Vinjamuri Anasuya Devi
Encyclopedia
Dr. Avasarala Anasuya Devi is a singer, music composer, musicologist, author and expert in playing harmonium
.
, first to sing classical, folk and light music on radio and concert, first to publish Andhra’s light and folk music in Carnatic notation. She has got her first gramophone record at the age of 8 years. It was the famous folk song Ayyo Koyyoda that was later used in that equally famous film song, Yeruvaaka saagaro ranno chinnanna.
Anasuya was born in a family of littérateurs, musicians and artistes on May 12, 1920. She learnt Carnatic music
from Munuganti Venkata Rao. She has perfected the art of Folk music
and literature from Valluri Jagannatha Rao. Her father Vinjamuri Venkata Lakshmi Narasimha Rao
was a poet and her mother Venkata Rathnamma edited a literary magazine Anasuya in 1914, first women’s magazine in Telugu, featuring women writers and Ajanta style illustrations.
A harbinger of the Renaissance Movement in Andhra Pradesh, Anasuya Devi introduced light music and folk music in her concerts from 1928 and over All India Radio
, Madras from 1938. Her voice has a peculiar and profound rustic timbre that blends naturally with folk songs.
Anasuya Devi has the rare distinction of singing during the Congress sessions and on various occasions, before luminaries such as Mahatma Gandhi
, Subhash Chandra Bose
, Jawaharlal Nehru
, Rajendra Prasad
and S. Radhakrishnan.
She has composed tunes for some Indian films - Vikata Yogi and Vanjikottai Valiban in Tamil and Rojulu Maarayi, Malleeswari, Bangaru Papa, Aggi Ramudu, Penki Pellam, Kanaka Durga Mahathmyam, Oka Oori Katha in Telugu and Raj Tilak in Hindi. She worked as a music director for Mahatma Kabir (Kannada) and Bommalata (Telugu).
Until the age of 20 years, Anasuya was giving solo concerts. She trained her younger sister Vinjamuri Seetha Devi
and from 1940 onwards they started singing together. She collected many folk songs and helped her sister to get her M. Lit. degree. On a fellowship from the Central Sahitya Akademi
in 1982-83 Vinjamuri sisters toured several districts in Andhra Pradesh to collect and restore folk songs.
She published seven books and her autobiography, two of them – Bhava geethalu and Janapada Geyalu were released at a function to mark the completion of 80 years of Anasuya Devi’s contribution, in Chennai on April 12, 2008.
She received ‘Kalaprapoorna’ an honorary doctorate from Andhra University
was in 1977. She has won Lifetime Achievement awards in U.S.A and hailed as the ‘Queen of Folk Music’ in Paris.
Actor-singer A.S.Giri married Anasuya Devi and they had five children, including Houston-based dance guru Ratna Kumar, Krishna Giri, Seetha Ratnakar, Kamala Srikar, and Neehar Giri.
Harmonium
A harmonium is a free-standing keyboard instrument similar to a reed organ. Sound is produced by air being blown through sets of free reeds, resulting in a sound similar to that of an accordion...
.
Biography
She was the first woman music composer in Andhra Pradesh, first woman music director in South India, first woman music composer in All India RadioAll India Radio
All India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
, first to sing classical, folk and light music on radio and concert, first to publish Andhra’s light and folk music in Carnatic notation. She has got her first gramophone record at the age of 8 years. It was the famous folk song Ayyo Koyyoda that was later used in that equally famous film song, Yeruvaaka saagaro ranno chinnanna.
Anasuya was born in a family of littérateurs, musicians and artistes on May 12, 1920. She learnt Carnatic music
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
from Munuganti Venkata Rao. She has perfected the art of Folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and literature from Valluri Jagannatha Rao. Her father Vinjamuri Venkata Lakshmi Narasimha Rao
Vinjamuri Venkata Lakshmi Narasimha Rao
Vinjamuri Venkata Lakshmi Narasimha Rao was an Indian stage actor, Telugu-Sanskrit pandit and author....
was a poet and her mother Venkata Rathnamma edited a literary magazine Anasuya in 1914, first women’s magazine in Telugu, featuring women writers and Ajanta style illustrations.
A harbinger of the Renaissance Movement in Andhra Pradesh, Anasuya Devi introduced light music and folk music in her concerts from 1928 and over All India Radio
All India Radio
All India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
, Madras from 1938. Her voice has a peculiar and profound rustic timbre that blends naturally with folk songs.
Anasuya Devi has the rare distinction of singing during the Congress sessions and on various occasions, before luminaries such as Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
, Subhash Chandra Bose
Subhash Chandra Bose
Subhas Chandra Bose known by name Netaji was an Indian revolutionary who led an Indian national political and military force against Britain and the Western powers during World War II. Bose was one of the most prominent leaders in the Indian independence movement and is a legendary figure in...
, Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
, Rajendra Prasad
Rajendra Prasad
Dr. Rajendra Prasad was an Indian politician and educator. He was one of the architects of the Indian Republic, having drafted its first constitution and serving as the first president of independent India...
and S. Radhakrishnan.
She has composed tunes for some Indian films - Vikata Yogi and Vanjikottai Valiban in Tamil and Rojulu Maarayi, Malleeswari, Bangaru Papa, Aggi Ramudu, Penki Pellam, Kanaka Durga Mahathmyam, Oka Oori Katha in Telugu and Raj Tilak in Hindi. She worked as a music director for Mahatma Kabir (Kannada) and Bommalata (Telugu).
Until the age of 20 years, Anasuya was giving solo concerts. She trained her younger sister Vinjamuri Seetha Devi
Vinjamuri Seetha Devi
Vinjamuri Seetha Devi is a musician, singer, and scholar of Telugu folk music.She was formerly a producer of folk music on All India Radio.Along with her sister Anasuya Devi they composed music for many of Andhra Pradesh's famous poets. These include Srirangam Srinivisa Rao .But not all of her...
and from 1940 onwards they started singing together. She collected many folk songs and helped her sister to get her M. Lit. degree. On a fellowship from the Central Sahitya Akademi
Sahitya Akademi
The Sahitya Akademi ', India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India...
in 1982-83 Vinjamuri sisters toured several districts in Andhra Pradesh to collect and restore folk songs.
She published seven books and her autobiography, two of them – Bhava geethalu and Janapada Geyalu were released at a function to mark the completion of 80 years of Anasuya Devi’s contribution, in Chennai on April 12, 2008.
She received ‘Kalaprapoorna’ an honorary doctorate from Andhra University
Andhra University
Andhra University or Andhra Viswa Kala Parishad , located in Visakhapatnam, north east coastal Andhra Pradesh, is one of the older premier universities in India with a broad focus...
was in 1977. She has won Lifetime Achievement awards in U.S.A and hailed as the ‘Queen of Folk Music’ in Paris.
Actor-singer A.S.Giri married Anasuya Devi and they had five children, including Houston-based dance guru Ratna Kumar, Krishna Giri, Seetha Ratnakar, Kamala Srikar, and Neehar Giri.
External links
- http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/04/11/stories/2008041150360200.htm
- http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/04/11/stories/2008041151150300.htm
- http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/02/01/stories/2008020151380600.htm
- http://www.facebook.com/VinjamuriAnasuyaDevi?v=info&ref=ts