Looks like the drought is changing into a rich harvest. After decades in which classical music and dance were confined to a handful of programmes and only on staid, government-run DD Sapthagiri, today Telugu TV channels are awash in high-quality classical-music programmes.
Featuring top classical musicians –– and upcoming artists –– as performers, anchors and judges, these programmes are intelligently designed, absorbing and educative, and have loyal viewership. It's a heartening trend considering that Telugus who produced great music-composers like Thyagaraja, Shyama Shastry, padam-king Kshetrayya, Annamacharya, Bhadrachala Ramadas, etc.,––were always regarded as offering inadequate patronage to Carnatic music contributing to the flight of many a great musician from Andhra Pradesh.
Leading this return-to-classical-arts trend, is Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam's (TTD) Sri Venkateswara Bhakti Channel (SVBC) with several classical-music programmes while its many dance programmes have substantial Carnatic-music component. N. Yuvaraj, of TTD, explains: “SVBC was created to showcase the great traditions in Indian religion and art. And classical music is part of this heritage.”
SVBC's star is Naada Neerajanam ––a daily, live telecast of a 90-minute programme held in Tirumala, of Carnatic music (sometimes Hindustani) and classical dance. Semi-classical dance, and Namasankeerthanam feature on some days. Naada Neerajanam is the brainchild of TTD's Executive Officer, I.Y.R. Krishna Rao who says:
“It features respected artistes, is at prime-time, and the stage is near the main temple.
So, it has evoked overwhelming response from the general public, connoisseurs, and artist community.”
SVBC's Sangeetha Jhari has short renditions of Carnatic music compositions while Yendharo Mahanubhaavulu profiles leading musicians including snatches of their performances.
The superb Naadopaasana features music classes by stalwart Nedunuri Krishnamurthy with Malladi Brothers as students. There is Annamayya Swararchana and Murali Gaanam too.
The impressive line-up from Bhakthi TV, south India's first devotional TV channel, includes Sobhillu Sapthaswara , an excellent raga-education programme with lecture-demonstration format hosted by Hyderabad Sisters. Hari Sankeerthanam is a tutorial of Annamacharya sankeerthanas by G. Balakrishna Prasad. Pahi Rama Prabho focuses on Ramadas keerthanas. There is also Thyagarajam Bhaje , and Balamurali Sangeethalahari .
Cinema-centric MAA TV has sprung a surprise with the innovative Naadavinodam featuring instrumentalists and renowned percussionist Yella Venkateswara Rao as judge. Even entertainment channels––which don't have such programmes––have judges talking ragas and talas during film-music-based reality shows.
Meanwhile, enjoy the big-ticket events happening right there in your living room. Just bring out the remote. Great music is only a click away.
