Talented vocalist Vidwan Abijna Rao gives a pleasant concert

Kalpa Media House | Special Article |Vidwan Abijna Rao presented a lovely Carnatic Vocal endowment concert at Indian Institute of world culture. Gifted with a sonorous voice and being well-trained in Carnatic music, Abijna is a very promising artist.

Vid. Abijna hails from Udupi. She is the daughter of Smt. Sunitha Rao and Sri. Raghavendra Rao.

Academically Abhijna is a Silver Medallist in B.Tech (CSE, Data Science) from PES University, Bengaluru, and is currently pursuing her M.Tech at IISc.

Abhijnawas initiated into in Carnatic Classical Music at an early age and got her initial training from Vid. Smt. Chandrika. She is continuing advanced training under the guidance of Vid. Smt. Y.G. Srilatha Nikshith and Vid. Sri Puttur T Nikshith.
Abijna has completed the Vidwat–Anthima with distinction from the Government of Karnataka and is a recipient of the prestigious CCRT scholarship from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. She has secured awards at competitions conducted by Gayana Samaja, Academy of Music, Bangalore, Kamala Avadhani Trust, Subbaramayya Fine Arts Trust and others.

A seasoned performer, Abijna has presented concerts at at prestigious sabhas and festivals all over India such as the Chembai Music Festival, Gayana Samaja, IIWC, Bekal Gokulam Goshala. She has also performed for All India Radio and appeared on programs for Power TV and Shankara TV.She was a winner of “Ede Thumbi Haaduvenu” of ETV Kannada and also a semi-finalist in “Raga Ratnam – Junior 2” of Amritha TV.

Abijna’s dedication and potential was evident in the beautiful concert she presented at Indian Institute of World Culture which was conducted in memory of Sri Puliyur R. Krishnaswamy Iyengar and Smt V. Janaki.She chose compositions of a variety of composers for the concert. Beautiful thanavarnam of Dr.M. Balamurali Krishna in praise of Lord Krishna, “Omkarapranava” in shanmukhapriya, compositions of Sri Muthuswamy Dikshithar, Panchashatpeetharoopini on Goddess Rajarajeswari in karnatakadevagandharam and Sri Swaminathaya on Lord muruga of swamymalai temple after a nice alapana of Khamach.

Janani ninnuvina, a very famous composition of Sri Subbaraya Shastri, son of one of the musical trinities Sri Shyama Shatri, is a very devotional piece in praise of Godess Amba who is worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara. Sri Subbaraya Shastri being a disciple of Sri Thyagaraja and Sri Muthuswamy Dikshithar, blends their styles in this master-piece. Set to mishrachaputaalam, it has a lovely chitteswaram with lyrics, he uses the mudra ‘kumara’, indicating his lineage. Abhigna gave a neat presentation of the krithiand embellished with good manodharma.The main piece “Adamodigalade” of Saint Thyagaraja where the theme is kind of chiding Lord Rama to bestow his grace. Thyagaraja compares his own state with Lord Hanuman to whom Lord Rama makes him to speak to Lakshmana first. He pleads to seek direct attention of the Lord Abhijna presented the krithi well along with raga,neraval and swaraprastharam. It was followed by a wonderful thani. Devaranamas of Saint Purandaradasa“irabeku” and Sri Kanakadasa, “enendukondadi”were melodious.