Sai Personality Vidwan Shri.Maruthi Prasad is a Household name in Karnataka. Shri.Maruthi Prasad's Music is marked by an overpowering sense of Spirituality. This visually challenged Musician has not only created a niche for himself in the field of Carnatic Music but also become a Stalwart in the field of Carnatic Classical Music.
Late Shri.Ramanatha Rao and Smt.Nagaveni looked on disbelievingly as their son went up on stage in the year 2003 to receive the award from President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Their minds repeatedly went 25 years back to the time when the doctor had pronounced that their fourth child who was born on 5th February 1979 would never see light. The news caused so much distress that for days on end they had given up food. But faith did not fail them and Ramanatha Rao, who along with his brother, had been instrumental in converting the rocky hillock at Mahalakshmipuram into the holy shrine of Prasanna Veeranjaneya Swamy, accepted a visually disabled child stoically as "the prasada of Maruthi". The parents in fact, named him Maruthi Prasad.
The precocity of the child was apparent during infancy. Little Maruthi's favourite game was to drum on vessels and boxes with his little fingers. He was also picking up music from tapes with amazing ease. His formal initiation into music and training took place at the Ramana Maharishi School for the Blind, Bangalore. The school, with its tradition of giving regular lessons in music, provided the gifted boy with an enriched atmosphere. Later, as the boy's exceptional talent became apparent, he got formal training during his early days under the guidance of three Gurus namely Shri.Chintanapalli Suryanarayana Rao, Smt.Lalitha Panthulu and Smt.Rajashree Aravid. Later from 1995 onwards Shri.Maruthi Prasad took advanced training from “Ganakalashree” Dr.Vidushi T.S.Sathyavathi.
Shri.Maruthi Prasad humbly says that he has no idea how the gift of music came to him, because no one else in the family had aptitude for it. Thus he attributes his musical skill as divine grace. Apart from the blessings of Lord Hanuman, he attributes his success to the grace of the many spiritual gurus like Satya Sai Baba. He also owes his growth to his Guru, the renowned Musician Smt.T.S. Satyavati under whom he had been trained since 1995 for about nine years. She had excellent knowledge of music and she being a taskmaster took special interest to groom him.
Shri.Maruthi Prasad has been rendering Devaranamas (devotional songs on Lord) as a small child every Sunday at the Veeranjaneya Temple. However, Vidwan Shri. Maruthi Prasad sees himself primarily as a Classical Musician and has been giving performance in Classical Music since many years. He says that if one has mastery over classical music, one can sing other kinds of songs too and without effort.
Being Visually Challenged Shri.Maruthi Prasad only has an abstract concept of God. Hence, he does not know if he can reach God through the medium of music. However, he do tries to feel and capture the same emotion that the composer must have felt when creating the song. He also tries to capture the essence and "bhava", which a particular raga represents. But he feels that quality music cannot be built on bhakthi alone and that for that the musician must have a strong knowledge base.
Shri.Maruthi Prasad is working as a Music Teacher at a Government School since 2002. He feels proud of his job as a music teacher. In fact, he enjoys teaching music to his students. He says that contrary to popular perception, children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds too have excellent aptitude for classical music. He has trained children from Karnataka to sing patriotic songs by representing Karnataka State at New Delhi.
Shri.Maurthi Prasad can also effortlessly play on the Keyboard while rendering Classical Music. The surprising fact is that his keyboard playing skill is self-taught. Perhaps that is the reason why Shri.Maruthi Prasad is able to do it effortlessly!
We are giving below the Skills, Distinctions, Notable Performances, Awards and titles of Vidwan Shri.Maruthi Prasad for the benefit of Sai Devotees:
Skills & Distinctions:
Passed Carnatic Classical Music with DISTINCTION in 1998 and accredited as an “A” Grade All India Radio Artist from AIR, Bangalore.
Performed at the Tirunelveli Akashavani Sangeeta Sammelan in 2013.
Expert in performing Carnatic Classical Music and Bhajans in various Indian Languages.
Notable Performances:
Captivating performances at various prestigious Sabhas in Karnataka and outside namely Music Academy, Ranjani Sabha, Nadha Inbam, Raja Rajeshwari Cultural Academy- Chennai.
Performed at Rasika Ranjani Sabha at Kolkata.
Performed at Shanmukhananda Hall at Mumbai.
Given many performances for the popular “Naada Neerajanam” programme conducted by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam.
Given electrifying performances at various places in United Kingdom including London, New Castle, Glasgow in the year 1992.
Performed at the Spirit of Unity Concerts programme on the occasion of 69th Birthday of Bhagawan Sathya Sai Baba in 1994.
Performed at Croydon, Edinburgh, Grimsby, Blackpool and Dubai in the year 2002.
Performed at ISKCON, Bangalore in August 2014.
Performed at the Navaratri Utsav at Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala in September 2014.
Recognition:
Bagged the UGADI PURASKARA by Telugu Academy in Chennai in 1994.
Received the TIRUPATHI NAVAJEEVANA PURASKARA in 1996.
Received the prestigious KEMPEGOWDA AWARD in Bangalore in 1997.
Received the PRESIDENT’S NATIONAL AWARD in 2003 in Creative category.
Received Certificate of Appreciation from Shri Gayatri Sangeeta Sabha, Bangalore in 2004.
Received Certificate of Appreciation from Advocate Friends Circle, Bangalore in Ganeshotsav, 2005.
Received the prestigious M.S.Subbalakshmi Award for winning 1st prize in Ragam Taanam Pallavi by Ganabharathi Mysore in January 2006 conferred by His Excellency the Governor of Karnataka.
Bagged the BEST YOUNG MUSICIAN award conferred by Music Academy, Chennai in December 2006 during the annual conference.
Received the KARNATAKA EXCELLENCY AWARD conferred by Karnataka Pratibhavardhika Academy in 2006.
Received Certificate of Appreciation from Sri Anjaneya Educational Institution, Bangalore in 2006.
Received ANANYA YUVA PURASKARA from Ananya GML Cultural Academy in 2010.
Received KANNADA RAJYOTSAVA AWARD conferred by Vidyavaadini PU College, Tumkur.
Received “BEST PROMISING ARTIST” award from Coromandel Rotary Club, Chennai in 2016.
Titles / Awards Received:
“BHAKTI GAANA KOKILA” award conferred by Chitradugra Muruga Rajendra Swamy at Yoga and Samskrutika Vedike in 1992.
“GAANA KALA KAUSTUBHA” conferred by Shri Siddhivinayaka Seva Mandali, Tumkur in 1996.
“GAANA SHREE” conferred by Kannada Patrika Kala Samskruti Vedike, Bangalore in 1996.
“SANGEETA KANMANI” conferred by Vipra Yuva Vedike, Bangalore in 1996.
“PRATIBHA RATNA” conferred by Karnataka Patrika Kala Samskruti Vedike, Bangalore in 1998.
“SANGEETA RATNA” conferred by Kalapremi, UK and Newcastle University in 2002.
“GAANA JYOTI” conferred by Shri Bhramaramba Sangeetha Vidyalaya, Mysore in 2002.
“GAANA KOKILA” conferred by Aashraya Seva Trust, Bangalore.
"SUMADHURA SANGEETA RATNA" award conferred by Sri Rama Sangeeta Kala Niketan, Bangalore in 2005.
"SANGEETA SOURABHA" title conferred by Swami Vivkananda Chintanasheela Vichara Vedike, Bangalore in 2008.
"LATE RAMA LAKSHMANA HEGDE KUNDADAKOLA" Award conferred by Poornachandra Yakshakala Pratishtana, Kundadakola, Kumbashi, in 2009.
“NAADA JYOTI” conferred by Naadajyothi Shri Tyagaraja Bhajan Sabha, Bangalore in 2016.
“GAANA CHETANA” conferred by Rajajinagar Residents Welfare Association, Bangalore in 2016.
Honoured by Shri Chaya Priya Nataka & Bhakta Mandali, Bangalore.
"SANGEETA KALANIDHI" title conferred by Sri Kodandarama Seva Mandali, Kolar.
"KARNATAKA KALA KUSUMA" title conferred by Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Udyapana Samiti, Bangalore.
Awards & Recognition of Vidwan Maruthi Prasad
CASETTES/CD’S:
First Musical CD and tape “Gaanarpana” released on 14th February 2005.
Devotional Bhajans in Multiple Languages on various Gods & Gurus titled "Bhakti Bhajanamruta" released in 2012.
TESTIMONIAL:
T.K. Srinivasan, very knowledgeable in the field of Carnatic Classical Music says: "Shri.Maruthi Prasad should not be referred to as a ‘blind’ artiste as his blindness has no bearing on his performance. All the laurels he has won so far are purely on merit. This boy blessed with a golden voice and ample merit is extremely focused and industrious. All these attributes will undoubtedly take him to great heights in the future."
We are giving below contact details of Vidwan Shri.Maruthi Prasad for the benefit of Music Lovers in general and Sai devotees in particular:
Contact Details
Address
No.38/10, 26th Main Road,
Jai Maruthi Nagar, 5th Block,
Nandini Layout,
Bangalore-560 096,
Karnataka,India
