Daijiworld Media Network - Chicago (GA)
Chicago, May 15: Vidyaranya Kannada Kuta, Illinois (VKK) celebrated Yugadi (Hindu New Year) 2009 on recently at Samarathi Auditorium, Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago, Lemont, Illinois. A record number of more than 650 Kannadigas attended the function. A festive atmosphere filled with joy was visible throughout the programme. The highlight of this year’s Yugadi celebration was the release of a Kannada music CD titled “Usharaga Deepikaa.” Kannada songs have been composed by Vidyaraniga, Dr Nagabhushan Moolky. Last year, Dr Nagabhushan Moolky published Bhavataranga, a collection 56 Kannada poems, which was released during the V Akka Kannada Vishva Sammelan.
The “Usharaga Deepikaa” music CD has been produced and directed by Kannada poet Dr Nagabhushan Moolky and Dr Usha Kolpe, the 2009 VKK president.
Well-known singer Ram Prasad from Cincinnati, Ohio has rendered voice for the compositions and has also scored the background music. Ram Prasad is known for the hit song 'Moodal Kunigal Kere' from movie 'Nanna Preetiya Hudugi. He is a software engineer by profession and singing is a serious hobby. Ram Prasad has sung for movies like 'Preeti Prema Pranaya', 'Miss California', 'Amrutha Dhaare', ‘Joke Falls' etc. He has sung under the music direction of old-time veterans like G K Venkatesh, M Rangarao, L Vaidyanathan and present music directors like Guru Kiran, Manomurthy, V Manohar, Rajesh Ramanathan etc. He has sung with popular singers like Vani Jayaram, Shreya Ghoshal, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Manjula Gururaj, Ratnamala Prakash etc. Apart from singing for movies he has released many albums and has sung on AIR and many TV channels.
“Usharaga Deepikaa” contains 8 songs covering a wide range of subjects including love, nature, philosophy, Carnatik patriotism and devotion.
Sharada Byanna, a well-known Kannada writer, former president of VKK, and a senior member, released the CD. Dr Nagabhushan and Dr Usha announced that the money collected by selling these CDs will be donated to a charitable orphanage, “Abhayashraya” in Mangalore, Karnataka. If anybody is interested in purchasing this CD and helping this noble cause please contact by email: nanunaga@gmail.com