Sivamani, Mahesh Babu, Sukumar and several from the world of film and music appreciated Devi Sriprasad’s musical tribute to his Guru Mandolin Srinivas
While he could collaborate with Vikku Vinayakram, Selva Ganesh and Mandolin U Rajesh; the pandemic, however, put a halt to his travel abroad. So DSP got in touch with Matt Dunkley
– Radhika Rajamani in conversation with Devisriprasad
Devisriprasad, or DSP, is a well-known name in the film musical circuit. He is not merely a music director and composer but a performer too as evident in his music release functions. In spite of all the fame and adulation Devisriprasad‘s feet are entrenched on terra firma. DSP is one of the few who doesn’t miss a chance to pay homage and tribute to his guru, the late Mandolin U Srinivas every year on his death anniversary. This year too DSP gave a dream tribute to his guru by orchestrating one of his compositions and releasing this on September 19, the day of Mandolin U Srinivas’ demise.
As mentioned in the earlier blog on the release of the composition (which is a part of an album ‘Annayya’) this was a shishya’s tribute to his guru’s composition (which was given to him by Mandolin U Rajesh). On hearing this ‘modern’ composition of Srinivas (who was also a part of bands and fusion music too) DSP had orchestrated and written the composition quite some time back. “I didn’t analyse the music, I heard it and went the way it drove me. I was captivated and it was like a trance. I realised later – what did I do? ” says DSP.
Later DSP wanted to go ahead and coordinate with ghatam maestro Vikku Vinayak Ram, Selva Ganesh, Mandolin U Rajesh and other musicians abroad. While he could with Vikku Vinayakram, Selva Ganesh and Mandolin U Rajesh, the pandemic, however, put a halt to his travel abroad. So DSP got in touch with Matt Dunkley (who is an orchestrator, conductor, arranger and music composer having worked in about 190 movies including ‘No time to die’,’ ‘ Inception’, ‘Black Swan’, ‘Moulin Rouge’ to name a few). DSP says “there was a lot of interaction over phone and emails. I sent printouts of the music to them. Everyone was so sweet. So it took us about a month to put everything together.”
It is not just the music but DSP brought out a video too. Due to the pandemic he couldn’t shoot but collected photographs of Srinivas over the years and put them together in the video, which is indeed a touching tribute to the Guru.
DSP is elated and overwhelmed with the response to the musical tribute video. “Sivamani has praised it, Mahesh Babu said it is too good and film director Sukumar said, People win Oscar but it is hard to find a student like you. This is something magical and gives inner peace,” shares DSP. Encore DSP!
