You have sung only one poem. I will give you all my poems and you will have to sing them,’’ was the affectionate request of Varakavi Da Ra Bendre to the eight year old Sangeeta 30 years ago. Overwhelmed by the melodious rendering of his poem Yaako kaane rudraveene.. at a function held at Dharwad’s Kadapa Maidan, the joyous Bendre hugged and blessed the girl. The gifted poet had an immense desire to hear Sangeeta sing all of his songs. Three decades after, the eight year old child prodigy is now a 38 year old musically matured Sangeeta Katti Kulkarni who has carved a niche for herself in the contemporary music world. Still the words of Bendre keeps lingering in her ears and haunting her conscience.

As if to fulfill the desire of the legendary poet, Sangeeta Katti, a well known Hindustani classical vocalist of the young brigade of musicians and a celebrity in light music has ventured in to an ambitious task of bringing alive the people’s poet through her unique programme Bendre Geeta Yatre by enticing the young and budding talent all over the state to sing his songs. She plans to hold ‘Bendre Geeta Yatre’ in all the districts. The programme not only serves the main purpose of composing Bendre’s songs in to music but also take him directly to the hearts of the younger generation. The occasion also provides an opportunity to dig out the latent musical talent across the state.

Are Bendre’s songs suited for singing with music composition? “Definitely. His poems can not only be sung but we can render them as classical chees also,’’ says Sangeeta Katti in an exclusive interview to Sunday Herald.
The one day programme in each district will have Kavya Chintana – a thorough review of Bendre’s literature by experts in the morning and Kavya Gayana – singing of Bendre’s songs by the well trained young singers in the evening. Sangeeta Katti will herself sing Bendre’s songs. Every Kavya Gayana has a common identity for it begins with the Bendre’s popular poem Baaro Sadhanakerige ninnaya oorige... Sangeeta pointed out that although Bendre has written voluminous poems, hardly 10 per cent of them have been composed in to music. Most of his songs can be suitably composed as they provide unique delight to listeners. Sangeeta is credited with taking Bendre’s poems to every home through one of her popular albums Shravana Bantu.

Sangeeta Katti says budding talents from Bangalore and Mysore generally get ample opportunities and exposure but the talent in north Karnataka by and large remain hidden as the people of the region are diffident. “In fact musical talent is abundant in north Karnataka. We need to dig it out by providing them opportunities,” Sangeeta Katti says.

In every district, interested young talent in the age group 8-30 years will be selected and they will be given suitable training to sing Bendre’s songs. Out of them the top singers will be selected to render at the Bendre Kavya Gayana programme.

She has plans to bring out the audio compact discs of top singers of Bendre’s songs in all the districts. The only requirement is that sponsors should volunteer to host the programme in the respective districts while the strategic support will be provided by Sangeeta Katti. She will not charge anything for organising the programme or for her singing. But the sponsors will have to meet the expenses of the orchestra coming from Bangalore and the guests attending the Kavya Chintana programme.

Sangeeta Katti has already held Bendre Geeta Yatre in Mysore and Gadag (including Koppal). Her next programme is scheduled to be held in Bagalkot in May. “For me its a voluntary service in honour of Bendre. The poet had given me an open cheque three decades ago and now I want to encash it,’’ quips the musical rage of the modern times.