Andhrula Vibhinna Kalaabhiruchulu - Day 1

Rita Ganguly was what the cards declared was happening, and the ghazal lovers were all eagerly waiting for her. So when an amateur artist Padmaja Reddy came on stage, they were justifiedly not overflowing with mirth. Not that someone's preferable to another. It's just that the schedule attracts people with certain tastes, and they would not be delighted at alterations.

Padmaja's ballet was choreographed by her own guru, the famous danseuse Shobha Naidu, and started with the composition of Guru Adishankaracharya's Ganesha Pancharatnam. She next presented Ragamaalika with slokas Ambica Hrudayanandam, Gaja Vaktram and Venkata Subbiar's Marakata Manumaya. The last item was a keertana Arabhi Sankarabharanam on Lord Sri Krishna. The only grace of this program was the music, composed by Surya Prakash Rao and delivered by instrumentalists Sharma on the mrudangam, Ananta Krishna on the flute, Mohan on the nattuvangam, and with vocals by Kanna Rao and Shayana Krishna.

Then came the surprise. Not to disappoint the ghazal lovers, Rita Ganguly was called in, and she enthralled the audience with her ghazals. First she started with a Dhumri Mora Sayya Bulave Adhiraat, and, in a series, presented some of her popular ghazals Dil Me Dardka Toophan Utha To Ghazal Hoti Hai, Ustad Sharoo's Lapiladey La La Piladey Sathia, Door Hai Manzil Raahee Mushkil Alam Tanhaanyeeka, Bhularahetey Magar Mamla Kabtha, and Nazar Uthake Use Dekhna Tha Zulm Magar.


The next program was - grab this - pop! 'The Goan Extravaganza' was presented by F S Serrao of Crosscraft Private Limited, Goa. This program was well received by the youth. But a little discomfort was caused to the decent folks out there due to few puckish folks in the audience who danced at will, ignoring the pleas from others.

On the whole this event was a run-away success unlike yesterday's and the one on the day before, where viewers were hardly visible.