A social activist, historian and a prolific writer, T P Prasanna Kumar has today carved a name for himself in the world of music by singing and composing devotional songs despite being totally untrained. Apart from this, marking his devotion to late musician and film playback singer P B Sreenivas (PBS), this 69-year-old multifaceted personality has in fact, composed songs which were sung and recorded by the famous musician in Chennai just before his death.
Featured on an international TV channel, Prasanna had the opportunity to talk on PBS and his relationship with him. “In August I was visiting the United States for some personal work when I was invited for a talk on the veteran playback singer on an American channel, Indian TV.
‘‘This was organised by B R Surendra, president of the New York-based Kannada Koota," he said and added, “My relationship with PBS was like Drona-Ekalavya and my composition Sheshashayana Narayana Salaho Koteya Venkataramana was one of the last songs sung by him on 9th before he passed away on April 14."
Quite active and enthusiastic at his age, Prasanna is a role model for the younger generation today. Despite possessing academic qualifications, he preferred to start a small- scale enterprise which has been running successfully all these years. However, his love for music and its traditions made him write, compose and sing devotional songs in his later years.
“I am a bathroom singer. I sing Kannada and Telugu songs. Since my childhood, I have been inspired by this great singer who is dead and gone but his memory still lives through his innumerable songs sung over four decades,” he added.
Apart from composing music, Prasanna is active taking in pro-Kannada movements and is also a patron founder of 'Woman for Women Forum'.
A few books written by him on social issues include Banaleyinda Benkige and Klishtavaguthiruva Cauvery Jala Vibhajane.
Recently, a devotional CD on Kote Venkataramana Swamy was released in Bangalore which comprised eight songs, all written by Prasanna.
Out of the eight songs, seven are in Kannada and one in English, all sung by different singers and one by himself.
However, two songs by PBS are the main attraction. With PBS’ 83rd birthday being celebrated this Sunday, Prasanna feels elated that the last song sung by the great singer was composed by him.