Andhra Pradesh - Ongole   

Ghantasala national award presented to Balu

— Photo: Kommuri Srinivas

A moment to cherish:S. P. Balasubrahmanyam receiving the first Ghantasala national award in Ongole.

ONGOLE: Padma Bhushan awardee Dr. Sripathi Panditharadhyula Balasubrahmanyam said, “I cherish most the award instituted in the memory of Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao.”

Accepting the first Ghantasala national award instituted by the Ghantasala Arts Academy late on Wednesday, he said that after getting the Padma awards he thought it fit to accept this one too as he was an ‘Ekalavya-like' disciple of the legendary singer.

Showering praise on Ghantasala, who had captivated millions of music lovers for over three decades, the versatile singer said Ghantasala had won the Telugu people's hearts not only with his melodious voice but with distinctness of pronunciation in singing.

He made a special mention of Ghantasala's rendition of the Bhagavadgita and suggested that it should be listened with devotion on all occasions.

He kept the audience spell-bound singing a song sung by Ghantasala in praise of Lord Siva. The award, comprising of citation and a cash prize of Rs. one lakh, was given to the multi-lingual singer, who has enthralled the music lovers for over four decades, by, among others, State Grandhalaya Parishad chairman T. Kutumba Rao and Ongole MP M. Srinvasula Reddy.

Amid loud cheers, SPB announced that he would use the cash prize for funding health and education of the needy through the trust run by him in memory of his father S.P. Sambamurthy.

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