More than fifty singers, dancers and musicians participated in a concert last weekend, paying tributes to Annamacharya, one of the greatest saints and lyricists of 15th Century India.
Organised by Sangeetha Bharathi School of Music, this year’s programme, called, ‘Annamayya Padahela,’ held at Dorothy Winstone Centre of Auckland Girls Grammar School on Saturday, May 25, was replete with piety and rhythm.
It was an evening of justifiable pride for Padma Govardhan, Principal of the School, with her students, some of who were less than five years old, demonstrating appreciable levels of competence in Carnatic music, which often challenges performers, accompanying artistes and gurus.
For more than three hours, they kept their audience in a rapturous mood of nodding and applauding, singing in chorus the songs composed by a Saint, written in praise of Lord Vishnu, the Protector of the Universe, and in particular his incarnation as Lord Venkateswara, the God of the Seven Hills.
The Annamacharya Anniversary this year was based on the theme of the wedding of Lord Venkateswara to Goddess Padmavathi (Goddess Lakshmi), under the title, ‘Sankeerthana Kalyanothsavam.’
As a fitting prelude, more than 20 men recited ‘Vishnu Sahasranamam,’ which invokes the blessings of the Lord by attributing 1000 names to Him.
Govardhan Mallela, who had organised the programme, followed a judicious mix of vocal and instrumental music, along with dance items corresponding to Bharata Natyam, Kuchipudi and folk styles.
Mrs Govardhan and her daughter Vishnu Priya gave an appropriate start to the concert with an invocatory number of Annamacharya (‘Annamaya Neeku’), followed by a medley of songs including ‘Kondalalo Nelakonna, set respectively in Mohana and Malayamarutham ragas and Adi and Thisranad Adi talams.
The rendition of ‘Sagamu Manisi Roopu’ (Nata Ragam and Adi Talam), ‘Sathulara Choodaro Sravana Bahula’ (Kapi Ragam, Adi Talam), signalling the birth of Lord Krishna and ‘Hari Ninnu Pilicheni Adigo Amma’ (Karaharapriya in Adi) were among the best, showcasing the growing talent among our youngsters.
The six-piece numbers, explaining the Wedding of Lord Venkateswara and Goddess Padmavathi, were a delight to hear.
Ratna Venkat performed two dance items, one each in Kuchipudi and folk formats, proving her increasing professionalism since her Arangetram and Rangapravesham held at the same venue more than six years ago.
The students of Himabindu School of Dance presented two items, both of which attracted wide appreciation and applause.
The support artistes – Malathi Vasudevan, Priya Srinivasan (Veena), Syamala Hariharan, Dr Ashok Malur, Pavan Mani, Krishikesh Harish, Samraat Malur (Violin), Dr Suresh Ramachandra, Raman Eswaran, Balu Mallela, Avinash Jeyashankar, (Mridangam), Dr Sthitha Allam (Tabla) Balu Mallela (Ghatam) – proved their mastery over their respective instruments, adding value to the programme.
Those who stayed away from ‘Annamayya Padahela’ would not be happy to know that they missed an event that brought together budding talents along with their seniors and professional artistes on a platform that bespoke the real culture and heritage of India.
