As part of the Independence Day celebrations, Bharata Bharati Music Trust and Abhaya Foundation organised a whistle concert of Komaravolu Siva Prasad at Hari Hara Kalabhavan, Secunderabad. On the occasion, some of his specially produced CDs of national songs were released. This new album was titled My Nation-My Breath for it was his breath that produced music. He had already released albums of Annamayya, Ramadasu, Thyagaraja, Dikshitar compositions besides one on Rabindra Sangeeth.
On this occasion, Siva Prasad presented some patriotic songs too. The orchestra comprised S.V. Ramana Reddy and Sridhar Kumar on violin, Nandakumar on sitar, Guruprasad and Lal Kishan on keyboards, DSR Murthy on mridangam, Janardan on ghatam, Shyam Kumar on kanjira and Gunaranjan on tabla. Every number was followed by a standing ovation, in appreciation of not just his play, but also for the rich content in the patriotic song.
The repertoire opened with a spirited presentation of Bankimchandra Chatterji’s Vandemataram with some audience also joining in to render it like in a chorus. It was good that Siva Prasad brought the composition of Devulapalli Krishna Sastry, Jaya Jaya Jaya Priya Bharathi, Janayitri Divya Dhatri into his patriotic song list , a song as great as the lyric Vandemataram. Both are Sanskrit compositions.
Then Prasad switched over to his main number, Mana Bhasha, Mana Jati, Mana Samskruti Mana Bharata Charitanu Talachikoni Murisipodam specially composed in Desh to mark this occasion. It was presented with alap, with sitarist Nandakumar adding his might also being joined by violinists and key board players. Its appeal was more like that of fusion music. This was set in Roopak Tal, with six beats. This high pitch presentation holding breath for longer periods, matched the title My Nation- My Breath .
He then sang Vaishnava Janatho , a favourite song of Mahatma Gandhi and concluded the show with ‘Janaganamana’. Later the album My Breath -Ny nation was released by Union minister Bandaru Dattratreya in the presence of other dignitaries who also felicitated Siva Prasad.
