AFVOA Newletter August 2020

Section 6 – eConnect Reviews CV 2 No. 02 / 2020 Page 213 of 237 In a gracious gesture befitting a Veterans organization, Dr Sudha Raghunathan commenced her session with a rendering of Mahakavi Bharathi’s ‘Vande Mataram’ – the verses flowing in Raga Malika in a mellifluous amalgam featuring Raags Yamuna Kalyani, Brindavana Saranga, Punnaka Varali and Sindhu Bhairavi. This was followed in quick succession by a Purandara Dasa krithi ‘Jaya jaya’ in Raag Nattai that she remembered singing in a concert in New Delhi during the first week of Mar 2019 to welcome back our national hero Wg Cdr Abhinandan Varthaman. The captivating ‘virutham’ that preceded the song set the tone for the main item perfectly well. Within the first few nano seconds in to the session, the viewers could perceive what an articulate Speaker she is. Talking about her Life Journey, Ms Sudha narrated as to how the musical ambience at home, with her mother Smt Choodamani and sister singing all the time, moulded her initial interest in music. As a child, even while she was playing with her toys, her attention used to be riveted to the songs sung in the background. Her mother had greatly influenced and directed Dr Sudha’s music career. Those were the days when women performing on stage was considered a taboo, but the expert tutelage she received from her Gurus (her mother Smt Choodamani to start with, followed by Shri B V Lakshman and later under the legend, Dr M L Vasanthakumari for 13 years) and the path breaking example set by the famous trinity of women performers comprising Smt D K Pattammal, Smt M S Subbulakshmi and Dr M L Vasanthakumari, provided the inspiration and the fillip for grooming herself as a stage performer. Though Dr Sudha essentially was groomed under the GNB 5 and MLV school, she has evolved a style of her own where the soul of her music lies in the dynamism of her presentation. Dr Sudha Raghunathan is also a sterling example of unconditional love, devotion , admiration and ‘guru bhakti’ towards her guru Dr M L Vasanthakumari. On 3rd July, 2018, the 90th birth anniversary of her legendary guru, Dr Sudha celebrated her guru’s music by having two Union Ministers of the Indian Government, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, the then Honourable Minister of Defence and Shri Manoj Sinha, Honourable Minister of State for Communications (I/C) and Minister of State for Railways gracing the occasion. It is no wonder that she is a permanent recipient of her Guru’s grace, helping her scale newer heights and achievements in her chosen field. Her Guru’s influence was not just restricted to music alone, but had a permanent effect on presenting music on stage, dressing up and accessorizing for the event. Music lovers all over the world in general and Dr Sudha’s fans in particular know that she has walked the ramp as ambassador for the Parampara pattu, a customized brand of silk sarees, 5 Shri G N Balasubramanyam, a doyen of Carnatic music of the mid 20 th century