The Department of Sanskrit Studies, University of Hyderabad in collaboration with Bol Hyderabad 90.4 FM, a community radio station of the university organized a talk by Smt. Jyothi Mohan, a noted danseuse and musician, to pay tribute to the well-known carnatic music singer M.S. Subbulakshmi. The theme of the talk was ‘Musings on the Magical Music of Bharat Ratna M.S. Subbulakshmi”.
Head of the Department of Sanskrit Studies, Prof. JSR Prasad extended a warm welcome to Smt. Jyothi Mohan. In his welcome note, he said that he is extremely delighted and honored to host this talk on M.S. Subbulakshmi. Further, interconnecting Sanskrit and music, he enlightened the gathering on how Vedas find their roots in music and how music is a medium of motivation.
The program succeeded with Smt. Mohan inaugurating her lecture with a film titled ‘Endaro Mahaanubhaavalu’ directed by Avinash Pasricha. The film vividly explains the life and glories of M.S. Subbulakshmi, through her black and white photographs.
After the screening, Smt. Mohan, showing her devotion towards the Bharat Ratna awardee, discussed in detail about her musical journey and added that there was a radiance in her voice. Talking about the struggles of M.S. Amma, she elaborated, “She was from a poor family and the only richness they enjoyed was the music in and around the house. It was said that she was very fond of tuning the tambura and spent hours tuning it”.
Smt. Mohan further added that, “M.S. Amma always found her inspiration in her mother, who herself was a well-known music practitioner. Walking on the footsteps of her mother, she devoted herself to music by constant practice.”
Along with the lecture, Smt. Mohan played some of the musical performances of M.S. Amma from the past as she talked about her contribution in the field of music. The program ended with the felicitation of the eminent guest.
About Smt. Jyothi Mohan
Smt. Jyothi Mohan is a disciple of Guru Shri Kalyanasundaram of Sri Rajarajeswari Bharata Natya Kala Mandir, who has also learnt Carnatic music from late Shri P. N. Krishnamurthy, for three decades. A dedicated artiste, she established Sriranjani Kala Nilaya, her own dance institution, in Chembur. She joined Sri Shanmukhananda Bharatiya Sangeetha Vidyalaya in 2004, as faculty. In recognition of her contribution to classical dance and music, Swar Sadhana Samiti, Mumbai conferred upon her the title Vidya Vibhushan, in 2009. She holds a post-graduate degree in Microbiology.
By Monika & Swati
Communication Department