayan on Mridangam. Vid.R.Karthik and Sri.R.Karthik Bhat respectively accompanied them on the Khanjira.

Dr. Vageesh is a very well-known musician, musicologist and composer apart from his coveted position as Deputy Director General, AIR, Delhi. He presented own compositions. The composition “Rasika Ranjini niranjini ananda daayini”, in raga Rasika Ranjini was a master-piece. The raga in pentatonic scale is very close to purvikalyani and was handled with great ease and expertise. A beautiful composition on Lord Hanuman (Dashapramathi) followed. He concluded the concert with a lovely thillana in Sindhubhairavi.
Dr. Muralidhar Kanchi, even though holding a senior position as Director, Cardiac Anaesthesia it was so heartening to note his simplicity, dedication to music, with his sonorous voice. He captivated the audience with beautiful renditions of the compositions Sri Gananatham Bhajare and several devaranamas, Mella mellane bandane, Sakala sampadaveeva, Balavu balave ninna balavallade and as the main piece, indu yenage govinda in bhairavi.

The program was a fitting tribute to the legendary artist Vid. G. Harishankar. Vid. Vyasa Vittala, addressed the gathering and spoke about the great contributions of the artists and his Guru.