‘Jana Hrudayaalalo Vaggeyakarulu-Nareyana Yateendrulu,’ a book in Telugu penned by city-based classical singer and writer Akondi Srinivasa Raja Rao and a compact disc titled ‘Swararchana’ with his classical renditions were released at a function organised by Sahithi Sravanthi literary organisation at Gandhi Bhavan here.
Music lovers Rayavarapu Mrutyunjaya Rao and Akondi Radhakrishna Murthy released the book and the disc respectively. Noted poet Addepalli Rammohana Rao presided over the function.
Introducing the book to the audience, writer and poet Makineedi Surya Bhaskar said that Mr. Raja Rao was familiar to Kaivaram village in Karnataka, the place where the mutt of saint composer Nareyana Yateendra was situated. “During the course of attending musical concerts, Mr. Raja Rao developed penchant for the saint composer and decided to bring out a book on his life and works,” he said.
Mr. Bhaskar recalled that there were very few books in Telugu on classical music with special reference to the composers. “After Balantrapu Rajanikantha Rao, it is Mr. Raja Rao, who took up the task of bringing out books on composers. His book on the compositions of Narasimha Dasu was received well by the music lovers. There is no doubt the present work too will become a handbook for all the music lovers and the students of classical music,” he said. Congratulating Mr. Raja Rao for bringing out the book as a blend of music and literature, Mr. Rammohana Rao observed that it was difficult to write about music. “As Mr. Raja Rao is a writer and singer, he brought this book with an ease. I wish him continue the work and bring out many more compilations in the days to come,” he said.
In his response, Mr. Raja Rao said that people mistook Nareyana Yateendra for Narayana Teerdha and his objective was to make people aware of the life and works of Nareyana Yateendra. “He was a common man and led a very simple life. Before turning into saint composer, Nareyana Yateendra was into selling bangles. He never bothered about sales and profits, as his mind was somewhere else,” he said, while reciting a few compositions of the saint composer.
