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Shobha Raju is an Indian devotional singer, writer and composer, known as an exponent of sankirtana of the compositions of the saint-composer, Annamacharya. [1] She was awarded the Padma Shri by Government of India for her contributions to arts in 2010. [2] She is the founder of "Annamacharya Bhavana Vahini" (ABV).
While composing her own songs at the age of four, cutting her first gramophone record and becoming an All India Radio Artiste at the age of 16, and being awarded the prize at national level competitions at the age of 17, she has been constantly trained under various music masters such as Nedunuri Krishna Murthy and Rajyalakshmi in music, R. G. Narayana Raju for spirituality, among others. Shobha is the first recipient of TTD's scholarship in 1976 to study and set an effort to promote Annamacharya's compositions, and was also chosen as the first exclusive artiste for the propagation of Annamacharya"s compositions in 1978. Her first audio album, "Venkateswara Geeta Malika" is popular among Telugu community globally.
Apart from serving as Project Officer for "Rama Rasa Vahini", a music-based project in Endowments Dept, sponsored by Bhadrachalam Devasthanam; authoring books such as "Srihari Padartham", "Pedda Tirumalayya Parichayam"; her various projects in the field of music and culture include: National Level Music Competitions to encourage youth, organisation of the anniversaries of Annamacharya; discovering and publishing 39 compositions of Annamayya as the "Annamayya Gupta Sankeertanadhanam"; "Shanti Sankeertanam" to enlighten people against the acts of terrorism; "Nagara Sankeertana", singing in processions for spiritual awareness; stage concerts and presentation of "Sankeertanaushadham" (Therapeutic Music Programs) for the benefit of patients in the hospitals both at India and abroad; self-scripted musical feature, "Annamayya Katha"; presentation of "Upashamana Sankeertana", a special program for the relief of the prisoners; writing the story, script, screenplay, dialogues, music, and directing a tele-serial, "Sri Annamacharya"; application of "Swarayoga", a special program for the personality development; annual "Vaggeyakarotsavams" of 1983 celebrated in national level; and others. She played an important role in getting the Postal Dept of Govt. of India to release the postage stamp of Annamacharya in Annamayyapuram.
Sobha Raju was born in Vayalpadu, Annamayya district, A.P. Her father R. G. Narayana Raju, a retired Deputy Collector was a native of Tirumala Reddypalle, Chittoor district. and her first spiritual mentor, while her mother Rajyalakshmi, was her first music teacher.
She did her B.A. with History, Economics & Music from Sri. Padmavathi Women's College, Tirupati, A. P.
She is married to S. Nanda Kumar, who resigned the post of Project Executive in National Dairy Development Board to support her mission.
Raju received her training in music from teachers like, Pullaiah, D. Seshagiri Rao, Pakala Munirathnam, Tiruttani Krishnamurthy, Kalpakam, Nedunuri Krishna Murthy garu.
The teachings of Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda greatly inspired Raju's work. Swami Paramahamsa Yoganandaji's teachings have a tremendous influence on her. The holy company of Chinmayananda Saraswati, Dayananda Saraswati, Vidya Prakasanandaji, and Sathya Sai Baba helped a great deal in moulding her personality. She used to sing Bhajans and recite Bhagavad Gita during their discourses
Raju is also a writer. She has written many stories and articles published by popular magazines and papers including Andhra Prabha, Swathi, Andhra Bhoomi, etc. She is also the author of a few booklets such as "Sripadartham" (Commentaries to Annamayya Compositions), "Pedatirumalayya Parichayam" etc.
She has composed many songs and poetry pieces since her childhood. Her compositions have been released as audio albums by different audio companies and temples.
Raju has been a well acclaimed music composer. Different audio companies have brought out her albums for which she herself set the music. She is also the music director for the Tele serial "Sri Annamacharya".
She is the director of many video programs, including the Tele serial "Sri Annamacharya". She is an organiser of many events and festivals.
Raju is a recipient of the civilian award "Padma Shri" from the Government of India in 2010.[ citation needed ] Government of Andhra Pradesh honored her with Hamsa Award in 2013.[ citation needed ] Shobha Raju also received many other awards in the field of art, culture and music. These include: "Annamayya Pada Kokila" by Telugu Association of North America; "Sankeertana Praveena" by Telugu Kala Samithi, Kuwait in 2000; Paidi Lakshmiah Merit Award; "Ugadi Puraskar" by Madras Telugu Academy; "Smt Ravoori Kanthamma Bharadwaja Award"; "ANR Swarna Kankanam"; "Abhinava Annamayya" by Telugu Association of North Texas; "Out Standing Woman Award" by NTR Trust; "Out Standing Woman Award" by Mahila Congress on the eve of Indira Gandhi's birthday; among many more. Apart her graduation from Sri Padmavathi Women's College of Tirupati, she has also received an Honorary Doctorate from P.S. Telugu University; has been honoured as "Asthana Vidushi" by the Dwaraka Tirumala Devasthanam, India; The India Cultural center & Temple, Memphis, Tennessee, United States, nominated as a member on the South Zone Cultural Centre & South Central Zone Cultural Center in 1985; a member on the advisory panel of regional ICCR; and serving many years as Advisor, Annamacharya Project, TTD.
Venkateswara, also known as Venkatachalapati, Balaji and Srinivasa, is a Hindu deity, described as a form or avatar of the god Vishnu. He is the presiding deity of Venkatesvara Temple, Tirupati. His consorts, Padmavathi and Bhudevi, are avatars of the goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu.
Tallapaka Annamacharya, also popularly known as Annamayya, was a Telugu musician, composer, and a Hindu saint. He is the earliest known Indian musician to compose songs called samkirtanas. His devotional samkirtanas were in the praise of Venkateswara, a form of Vishnu. Annamayya is said to have composed as many as 32,000 samkirtanas (songs) in the praise of Venkateswara of which only about 12,000 are available today. He wrote the highest number of Kirtanas of all time in the praise of Lord Vishnu The musical form of the kirtana songs that he composed, which are still popular among Carnatic music concert artists, have strongly influenced the structure of Carnatic music compositions. His compositions are classified as Adhyatma (spiritual) and Sringara (romantic). Annamacharya is remembered for his saintly life, as one of the greatest musicians and is honoured as a great devotee of Vishnu by devotees and saintly singers. He was one of the first few who opposed the social stigma towards the untouchable castes in his era.
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is an independent government trust in India managed by the Government of Andhra Pradesh. The trust primarily oversees the operations and finances of the richest and the most visited religious center Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala. It is also involved in various social, religious, literary and educational activities. TTD is headquartered at Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh, India and employs about 16,000 people.
Annamayya is a 1997 Indian Telugu-language hagiographical film directed by K. Raghavendra Rao and produced by V. Doraswamy Raju under the VMC Productions banner. The film portrays the life of the 15th century composer Annamacharya, played by Nagarjuna Akkineni who features alongside an ensemble cast including Mohan Babu, Suman, Ramya Krishna, Bhanupriya, Roja, and Kasthuri. The film has score and soundtrack composed by M. M. Keeravani. Upon release, the film received positive reviews and won eight Nandi Awards, three Filmfare Awards and two National Film Awards. The film was featured in the Indian panorama mainstream section at the 29th IFFI.
Padmavathi also known as Alamelu Manga is a Hindu goddess and the consort of the deity Venkateswara, a form of Vishnu. She is described as a daughter of a local king and an avatar of goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu.
Nedunuri Krishnamurthy was an Indian Carnatic vocalist. He was awarded the Madras Music Academy's Sangeetha Kalanidhi in 1991.
Mahamahopadhyaya Dr. Nookala Chinna Satyanarayana was a Carnatic musician, a classical vocalist, musicologist, author and teacher, a great administrator and motivator. He was a performer on All India Radio and Doordarshan who participated in Sangeeta Sammelans, outdoor broadcasts and national programmes innumerable times. His radio lessons and Bhakti Ranjanis were very popular. He was awarded Padma Bhushan award by the Government of India in 2010.
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Rallapalli Ananta Krishna Sharma was a noted composer of Carnatic music, singer, Telugu literature, teacher and Sanskrit scholar. He was responsible for discovering and cataloguing many forgotten compositions of Annamacharya. These compositions revived by Sharma would be sung by successive singers like S. P. Balasubramanyam and M. S. Subbalakshmi bringing popularity to the songs.
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Sri Kantha Krishnamacharyulu or Krishnamayya was the official songmaster, poet and bard of the Simhachalam Temple, in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, and a Telugu composer who composed around 400,000 keertana songs, in praise of Sri Varahalakshmi Narasimha Swamy, the presiding deity of the temple. He was contemporary to the Kakatiya king, Orugallu. There is a mention about Krishnamaacharyulu, his compositions and his miraculous life in Prataaapa rudra charitraand siddheswara charitra
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Vidushi Sumitra Guha is an Indian classical vocalist, known for her expertise in the Carnatic and Hindustani schools of classical music. The Government of India honored her in 2010, with the fourth highest civilian award of Padma Shri and in 2020 with a Sangeet Natak Akademi award.
Kodandarama Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Rama, located in Vontimitta town in Vontimitta Mandalam of Kadapa District in the Indian state of Andhra. The temple, an example of Vijayanagara architectural style, is dated to the 16th century. It is stated to be the largest temple in the region. It is located at a distance of 25 kilometres (16 mi) from Kadapa and is close to Rajampet. The temple and its adjoining buildings are one of the centrally protected monuments of national importance.
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