T he life and works of saint composer Bhakta Ramdasu constitute an important component in the literary and music space of Telugus and Carnatic classical idiom. Replete with devotional passion, poetic sparkle and emotive vibrancy, his kirtanas are a class apart. Erudite and adept at composition of metrical verses, his inimitable poetic craft writ large in his kirtanas too and that makes it an inspirational and enduring combination of literary and musical nuances in optimum measure. His 384th birth anniversary saw huge participation in singing his kirtanas on the premises of Gayatri College MVP Colony, Visakhaptnam. The session opened with group singing. With Chaitanya Brothers Varanasi Venkateswara Sarma and B Krishnamachari in lead, more than a 100 singers took part, it seemed a bhajan session with a high devotional quotient. With the sprinkle of Perala Bala Murali Krishna’s scholarly interpretation of those krithis that heightened the tempo of session, it was pleasant all through. The kirtanas rendered were mostly tuned by late Nedunuri Krishnamurthy. The lead singers being disciples of Nedunuri, their rendition echoed Nedunuri’s style.
They chose Navaratna kirtanas for brunda ganam (group singing). Adigo Bhadradri in Varali, Srirama Namame in Athana, Paluke Bangaramayena in Anandabhairavi, Rama Jogimandu in Khamas, Sriramula Divya Nama in Saveri,. Taraka Mantramu in Dhanyasi, Takkuvemi Manaku in Sourastra, Hari Hari Rama in Kanada and Kanti Nedu in Nadanamakriya were rendered well in this category.Later, Chaitanya brothers sang Ramabhadra Raara Raga in Sankarabharanam, Rama Rama Sri Rama in ragamalika, Charanamule Nammmiti in Kapi, Emayya Rama in Kambhoji, Rama Sita Rama in Janjhut and Srirama Nee Namamemi Ruchira in Purvi kalyani formed the fare for their rendition. Mavuduri Satyanarayana Sarma (violin), Mandapaka Ravi (mridangam), Aadhyampalli Anand (tabla) and Y. Venkateswararao (rhythms) lent good support.
