Bantureethi Kolu - Vocal Veena Duet

The famous Thyagaraja Kriti, Bantureethi Kolu, in ragam Hamsanadam and thalam Deshadi, is tried in a unique way as Vocal - Veena Duet. The Kirtana is sung beautifully by the daughter of the Late Prof V. B. Meenakshi (Retd. Principal of Chembai Memorial Govt Music College Palakkad), Smt. Lekshmi Subha M. S. Veena is played by the granddaughter of legendary music composer Late. L. P. R. Varma, Smt. Ammu Varma. The duo has been accompanied by AIR A Top artist Sri. Raj Narayanan in Mrudangam. As an experiment, Edayakka is used as the upa pakkam. Edayakka has been aesthetically played by Sri. Mundembilly Krishnakumar.

Smt. Lekshmi Subha was trained in classical music by her maternal aunt Smt. Dr. B. Pushpa Krishnan (Retd. HOD, Department of Music, University of Kerala). Dr. B. Pushpa Krishnan also composed Chitta Swaram for this Kirtana and seems like it's the first time that Chitta Swaram is composed for this Kirtana, Bantureethi Koluvu. Smt. Lekshmi Subha is also trained in Veena.

Smt. Ammu Varma has been trained in Veena by Smt. Devi Vasudevan and Smt. Rajalekshmi Anil. She is also a vocalist. Smt. Ammu Varma has been blessed with many students for both Vocal and Veena at her Ragasudha Kalalayam in Tripunithura. Incidentally Smt. Ammu Varma is also a student of Prof. V. B. Meenakshi during her college education.

Kriti: Bantureethi Kolu
Ragam: Hamsanadam
Thalam: Deshadi

Vocal: Smt. Lekshmi Subha
Veena: Smt. Ammu Varma
Mrudangam: Sri. Raj Narayanan
Edaykka: Sri. Mundembilly Krishnakumar

Music Guidance: Smt. Dr. Pushpa B Krishnan, Sri. Raj Narayanan
Recording: Sri. M S Anilkumar, Tripunithura
DoP: Sri. Manu, Sri. Krishnakumar Tripunithura
Editing: Sri. Thushar
Editing Support: Smt. Meera

Sincere Gratitude: Sri. Ramaswamy, Smt. Girija Ramaswamy, Sabari, Sreehari, Jayakrishnan, Jayaraman, Sri. S. Krishna Iyer, Smt. Shobha Varma, Sri. Ramdas, Rishikesh, Ishaani, Ishwaan

Concept, Production & Direction: Sri. Krishnanath Venkataraman