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Balamuralikrishna honoured
P. SURYA RAO
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The veteran singer has been made the `Asthana Vidwana’ of Kanaka Durga temple.
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Photo: Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar
Veteran on the stage Balamuralikrishna enthralling music lovers.
Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna’s two-day visit to his native city Vijayawada was an eagerly awaited event for the music lovers. The Durga Malleswara Swamy Devasthanam (Kanaka Durga temple) authorities honoured him in a fitting manner by making
him `Asthana Vidwan’ of the second richest and famous temple.
On the occasion, a two-hour concert of the maestro was also arranged but due to lack of space on the hill in the presence of the Deity, the concert was held in a small improvised area near the steps to the hill. However, the crowd that crammed the place thoroughly enjoyed the music of the maestro. With his charming smile, crystal clear diction and devotional appeal, Balamurali sent the crowd into raptures.
Earlier, Balamurali made the darshan of Goddess Kanakadurga and he was extended a traditional welcome by the Temple authorities.
In the concert down hill, he rendered keertanas in praise of Devi. The keertanas he sang were Amma Ananda Dayini (Gambhiranata), Onkarakarinim (Lavangi), Amba Mamava (Ranjani), Dakshayani Rakshamam and Ma Manini a specially composed swarakshara keertana in T
odi. Vidwan Annavarapu Ramaswami and his disciple P.Nandakumar supported Balamurali on violins while M.L.N.Raju and Bhusurapalli Venkateswarlu played mridangam and ghatam respectively.
Minister Mandali Budha Prasad was the chief guest of the function that was held after the concert. Mandali Budha Prasad stated that Balamurali, through his great music, spread the fame of the people of Andhra for which all Telugus should feel proud. Veteran journalist Turlapati Kutumba Rao, R.Krishnamohan who recently took charge as the Executive Officer of the Devasthanam and several others showered praise on the master musician.
On the next day, a large function was held at Gokaraju Laila Gangaraju Kala Vedika in the premises of G.V.R.Government College of Music and Dance.
The event was organised by Dilipkumar Cultural Academy to honour Balamurali with Ghantasala Award.
The award was presented to Balamurali by Dilipkumar of the Cultural Academy and a golden bracelet (Suvarna Ghanta Kankanam) was presented to him by Koganti Satyam, a patron of arts. `Padmasri’ Turlapati Kutumba Rao said in his speech that the people of Vijayawada should feel proud that Balamurali who belonged to this city brought laurels to the Country all over the world through his masterly music.
Other prominent persons who also participated in the meeting were, Vemula Hazarattyya Gupta, Bonda Srinivas, Malladi Vishnu and several others. Balamurali rendered a few keertanas
also to the pleasure of the audience.
In his humble reply to the felicitation, Balamurali said that what ever fame he has earned, nationally and internationally, he owed it to his guru, his innumerabe fans and well wishers. He added that few people know that he and late Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao were very close to each other. Dilipkumar, founder of the cultural academy entertained the crowd with a number of Ghantasala hits.
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Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
|
