NEWS & NOTES

R. Vedavalli 75: a life devoted to music

angita Kalanidhi R. Vedavalli vidwan K. Arun Prakash and Jaya Dr. Pappu Venugopala Rao gave turned 75 on 9th November Balakrishnan (Convenor, Nada an interesting introduction to the 2010. Her dedicated band of Inbam) felicitating the septuagenarian Prabandha. He mentioned that Sdisciples organised a ‘Panchasaptati vidushi for her strong adherence to Shahaji Maharaja was a great poet Samaroha’ – a two-day event to sampradaya, profound knowledge, with 20 operas and hundreds of songs celebrate this landmark in the life of and affectionate nature. to his credit. He gave an outline of their guru, on 13th and 14th November the theme of the opera. After some Nivedanam had Vedavalli’s disciples at Raga Sudha Hall in . The trepidation, Parvati’s sakhi-s meet paying rich tributes to their guru programme unfolded in four parts. Lord Siva and narrate Parvati’s plight saying she had taught them not just caused by their separation. Siva The first segment was a musical music but values in life and had led is taken in procession in a pallaki tribute titled Nivedanam comprising by example to be good human beings. (palanquin) towards Parvati’s abode. songs tuned by Vedavalli. Rendered The tributes included a Siva and Parvati finally meet and in a dignified manner by her disciple poem, moving speeches, a collage are allowed to rest. V. Sumithra accompanied by Ashwin Anand () and B. The composition in Telugu Sivaraman (mridanga), it set abounds in poetic beauty and the tone for the celebrations. is rich in descriptive detail – Siva’s durbar, the gem- Prakaasanam highlighted studded pallaki, the gait of the Vedavalli’s contributions to palanquin bearers, Parvati’s the field of robes and ornaments, the bed in the form of a four-CD chamber with its silks and pack called Gaandharvam, quilts. Venugopala Rao pointed and a book titled Sangeeta out two instances where Sampradayam (Vol. 2). The the Maharaja had cleverly CDs brought out by Swati incorporated his nama-mudra Soft Solutions were presented into the lyrics. He also drew by N. Murali (President of attention to the fact that a the Music Academy) to Leela Maratha king settled in Tamil Samson (Director, Kalakshetra Nadu had composed beautiful Foundation and Chairperson, poetry in Telugu. Sangeet Natak Akademi). The first copy of the book was The music rendered was presented by N. Gopalaswami neat and simple. It was set (former Chief Election in traditional raga-s like Commissioner of ) to Sankarabharanam, Bhairavi,

Dr. Pappu Venugopala Rao COURTESY: THE HINDU Ghanta, and Begada. The (Secretary, Music Academy). Dr. presentation was well synchronised Rao felicitated Vedavalli with a of her photos, and a presentation of with clarity of diction. Vedavalli’s verse, Vaakdevi charanaaravinda in Vedavalli’s songs for small children. daughter Sushruti prefaced each song Sanskrit, describing her qualities of with a brief commentary. single-minded devotion, her quest The second day of the two-day event The Devaganavali group was ably for learning, as an expert teacher, her was presented in association with supported by R. Ramani (veena), deep knowledge and diction in many Nada Inbam. Billed Samarpanam, K. Arun Prakash (mridanga), languages. students of Vedavalli made a musical offering of Shahaji Maharaja’s Pallaki R. Raghul (violin) and J.B. Shruti Prasamsanam had veteran vainika Seva Prabandha that Vedavalli had Sagar (flute). Kalpakam Swaminathan, mridanga resurrected about thirty years ago. S. JANAKI and GAYATHRI SUNDARESAN

 l SRUTI January 2011