Padutha Theeyaga on OTT: Shruthi is the winner of season 21 of the music show hosted by SP Charan

Padutha Theeyaga isn’t just another music show for Telugu viewers - it’s an integral part of their lives that has shaped their taste for film music for over two and a half decades. When S P Balasubrahmanyam, who hosted 18 seasons of ETV’s show, passed away, there were many doubts about the right host who could take its legacy forward.

However, ETV has used the opportunity smartly to cater the show to Gen-Z viewers apart from family crowds with its transformation in the recent seasons. SP Charan has evolved as a terrific host in just under three seasons while lyricist Chandrabose, singers Sunitha and Vijay Prakash, as judges, have groomed budding singers quite well for the bigger stage.

The 21st season of the show (streaming on ETV Win) came to a close on Monday. Hari Hara Veera Mallu director Krish Jagarlamudi was the chief guest for the finale held across two episodes. The tightly-fought contest saw the three finalists - Shruthi, Pavithra and Krishna Chaitanya - giving their best shot at the coveted trophy with a wide variety of classical, western and contemporary numbers.

Shruthi, who sang SPB’s Nuvvu Naatho Em Annavo (from Disco Raja) and Naravara (Nartanasala), impressed the judges and the chief guest with her terrific vocal control and expression. Other contestants Pavithra and Krishna Chaitanya sang numbers like Allah (Sri Ramadasu), Tharagathi Gadhi Daati (Colour Photo), Haayi Haayi Ga Aamani Saage (Suvarna Sundari), Alanai Neekai (PS1 Telugu).

Krish Jagarlamudi opined that a playback singer has one of the most difficult jobs in films, having to do justice and carry the emotion of a song in a limited duration. “While the lyricist, music director and director are quite aware of the story and the context of the song for months, the singer needs to own the lines, lend their spin to it and carry the soul of the film forward in a few hours,” he said.

He also shared that Hari Hara Veera Mallu’s shoot is more or less complete. Krish revealed the songs composed by MM Keeravaani will have lyrics by Chandrabose and Ramajogaiah Sastry. Meanwhile, the auditions for the next season of Padutha Theeyaga have commenced already and will feature child singers. More details about the 22nd season will be out shortly.

(Padutha Theeyaga is streaming on ETV Win )