If the Semmangudi bani is vibrantly alive in the music of the talented vocalist-disciples of PS Narayanaswamy, the wards of fellow Sangita Kala Acharya and fellow Srinivasa Iyer disciple V Subrahmaniam are not far behind.

Among the young singers owing allegiance to this admirable pathantara is Bengaluru-based Bhavana Iyer.

Bhavana, who had early music lessons from some outstanding teachers like Kallidaikurichi Mahadeva Bhagavatar, Bombay S Ramachandran and S Rajam, came to V Subrahmaniam as a disciple for the long haul in 2001. Showing rare grasping power and dedication besides a ringing voice, she has progressed by leaps and bounds since then.

Now a consummate young concert musician, she acknowledges the immense benefits of her guru’s “great emphasis on open-throated singing, clarity in pathantara and the sarvalaghu suddham characteristic of Sri Semmangudi.”

Over the years, Bhavana has grown to be his senior disciple and an able performer some of whose concerts have received very favourable reviews, with The Hindu and The Indian Express in particular giving her their stamp of approval as a worthy representative of the Semmangudi school. Her rakti raga explorations have come in for special praise for the nostalgia they evoke in the experienced listener.

Bhavana, who has a masters degree in horticulture from Texas A&M University, USA, was actively involved in SPICMACAY’s programmes in the USA, while a student there.