Shyama Sashtri’s compositions reflected divinity and devotion, said S M Vilasini, a popular carnatic vocalist.

She was speaking at Endrendrum M S, a programme by Vasantha Memorial Trust to popularise the contributions made by legendary carnatic singer M S Subbulakshmi in Chennai on Sunday.

Vilasini said that Shyama Sashtri was a musician who not only had a noteworthy command on raga but also had a sound knowledge of bhava (meaning and expression) and sahitya (literature) of music.

She mentioned that Shyama Sashtri was a man who had displayed scholarly inclinations from his childhood itself. Compositions of Shyama Sashtri are technical and some others are descriptive, however they have the scholarly essence in them, she added.

Shyama Sashtri had placed swarajatis with raga bhavam  as base and integrated it with laya patterns and sahitya together in perfection. She also mentioned that MS had performed these swarajatis to perfection in many of her compositions.

Vasantha Memorial Trust managing trustee Ramanathan Jayaraman was also present on the occasion.