Another Ratnam to be added to Navaratnalu

By Our Special Correspondent

Appreciating the rule of the Telugu states, Mridangam scholar Ella Venkateswara Rao said that the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments have implemented several welfare schemes for various sections.

Mridangam scholar stressed that governments should also focus on the advancement of artists recalled how artists from different states developed during the Rajiv Gandhi era.

"At the same time, academies of performing arts came into being. Those were the times when funds were allocated to art and culture. However, the current government is not showing much interest in developing the domain," Mridang Maestro pointed out. He was in the city and visited Simhachalam.

Born in Bhimavaram, Ella Venkateswara Rao lives in Hyderabad. He said that due to the lack of encouragement for the performing arts, over time, experienced artists were inspired by emerging artists to grow in their respective fields.

Yella Venkateswara Rao, a five-time recipient of the President's Award, said that today's generation is moving away from performing arts. "If young people are not engaged in music and arts, the future generation will be far removed from Indian culture and traditions," he observed.

Speaking about the film industry, Yella Venkateswara Rao said that the government is supporting the industry and there are enough actors, musicians and artists in the field. “But when it comes to the performing arts, the field is seeing a steady declining trend.

Fortunately, in our family, seventh generation children also participate in various streams of music and the arts. It was made possible by the encouragement and cooperation of the family members,”explained Yella Venkateswara Rao.

Mridangam Maestro said such activities would help retain the lost glory of the field by organizing concerts, presenting awards to outstanding artists and funding the Department of Music and Culture to organize national-level cultural events.

Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy lauded the 'Navaratnas' and hoped that Mridangam Maestro would implement a similar flagship scheme to enable artists to make a living and the arts to flourish.