AFVOA Newletter August 2020

Section 6 – eConnect Reviews CV 2 No. 02 / 2020 Page 191 of 237 most, but with the only exception of the naturally gifted. As for Ms Rasika, both are at play. Rasika’s CV reads as being proficient in the distinctly different genres of music of Carnatic, Hindustani, Flamenco and Jazz. Add to that is her expertise on the Instruments – Flute, Violin, Piano, Synthesiser, Kanjira and the relatively unknown percussion instrument, the Ajwain dabba!. The permutations and combinations offered by the mix of the diverse genres and the modes are mind boggling. To call Ms Rasika a prodigy seems a gross understatement ; “multi-faceted” sounds very ordinary; “versatile” is plain mundane; “dexterous” doesn’t do justice to her achievements; “adroit” is pedantic; “ingenious” is unimaginative; “accomplished” sounded clichéd. Our own Sanskrit and Marathi offer a word that comes close enough : ‘Aṣṭāvadhānī’ (a person who is capable of attending to many things at the same time) but it still doesn’t carry the right import. For want of a better word, let us call Rasika a delightful package that combines classicism and modernism, through the medium of contemporary music. That she is also an articulate speaker is the icing on the cake! To rub shoulders with the likes of Ghulam Ali Khan, John MacLaughlin and Shankar-Ehsan-Loy team at this young age and yet stay grounded takes a different doing. Rasika is clearly a classy musician in a different league, moving up the ladder in double quick time, with the pinnacle of glory already in sight! Recognizing a God given gift early, nurture it and make it one’s mission in life requires courage, conviction and courage of conviction. Rasika has them all in abundance. Rasika’s musical repertoire is wide, her range even wider. In under an hour, she packed a punch that adequately showcased the depth of her multi-dimensional expertise. See the variety for yourself : - As is usual, the first was the very calming invocation song “ Gaṃ Gaṇapatē ” – in Raag Hamsadhwani (Carnatic but extensively used in Hindustani) that set the tone for the rest of the morning. - Followed by ‘Aage bhi jaane na Tu” – a Bollywood number of yester years that brought instant smiles on the participants faces, with many of them singing along. - The refreshingly composed romantic hit by ARR “Kadhal Rojave” was next, when Rasika seamlessly shifted to its Hindi version half way through, a true exhibition of multi linguistic expertise, an abridged form of மணிப்ரவாளம் . - ‘Tujhse Naraaz Nahin Zindagi’ was the next selection. A Bollywood retro and a breezy tune from the movie Masoom. Rasika definitely knew what would fly with the Veterans.