User:Malola Priya

Every Human being is born with a purpose, with an objective - only a few are able to find their talent, nourish themselves and stand out. It happened 8 decades ago in a small town near Mangalore, Karnataka. A child was born and everything he did was related to music. Blessed son of the father (Shri.B. Krishna Rao ) who accompanied stalwarts like Chembai Vaidhyanathar Bhagavathar. In the crossroads of claiming popularity among rasikas, it has always been a difficult ride for Hindustani Music in Chennai. Chennai has always been the home ground for Carnatic music and rarely would there be scope for others to find space. However, from as early as the 50’s Hindustani music has made its silent mark of presence. In today’s scenario, Hindustani music has become an integral part of the Chennai music lovers. The subtle sound of hindustani alapanas fills the environment with a relaxed mood. In the heart of the city, one could hear continuous rendering of Hindustani music. Bhageerathi Apartment Alamelumangapuram,Mylapore is today well known for the home of Vidwan Professor Ramamoorthy Rao. At a very young age Vidwan Ramamoorthy Rao, migrated to Chennai to learn Carnatic music from gurus like M. D Ramanathan & K V Narayanaswamy. He was awarded the President Gold Medal for Carnatic. However, his liking for Hindustani music was so much, that he decided to move to Bombay in search of gurus who could teach him Hindustani music. While he has learnt from various musicians, he has always been a preferred student of Pandit Bimshen Joshi. He has been accompanying him in concerts. Vidwan Ramammoorthy, a devotee of Goddess Mookambikai, felt that it was the wish of the Goddess, that he should teach music instead of mere performance. He later returned to Chennai and took up imparting musical knowledge as his sole obedience to the Goddess. Vid Ramamoorthy rao has to his credit, a unique distinction - compositions of as many as 1800 songs in Kannada, Sanskrit, Hindustani, Brighbasha & Rajasthani, written and composed by him. Many of which have been popularized by leading musicians. One such famous number is, praising Sringeri Saradaambal, ‘ Sangeetha Samrajya Sancharini’, tuned to Mohana Ragam. The strong influence of Hindustani music was brought to its simplest divine form when he created magic and huge followership to Devotional style of presentation of Hindustani Bhajans since the 70s. Not only in Hindi but in all Indian Languages including his own compositions with the signature ‘Krishna dasa’ His ability to source for rare krithis in Carnatic and unique compositions attracted many of his students. His student’s list starts way back from Ms ML Vasanthakumari, Ms. Radha Jayalakshmi, Ms. Aruna Sairam, Shri Vijay Yesudoss and many more. He has also guided and taught number of youngsters like Ranjani Gayathri, Smt. Vishaka Hari, Saindhavi, Ms. Gayathri Girish, Jayashree Vaidyanathan and the list continues to many celebrity families like Actor Shivakumar and his children and grand children, Ilayaraja’s daughter Bhavathrini, Oscar Winner AR Rahman’s sister Rehena, Celebrity Writer Sivasankari. “He is a born lyricist” says Siva sankari while producing his album of Soundarya Lahari tuned in 108 ragas. He was recognized for his kannada literary work by Hamsadhwani and had presented “Hanrag - Hamsadhwani ‘ Award to his contribution to Dasara Sahithyas. A guru always feels elated when his students get praised. Vidwan Ramamoorthy Rao remembers receiving a call from his student Ms. Aruna Sairam sharing her blissful experience singing his composition on Bhagirathi, Gangaji during the Maha Aarti at Haridwar in front of thousands of lively packed saints and devotees. Soon after her performance she received a call about her final nomination for Padma Bhushan. Ms. Aruna Sairam popularized many of the of his compositions including Abhangs and the Tirupati Kavacham. Vidwan Ramamoorthy Rao has been guiding light for many dance and thematic presentations. His knowledge on various subjects have helped right from concept development to choreography on many occasions. Some of them he recalls having worked intensely were “Meera” for Smt. Urmila Satynarayanan. He also composed and sang for Gayathri Gurunathan’s ( Daughter of Smt Krishnaveni, Head of Kalakshektra ) production - Akbar the Theosophist. He sang life history of Akbar in a poem form adding verses from the Quran and his exuberant rendition won the hearts of all 2000 present that day. Not only Bharatnatyam, he also has worked with Jigna Shah, popular Kathak dancer on her productions. As a musicologist he has researched a number of things. His perspective about ragas, its history and its grandeur of music and spirituality has been well appreciated by his close aide Shri. K J Yesudoss. They enjoy having discussions related music and much more and it is after such association, Vijay Yesudoss started learning and accompanying Vidwan Ramamoorthy Rao in his concerts. Being musician, composer, voice culture expert did not merely stop him experimenting music with healing. He has been able to help many find solace and also Self-healed his throat cancer through his divine music. He also lent his voice for the hindi movie Phir Milenge singing an Ashtapathi. Ably supported by his wife, Smt. Ranganayaki, Vid Ramamoorthy Rao conducts frequent workshops, Vidwan Ramamurthy Rao is truly a legend in the world of classical music.