Unique Carnatic Concert with Rare Ragas
Text: B Ratan Raju
Classical music concerts have been in existence since ancient of days. Carnatic and Hindustani, two genres of classical music have become popular in India. Carnatic music is the signature of South Indian culture and bakthi has played a prominent role. Debunking the myth that Carnatic music only belonged to a sect or religion, Purushottam Choudhary Trust organised ‘Purushottam Choudhary Shastriya Sangeetha Mahotsavalu 2018’ at Kalabharathi Auditorium in Visakhapatnam on September 17, 18 and 19. Poet Purushotham Chowdary (September 1803 – August 1890) has written some memorable poetry in ‘Andhra Kraistava Keerthanalu’ which has a history of 220 years.
On the first day, accomplished Carnatic vocalist Musunuri Sasirani melodiously sang the works of Choudary and opened the three-day festival. She began her concert with ‘Unnapatunna Vachuchunna’ in Mukhari raga and continued with ‘Idhigo Subhadra Kshanamu’ in Shanmukhapriya raga, ‘Deva Divyantha Prabhava’ in Kedar Gowla raga. She received a huge round of applause from the audience. A Satya Vishal on violin, Kamesh on mridangam, Dhanunjay on tabla accompanied her. P Rajendra Prasad captivated the audience with his narration.
Singer Amen Samuel made the gathered audience revel in devotional fervour on the second day of the festival. He began his concert with ‘Stuthintun Prabho’ in Yadukula Kambhoji raga and followed it up with krithis like ‘Ni Charanamule’ in Sahana raga, and ‘Payanamai Yunnanayya’ in Yadukula Kambhoji raga. In the second part, Siddabathula Raja Kumari sang her heart out. ‘Hrudaya Manedu Thalupu Nodha’ in Bhairavi raga and ‘Yahova Na Mora Lalinchenu’ in Harivamsa raga, were some of the krithis she recited much to the delight of the audience. Ch Dhanunjay on violin, Harivamsi on mridangam, Baggam Dhanunjay Patnaik on tabla provided the musical accompaniment on day two.
On the occasion, the trust honoured BDP Ravu with ‘Dr Jayakumar Rao Smaraka Sahithi Puraskar’. Dr Jayakumar Rao Nukathoti was the architect of the festival. After his demise, his son, Sudesh has taken up the trust activities upon his shoulders. On the final day once again Musunuri Sasirani won hearts with her soulful singing. ‘Entho Vintha Entho Vintha’ in Hindola raga, ‘Nannu Gannaya Rave Na’ in Shankarabharanam raga and ‘Aayandakarapu Reyilo’ in Subhapanthuvarali raga were some krithis that she performed. The jugalbandi by Renowned violin artiste Avireddy Satya Vishal and his sister Vijayasri in Sankarabharanam raga filled the auditorium with excitement. All in all, it was a successful devotional concert thronged by classical and devotional music aficionados.
