Singer Khaja honoured with Mahanati Savitri Memorial Award

Vijayawada: Mohammad Khaja, a renowned singer and organiser of 'Mayur Orchestra' was felicitated on Saturday evening at Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao Government Music and Dance College. Mahanati Savitri memorial award was presented to Mohammad Khaja by Mahanati Savitri Sahitya Samskritika Kalapeetham.

The organisers said that Mohammad Khaja was selected by the committee for the award for his excellent service to the music for the last 45 years. They also said that Khaja has conducted more than 6,000 orchestra programmes during his career.

Khaja entered the field 45 years back and he used to sing film-based songs and performed along with eminent singers like Madhavapeddi Suresh, G Anand, Ramakrishna, Nagur Babu and SP Balasubrahmanyam during his long singing career. Forty years back, Khaja started his own orchestra namely 'Mayur Orchestra' and uninterruptedly conducting programmes throughout Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Khaja introduced many new singers and they became popular.

The felicitation was followed by film-based songs concert by Mohammad Khaja followers like Rasool, Vijay Kumar, Balaji Kumar, Satya, Mohammad Khaja, Sarma, Sivaleela, Sudharani, Pragna, Keerthana, Syed Ali, Razia Sultana, Dr Bhagya Sree, Vishnu Priya and Bala Prudhvi Raj. These singers rendered both Telugu and Hindi film songs like 'Ee gali.. ee nela', 'Chilipinavvula', 'Dil hai ke manta nahi', 'Kya khoob lagu ho', 'Aisi deewangi', 'Priya ragaale', 'Pacha bottesina', 'Swapna veenuvedo', 'Priya ninu chuudaleka', 'Bhale manchi roju' and 'Wada karle Saajna'.

Sruthi Samanvi showcased Kuchipudi dance items before the felicitation programme. Sruthi has exhibited excellent talent and received appreciations from the audience present.

Paruchuri Vijayalakshmi, Nidumolu Rama Satyanarayana, Prabhala Srinivas, Errapothu Murali, Durga Prasad, Koppula Ashok and others felicitated Mohammad Khaja on behalf of Savitri Kalapeetham.

Khaja was also honoured by Sumadhura Kala Niketan secretary P Vijaya Bhaskara Sarma, Eswara Prasad, Purna, Sridhar J, Jayanthi Chakravarthi on this occasion.