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.