Top quality music was presented by Mummaneni Subba Rao at Sidhardha Kala Peetham, a premier cultural body in Vijayawada for three days at Sidhardha Kala Kshetram as part of Ugadi. On the first day, K. Lahari, an abundantly talented singer of Visakhapatnam gave a delightful concert. Her lilting voice and neat style of singing impressed the audience. She was well versed in the manodharmam aspects too. Lahari began her concert with Balakanakamaya in Athana and followed by Vade Venkatadri an Annamayya keertana and Brova Bharama in Bahudari finishing it with crisp swaras. Next a padyam from Dasaradhi Satakam preceeded the Ramadas keertana Paluke Bangaramayene in Ananda Bhairavi. Lahari cultivated the technique of easy flow of sangatis and it showed in every item she sang. Thyagaraja's Needaya rada in Vasantabhairavi was rendered with competent kalpana swaras. Before taking up the main item she sang another Annamayya keertana Kolani Dopariki (Yadukula Kambhoji) set to tune by Sangeeta Kalanidhi Nedunuri Krishna Murthy. After singing Chalamelara in Marga Hindolam Lahari embarked upon the main item Enduko Nee Manasu in Kalyani and rendered it sumptuously with bhava filled raga delineation, bhava laden niraval and sparkling kalpana swaras. B.V. Durga Bhavani and K. Sadgurucharan and S. Hanumanta Rao gave Lahari good support on violin, mridangam and ghatam respectively.
The second day's vocal concert was a high profile one rendered by Hyderabad brothers D. Seshachari and D. Raghavachari. Their vast experience and scholarship marked their concert. The brothers started with Navaragamalika varnam following it with Nada Tanum Anisam in Chittaranjani, a Nishadantya ragam and Marugelara of Thyagaraja. Anandabhairavi was briefly sung preceding the keertana Neebalama . Apparama Bhakthi in Pantuvarali was rendered competently with detailed delineation, niraval and swaras. The main item in the concert was `Neevanti Daivamu' in Todi sung commandingly with vintage alapana, bhava filled with niraval and scholarly kalpana swaras. Dwaram Satyanarayan Rao and M.L.N. Raju were excellent on the violin and mridangam respectively giving a boost to the concert. Satyanarayana Rao's versions of Pantuvarali and Todi were hauntingly melodious. Raju presented a rousing tani at the close of the main item. Seshachari and Raghavachari sang towards the close a couple of Sadasiva Bramhendra keertanas and a melodious Javali of Dr.Balamuralikrishna.
Superbly talented Sattiraju Venumadhav of Hyderabad gave a fine concert on the last day. Clear diction, sruti aligned and neat voice were assets of Venumadhav. Venumadhav opened his concert with Vasanta Varnam and followed with Abhishta Varada in Hamsadhvani preceding it with a brief alapana. Ganamurthe in Ganamurthi, the 3rd Melakarta raga. Malayamarutam was delineated with apt aesthetic sense before Venumadhav sang the popular keertana Manasa Etulortune adorning it with pleasing niraval and swaras. The main item of the concert was Simhendra Madhyamam which was adorned with ripe manodharmam aspects. P. Nageswara Rao, P.S. Phalgun and M. Haribabu gave fine support on violin, mridangam and ghatam respectively. Eminent poet, writer and lecturer Chivukula Sunderarama Sarma compered the three day program efficiently.
