Annamacharya showcased

ENRICHING THE music of the South with his inspiring songs in praise of Lord Venkateswara, Tallapakka Annamacharya shines as a ``distinct musical poet'' of a divine order.

The finesse of his soulful sahityas in the form of pallavi followed by charanams, is considered a kind of ``musical preceptorial'' to the melting padams and kritis of the later composers like Bhadrachala Ramadas, Kshetrajna and Tyagaraja.

To highlight his contribution to music, a recital of his songs was broadcast by All India Radio, Chennai-A, on March 31.

In the session produced by Sulochana Pattabhiraman as the 13th episode in the serial, ``Dakshina Gana Surabhi,'' Sudha Raghunathan rendered the compositions of Annamacharya with orchestral embellishments by the staff artistes of AIR.

Sudha Raghunathan's rendition of the opening piece, ``Okapari'' (set by Nedunuri Krishnamurthi to a varnamettu drawn resourcefully from Karaharapriya) was satisfying.

The piece, ``Emako'' came next in a mellow musical form derived from Misratilang. The piece, ``Thattha Digudi Dimdim'' of Annamacharya illustrates his ingenuity in composing sahityas in the gait of the sarvalaghu mixed with attractive metrical expressions of the musical drum.

This piece set by Sulochana Pattabhiraman to a varnamettu in Mohanam was rendered crisply by Sudha.

The singer's depiction of the other pieces, ``Anandanilaya'' (Amruthavarshini), ``Sriman Narayana'' (Bowli), ``Hari Om'' (Madhukowns), ``Ksheerabdi'' (Kurinji) and ``Mangalam'' (Madhyamavathi) registered with melodic appeal.

- R.V.

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