She turns 90 in a few months. But that has not stopped Dr. Avasarala (Vinjamuri) Anasuya Devi from composing and promoting Andhra Pradesh's unique music tradition of janapada geethalu and lalitha sangeetham (folk music). “What began as a hobby has become my profession and passion,” says the spirited lady who released five volumes of her collection of Telugu folk songs at an informal function organised by her children (including dance guru Rathna Kumar and Sita Ratnakar of DD).
Since the five volumes are in some way connected with women, Anusuya Devi wanted five well-known ambassadors of art and culture to release each one of them. Therefore, educationist Mrs. Y.G. Parthasarathy, dancers Vyjayanthimala Bali and Vasanthalakshmi Narasimhachari and playback legends S. Janaki and P. Susheela were chosen to do the honours. To receive them was old friend and Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna.
The Carnatic great was at his humorous best when he spoke in chaste Telugu about his association with Anusuya Devi. “We began our careers almost simultaneously. Those days, every important function in the city would have two performers for sure. One, a lad of 10, and the other, a pretty girl. People came to listen to the boy, and look at the girl. The boy believed the crowd was there to listen to him. Only later did he realise they were actually waiting for the girl to take the stage! Well, that boy was me and the girl, Anusuya akka.” He went on to say that classical music has its roots in the folk tradition, and therefore, Anusuya Devi's books are priceless in that direction.
Mrs. Y. G. Parthasarathy, her neighbour at one point in time, recalled the days when every festive occasion meant a vocal presentation by Anusuya Devi and her sister Sita. “She is one remarkable woman. She has taken it upon herself to promote folk music and preserve the genre for posterity.”
Treasure trove
Vyjayanthimala Bali was like another daughter to the veteran musician. “My earliest memory is sitting on Anusuya amma's lap and listening to her sing when I was about four or five.” Susheela and Janaki, who have also been associated with Anusuya Devi for a long time, preferred to sing, much to the delight of the audience. Vasanthalakshmi too reiterated the fact that the richness of folk music must be preserved for posterity and Anusuya Devi's work is a treasure trove.
For the author, these books are a result of a lifetime spent collecting and notating songs from every source possible… villagers working in the fields, mendicants and sometimes, even beggars! For somebody whose first recording was released when she was just eight, music was naturally an inseparable part. Born into a family of poets and musicians (father was a Telugu-Sanskrit scholar, mother launched Telugu's first women's magazine and uncle Devulapalli Krishna Sastri was a renowned poet), Anusuya and her sister Sita took to light music and soon became a household name.
Anusuya Devi has many firsts to her credit. First woman music composer/musicologist in Andhra Pradesh, first woman music director in South India, first woman music composer in AIR, first to sing classical, folk and light music on radio and concert, first to publish Andhra's light and folk music in Carnatic notation… she is truly the grand dame of the Telugu folk tradition.
(Published by TTD Press,Tirupati, and priced at Rs. 30 and Rs. 40, the five volumes – Laali Paatalu, Mangalaharatulu, Pandiga paatalu, Stree Paatalu and Samvadala Paatalu -- are available at Carnatic music store in Chennai.)
