Matribhumi Samachar English
Hyderabad, 13th April 2025: Rich tributes being paid to the Legendary Musician and Composer Sri Ushakant, who passed away on March 25, 2025, at a Musical Vibes show hosted by Mahati Music Academy, today at the Ala Liberty, Banjara Hills. This evening’s program is a heartfelt tribute to the life and legacy of Ushakant — a visionary composer, a devoted teacher, a soulful singer, and above all, a beloved human being. Through his melodies and words, he touched countless lives, inspired generations of artists, and created a musical legacy that continues to resonate in the hearts of all who knew him.
Speaking about Shri Ushakant, Dr Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, a musical program is a wonderful way to celebrate Shri Ushakant’s illustrious life, and to record his tremendous contribution. I would reiterate that music is an incredible way to enhance health. Dr Sreekanth, imbibing the music legacy from his revered father has combined his knowledge of music and medicine and is taking forward the tradition.
Shri Venkat Changavalli , former CEO, EMRI; said, the first time I attended a music program hosted by Mahati Music Academy in 2015, I experienced something truly profound.
It was in that moment I realized the transformative power of music, how it resonates not just in our minds, but also in our bodies and souls. The melodies had a healing presence, gently soothing mental unrest, uplifting the spirit, and offering a deep sense of peace and connection. That experience left an indelible mark on me, and ever since, I’ve believed in the incredible ability of music to heal, inspire, and unite.
Dr J. Sreekanth said, Mahati Music Academy is proud to host a soulful musical evening in loving memory of its founder and my father, Shri Ushakant. A celebrated lyricist, singer, and music director, Shri Ushakant carved a unique niche in the world of music. His timeless contributions to art films, private albums, and music ballets, where he penned lyrics and composed captivating melodies, have earned him a devoted following. His visionary spirit gave birth to several music-based projects, and through this program, we honour his enduring legacy. It is our heartfelt endeavour to carry forward his passion for music and the rich artistic path he set in motion.
Shri Sunder Lakshman, Vice President, Mahati Music Academy said, Music has the power to touch hearts and transcend boundaries. It is in this spirit that we named it Musical Vibes, a heartfelt tribute to Shri Ushakant. Though he may no longer be with us in person, his soulful melodies continue to echo in our hearts. His music lives on, inspiring, uplifting, and enchanting us, a legacy that will be cherished forever.
About Shri Ushakant and his works
Mr. Vedantam, popularly known as Ushakant amongst the music circles of the South India, was born to Mrs. Choodamani and Mr. Jagannadhacharya. He was the eldest of five brothers and three sisters. A retired LIC official, he started his musical journey right from his childhood. His first guru was his own mother, late Smt Choodamani. Later, he had the tutelage under gurus like NC Krishnamacharya garu and he also learned Veena under the guidance of Pappu Someshwara Rao garu. But his creative abilities started blossoming with writing lyrics and composing music apart from singing. With some official constraints, he started his compositions and then stage performances from Machilipatnam and quickly moved to Hyderabad for better prospects and intended to fruition of his vision. He founded a cultural organisation named Pancham. Under this banner, his brothers Sri Preetam, late Dr. Shyamsundar, and his sisters joined him along with the orchestra, known as Film Terence Guild. They had staged various performances in the early 70s, and he became popular as a very good light music composer. He further enhanced his creativity by starting audio compositions and creating ballets. In this journey, he was happily married to Smt. Usha and thereby he became Usha Kant. He coined the name Veda Priya for her as he was popularly known as Vedantam. He led a happy married life of 60 years with her. In this life journey, he was blessed with a son and a daughter, Dr. Sreekanth, and Radhika both are accomplished singers and Dr. Sreekanth is also a music composer.
Shri Ushakant had association and close relationship with his musical colleagues, namely late Palagummi Vishwanadam garu, late M. Chittaranjan Garu, late KBK Mohan Raju garu, and his juniors, like Mr. KSR Murthy, Mr. Vinnakota Murali Krishna garu, and Sri Kalaga Krishna Mohan garu. He had great associations with veterans like Dr. C. Narayana Reddy, and film director, late K. Vishwanath Garu and the doyens of the dance field, like late Nataraj Ramakrishna garu, and late Dr. Uma Rama Rao garu. They used to have multiple sittings for various sessions of the many ballets that he has created. Apart from being the lyricist, singer and composer over various media channels, regularly, he used to contribute his works to All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan. Some of his illustrious works are Vemana Vedam and then TV serial Suprabhaatam. His monumental work was Chilakapalukulu and Chandamama Raave for AP Balala Academy, which was first of its kind. It was the Telugu Nursery rhymes, which was a runway hit during the early 80s. His production, Sivaganga, which depicts the Gangavataranam, was again a blockbuster hit, which has given him the TANA and ATA awards of the United States of America. During the late 90s, he started writing his own ballets. The first one was again, a blockbuster hit, Sri Andal Kalyanam about Godadevi. Sri Maha Ganapati was another ballet, which was a masterpiece in which late Sri SP Balasubramaniam also has participated. Apart from these ballets, there were a couple of others – Gita Govindam, based on Jaydeva’s Ashtapadis, which was repeatedly telecast on Doordarshan. He was the visiting faculty and examiner for Potti Sriramulu Telugu University, and his dream was to make light music as a super specialty in the field of music. He won many awards including the Ghantasala Award.
His most cherished moments were around 2004 and 2005, where he was given an opportunity to compose music for the script written by his H H Ganapati Sachchidananda SwamiJi, the Datta Peethadipati of Mysore. The ballet was called as Sri Datta Gaadha, scripted by Swamiji and after hearing Ushakanth’s composition, Swamiji was so impressed, that he has written a foreward for Ushakanth’s lyrical album, stating that he happens to be the Tumbura Amsa a divine soul. Kalyana Ramam was another masterpiece of his depicting the Sita Kalyanam from Balakanda of Valmiki. Around 2010 and 2011, he created an album depicting the importance of the seven hills and named it as Saptachala Sankirthanam. This was scripted by Brahmasri Samaveda Shanmukha Sharma garu, and again, this audio album received widespread acclaimed. Palikedidi Bhagavathamata was again an album created for SVBC. It had 108 padyams (or verses) from Pothana’s Bhagavatham with a pictorial background depicting the importance of each verse. This is also regularly being telecast for SVBC even till today. Around 2014 and 2015 Ushakanth, along with his son, Dr. Sreekanth, embarked on a research project, Nada Tanumanisham – the music for healing. It was an album consisting of 45 tracks which was exclusively scripted and composed for healing purposes. This album was launched by veterans, Late Sri K Vishwanath Garu, Dr. Vara Prasad Reddy Garu, and received wide appreciation amongst the audience and is being used by his son for healing purposes. This also received appreciation from late Sri APJ Abdul Kalam ji, the ex-president of India. Alwar Vaibhavam, portraying the importance of the great Vaishnavite saints of South India happened to be his last work before he had a paralytic stroke.
Ushakanth made his presence felt for the launching of the YouTube channel of Mahati’s, Naadam Naatyam. The musical vibes of Ushakanth continue to vibrate with all the family support and the extended family, consisting of various singers, and the orchestra people.
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