A commendable effort to bring South Indian Classical Music to the "Rasikas":

Article from Hindu:  http://www.thehindu.com/fr/2007/11/23/stories/2007112350900200.htm

Pleasing melodies

Celebration The Chamber of Music in Vizag completes one year of successful concerts.

Photos: C.V. Subrahmanyam 
 
Pappu Padmavathi Paramahamsa and M. Jalajakshi

From the time of its conception by noted violin vidwan M. Srinivasa Narasimhamurty, his vocalist wife Pantula Rama and a few like minded musicians in last October, the Chamber of Music has regularly been organising a short-duration recital of promisi ng students of Carnatic music and a full concert of noted exponents of the tradition once every month. Its first anniversary was celebrated for three days from Friday last.

It got off to a traditional start with a nagaswaram recital by Y. Ramanababu with Bhogeeswararao on dolu. Elaboration of Aadamodigalada (Chaarukesi) was the main item that was rendered with finesse.

Later the evening witnessed ‘Baalala Sangeetotsavam’ for recording by Akashvani studios of Visakhapatnam for November 18 broadcast all over Andhra. The next two evenings got off to an absorbing start with recitals of one hour duration each, vocal by T. Manikyalakshmi accompanied on violin by G.V.S. Raghuram and mridangam by P. Ramesh and violin solo by master Pappu Gyandev with his brother Jayadev on mridangam respectively. The main programme on the penultimate evening was a soul stirring recital by Veena Vidwanmani Pappu Padmavathi Paramahamsa with commendable support on another veena by her dauther-in-law Padma Ravisankar in the knowledgeable company of young Mangalagiri Sridhar on mridangam.

Photos: C.V. Subrahmanyam 
 
M. Jalajakshi

A sumptuous feast of all veritably intricate nuances of classicism in Carnatic music, the vocal recital by M. Jalajakshi as the last part of the last day evening provided a grand finale to the anniversary.

Her son Srinivasa Narasimhamurty on violin and Vankayala Venkataramana Murty on mridangam with their scholarly support with soulful involvement contributed splendour.

Journey of a Master!!!

http://www.chyk.net/Chinmaya_works/chinmaya_articles_personal.asp

Pantula Rama

Pantula Rama Highly accomplished in Vocal and Instrumental music (Violin, Viola) in both academic and performance aspects. Achieved high academic standards and has been Performing at various prestigious organizations from a very young age. Evolved a unique original performance style striking perfect balance in various aspects of Carnatic Music. Trained and taught many students and conducted many workshops. An author, a Good Conductor, and a noted accompanying artist. Developed and exhibited excellent oratory skills since middle school. Is a “Reiki Master” and pursues Fashion Design in spare time. An excellent event manager with a strong affinity for charity and social causes. Rama was born in a family with a lineage of music with parents; Sri Pantula Gopala Rao (Violinist, Retd. Engineer – All India Radio) & Smt. Pantula Padmavathi (Veena artist). Her husband Sri. Mutnury Srinivasa Narasimha Murthy is himself a highly accomplished musician. Graded Top grade in Akashavani for Violin, and A grade in Viola and Vocal. Rama holds a Ph. D in Music from Andhra University, AP, India, for Research work and Thesis on – “A study of the shaping of an ideal musician through ‘Saadhana’“, M. A (Music) Andhra University (Ranked “University First”) - Gold Medalist and B. A (Music) Andhra University (Ranked “University First”) - Gold Medalist. She had her initial training under her father, Sri Pantula Gopala Rao and Advanced training under ‘Sangeeta Kalasagara’ Guru Sri. Ivaturi Vijayeswara Rao. Rama presented various Lec-dems like ‘Musical excellence of Shyama Sastri’, ‘Sadhana of Carnatic Music’, ‘Ragam Tanam Pallavi’. Conducted ‘Nowkacharitam’ – Musical Opera of Thyagaraja.

Prizes/Medals/Awards - Tambura Prize - awarded by Kalasagaram, Secunderabad (04-12-1992), through the hands of the vocal legend Late. Smt. M. S. Subbulakshmi. • First prize in Pallavi Singing Madras Music Academy, 1993. • Outstanding Lady Vocalist (Senior or Sub Senior) – 2006, award from Madras Music Academy.

Special Concerts - Concerts comprising of compositions of single composer – Thyagaraja, Shyama Sastry, Deekshitar, Narayana Teertha, Purandaradasa, Ramadasa, Annamayya, Swati Tirunal, Subbaraya Sastry, Veena Kuppayyar etc. Concerts with compositions in different languages - Telugu, Sanskrit, Tamil, Kannada etc. Special Pallavis - Shatkala pallavi, Panchanada & Panchanada Vinyasa Pallavi, Dwitala Avadhanam, 2 hrs. Pallavi Concert, Eka Raga sabhas (Carnatic & Hindustani ragas)

Bibliography

• ‘An In-depth study of Visesha Prayogas’ in the National Conference of South Indian Music, 2000.


• A study of the shaping of an ideal musician through ‘Saadhana’ - Thesis for Ph D - In Press.

External links

• http://www.thehindujobs.com/thehindu/fr/2006/02/17/stories/2006021702430400.htm


• http://www.thehinduimages.com/hindu/mySearch.do?command=hotlink&searchString=PANTULA%20RAMA


• http://themusicmint.blogspot.com/2006/09/pantula-rama-at-music-mint-blogday-1.html


• http://video.webindia123.com/interviews/singers/pantularama/index.htm


• http://video.webindia123.com/interviews/musician/msnmurty/index.htm