Scintillating start to Thyagaraja Aradhana Utsav

The three-day Thyagaraja Swamy Aradhana Utsav being organised by the Vijayawada Music Academy got off to a devotional start at Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao Government Music and Dance College on Friday. The classical music festival began with a vocal concert by Manda Sudharani of Visakhapatnam. She rendered ‘Sree Raghu Kulamandubutti’ in Hamsadhwani raga and `Telisi Ramachintanato’ in Purnachandrika raga.

She was supported by P Nandakumar on violin and K Sadgurucharan on mridangam. Her melodious vocal concert regaled music lovers. KS Govindarajan started his veena recital with `Bantureetikoluvunna’ in Hamsanandi raga, which was followed by ‘Atukaradani’ in Manoranjani raga and `Yenta nine varnitunu’ in Mukhari raga. He was ably supported by P Subbaraya Phalgun on mridangam and I Anjaneya Sastry on ghatam.

Another impressive concert was presented by MP Shruti Ravali of Chennai. She started her concert with the keerthana `Nee Pada Pankajamula in Begada raga and rendered `Nagumomu’ in Abheri raga and `Ksheerasagara Vihara’ in Ananda Bhairavi raga. K Ananta Sourirajan supported her on violin and K Sadgurucharan on mridangam.

The first day of the music fest concluded with a vocal duo by Popuri Gowrinath and Gayatri Gowrinath. Instrumental support was given to the duo by P Charumati Pallavi on violin, P Sriramacharan on mridangam and MVK Sandilya on kanjeera. The duo rendered ‘Meelukovayya’ and `Koluvaivunnade’ Thyagaraja keerthanas.

Earlier, Komanduri Seshadri who inaugurated the music festival, delivered a lecture on Thyagaraja Keerthana Vaibhavam. M Krishna Kumari, station director, All India Radio, who was the chief guest, underlined the need for conducting more such festivals to promote the rich culture and heritage of Telugus. Veteran journalist C Raghavachari and Lakshmi Kumari were also present.Totamgi Dharma Rao and party performed a ‘Nadaswaram’ concert to mark the inauguration of the festival.

By:VRS Prasad