Sunadha Venu Vadhya Praveena Sri Nagaraju garu
Renowned Flautist and title bearer of “Sunaada Venu Vaadya
Praveena” Sri Nagaraju garu was born on the 1st of June
1966 at Uyyalawada village in Kovelakuntla Taluq of Kurnool district
Andhra Pradesh to the blessed parents Sri Balramaiah garu and Smt.
Venkatalakshmi as their third child.
Sri Balaramaiah garu wasrenowned practitioner of Ayurveda who used to treat poor people free of cost. However, Nagaraju garu lost his father at a very young age.
He not only exhibited interest in music since early days of his
childhood but was also keen to sing. This trait did not go unnoticed
and his brother Oosenaiah being a resident of Hyderabad brought Sri
Nagaraju garu, who then was studying in fourth class, along with him
and approached “Venu gaana Kala Kovida” Sri Manda Balarama Sarma ji. Nagaraju garu made a presentation of song and Sarma ji adjudged that Nagaraju garu has talent and took him as his disciple.
Nagaraju garu started staying along with Sarma ji, who happens to be natal blind, assisting him in his daily chores and used to practice vocal music. Arrangements were made in the neighbourhood for sustenance of Sri Nagaraju garu. Having already lost his father Nagaraju garu were depending for his requirements on his brother-inlaw and also on his brother.
Sarma ji relocation to Vishakhapatnam saw Nagaraju garu go back to his home town and continue his studies upto 7th class and then came back to Hyderabad to complete his SSLC. He got married to Saradamba garu, his niece,in 1983.
Sri Nagaraju garu won the All India Radio classical music competition held in 1985 in erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh which his guru Sri Sarma ji won it in its first edition in 1958. Nagaraju garu received “Golden Veena” as the souvenir from the hands of “Bharata Ratna” Smt. M.S. Subba Laxmi garu.