‘Sangeeta Sahitya Vasantotsavam,’ a three-day cultural event organised by Kakinada-based Sri Vani Rasa Raga Sabha has enthralled the connoisseurs of classical music and literature. Classical singer Devarakthreenda Vijayalakshmi and poetess V. Sudha Kanthi, close relatives of the legendary writer and poet in Telugu Devarakonda Bala Gangadhara Tilak, conducted the event at Bhaskara Kala Vedika.
The event began with Carnatic vocal by Chennai-based Vani Rama Murthy. Born and brought up in California, she learnt music from Padma Kutty, Rajani and Gayatri. With instrumental support from Satyanarayana Sarma on violin and Surya Prasad on mridangam, Vani began the concert with a varnam, followed by Vandeham in Hamsadwani, Manasaramati in Saramati and Nee Samanamevaru in Subhapanthuvarali. Her rendition of Kamalamba in Ananda Bhairavi, Samara Janaka in Behag received applause from the audience.
A meet on the literary works of the late Bala Gangadhara Tilak marked the second day of the event, in which noted poet Addepalli Rammohana Rao spoke in detail. Commending Tilak for penning poetry and short-stories with equal ease, he advised the organisers to bring out a compilation of the essays penned on Tilak. “This generation must know more about Tilak. Though his poetry and short-stories are available in the market, the essays written by various writers and poets on Tilak are not available now. The family members and close relatives have to come forward to bring out the compilation,” he said.
Curtains downed for the three-day event with violin duet by Ch. Ramya Kiranmayi and M. Sriramya of Visakhapatnam, for whom M. Sridhar supported on mridangam and A.S.R. Koundinya on ghatam. Beginning their performance with a varnam in Bhairavi, the young performers gave a smooth rendition of Vatapi in Hamsadwani and Chakkani Rajamargamu in Kharaharapriya. Audience gave a louder applause when the duo finished Manasa Yetulortune in Malayamarutam.
The organisers stated that though it was a maiden event organised by Sri Vani Rasa Raga Sabha, the response from the public had encouraged them to make it an annual event henceforth.
