This past weekend was an eventful one in the National Capital Region as far as music lovers, bhajan enthusiasts and devotees are concerned. Annamacharya Sangeethalayam in association with Sri Ram Mandir, Dwarka, celebrated the birthday of Saint Annamacharya with a music programme. The 15 century poet, born in the village Tallapaka in Andhra Pradesh is said to have composed around 36,000 songs in praise of Lord Venkateswara and his consort Lordess Alamelu Manga, in Telugu and Sanskrit.
Of these, only about 12,000 are said to be available today and many of the compositions are widely sung in Carnatic music concerts.
In a programme of about two hours titled “Annamacharya Jayanthi Celebrations 2015”, a group of singers, including S. Shylaja and S. Soundharya (popularly known as the ‘Delhi Sisters’) rendered the compositions of Annamacharya. While a few of themwere sungindividually, most of them were rendered collectively. The group of singers comprised youngsters as well as seniors.Their singing of the compositions in a synchronised manner was both impressive and delightful.
The renderings included “Bhavamulona” in raga Suddha Dhanyasi, “Brahma Kadigina” in raga Mukhari, “Entha Matramuna”, a dviragamalika composition in ragas Brindavana Saranga and Mayamalavagoula, “Podaganti mayya” in raga Mohanam, “Kondalalo nela” in raga Hindolam, “Narayanathe Namo Namo” in raga Behag, “Muddugare Yashoda” in raga Kurinji and the popular song “Brahmam Okkate”.
Youngster G. Raghavendra Prasath on the violin and Shankar Raman on the mridangam provided able support in this rendering of Annamacharya compositions.
While Prasath followed the singers closely, Raman provided fine percussion support. It was heartening to see the organisations dedicate an evening to Annamacharya compositions by getting singers sing his exclusive compositions.
Meanwhile, in Noida, Sree Vishnu Sahasranama Namasankirtana Mandali, Delhi, organised a two-day event titled “19th Lakshmi Nrusimha Jayanthi Utsavam” with devotional fervour. The event was conducted at the auditorium of Maharaja Agrasen Bhavan, Noida.
The initiative undertaken by the Vishnu Sahasranama Namasankirtana Mandali in the NCR , presumably on the lines of Pudukottai (Tamil Nadu), is laudable.
On the second day, Sita Kalyanam was conducted in Bhajan Paddathi. This was led by P. Shankar Bhagavathar. The session attracted an overwhelming participation of devotees and music enthusiasts who were delighted and enjoyed every bit of the session.
The other supporting vocalists and the accompanying artistes rose to the occasion in this session. However, a bhajan session on the forenoon of the first day led by Ramananda Saraswati Swami of Madurai was not quite impressive. His voice did not seem to be in fine fettle. A host of artists accompanied the Swami on harmonium, violin, mridangam and tabla.
