Versatile playback singer Vani Jairam was presented the Ghantasala national award instituted by the Ghantasala National Art Academy here.
Accepting the award from Andhra Pradesh High Court Judge A. Ramalingeswara Rao and Congress Rajya Sabha member R. Ananda Bhaskar at an impressive function here late on Sunday, the septuagenarian singer said she valued most the award instituted in the memory of the legendary singer Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao who ruled the roost for over three decades the Telugu tinsel world.
Going down the memory lane, she recalled that Ghatasalagaru readily obliged when she as a teenager made a request during their meeting for the first time at the All India Radio station.
He was as humble as Hindi playback singer Mukesh, who too had not hesitated to sing when asked to do so by fans, she added after paying floral tributes to the portrait of Ghantasala along with, among others, Academy Chairman T.Vijaykanth.
Enthralled
She enthralled the audience singing select songs including those from Telugu film Sankarabharanam which won her the National Film Award in Telugu in 1980.
Showering praises on her, the judge said she had proved that age was no bar for singing.
The MP said Vaniamma with her carnatic and Hindustani music background had won the hearts of music lovers singing in 12 languages.
She is known in the North as Meerabai for her rendition of songs sung by the medieval poet in praise of Lord Krishna.
Her unique ability to sing at this ripe age as during her heyday has won her the North American Film Award for Best Singer for the Malayalam film Pookkal Panineer this year.
