Date:15/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/15/stories/2008121550060200.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada

Rich tributes paid to Ghantasala

Staff Reporter

Animal Husbandry Minister Mandali Buddha Prasad greeting Ghantasala Savitramma in Vijayawada on Sunday.

VIJAYAWADA: Krishna district was fortunate to be the birth place of legendary singer and music director Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, and “I am the blessed one, as his birth place Tekupalli village falls under my Assembly constituency (Avanigadda),” said Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Minister Mandali Buddha Prasad, on Sunday.

Speaking at a meeting organised by the scores of Ghantasala fans drawn from all over the world under the banner of Annayya Charities and X-Ray Cultural Association at Tummapallivari Kshetrayya Kalakshetram, Mr. Prasad said along with legendary musicians like Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna, Parupalli Ramakrishnayya Pantulu and Susarla Daksinamurthy, Ghantasala had carved a niche for himself in the world of music.

Versatile person

“The vacuum created by his demise is not filled even today. He enhanced the prestige of Krishna district with his divine voice. That people worship him by installing his statue signifies the love and affection he received from his fans,” he pointed out. The Minister said Ghantasala proved his versatility by excelling both in light music and classical music, which was a rarity. He said his father Mandali Venkata Krishna Rao proposed the name of Ghantasala for the Government College of Music and Dance at Satyanarayanapuram, though there was opposition from some quarters.

HMV Recording Company’s former manager Mangapathi felt that he was fortunate enough to record the hymns of Bhagavad Gita and Pushpavilapam rendered by Ghantasala. sSavithramma, wife of Ghantasala, along with All India Radio Station Director Mangalagiri Adiya Prasad, industrialist K. Satyam, philanthropist Putta Jagan Mohan Rao, X-Ray Cultural Association secretary B. Anjaneya Raju and Annayya Charities’ chairman Bonda Srinivas and others were present. In the evening, a musical tribute was paid to the great singer to a packed auditorium.