Report: Prakash Naik, Kundapur / Muscat
Pics: Zubair Hameed (DZiner)
 
Muscat, May 1: Anitha Samson, a well-known multi-lingual Mangalorean singer and a star performer, was recently in Muscat to perform in an event organized by MCCP. Professionally Anitha Samson is a lecturer, but she says she eats, sleeps and breathes music all the time as her passion for music has now become her life.

During Anitha’s short stay in Muscat, Spandana team organized a luncheon session in honour of her contribution to music field. It was a moment of pride and privilege for Spandana team to felicitate and honour Anitha Samson at a private gathering at Hotel Fusion, MBD area in Muscat recently.

Spandana’s convenor Koni Prakash Naik started the felicitation programme with a short welcome speech. Co-convenor, Riyaz Ahmed presented a memento to Anitha Samson as a token of Spandana’s love and affection. Later on he thanked Anitha Samson for taking out time and all the members for their participation.
 
Vani Bhagawat efficiently compered the short musical programme at which some of the local talents and Spandana’s members, viz. Raju Sanil, Sumana Shashidhar, Veena Srinivas, Karunakar Rao, Chaitra, Ashok Kotian, Srinivas and Prakash Naik rendered some melodious Hindi and Kannada numbers. Then it was Anitha’s turn who gracefully presented some beautiful Hindi and Kannada songs of yesteryears and also some latest ones in her soothing and gifted voice. Spandana team members also took the opportunity to seek some musical tips from Anitha for improvisation and confidence building.

Back in Mangalore, during her music career, Anitha was honoured with several coveted awards and titles like “Tulunada Gaana Kogile and “Gadinada Gana Kogile” etc. With her talent and versatility Anitha is sure to go places in the days to come and Spandana team conveys its best wishes to her in her musical journey so as to reach the pinnacle of success.

Beginning of 2011 when Spandana Muscat presented its premiere musical programme at the Grand Hall of Al Falaj Hotel in Muscat titled “Sangeeta Lahari”, Anitha was the lead female singer along with versatile male singer Ravindra Prabhu. The programme was no doubt a runaway success. During the four hour show Muscat music lovers did get an opportunity to listen to some of the olden golden melodies in almost seven different languages. Both Anitha Samson and Ravindra Prabhu regaled the audience and won over their hearts with their beautiful renditions. Since then Muscat audience has been missing Anitha for a long time.
 
Spandana Muscat is a group of like-minded individuals sharing common interests in music, entertainment and socio-cultural activities. The motto and vision of Spandana, “together we can make a difference” defines the aims behind their goal.
 
Since two years Spandana Muscat has been making its sincere efforts to identify and showcase the coastal talents of Karnataka in Muscat, be it musical programme, Yakshagana, Folk dance or any such art and dance forms. In addition, Spandana is also trying to extend a helping hand for different social causes.
 
Last year it was Ravindra Prabhu and Anitha Samson troupe and this year Tagore Das, Sangeeta Balachandra and Naveen Koppal regaled the music lovers in Muscat in Spandana’s second event, viz “Yaadon Ki Baarat or Nenapinangala”. This event was organized and dedicated as a grand tribute to two legendary artists from Hindi and Kannada film industries, Padma (Late) Mohammed Rafi and Padma Bhusan (Late) Dr Rajkumar.

Spandana team consists of Prakash Naik Koni (Convenor), Riyaz Ahmed Basrur (Co-Convenor), Ramesh Shettigar, Karunakar Rao, Nagesh Shetty, Ramanand Kunder, Jaya Ramesh Shettigar, Yogananda and Zubair.