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Vinjamuri Anasuya Devi

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Vinjamuri Anasuya Devi
Born(1920-05-12)12 May 1920
East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, British India
Died23 March 2019(2019-03-23) (aged 98)
NationalityIndian
Occupations

Vinjamuri Anasuya Devi (May 12, 1920 – March 23, 2019) was a Telugu singer, harmonium player, music composer and author.[1][2][3] Her forte was folk music and songs.[4]

Early life and background

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She was the daughter of Vinjamuri Venkata Lakshmi Narasimha Rao, who was an Indian stage actor, Telugu-Sanskrit pandit and author.[2] Vinjamuri Seetha Devi, also a Telugu singer, was her sister.[5] Together they are called as Vinjamuri Sisters.[6]

Her elder daughter Ratna Papa was a Kuchipudi dancer.. Her second daughter Sita Ratnakar was the former producer in Dooradarsan Television, Chennai. She died on 2019, March 23 at her 99th year of age in Houston.[4]

Music and Compositions

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She had given music concerts in the presence of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and Subash Chandra Bose during the freedom struggle.[7] The highly resonated Telugu patriotic songs ’ during Independence and Republic Day celebrations such as - Jaya Jaya Priya Bharata Janayitri.,were written by her uncle and writer Devulapalli Krishna Sastry, and this patriotic anthem was composed by Vinjamuri Anasuya Devi. The musical masterpiece — a collaboration with her sister Vinjamuri Seetha in 1936 — not only secured a cherished place among patriotic tunes but also found itself in contention to become the national anthem, standing alongside the iconic “Jana Gana Mana.”’ [4]

Anasuya started her classical training at the age of five. She promoted folk traditions when the Carnatic music was prominent by putting a conscious effort. Anasuya was passionately playing the harmonium, She left her job at All India Radio when the instrument was banned for recordings;.Her daughter Ratna shared that “her (Anasuya's) attachment to the harmonium was so strong that my mother wished for her harmonium to be positioned near her head when she passed away.”[4]

Writings

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She passed on an invaluable legacy in the form of her vast collection to posterity into 7 volumes and published them along with lyrics and music notations.[8]

Her two books 'Bava Geetalu' and 'Compilation of Folk Songs' were released last year in Chennai. She was also honoured with Doctorate degree by Andhra University in the year 1977. She was also conferred with a lifetime achievement award from America and Queen of Folk award from Paris.[9] At the age of 80, Anasuya became a writer and published 4 books including her autobiography Asamana Anasuya, at the age of 94. Anasuya’s autobiography, Asamana Anasuya, released at her 95 years age,[4][8]

Documentary on Anasuya

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Anasuya, before she died, expressed a desire for her life’s work to be documented. So, her daughter, Seetha Ratnakar, despite her mother Anasuya was at advanced age recorded the remarkable recounting anecdotes and incidents that shaped her life journey and filmed the documentary under the title "Asamana Anasuya" (Telugu word means in English, The Unusual Anasuya) in 2024.[10] [4]

References

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  1. ^ "Queen of folk music - HYDB". The Hindu. 10 April 2008. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  2. ^ a b "With many firsts to her credit - MADS". The Hindu. 10 April 2008. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  3. ^ "Space across new horizons - MADS". The Hindu. 31 January 2008. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Vijaya Mary, S. B. (17 January 2024). "'Asamana Anasuya' is a tribute to Vinjamuri Anasuya Devi by her daughter Seetha Ratnakar". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 20 August 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  5. ^ Srihari, Gudipoodi "An Era of Light Music", The Hindu June 11, 2018
  6. ^ Somasekar, M (26 March 2019). "The Vinjamuri sisters — end of an era in folk music". The Hindu Business Line. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  7. ^ Mayabrahma, Roja (24 March 2019). "KCR condoles death of radio commentator Dr Vinjamuri Anasuya Devi". www.thehansindia.com. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Asamana Anasuya: Documentary – A Daughter's Tribute to Her Mother's Musical Journey". Bangalore International Centre. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  9. ^ "KCR condoles Anasuya Devi's demise". ANI News. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  10. ^ "Asamana Anasuya: Documentary – A Daughter's Tribute to Her Mother's Musical Journey". Bangalore International Centre. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
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