Duddu Sitaramayya is one of the well known vainikas of the south and took part in South India Veena Conference recently held at Mantralayam and presented papers.
Though he is a graduate in science his family legacy being music, he went under the tutelage of his father vocalist Duddu Ramakrishna Sastryand later learned Veena play from his aunt Duddu Seshamma. He is adept at ancient tradition of playing on vertical veena as well and brought out ancient ‘Vipanchi Veena’. He can also play the instrument blind folded. Sitaramayya was invited by Saptaswara Samskritika Samstha to present his Veena concert at Thyagaraya Ganasabhain the company of Rajagopalachari on mridangam and Janardhan on ghatam.
Duddu Sitaramayya opened with Valachi Vachi , Navaragamalika varnam in Adi Thalam in two speeds and the second speed was played completely using double string, a novel experimentation. This was followed by Mahaganapathim in Nata, in Eka Thalam. This had brief swarakalpana taking chittaswara line. He chose to play Manasa Etulorthune in Malayamarutham in Roopala talam of Thyagaraja as his sub-main piece of the concert. Ragaalapana was completely played using double strings, giving the feel he was playing on double strings with audio sounding as though he was playing ‘Gotuvadyam’.
Swarakalpana was done in vilamba and drutha kalas. Sitaramayya then chose Kommalo Koyila of Nanduri Subba Rao’s Enki Paata in Maand on audience request. This was hugely appreciated. Sitaramayya came out with his main number of the concert, Sarojadalanetri in Sankarabharanam of Shayama Sastry, set in Aditalam. He presented it in great detail and presented Revathi, Vasantha and Valaji ragas in ragamalika Tanam, keeping the veena in vertical mode.
This mode received overwhelming response from audience. Outstanding Tani avartanam by Rajagopalachari and Janardhan lent good support all through the concert. The concert closed with Tha dhim dhim in Faraju, Aditala Tillana.
