IE : A challenge that became an inspiration : Sept 9, 2007
A challenge that became an inspiration
DOCTORS told her the baby would not survive. It was in those restless nights
of 1983 spent with her son, born mentally challenged, that the first seeds
of inspiration were sown. Since then there has been no looking back for
Neela Satyanarayan, Additional Chief Secretary, State Revenue and Forest
Departments. Today, with over 65 songs, several books, and even a movie
script to her credit, Satyanarayan will release yet another collection of
songs on September 9.
Jhulte Manaat Gaane’, a collection of 14 songs written and composed by
Satyanarayan will be released at a function at the Balgandharva Rangmandir
presided over by Revenue Minister Narayan Rane. The songs have been sung by
noted artistes Ravindra Sathe, Bilva Dravid, Swapnil Bandavdekar, and
Vibhavari Apte. The programme will include a presentation of the songs,
accompanied by a classical dance performance by Shambavi Vaze.
Brought up in several cities owing to her father’s job as a police officer,
Satyanarayan took training
‘in classical music wherever she went. Even as a child, she took interest in
poetry, something she carried with her even after joining the civil service
in the 1970s.
Balancing her dual roles as bureaucrat and poet posed no challenge to her,
says Satyanarayan. “In
fact it helped me see the human aspect of my work. As a bureaucrat one has
to realise that beyond the piles of paperwork that come to you, every file
represents a human life, and you have to act accordingly,” said
Satyanarayan.
A devoted wife and mother, Satyanarayan says she always found time for her
literary and musical pursuits, as she had to come home to her son every
night, which was when she composed most of her renditions. Her career as a
mandarin has been matched by a growing literary repertoire. After her
first published collection of Hindi poems Aseem’, which received several
accolades in 1995, Satyanarayan wrote many books in Hindi and Marathi like
Amrut Barsa’, Agnipushp’, `Maatichi Mani’ and the popular `Ek Poorna
Apoorna’, where she talks of the experience of raising a mentally challenged
child.
She also composed soundtracks for Marathi movies `Bhiti’ and Jodidar’, and
has also penned a script `Babachi Shala’ based on her experience with jail
inmates while at the Home department, “Me script has been accepted by Sai
Paranjapye, and is likely to be filmed,” said Satyanarayan.
From bhajans to film songs and music for television serials, Satyanarayan is
a versatile compos’er. “Neelatai’s music is refreshing in this day and age,
when quality music is hard to come by. Her. tunes are simple and can appeal
to the common man,” said Ashish Keskar, who looked after the sound
arrangement for Jhulte Manaat Gane’.
Publication : IE; Section : Maharastra; Pg : 4; Date : 9/9/07