Young voice, timeless arts

On a leisurely Sunday morning, August 16, a drive through quiet Bengaluru roads, followed by hot filter coffee and a crisp-yet-soft Maddur vada at the venue, sets the mood perfectly for music. At Wadia Hall, Indian Institute of World Culture, 16-year-old Vibha Raghavendra makes her Carnatic debut. Her opening Raaga Neelambari Varnam by Lalgudi Jayaraman immediately reveals her promise. The effortless glide from the invocatory Nattai to Neelambari is striking. Sung with the vigour of youth, it has a vibrancy especially suited for the young ensemble on the dais. In the front row, her music gurus Sri S. A. Karthik and Smt. Mangala watch with unmistakable pride. Their Anandi Centre for Music clearly nurtures talent.

Vibha brings freshness to the traditional kutcheri, balancing tradition with a contemporary sensibility. Her confidence, stage presence and easy rapport with the young accompanying artistes belie her debut status.

A string of well selected compositions follows and then comes the main raaga of the day. Her handling of the demanding Thodi, particularly the neraval in Niddura Nirakarinchi, reflects serious training and remarkable maturity. “Ako Ranga Node” penned by Gopaladasa, specially composed in Nalinikanti by Guru Karthik adds further colour. When she sings Bhogeendra Saayinam, a Swati Thirunal composition in Kuntala Varali, people nod in appreciation, reminded of MS Amma.

For over two hours, her sweet voice holds the audience. The “Prathibha Parichaya” (arangetram in music) is pronounced a grand success: The credit belongs equally to her gurus, supportive parents and her own disciplined dedication.

Over a delicious lunch after the concert, Vibha opens up- relaxed and chatty.

At 16, she is already finding her own voice through the twin disciplines of Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music. For her, they are much more than performing arts. “I think of dance and music as a way of expressing myself, and I believe that both have really shaped me into the person that I am today.”

The music gurus taught her discipline, patience and respect for her roots and traditions. She feels connected to them and finds herself communicating through their language. Her hope is to spread the joy of Indian art and culture around the world. “I feel really proud and honoured to be performing such sacred art forms.”

Her Bharatanatyam gurus Sri Parshwanath Upadhye and others have played an important role in this journey. Extremely supportive and encouraging, they have helped her work on her weaknesses, build her strengths and shape her into the dancer she is today. They have also given her opportunities to perform on prestigious platforms, making her more confident on stage. Beyond technique, they have taught her discipline and patience, and the importance of learning every aspect of the art form with attention and focus. “I am ever grateful to them for everything,” she says.

Balancing studies with two demanding art forms is not easy, but she has learnt to manage her time. After returning from school, she does some homework before beginning her practice. During examinations, she wakes up early to study. “So, like this, I balance my studies and arts”, she smiles.

She is equally clear that she does not want to choose between her two passions. “I feel that my dance and music complement each other really well, and I would definitely not want to sacrifice one to pursue the other. I want to be professionally performing in both the fields, and I really love and enjoy doing both.”

Here’s a focused, ambitious and refreshingly savvy Gen Z artist who understands the value of her rich cultural legacy—and knows how to carry it forward. May her tribe increase!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vijaya Pratap

Vijaya Pratap[email protected]