Long before the saint-musician was revered as Purandara Das (also known as Sangeet Pitamah), he was known as Srinivas Nayaka – a prosperous jeweler of Purandara Gadha near Hampi in the 14th century. Popularly known as Seenappa, he inherited a prosperous gem and jewelery business and amassed and expanded immense wealth. Yet, along with prosperity came a reputation for extreme stinginess; Charity got very little space and devotion even less.
The turning point in his life came from a divine encounter. An old beggar repeatedly visited Seenappa at his shop to ask for alms, but every time he was refused alms. After months of insistence, the jeweler finally got angry and sent him away. The mendicant then went to Seenappa’s house, where his wife Saraswati Bai, moved with compassion, presented him with her nose ring. Soon after, the same jewelery appears in Seenappa’s shop when the mysterious visitor in the guise of a rich man attempts to sell it to him.
A series of miraculous events then ensued, revealing that the visitor was none other than Lord Vitthal himself. Overwhelmed with remorse, Seenappa gave up his wealth and took up the path of devotion under the guidance of Guru Vyasaraya, and took the name Purandaradasa.
There were 14 actors, many of whom played multiple roles. Photo courtesy: M. Srinath
After this change his life became deeply devotional and musical. Purandaradasa is credited with systematizing the basic lessons of Carnatic music, presenting sequential exercises that are still followed by beginners. Tradition attributes to him an astonishing 475,000 compositions. His son Madhavapati is said to have composed another 25,000 songs, bringing the family’s devotional treasury to around five lakhs.
Within the Haridas tradition, it is believed that Purandaradasa was an incarnation of the sage Narada – born to remind the world that wealth is not the ultimate achievement of life.
A life repeated on stage
This amazing life story found dramatic expression Shri Bhagwan Pandurangani PurandaradasarPresented by the Kala Academy of Bombay Gyanam – an all-women drama troupe. Enlisting a cast of 14, many of whom played multiple roles, the production went ahead. Karnataka Bhakta Vijaya And references to Harikatha exponent Vishakha Hari.
The music formed the emotional center of the production. | Photo courtesy: M. Srinath
The drama flowed seamlessly without any blackouts, aided by Mohan Babu’s lighting design – red for interiors, yellow for exterior scenes, and blue for night or divine moments. The production design was equally elaborate: Seenappa’s shop featured lockers filled with jewelery and old ledgers, while the puja room at the domestic location featured silver utensils, lending authenticity to the period setting. Even subtle details – such as the sandalwood paste applied to the elderly Purandaradasa’s hands – reveal the care invested in telling the visual story.
The costumes were carefully referenced to reflect the period setting, with jewelery ranging from gem-studded rings to armlets. Even the minor characters – soldiers, attendants and servants – were played with commitment.
An interesting casting decision added another layer of continuity to the narrative. The role of the elderly Purandaradasa was played by an 18-year-old actor, while the role of the younger Seenappa was played by his mother. Their natural likeness gave credibility to the character’s transition between the two phases. The cast, all based in Chennai, spent four months preparing for the production, which also marked the stage debut for some of the cast.
The music formed the emotional center of the production. Familiar compositions like ‘Venkatachala Nilayam’, ‘Jagadhodharan’, and ‘Tamboori Meetidva’, were interwoven with lesser heard pieces like ‘Krishnamurthy’ (said to be his first song), ‘Kunidado Krishna’, ‘Ninna Bhagya Doddadho’ and ‘Aparadhi Nanalla’.
As the title of the play suggests, Lord Vitthal appears repeatedly in the narrative to guide the erring jeweler towards transformation.
The audience reaction was enthusiastic, with many even singing along. It was wonderful to revisit the life of a musician whose compositions have enriched Carnatic music and continue to excite aficionados.
published – March 13, 2026 06:19 PM IST