Vichitra Veena Recital By Emani Lalitha: Events in Hyderabad

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She is the only lady Gotu Vadyam Vidhwan of India. She excels with the veena and the mandolin as well. Listen, it's tough to play those.

Nada Bharathi is organising a Sangeet Sammelan from 4th to 11th December, at Sundarayya Vignana Kendra. Today, the 6th day, Emani Lalitha of Hyderabad will be presenting a Gotu Vadyam recital, along with K Venkata Krishna on the violin, P Srinivasa Gopalan on the mridangam and B Hanumantha Rao on the ghatam.

Lalita Krishna received her initial training in the veena from her mother Lakshmisuramma Somayajulu, and later from veteran violin vidwan Annavarapu Ramaswami. She is also a renowned player of the Gotu Vadyam (or vichitra veena as it is otherwise called), and had even altered her veena to a Gotu Vadyam. She trained with the vichitra veena under the tutelage of the famous Ravi Kiran in Chennai.

Lalitha today has the distinction of being the only Gotu Vadyam player in Andhra Pradesh, and the only lady Gotu Vadyam Vidhwan of India. She is also proficient with the mandolin, and is an A-grade veena and B-grade Gotu Vadyam artiste of the All-India Radio.

Nada Bharathi was started in 2000 by a renowned mridangist Yuva Sangeeta Bharathi Paravastu Srinivas Gopalan, who hails from a family of classical musicians. The basic objective of the organisation is to preserve, promote and propogate all forms of classical music, by increasing awareness through regular concerts.

Since its inception, it has conducted more than 500 concerts, concentrating not only on Carnatic music, but also on Hindustani music. The organisation has organised musical concerts of renowned vocalists, violinists, mridangists, flautists and vainikas.

The Chief Guest for the evening is Koniki Satyanarayana, President of Sree Rama Gana Sabha and a musicologist. The entry to the festival is only through invitation. For invitations and further details, please contact P Srinivas Gopalan at 93910-44910.