Date:03/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/03/stories/2007060318300300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

The voice hasn't aged

Staff Reporter

MEMORABLE OCCASION: Theatre person Yenagi Balappa felicitating Hindustani vocalist Prabha Atre in Bangalore on Saturday. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

BANGALORE: Noted vocalist Prabha Atre, who performed here after being felicitated on Saturday on turning 75, said she is still marching ahead in her efforts to convert the notes hidden in her into pearls.

Replying to the felicitation by nonagenarian theatre person Enagi Balappa at a function at Ravindra Kalakshetra, Dr. Atre said she would keep walking till the "notes enclosed in the soul of my mind mature into lustrous pearls."

The felicitation had reassured her that she was not alone though the path of her sadhana was hazardous and lonely. It was the support from her gurus, parents and listeners that had kept her going.

Nilakantha Swamiji said the rich voice of Dr. Atre was young as if she was 25-year-old though she had physically turned 75.

She gave ample evidence of this when in her effortless rendition of "Madhuvanthi" with the composition "Mana Mohana Shyama... " She followed it up with her favourite composition and famous "Tana mana dhana tope vaarun" in Raag Kalavathi with ease.

Then came the bhajan "Jai gurudeva janama hamara safar tu karana." This was before the felicitation. She resumed the concert after the function and presented Raga Chandrakauns with the composition "Suguna Sarupa Nandalala" and a tarana.

Her light classical "Jamuna kinari mora gaon" was probably the best part of the concert.

She concluded with Bhairavi with the composition "... Kaise jaavun mai piki nagariya".

Dr. Atre appears to have developed a new style by letting the "saathis" sing with her quite a bit.Ravindra Kakoti accompanied her on the harmonium.

The event was organised by Swaramayee of Mumbai, an organisation of admirers of Dr. Atre and Ravindra Yavagal's Bangalore-based Sri Rama Kala Vedike.