Indian Community Center (ICC) Karaoke Club in association with Bay Area Telugu Association (BATA) hosted the 2nd Telugu karaoke evening of the year on June 6th, 2008 at Indian Community Center, Milpitas, California. The event was very well attended with audience waiting anxiously for song after song as the evening unfolded melodiously
Mrs. Sujata Mudumba (ICC) and Mrs. Vijaya Aasuri (BATA) served as the master of ceremony for the event. Both Sujata and Vijaya were very well connected with the audience throughout the event as they quizzed the audience on a variety of topics including regional recipes, dressing styles, birth places, movie names, etc. They even turned the yahoo group address into a quiz to facilitate memorization of the web-site for new members in the audience.
The song selection was a feast to the audience as most of the songs were popular Telugu melodies from Tollywood. A vast majority of the songs were from 60’s through the 90’s and were well known to most of the audience. One could easily hear the chorus from the audience for many songs, and notice the audience being immersed in the music and the songs. There was even some impromptu singing as the host joined in for an ‘alaap’ for a popular song from ‘Roja’.
Some songs sung beautifully that still linger in our memories are: Prema Ledhani, Kurisindi Vaana, Gala Gala Parutunna Godarila, Manasuna Vunnadi, Manasa Cheppmma, Ye Divilo Virisina Paarijathamo, Don’t Marry Be Happy, Ennala Ku Gurtho Chava Vaana, Raa Raa Sarasaku Raa Raa, Nilivave Vaalu Kanula Daana, Roja, Veena Venu Vaina and Andari Mundara Vinduga Gadapara (Ghazal) just to name a few. Noted Bay area singers Prasad Durvasula sang Mannelu Pooche and Ravi Gudipati sang Aamani Padave & Andama NeePeeremiti. Rayudu Vrudula garu sang a couple of melodious ’Yenki’songs. For the very first time, a full-term pregnant lady (Padmini) sang two beautiful numbers- Ee Swasalo and Mounamgane. The show stealer of the evening was the ‘Sankara Nadha’ song from SankaraBharanam sung by Ashwin Baliga, for which he got a standing ovation by the audience. What was commendable was that he sang without looking at the lyrics with no knowledge of Telugu.
Some beautiful renditions of Hindi songs also made the evening memorable; ‘Mere Naina Saawan Bhadon’, ‘Naam Gum Jayega’, ‘Aansoo Bhari Hai Yeh Jeevan Ki Rahein’, ‘Ab Kya Misaal doon’ and a song from Pacifica ‘Teri Ankhon Ke Siva’. The witty host rendered a Bollywood number in Sanskrit- Vande Mataram from ‘Anandmath’. She affirmed that Sanskrit is the mother of all languages and sanskrit was first introduced by Brahma to the Sages of the celestial abodes and it is still the language of the celestial abode, so it is also called the Dev Vani.
BATA Vice President Prasad Mangina was the force behind the success of the two events held this year. He was capably supported by Jaya Thatipamala, an active member in his efforts. He thanked the ICC Karaoke Team inclusive of Narendra, Sujata, Ganesh & Dahya Mistry for providing the opportunity and thanked all the participants and audience for making this event a great success. Sri. Jaya Ram Komati (TANA president elect) also attended the program. BATA executive committee members and volunteers attended the program in hugh numbers.
