Hitherto known for its film song programmes, Vamsee Art Theatres organised its first light music programme at the Thyagaraya Ganasabha last week, clubbing it with a presentation of Navaratna Puraskaras to some prominent achievers in different fields.
The light and light classical music scene is changing rapidly, with new composers, lyric writers and singers emerging on the scene. Though singers are a few, lyric writers are aplenty, thanks to the emergence of media. A dozen poets and a half a dozen singers were featured in the show.
Vinnakota Muralikrishna, who was originally trained in Carnatic classical, shifted into this field of light and light classical music quite sometime back and is now listed in AIR and Doordarshan as a noted composer of songs written by some known poets.
His compositions have been enjoying a regular broadcast. He is also known for conducting the rendition of Annamacharya's compositions. He was the central figure again at this event and had on hand about a dozen compositions, set them as classical raga based melodies.
Manchu Pogalundedi Mari Konni Nimushale penned by C .Narayana Reddy on the relationship between man and nature was set in ghazal style, tuned in Hindustani raga Jai Jaivanti, and rendered with care and precision by Vinodbabu, an experienced singer and noted instrumentalist.
Kalagannanu Nenu Kalagannanu written by Tenneti Sudha was rendered by Sasikala sticking to its Bhava.
Balabhadrapatruni Madhusudan a known name in this field for writing with lyrical appeal wrote Pranayangana Parijatha describing Nava Vasantham that vouches a strong relationship between music and nature. R. Viswanath, an expressive singer rendered it.
He also rendered another song Enta Abalavo Sitamma ; though set in Sama ragam this song had the shades of Bilahari and Khamas. This was written by J. Bapu Reddy.
Evariki Teliyadule Gopala a song on Sri Krishna by lyric writer and novelist Sarada Ashoka Vardhan was rendered by Surekha. Muralikrishna set this in Brindavana Saranga again, keeping the content of the lyric in mind.
The late Kopalle Sivaram, a respected lyric writer whose songs were often broadcast over Radio, was brought alive once more with composer Muralikrishna choosing a fine song of his- Poolu Chesenu Basalu, Evobasalu . Surekha sang this keeping the lyrical import and mood in mind.
Tiyyani Tenela Sobhalu rendered by Surekha and Sasikala together described the greatness of Telugu literature packed in many sweet words. This was also set in Brindavana Saranga. There was another song on animal welfare with the pallavi running as Mrugam Kanta Neeru Kaarite , set in Chakravakam and rendered movingly by Sasikala. C. Ramana, another singer, also sang some songs.
The orchestral support was by known instrumentalists comprising of Guruprasad on Key Board, Yugandhar on flute, Mohan and Pandu on Tablas and Vinod on pads.
