from Lenny Barretto for Daijiworld News Network - Goa

Panaji, Feb 15: Mangalore’s own gift to the field of music, a musical sensation, Gurpur Muralidhar Kamath, will add another feather to his already feathered cap in the form of a devotional cassette and a Konkani cassette.

Murlidhar, who has the credit of composing music for over 55 cassettes, feels that his new cassette would be entirely devoted to his `kuldevata’ Sri Mahalasa Narayani at Mardol, Goa.

Strongly backed by his better half, Vidya, Muralidhar has a rich musical tradition of 14 years under his belt. And his "Ragdwani’’ orchestra has 3,000 shows to its credit and Murlidhar goes on adding to it.

The recently concluded All India Konkani Parishad’s convention saw a foot-thumping and mind blowing performance by this Mangalore’s gift to the musical world.

"I have performed all over – Mumbai, Kolkata, Belgaum, Chennai and other parts of the country,’’ states Muralidhar.

If people know Muralidhar, they know about his unique musical album "Baila Kudla’’ - Kudla is the name of Mangalore in Tulu language - which is released through two different cassettes in which songs of 13 different languages are sung by this versatile composer.

Besides this, Muralidhar has given music to vernacular serials and is a known face in Karnataka’s Mangalore city and around.

Famous yet down-to-earth, Murlidhar, smiles when asked about his vigour to be on stage for hours together and yet perform with full enthusiasm."Music is my strength,’’ he says.

Speaking on Konkani music he says,"Konkani songs get good response. We have to prove the entity and power of Konkani music.’’

He is of the opinion that traditional music should be mixed with modern tunes and their fusion makes melodious music.

"We have strength but we should know to work on it,’’ says Murlidhar.