TLCA celebrates 2012 Nandana naama Ugadi

TLCA celebrated 2012 Nandana Naama Samvatsara Ugadi program in Hindu temple Auditorium, Flushing under the leadership of President Veloor Nagendra Gupta. The celebrations were witnessed by more than 1000 audience flooded from the Tri-State, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. The to watch the local talent and the performance by the celebrities invited from the motherland are, Movie stars, Tanikella Bharani, Gundu Hanumanta Rao, Actresses Dookudu, Vinayakudu fame and Nandi Award winner Sonia, Bunny heroine Gouri Munjal, singers Krishna Chaitanya and Shraavana Bhargavi performed this star studded entertainment show which was a huge success.

As the members entered the auditorium, the TLCA committee members extended a warm welcome and conveyed best wishes for a Happy and Prosperous Telugu New Year. With the decorations depicting the Telugu New Year Ugadi donning the hallway and the auditorium, and the jubilant members exchanging greetings with each other, the atmosphere was filled with a great festival fervor.

The cultural extravaganza started with a song singing praises of Lord Ganesha. It was followed by a well orchestrated Pancharatna, praises of Lord. The audience were deep in devotional ecstasy as if they were witnessing the Thyagaraja Aaradhanotsavalu home.

Organized for the first time in the 40 years' history of the TLCA, TLCA's Got Talent, the brainchild of of our President, Nagendra Gupta, received thunderous applause from the audience! The show was meant to find and showcase the talent from among the community. The Association received lot of entries but only the ones which met the stringent quality criteria were accepted for the competition. The competitors vied for the prizes regardless of age criteria. The judges said the entry into the competition itself was a big win and it was very difficult for them to find the best out of competitors as every one performed excellently. Siddhu Elisetty stood runner up as Pooja Nattu was declared the winner.

TLCA paid tribute to the 80 years of Telugu cinema with a fulfilled medley. More than 30 members of TLCA danced to the tunes of old melodies to the newest fast beet numbers. The program was choreographed by Smt. Krishna Sri Gandham and Smt. Kalpana Vanam and received all round acclamation from the audience.

TLCA matched the entertainment with equally delicious sumptuous Ugadi Vindu Bhojanam. Sweets like Bobbatlu, Poota Rekulu, and the traditional Ugadi Pachadi were served during the dinner time along with authentic Telugu recipes. Every one was delighted savoring the Telugu Bhojanam.

The program resumed with Vedapatanam by the priests. The Telugu Panchangam for the Nandana Nama Samvatsaram was read to keep up the tradition.

Mr. Veloor Nagendra Gupta, President, detailed his agenda for the year. TLCA has always been the torch bearer for the promotion and nurturing of the Telugu Community, he said. Explaining the welfare programs taken up by TLCA, he said this year, TLCA will conduct two medical camps for the benefit of the community. Youth is our future and to promote use of Telugu among the Youth this year TLCA will organize a program called EFFECTIVE SPEAKING IN TELUGU FOR YOUTH. He said the Annual Picnic, Independence Day celebrations as well as the Cultural Competitions will be celebrated with more focus on promoting the culture and our heritage. He praised the involvement of the Executive Committee in planning, organizing and executing events. He also praised the Board of Trustees for their involvement in the long term vision of the Association.

He emphasized the contributions of the donors and said that but for the generous donations from the donors all these programs wouldn't have been possible. He thanked them for backing the every effort of the Association is making for the benefit of the community. Sri Nagendra Gupta conveyed his special thanks to Smt. Sadhana and Sri Malla Reddy Paila, who are the grand sponsors of this program.

The president introduced his new team to the members. He also introduced the newly elected BOT Chairperson, Smt.Hyma Reddy and Vice Chairperson Sri Raghavarao Polavrapu.

The next item was a scintillating fusion of music, drama and dance on the lives of the Telugu Sankeertanacharyulu (composures). The audience applauded it in one voice as a unique experiment. The drama, Vaageyakarulu, another brainchild of the President Nagendra Gupta, was brilliantly presented on the stage by the director Srinivas Guduru as a Ugadi present to the audience. It was a unique blend of drama with dance superbly choreographed by the well known classical dance teachers of New York and New Jersey, Guru Sadhana Paranji, Guru Satya Pradeep and Guru Indira Dixith. The play portrayed the most important events of the lives of the three renowned Vaggeyakaras of Telugu Bhakti Movement time, Annamayya, Thyagayya and Ramadasu. The drama enacted by noted New York TLCA artists enthralled the audience in every aspect. Srinivas Guduru provided audio, script and direction. Ashok Chintakunta provided the costumes and stage property, Madhavi Chintakunta assisted by Prathyusha Guduru and Krishna Kumari Avala provided the makeup. Manohara Chillara, Durga Dhanikonda provided back stage help and Bhagawan Nadimpalli coordinated lighting.

Tanikella Bharani, noted film artist and writer, addressed the audience. Another first in the history of TLCA is the audio release of the movie MIDHUNAM directed by Sri Bharani by Smt Usha and Sri Poornachadra Reddy Aramalla. The first copy was presented to the Member of Parliament Sri Madhu Yashki. Speaking on the occasion Sri Nagendra Gupta said it is a privilege to TLCA to host the first ever audio here in New York that too in the presence of honorable Member of Parliament Sri Mahdu Yashki. TLCA honored the dignitaries with plaques.

The momentous event of the show was honoring a renowned businessman, philanthropist, pride of Telugus, Sri Babu Rao Mandava. TLCA honored Sri Mandava on his being selected by the US Governement for the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor for 2011 for his service to our community. Sri Nagendra Gupta said Sri Mandava is a beacon for our community and we all are proud of his accomplishments. The medal is conferred to those who exemplify outstanding qualities in both their personal and professional lives, while continuing to preserve the richness of their particular heritage.

The annual TLCA Ugadi Special souvenir Telugu Velugu was released on the occasion. Sri Nagendra Gupta appreciated the hard work put in by the Chair Sri Babu Kudaravalli, Co-Chair Raji Kuncham Member Sri Voleti Rao and Advisor Sri Srinivas Guduru in preparing the souvenir.

Sri Gundu Hanumantha Rao, noted cine artist comedian, entertained the audience with his humorous jokes. He trained some of the members there itself and produced some instant comedy. Sri Hanumantha Rao appreciated TLCA inviting the artists and patronizing them.

Thereafter Krishna Chaitanya and Shaavana Bhargavi, the cine playback singers, carried the audience in to the world of music and songs. They danced, made the audience dance, they sung, made the audience sing and mesmerized the audience. Kids and adults joined steps with the young, dynamic singers and the hall reverberated with claps and applauses. Sonia and Gouri Munjal danced to the songs and stole the hearts of the viewers. It is a great experience to celebrate the festival along with the NRI Telugus here and feels like it is the real Ugadi, Sonia spoke her heart.

At the end, President Nagendra Gupta thanked all those involved in organizing the event. He conveyed his thanks to Cultural Chair, Sri Dharmarao Tapi, Vice President Rao Voleti, Treasurer Satya Challapalli and all other Chairmen. Secreatary, Krishna Sri Gandham proposed vote of thanks to the donors, media and the audience for their august presence.