Padakavita Pitamaha Tallapaka Annamacharya Jayanthi was celebrated on an impressive scale under the aegis of Visakha Music Academy in association with Nada Sudha Tarangagini of late Nedunuri Krishnamurthy at Kalabharati Visakhapatnam.
The life and works of Annamayya are of exceptional nature on several counts. His unswerving devotion to Lord Venkateswara combined with his innate flair for literary and musical expression; paved the way for the emergence of ‘padakavita’, a distinct genre on Telugu literary front. It also enriched classical music in its own right. The rich blend of abiding lyrical grace and appealing musical charm placed his works on distinct pedestal of excellence. While the import of his composition in its diverse dimensions compels attention, its musical charm makes it soothing. Thus it turns into a blend of devotional fervour, lyrical elegance and musical allure drawing anyone spontaneously to its fold. Annamayya left no aspect of life untouched in expressing his devotion towards Lord Venkateswara. It, in a way, rendered his works as diverse as life itself in its multi-dimensional shades of emotions in human mind.
The scope and thematic fabric of his compositions being so vast and extensive, it is hard to take up even a representative number from an array of different kinds for concert of about two hours. However Dwaram Thyagaraj and his team of about 30 students essayed well to present as many as 19 compositions in this session. With a sprinkle of an aalapana here or swarakalpana there, it was almost a straight rendition without any frills. It is commendable on the part of Thyagaraj to get a group of students in the range of six years to 14 years in a well-co-ordinated manner for a performance on stage with good team spirit.
The concert began with an invocatory in raga Chakravakam in praise of Annamayya and went on to present popular compositions. Thyagaraj chose mostly Nedunuri tunes and rendered to the best of his grasp. A concise aalapana for raga Bhujangini for the composition Edutanunnavaduvede and for raga Sindhubhairavi for Adidevaparamatma besides the main piece raga Mohana for Adechoodare with swarakalpana on pallavi are the highlights of the concert. Enthamatramuna in ragamalika, Ramabhadra Raghuveera in Anandabhairavi, Narayanchuta in Malavagoula, Bhavamulona in Suddha Dhanyasi, Muddugare Yasodain Kuranji were other notables in the concert.
M Neeladri Rao on violin, D. Dharma Rao on mridangam, A. Rajarao on flute and B. Dhanunjaya on tabla lent good support.
