Thursday, May 27, 2010

Rajanikanta Rao - A Friend

Balantrapu Rajanikanta Rao is a great man.
His talents are varied.
I had the good fortune of interacting with him very closely.
We used to discuss and exchange letters on various subjects.

Rajani, as he is lovingly called has grown really old.
I thought, like Kaloji, he would also forget people.
It was Shashtipoorti of Sriman Komanduri Seshadri garu.
Rajani was sitting in the front row.
I went there, saluted him and told who I am.
immediately he started recollecting the things that we discussed during our last encounter.
I asked him how he has not forgotten things.
He laughed and started talking about many things.
I was thrilled.
That was a few months ago.

two days back, Ms Shobha Naidu sent an invitation for their annual function.
They are staging "Kalyana Sreenivasam" on the occassion.
I was pleasantly reminded of those days when the dance drama was produced.
I was to write that Drama.
I withdrew because Great Rajani accepted to do the job!
I feel even that is an honour!
I used to go to the academy every eveing to see the progress of the script.
Rajani would start singing the songs.
I remember his singing songs over phone to me.
It fell on me to tell that the music for the Drama will be by Sri Surya Prakasha Rao garu, another genius.

It took a little time before Rajani accepted the situation.
The Drama, on the whole came out excellent!

Let us listen to two songs composed by Rajani may be in 60s.

The first songs is by Srirangam Srinivasa Rao (Srisri for short)
Is the song addressed to Gandhiji?

It goes O Mahatama O Maharshi

శ్రీశ్రీ - రజని

ఓ మహాత్మా ఓ మహర్షీ

ఏది చీకటి, ఏది వెలుతురు
ఏది జీవితమేది మృత్యువు
ఏది పుణ్యం, ఏది పాపం
ఏది నరకం, ఏది నాకం IIఓII

ఏది సత్యం, ఏదసత్యం
ఏదనిత్యం, ఏది నిత్యం
ఏది ఏకం, ఏదనేకం
ఏది కారణమేది కార్యం IIఓII

ఏది తెలుపు, ఏది నలుపు
ఏది గానం, ఏది మౌనం
ఏది నాది, ఏది నీది
ఏది నీతి, ఏది నేతి IIఓII

ఏదహింస, ఏది హింస
ఏది కష్టం, ఏది సౌఖ్యం
ఏది నష్టం, ఏది లాభం
ఏది మంచి, ఏది చెడుపు IIఓII

నిన్న స్వప్నం, నేటి సత్యం
నేటి ఖేదం, రేపు రాగం
ఒకే శాంతి, ఒకే కాంతి IIఓII


Link for download


The second song is by Basavaraju Appa Rao and is called Vatapatrashayi.
 
బసవరాజు అప్పారావు గారు - రజని

ఒంటిగా ఉయ్యాలలూగితివా
నా ముద్దు కృష్ణా
జంటగా నను పిల్వదగదోయీ

కంటికంతా జలమయమ్మై
మింటి వరకూ ఏకరాశై
జంట దొరకని మహా ప్రళయపు
టింటిలో వటపత్రడోలిక

ఒంటిగా ఉయ్యాలలూగితివా
నా ముద్దు కృష్ణా
జంటగా నను పిల్వదగదోయీ

జగములన్నీ కాలయోనిలొ
మొగములెరుగక నిదురబోవగ
నగుమొగము గల ముద్దు బాలుడ
నగుచు జోలల బాడుకొంటూ

ఒంటిగా ఉయ్యాలలూగితివా
నా ముద్దు కృష్ణా
జంటగా నను పిల్వదగదోయీ


Link for download


Let us enjoy good music!
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5 comments:

Unknown said...

Thank you very much for the rare numbers along with lyrics that you posted here. I am looking for Sri Rajni KanthaRaogaru's contact as I wish to request him for some information regarding Kshetrayya padams. Can you please help me in this contaxt? Thanks in advance for your help and support.

Unknown said...

By the way, I dont know the message is published with Savitri tag. My name is Mrs. Kanakam Devaguptapu.

prasuna said...

sri vijay gopal garu, on behalf of entire balantrapu family we appreciate the effort you took to write about rajani and including two rare songs of rajani. we are trying to collect various songs of his to be put in tube. we feel that his music is for the entire world to listen and enjoy.Yes, your recollection of the days was right, because we too feel that his music and poetry go together. but as you said the music for the dance drama was good.and i suppose you can understand his misgivings. But , he was the first person to acknowledge that the music was good and suits his poetry.thank you once again for this piece.

prasuna said...

vijay gopal garu, let me introduce myself. I am prasuna balantrapu eldest daughter-in-law of rajanikantarao garu.

prasuna said...

vijay gopal garu, let me introduce myself. I am prasuna balantrapu eldest daughter-in-law of rajanikantarao garu.