చర్చ:ఎంకి పాటలు
విషయాన్ని చేర్చుfrom TelusA List Archives
http://www.bhaavana.net/telusa/feb97/0039.html for reference and translation
A couple of weeks ago I posted a small review on a recent audio recording
of Nanduri's Yenki Patalu (by Kiravani). In reply to my question, Sri Veluri
gAru mentioned some interesting facts on the earlier singers who sang these
songs and those recordings. Sri Veluri gAru also mentioned about Nanduri
Parthasarathi who used to sing his dad's yenki pATalu so nicely. Rajani also
used to sing these Yenki pATalu. From 1938-1941, at Andhra Universtiy, the
gang was really in love with Yenki Patalu. Later, Rajani and Janamanci, from
that batch moved on and settled in AIR. Unfortunately Sri Janamanci
Ramakrishna is no more. But Sri Rajanikanta Rao is the only source to know
more about these recordings or earlier singers who sang these songs (whom I
can get in touch with).
Then I looked for my books on Yenki pATalu and I shoul have an older copy
(with drawings of Adivi Bapiraju). I finally laid my hands on the book.
I read the prefaces by Naduri for both the editions (1925 and 1952).
These prefaces present a great deal of history behind these enchanting Yenki
Patalu. I would like to present here most of Nanduri's words (in Telugu as in
Prefaces) in English.
---pAlana
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Nanduri Subbarao in his own words on Yenki pATalu -#1
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Preface for 1925 Edition
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Nanduri Subbarao started writing these songs while he was preparing for
the final BA examinations (1917-1918 at Madras Christian College). Nanduri
(as he stated "fortunately"), then, made freindship with Sri Adhikarla
Suryanarayana Rao and then both became room mates. Nanduri Subbarao was
acquainted with Sri Basavaraju Apparao, who used to teach (train) Nanduri
various literary aspects long ago and Sri Basavaraju used to live in Madras
those days. Sri Patibandla Apparao used to join them to chat. Nanduri used to
get surprised at (sitting in a corner) each praising his own (bragging)
writings.
While returning from the college in the tram, Nanduri started humming
a fine tune. Nanduri searched for words in order to sing that song in
himself. It seemed so familiar to him that he immediately came up with a line
"gunDe gontukalOna koTlADatAdi" (the heart flutters in the throat). Upon
reaching his house and memorizing that line, Nanduri Subbarao, finished his
first song (gunDe gontukalOna koTlADutAdI, kUkunDa nIdurA kUsinta sEpu -
muddula nA yenki).
Nanduri, with hesitation, read those songs in front of Basavaraju
Apparao and Suryanarayana. Immediately Suryanarayana (Nanduri, it seemed,
called him "jAnakIpati") encouraged him to continue writing. Basavaraju
Apparao, as opposed, told Nanduri that it was not his natural style (of
language) and Nanduri could not search for truth with this style of language
that Nanduri was using in his songs. In other words, Basavaraju Apparao,
discouraged Nanduri Subbarao.
Nanduri cashed on Surayanarayana's encouragement. He himself expressed
that the moment he was inspired by Suryanarayana, he did not stop thinking
of Yenki poetry. Suryanarayana was more determined in his opinions about
Nanduri's poetry. Basavaraju Apparao gradually became mellow, changed his
opinion, and started encouraging Nanduri.
"To whom I should be grateful? Should I be grateful to Yenki who was
my gifted inspirer for the spontaneous sprouting of these songs in me? Should
I be grateful to Sri Adhikarla Suryanarayana who encouraged me to continue
writing these songs? Should I be grateful to our Basavaraju Apparaya who
taught me the 50 essential secrets of poetry? I should be grateful to all the
three!" Nanduri said.
Well-wishers, several, encouraged Nanduri. Sri Desoddharaka Kasinadhuni
Nageswararao pantulu garu rendered Yenki songs and primarily he was
responsible for publishing those in Bharati and Andhra Patrika, and
advertised the Yenki Patalu book in his journals without any cost. Nanduri
said that he was indebted to Sri Desoddharaka Kasinadhuni Nageswararao
Pantulu.
Jamindar of Nuziveedu, Sri Venkatadri Apparao Rajabahdur was poet himself
who used to enjoy listening to Yenki pATalu. Sri Venkatadri Apparao Raja
helped Sri Nanduri Subbarao in many ways. Sri Nanduri wrote half his Yenki
songs during his acquaintance with him. Nanduri extended his heart-felt
gratitude to Sri Venkatadri Apparao Raja.
Sri Kolavennu Ramakoteswararao also encouraged Nanduri in his project.
One of the great painters of Andhra, Sri Adivi Bapiraju, drew the pictures
for this issue. Nanduri said that if his Yenki would be responsible for those
great feelings (in the readers' hearts) that Bapiraju's paintings generate,
he would be the most fortunate.
The society of Madras Andhra Scholars (maDrAsu Andhra panDita manDali)
invited him specially and felicitated him. From that day onwards, Sri Nanduri
was not scared of them but had developed respects towards them.
The Orthodox Telugu Scholar, Sri Panchagnula Adinarayana Sastri used to
jump up high if he would listen to the word "Yenki". That much he used to
like Yenki pATalu. He never treated Yenki pATalu down to inferior even though
he was a real Telugu scholar. Naduri paid his respects to Sri Pancagnula and
Sri Pokkuluri Lakshminarayana (who was also one of his well-wishers).
One of the most famous Telugu singers, Sri Vidvan Parupalli Ramkrushnayya
toiled and set nice tunes to Yenki pATalu for the first time. Nanduri always
used to sing his Yenki Patalu in the same tunes as set by Sri Vidvan
Parupalli Ramakrushnayya (telugu dESamlO pErondina mETi gAyakulu mahArAjaSrI
pArupalli rAmakRshNayya gAru entO SramapaDi SraddhatO yI pATalaku svaram
cESAru. vAriki nA namaskAramulu. adE nEnu pADE vidhamu). That was great.
As Sri Veluri Venkateswararao gAru wrote in his message, Nanduri himself
wrote that he used to sing his own songs.
Sri Ganti Suryanarayana took the initiative to pbulish the Yenki songs
for which Sri Nanduri was eternally grateful to Sri Ganti, a Grammarian and
Logician.
Sri Nanduri Subbarao dedicated his songs to his cousin (pettalli kumAruDu)
Sri Bhavaraju Venkata Subbarao. Sri Nanduri's father passed away when Nanduri
was 4 years old and immediatedly Sri Bhavaraju Subbarao took care of the
entire family. These Yenki Patalu were dedicated to Sri Bhavaraju by Nanduri
for the magnanimity.
--based on Original Preface
for Yenki Patalu
--pAlana By Sri Nanduri Subbarao
(English) (Madras; 29-8-1925)
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Opinions are mine only
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To be contd...............
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Sincere Thanks to Srinivas Paruchuri and Sri Veluri V. Rao who
indirectly encouraged me to put this in this form.
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calam in his 'kavi hRdayam' discusses a lot about
nanDUri and enki pATalu. he details a lot of history, incl.
how enki pATalu received two totally different reactions from
scholars of those days and also, how much nanDuri was in love with
his work. calam argues that the later additions do not have the
same spark as the original set of songs. one more interesting thing
he writes is about how much nanDUri wanted his work to gain international
recognition with the help of an ably done english translation.
calam doesn't believe that yenki pATalu can ever be translated into
another language without losing their pristine beauty.
regards
prasad
--
Yenki Patalu were a revolutionary poetic creation those days.
Just like everything else, Yenki was an enigma and Yenki Patalu
were an anathema. The world has people with diverse tastes.
Diverse opinions exist among them about a same topic/thing.
I just wanted to present here what the original author had to say
about his own works rather than someone other than him analyzing
his works. I like to see history from the history maker and here Sri
Nanduri was the history maker for his Yenki Patal History. So, his
historical sketch, has to be more authentic. The same way, it is fun
reading the prefaces for Kanyasulkam by Gurazada than reading literary
criticisms written by many. Sure! The authenticity is there in the
original author' own words. I would feel more closer to the author
when the author narrates his own experiences while making a book of
his own.
In addition to digging out the history from the author's first couple
of pages, it would be valuable if that is recorded in simple English
on a forum like Telusa so that several Telugus unable to read Telugu
and non-Telugus, both interested in our literature, would be able and
fortunate to read some aspects of our literature - is my new mission.
At this stage, I would rather leave arguments and debates to other
highly more learned scholars on this forum.
With those few pennies, let me shift over to the actual topic. The
following is from the preface to the second edition of Nanduri
Subbarao's Yenki Patalu. It seems, Nanduri by then was in Eluru and
finished his second preface there on 3/8/52.
It is interesting to see more of what he felt about his work.
---pAlana
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[మార్చు]
Nanduri Subbarao in his own words on Yenki pATalu -#2
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Preface to Second Edition (1952)
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All the copies of first edition Yenki pATalu were sold out.
It was too long after no copies were available in the market. In the mean
time, Nanduri had written some more new songs. There were several hurdles
that Nanduri faced to publish a second edition of his book along with the
inclusion of his new songs. The project was delayed but finally it became a
reality.
In 1926, Nanduri Subbarao, started practising his legal profession.
His friends then cautioned him that Law and Poetry were not compatible. Even
though Nanduri was chanting Yenki's name regulaly, he was unable to pen at
least half of the songs. Finally in 1948, Nanduri was able to finish the new
songs. In the same year, Nanduri met Sri Manchala Jagannadharao (AIR, Patna)
and both became very good friends. It appears from Nanduri's writings that
Manchala was a very good Veena player and a good singer. From that year on
wards, Manchala used to come and visit Nanduri, once a year. During his
visit, Manchala used to stay at Nanduri's place, play Veena, and sing songs
in melodious voice. Manchala's enchanting voice brought Nanduri's Yenki songs
back to life. It was because of Manchala's friendhip, Nanduri was at least
successful in finishing half of the new songs he planned to write. Nanduri
extends his gratefulness to Manchala.
Manchala's friendship did not end there. Manchala set tunes for
Nanduri's 40 new songs. Manchala even gave the musical notations for those
songs. Nanduri said in this preface that unfortunately due to unavoidable
circumstances he could neither present the musical notations given by Sri
Parupalli Ramakrushnayya for the earlier songs nor the the musical notations
given by Sri Manchala Jagannadha Rao for the new songs in his second edition
of Yenki Patalu.
Some liked Nanduri's Yenki Patalu and some disliked them. Even his
own friends were divided in to two groups - one "validating" one "declining".
Nanduri was well aware of that and it seems that he accepted that vote.
Cattamanci Ramalingareddi said that those without good qualities would not
ridicule or laugh and hence, he read those Yenki Patalu. Nanduri stated that
those who did not approve his songs, till today, supported towards the
healthy growth of his songs. He specially respected those who did not validate
his work and approve his songs. That is a remarkale character in a poet and
you see that among a handful, if you are lucky.
Sri Bhamidipati Ramasomayajul, advocate, Chodavaram (Visakha district),
did a painting for one of Nanduri's small songs and published in Bharati.
From that day on wards, there arose a plethora of arguments and counter
arguments on Nanduri's Yenki Songs and the publicity his songs gained was
unimaginable.
The affection and love extended by Kalaprapurna Vedam Venkataraya
Sastrulu, Sir Cattamanci Ramalinga Reddy, Sri Veturu Prabhakar Sastry, Sri
Panchagnula Adinarayana Sastry, and Rao Saheb Gidugu Ramamurthy Pantulu did
definitely enhance the publicity for Nanduri's Yenki Songs and brought them
into the center of Telugu Poetry those days.
TIME LINE OF NANDURI'S YENKI SONG POPULARITY GROWTH
---------------------------------------------------
Sri Mallampalli Somasekhara Sarma, for the first time, discussed these
songs in a symposium conducted by the Telugu Scholars (1925).
Prof. D. Appala Narasimham in 1926 and Sri Burgula Ramakrushnarao, the
then Chief Minister of Hyderabad in 1928, highlighted and validated these
Yenki Songs in Bharati.
Sri M. Chalapati Rao, the then Editor of National Herald, Lucknow,
and Sri Kolavennu Ramakoteswararao, the then Editor of Triveni, published
literary criticism on Nanduri's Yenki Patalu in Triveni.
The great scholar, Sri Vedala Tiruvengalacharyulu, in his Andhra
Dhvanya Lokam, used one of Nanduri's Yenki Song as an example.
Prof. Guruganti Sitarama Battaraka, in his Navya Sahitya Vidi, offered
a place for Nanduri's Yenki.
Bellakonda Raghava, analyzing each song at a time, published several
essays with affection.
Prof. Vissa Apparao (31/5/52) located a place for Yenki Songs in the
World of Songs.
Rukmininadhudu and Rajani shaped Nanduri's Yenki Songs into plays.
Sri Adavi Bapiraju painted paintings for Nanduri's Yenki Songs.
Sangitakalanidhi Prof. Dvaram Venkata Swami Nayudu nurtured Nanduri's
Yenki Songs with musical vigor.
English literary scholar like Sri M. Chalapati Rao translated these
Nanduri's Yenki Songs into English.
King of actors like Ramakrushna played the Yenki Song plays on the
stage.
Kavisamrattu Viswanadha Satyanarayana offered places in his novels.
Sri Devulapalli Krushna Sastri (as nanDUri calls him : sOdaruDu
kRshNaSAstri) several times spoke kind words about Nanduri's Yenki Songs
and especially sang them in many meetings.
Sri Gudipati Venkatachalam (as nanDUri calls him: rasikulu Sri Gudipati
Venkatachalam) wholeheartedly mused these Yenki songs (Nanduri used the exact
word "Muse" for Chalam).
Sri SriSri brought these Yenki songs into lime light in Svatantra.
Sivasankara Swamy, president of Nanduri's Sahiti Samiti, showered his
blessings on these Yenki Songs.
Nanduri mentioned that all these people extended their support to him
to finish writing his new Yenki Songs. In his old age, he feels equal
importance about his Yenki Songs and the affection shown towards him by all
his friends. He cherished both his songs and the affection shown by his
friends in his old age.
All India Radio stations at Madras, Vijayawada, and Hyderabad
brought his songs on Air and their in house singers sang Nanduri's songs
with musical gimmickry/talent. Nanduri loved it.
Some said that the language of the new Yenki Songs had changed
from that of the old Yenki Songs. Devulapalli Krushna Sastry (8-5-53, Madras
Cultural Club) and the Editor of the Krushna Patrika (in the Gidugu
Ramamurthy Commemoration Issue), gave answers to why the language of Yenki
Songs changed for the new songs. Nanduri left the decission to the judgement
call of the readers and he finally declared that change was inevitable.
Nanduri Dedicated the new songs to that "tala taDumukoni tabbibbaina
adbhuta mUrti" in his "ravala velugu" song (the title is "tabbibbu").
In Nanduri's words "I kotta pATala ankitam nA ravala velugulu pATalO tala
taDumukoni tabbibbaina adButamUrtiki. A mUrtiki nA kavitva jIvitA darSamula
yeDa nIrasa BAvamu tappa marO BAvamunaku tAvulEdani yeringiyu, nA Bakti cEya
vEru pUjA dravyamulEmi? vIninE arpincucunnAnu."
---based on Nanduri Venkata Subbarao
---pAlana Preface, Yenki Patalu, Second Edition
(English) Eluru, 3-8-52.
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Disclaimer: Opinions are mine.