Karnataka - Bangalore   

L. Raja Rao remembered

— Photo: K. Murali Kumar

HONOUR: Veena artiste R. Visveswaran receiving the Veena Raja Rao National Award from writer U.R. Ananthamurthy in Bangalore on Sunday. Vocalists R.K. Srikantan (right) and R.K. Padmanabha are seen.

BANGALORE: The skills and traits of L. Raja Rao, Veena maestro and singer, were fondly remembered at the birth centenary celebrations of the late musician here on Sunday.

The occasion also saw conferring of the Veena L. Raja Rao National Award on eminent Veena player and retired professor of Mysore University Ganakalabhushana R. Visweswaran.

Inaugurating the celebrations, writer U.R. Ananthamurthy said there are no differences between prose and poetry in Kannada, unlike in the West.

The late Raja Rao continued the tradition laid down by the great Dasas and other literary and music giants.

Presiding over the celebrations, Sangeeta Kalanidhi R.K. Srikantan described Raja Rao as one who had received numerous honours as well as people’s love.

Veena, Dr. Srikantan said, is an instrument which offers purity and stability in sound and is the foundation for various art forms.

Only those who have dedication, strong endeavour and acculturation could excel on the instrument, he added.

Several musicians have taken the Veena tradition to the heights and Veene Seshanna and Raja Rao were among them, Dr. Srikantan noted. He said that Raja Rao brought in innovation within the traditional framework as a singer and as a percussionist.

Raja Rao’s daughter Veena Kinhal rendered a Veena recital. Another daughter, R. Poornima, editor of the Bangalore edition of Kannada daily Udayavani, made the introductory remarks.

Ganakalabhushana R.K. Padmanabha, music critic Mysore V. Subramanya and National Education Society president A.H. Rama Rao were present.

The celebrations also saw a music conference in the evening wherein several disciples of Raja Rao performed “Guru Namana”, through various forms of music and dance.

Kadri Gopalanath and Party completed the centenary musical tribute.

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