Famed music director Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja in late December released ‘Sri Venkatesa Suprabhatam’, a devotional album by S. Aishwarya and S. Saundarya, the great granddaughters of Carnatic music legend M.S. Subbulakshmi.
He said, “The great granddaughters of MS amma, who had reached the pinnacle of the music world, have sung ‘Venkatesa Suprabhatam’, a song sung by her.
“When M S amma used to sing, her fans, who were spread all across the world, rated her very high. I see the attempt by her granddaughters to sing and take this music to future generations. What is the use of music if you don’t give it to future generations?”
Music director Devi Sri Prasad, who also spoke on the occasion, said, “There can be no one who does not know the wonderful, ‘Sri Venkatesa Suprabhatam’ sung by MS amma. I am happy that my friend and brother Rajesh has rearranged such a legendary Suprabhatam. Both S. Aishwarya and S. Saundarya have sung beautifully. As Ilaiyaraja said, I believe this new version will be one of the ways to take Suprabhatam to the coming generations.”
- Aishwarya said, “We are delighted that Ilaiyaraja released the Venkatesa Suprabhatam that my sister and I have sung. Mandolin Rajesh has scored the music for this. We wish this reaches as many people as possible.”
Carnatic music icon Subbulakshmi’s ‘Sri Venkatesa Suprabhatam’, a morning prayer to wake up Lord Venkateswara, was released in 1963. Apart from playing her immensely popular devotional prayer at the temple, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam also appointed her as its ‘Aasthana Vidhwan’ in 1975.
