Dubai: The rhythm and tunes of “Hamsa Naada” electrified Dubai with its compilation of meaningful and melodious songs on Friday,December 9. The jampacked audience at Centre Point Theatre, Ductac in the Mall of the Emirates was mesmerised by the performance organised to pay tribute to the renowned South Indian music composer, instrumentalist, lyricist and writer Maestro Dr. Hamsalekha in his personal presence.
He was felicitated and crowned with the “Desi Dorey” title in the presence of a cheering audience by the organiser Shiva Kumar. The honours were also done by Chief Guest Padmashree Dr. B R Shetty who presented the “Mysore Peta”, a shawl, bouquet, memento and a felicitation letter. A precious, honourable and rare maharaja style self-portrait was unveiled and presented as a memento to the music maestro. It created a history being the first show of Dr. Hamsalekha in UAE who said, “This is my first honour outside my own country and I am really blessed to have this from my very own Kannadigas here in Dubai.”
Dr. Hamsalekha who is fondly known as “Naada Brahma” (the Creator of Music) of Kannada filmworld-Sandalwood, arrived with his able team comprising his singer wife Latha Hamsalekha, Chinmai, Manasa Holla, Acharya Mohan Kumar, Ashwini, Harshavardhan, Karthik, Benedict Sampath, Alphons Raj and Abhi along with local singers Shiva Kumar and Deepa Santosh.
It was with a professional touch that the programme opened up introducing the musicians through the live digital display on screen while their introductory live musical beats cheered up the audience. Vidya Shiva Kumar welcomed the audience with her soulful voice and briefed on the highlights of the programme. Producer, singer Shiva Kumar rendered the invokation composed by Dr. Hamsalekha for a film.
Beginning with well-known playback singer Chinmai who gave a good start to the musical evening, all the singers including Manasa Holla rendered melodious songs penned and composed by Dr. Hamsalekha one by one in the evening exclusively dedicated to the great maestro. He later expressed his happiness on stage amid loud applause by the audience that this was a very special programme for him beyond his expectations on the “golden land”. He shared some lighter moments of his recent visit to the world’s wonder Burj Khalifa Tower. He added that along with all our day today entertainment, we should also devote some time towards our nativity, mother tongue, parents, teachers, elders and Almighty which is important. As his singer wife Latha was rendering melodious songs he was directing the musicians live and simultaneously encouraging her too on stage.
A jugalbandi presentation of a Hindustani raag entralled the audience with its rare composition. Jameel, a diehard fan of Dr. Hamsalekha sang “Yaarivalu” in the presence of his guru on stage and enthused the audience to join in chorus. Nanjappa, another guest singer also rendered a beautiful number along with Manasa to the applause of the audience. Athira Shiva Kumar, an upcoming talent also sang a very melodious number. Another local singer Deepa Santosh along with Shiva Kumar presented a breathless number loudly cheered by the audience. It was Chinmai’s rocking song made the audience mad and the closing song ‘Huttidare Kannada Naadalli Huttabeku’ which had few onstage changes in the lyrics by the maestro, made the whole audience dance with joy continuously and left them craving for more. The whole audience was enjoying every bit of the programme, cheering, clapping and whistling in their own way.
The “Show Stopper” was a team led by Sarah Sharlet Pinto, which added spice to the musical evening with its dance presentation choreographed to the maestro’s songs supported by variety of props and attractive costumes enhancing the glitter and glamour of the show.
The sponsors of the programme, singers, musicians, technicians, dancers and the media representatives were all honoured with flower bouquets and mementos by Dr. Hamsalekha and Dr. B R Shetty. Vinay Kumar Naik, director of the programme was also felicitated.
On the whole “Hamsa Naada” was a good treat to the music craving ears, taking the UAE Kannadigas into an ethereal world.
