Kopparapu National Award presented to veteran playback singer P Suseela

Visakhapatnam: In a glittering ceremony held at the Kalabharati Auditorium in the city, the Kopparapu National Award for the year 2019 was given to erstwhile playback singer, P Suseela.

The versatile singer, now in her 80s, is much loved and revered for her all-time classic hits – around 50000 of them that she has sung in 12 Indian languages. Amongst the many prestigious awards, she received the National Award for her song, and has also entered the Guinness Book of World Records.

The brothers of Kopparapu Venkata Subbaraya Kavi (1885-1932) and Venkata Ramana (1887- 1942) are counted amongst the most eminent in the unique form of Telugu poetry (Avadhanam).

In a bid to continue their legacy, an annual award is given in their names, and amongst the receivers of this prestigious award in the past are the eminent personalities like Pandit Jasraj, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Malladi Chandrasekhara Sastri, Dr Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna.

This year Avadhanacharya Dr Asavadi Prakasa Rao, who is not just a poet but also teaches Avadhanam, was felicitated on the occasion.

Amongst the dignitaries present to felicitate the nightingale of Telugu film music Suseela were Ministers Muttyamsetti Srinivasa Rao, BJP State chief convenor P Muralidhar Rao, AP Official Language Commission Chairman Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad, Chairman, VMRDA Dronam Raju Srinivas, former Minister Mandali Buddha Prasad, Senior journalist Ramachandra Murthy, scholar Dhulipala Mahadevamani, educationist Pyda Krishna Prasad, eminent medical professional Dr Kootikuppala Suryarao, writer, poet Jonnnavittula Ramaligeswara Rao, Economics expert K Narasimha Murthy.

Classical singers Alamuru Radhakumari and Swapna rendered Narayana Teertha Tarangams on the occasion. The founder of the Koppurapu Kalapeetham, senior journalist Maa Sarma offered Gurupuja to Kutralam Sankaracharya Siddeswarananda Bharatiswami, who also happens to be the descendent of the poets.