Dr. Pantula Rama – Podcast
“I don’t believe in making something look or sound difficult. Any complexity or hard work should be behind the screen, off stage, because it should not be a burden on the listener.”
– Dr. Pantula Rama
Senior Carnatic vocalist and scholar Dr. Pantula Rama is known for opening up creative, often unenvisioned, vistas of possibilities in her expositions, seemingly effortlessly, whilst staying true to tradition. In this podcast, she talks, among other things, about how her Guru-s provided a conducive environment to learn Carnatic music in locations where it was not at all prevalent. At the end of her chat, she sings a rAgamAlikA for us.
This podcast is part of the Quarantunes series, featuring Indian Classical Musicians, recorded during the worldwide shutdown resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Released one by one, the full series is at https://lakshmianand.com
Dr. Rama was initiated into music by her father, Sri Pantula Gopala Rao. She was later under the tutelage of Ivaturi Sri. Vijayeswara Rao. She is a PhD in Music from Andhra University and wrote the book “Shaping of the Ideal Carnatic Musician through Sadhana.” She is also trained in violin and viola.
Dr. Rama is the recipient of many prestigious awards including the Indira Sivasailam Endowment Medal, Senior Outstanding Vocalist and Best Pallavi Singing Award from The Madras Music Academy, Ragam Tanam Pallavi award from the Cleveland Tyagaraja Aradhana Festival and many more.
Thankyou Soo Much Madam 🙏 it Is A Wonderful Inspirational Oral Expression And Motivated Us.
And I Thank To Lakshmi Anand Garu For Sharing This Wonderful Podcast🙏🙏🙏
Wonderfully featured. Greatly inspired by the talk and music. Thank you for presenting this.
Dr.Pantula Rama has rightly Chosen Chennai as her new home from Vizag. She may be a new resident of Chennai, but not definitely new to the music loving people of Chennai. We are fortunate enough to follow her in music festivals , and from the YouTube collections. But it is a accepted fact men will prepare Coffee so nicely, and like Mr.Murthy , many in Chennai are ‘He brews’, In Lakshmi Anands podcast we mostly come across Husband wife pair of musicians, like Doctor couple in medical profession. I dont really understand the secrets of learning without much difficulty an additional language like Telugu, Tamil being my Mother Tongue.
When singers like Pantula Rama, make efforts to learn Tamil, we welcome such an initiative. But after listening to Ms.Rama’s, ‘ Kaalai thookki nindraadum’, with perfet pronunciation of Tamil words, dont believe it will be a tough proposition on any thing for Pantula Rama. Very glad to know her Guru Shri.Vijayeswar rao, her own father Mr.Gopala Rao teaching music for a long period of time and still continuing with it. She has also revealed her inherent qualities which are good to hear from a renowned musician. She said, she dont take anything as challenges in life, and would take it as it comes in life . As other musicians, in this lock down period, one cannot go out for a morning walk, stretching..and Yoga pactice at home keeps you fit is a great message. It is quite interesting to know Rama won’t practice mostly at home, and will take the stage straight away reveals her confidence level. Nothing prevents on discussions, and rightly will have discussions with her husband at home. Like all musicians, she shows her concern for poor people unable to meet their normal demands for, food, shelter , right now, and we can understand that disturbs her badly from inside. I take her message , that Govt and Society must help such people with all help , is the strongest message , one can give. We endorse her desire to see life returning to normal very quickly. As a conclusion to her podcast interview, she sang for Shanthi & Mangalam, with her prayer Sarvesham swasthir bavatu.. Sure to see Classical music attaining greater heights, with talented musicians like Pantula Rama doing musical service for a long time. Thank you every one.
Thank you for introducing to the non raskas ,so many musicians at one go. Otherwise Our music is stuck to the superstars of the music world
We are very very fortunate in having Dr Rao as our neighbour at Chennai. Its Gods gift for our grand daughter and grand kids. GOD bless. Pvchandra